Like the LDS church, Joseph Smith Jr is your founding prophet, and you use the Book of Mormon, but there is a point where you reject some of his teachings, correct? He voiced support for continuing to explore church online The Book of Mormon production was well under way … 1 Ne. In his work, The Christ of the Prophets (P&R, 2004), O. Palmer Robertson provides an invaluable guide to the prophetic books. A prophet denounces sin and foretells its consequences. The list of denominations in the Latter Day Saint movement includes: . One excerpt: “We…believe that the diversity that is evident in creation is a reflection of God’s nature. All RLDS/Community of Christ doctrine is based on the assumption that God’s revelation to Joseph Smith, saying that all other churches were wrong, made the original LDS the only true church before the falling away of Joseph Smith. The Community of Christ was formerly (1872–2001) known as the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (RLDS). I’m not ready giving it up, even though I’m changing it for myself: kicking out the dirt that happened to have gotten into it, as the terrible ideas about our beloved black brothers and sisters and the lies that sustain polygamy. His early demise left the fledgling church with a political power struggle. In venues where gay marriage is not happening yet, the CofC will perform Covenant Ceremonies for gay couples. This from an ex-Mormon turned Unitarian Universalist, who is still married to (and still in love with) a diehard 150 percent devoted LDS wonderful man. I’m missing The Plan of Salvation in CofC. His past assignments include missionary and administrative work in the Southern USA Mission Field; the Africa/East Central Field; the Ontario, South Central, and East Central Regions; apostle for SPECTACULAR; Outreach Ministries commissioner; the North Central Region; Advanced Leadership Studies at International Headquarters; and African American Ministries. On occasion, prophets may be inspired to foretell the future for the benefit of mankind. Your email address will not be published. The included persons have served as President of the organization. A part of the foundation of the church were prophets - Ephesians 2:19-20 B. http://mormonstories.wpengine.com/stephen-m-veazey-prophet-president-of-community-of-christ-formerly-rlds-church/. All rights reserved. Thank you both so much for this glorious interview ! After the church dispersed in 1844, those folks who did not head west with Brigham Young kind of scattered until April 6, 1860 when Joseph’s son, Joseph Smith III, was ordained prophet-president (Hence the name Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of LDS) The church did not bring into our beliefs doctrines dealing with the practice of secret/sacred rites in the Nauvoo temple, the issue of polygamy, a plurality of Gods, sealing marriages in the temple for eternity, and the unquestionable, infallible, word of God through the Prophet/President. Hosea 11:1. c. He would be a child in Nazareth. The church is reducing it's budget by $1.21 million and laying off 18+ people. Veazey, you strike me as a wonderful representative for your faith. In this three-part series I interview Community of Christ Prophet-President Stephen M. Veazey. Listening to this interview has brought a renewed sense of lightness to my soul: the fact that the same foundation could give rise to two very different churches – one proclaiming a prosperity gospel and the other a message of compassion and grace – gives me hope for the future. This prophecy of Messiah’s birth was foretold by Micah over 500 years before it happened, and it was fulfilled in Bethlehem when God became man: the Divine Incarnation in the person of Jesus Christ. Community of Christ Prophet President Steve Veazey sits down with Linda Booth to talk about the year ahead and other timely topics that are impacting nations, the … One of his counselors in the First Presidency is female. If ever there was a man called by God, it is Seve Veasey. If the the oft quoted proverb “By your fruits ye shall know them” has any validity, then what this church has become over time testifies to their humanity and Christianity. Is this something you allow/encourage? Thanks for your question. The solution for many gay Mormons and oppressed female Mormons is now dirt simple: You get to keep the Joseph’s Mythology you’re not ready throw under the bus yet, PLUS you solve ALL of the annoying, insulting problems that The Brethren hold dear with no sign of relenting … like the following: = Discrimination against Blacks: RLDS figured that out after the Civil War. Stephen Veazey hopes a future prophet-president will be female or Black. Since I wasn’t 100% certain which teachings came during the pre-Nauvoo and Nauvoo, I had to check with a friend (Blake) who just finished reading a new 2-volume history of the RLDS/CofC. Those teachings are not as prevalent today. Excommunication (which means ex-communion – no sacrament for you for now) is rare, and ‘expulsion’ from membership is only for murderers and repeat adulterers. Veazy didn’t wear a tie and he sat comfortable and talked freely/unformal. The President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is God’s prophet on earth today. Too bad I didn’t seriously consider it as a youth. 156:5b It shall also be for a strengthening of faith and preparation for witness. (see Fig. Text: Jeremiah 23:9-40 I. Create ministry partnerships with… seventies, high priests, evangelists, bishops, and mission center officers. This helped me to see a distance between the LDS Brethren, Pres. Would the CofC really be considered an Organized Religion? Any chance to get a printable copy of this interview with Stephen Veasey? I wish I could say the same for Utah Mormonism. You can even toss out verses from the BofM you don’t like, cursing the Lamanites with dark skin, for example. Portrait. Thank you for your comments and questions, Beth. This list gives 15 ways in … Represent Christ primarily as ministers... of prophetic visioning and worldwide church leadership. I guess you could say, in one sense, that we did reject some of Joseph’s teachings from the Nauvoo period. He is the eighth president of the church and the second who is not a direct descendant of church founder Joseph Smith Jr. Veasey shows it can be done, which leaves LDS leaders with no excuses. I suppose in one sense you could say many of Joseph’s Nauvoo teachings were rejected. I also get the impression there are not manuals handed out and each congregation can teach what they want which of course is not the same as the LDS church. This group, who refused to follow Brigham Young after the death of Joseph Smith, formed their own Church with Smith's son as their prophet leader. The congregation with Community of Christ Church in Sarnia celebrated 100 years in the community Saturday with an open house and a visit from the international faith's president. That dispersal of those who did not follow Brigham remained until April 6, 1860, when Joseph’s son, Joseph Smith III, became the president-prophet of the dispersed Saints and brought them back together. He was ordained as president of seventy at the 1988 World Conference and as an apostle at the 1992 World Conference. As a life-long member of the RLDS/Community of Christ church, I can say that 1) the church does not practice and has not since the time of the Reorganization (April 6, 1860) practiced baptizing the dead; 2) members do not wear special garments, as that is not part of the CofC doctrine; 3) the Temple is open to everyone to enter. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. The church is very much committed to helping the cause of Zion and take seriously that part of the Lord’s prayer that says, “Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is heaven.” As members endeavor to be faithful disciples of Christ in the here-and-now, many members believe the hereafter will be taken care of and determined by the love, mercy, and grace of God as understood through God’s revelation in Jesus Christ. Why punish people at all? Community of Christ is the new name of what was formerly known as the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. ( John 13:34). As a longtime friend of the Veazey family, I can vouch for their genuine kindness and devotion to the ministry of Christ. So the church body could vote against any revelation or teaching put forth by the prophet that would be binding on the church. I’d certainly consider joining the CoC if my husband would, especially after hearing this (Thank you Dr. John and Prophet-President Steve). I had the pleasure and honor of having Steve as a teacher/mentoring influence. I am 2/3 through watching John Dehlin’s interview of Stephen Veazey. The purpose of the Temple, as articulated in our Doctrine and Covenants section 10:9–10; 1 Ne. Current status : The Community of Christ was formerly known as the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints -- the " RLDS Church ". A message from the Community of Christ's prophet. Wow! He is a preacher of righteousness. Please don’t hate me, but these interviews felt to me to follow this pattern: 1) interviewer claims “our” church is extreme, and asks is your church more moderate? :o). Community of Christ is the new name of what was formerly known as the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. CLICK HERE FOR OUR LATEST PODCASTS Donate, John Dehlin November 23, 2015 Best of Mormon Stories, Faith Promoting Stories, Johns Favorites, Progressive Mormonism, Top 100, Top 25 Faithful 26 Comments. Canada West Mission 7603 190 Street NW Edmonton, AB T5T 5H6 Canada 877-411-2632 11 days ago. In Community of Christ, while the church president is recognized as a prophet, members also assemble and vote on proposed changes in doctrine and … Wouldn’t it be something if the general authorities of the LDS church were this open and honest. Linda thank you for expressing your position because it summarizes what I was thinking perfectly. Thank you jon and steve for being so honest and open and really interesting, l enjoyed hearing about steve’s version of the Coc gospel, it does seem so much more simplified which is how is see Jesus being, l would have liked to hear about how the Coc church feel about the plan of salvation and baptisms for the dead in more explanation and the use of the temple also how they regard the wearing of garments and how that would relate to the church’s principles and beliefs,very good, much enjoyed, thank you. His primary responsibility, however, is to bear witness of Christ. This is a very interesting interview as it is completely different than the LDS General Authorities. Steve’s other church activities include serving as young adult minister to the Pacific Northwest Region; director of youth camps and seminars; field associate for a young adult campus ministries office; presiding elder; and counselor to the pastor in Paris, Tennessee. Ephesians 4:11-12 says, "And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ." Lehi, Nephi. Jesus Christ said: A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. According to his bio: Stephen M. Veazey is … This article lists the Prophet-Presidents of the Community of Christ. The temple was built by the Community of Christ in response to a revelation presented at their 1984 World Conference by church prophet-president Wallace B. Smith. Hosea. Subcategories This category has the following 3 subcategories, out of 3 total. The prosperity focus of Mormonism vs. the grace and love of Community of Christ. Community of Christ is headquartered in Independence Missouri. And not only all of the above, but he says that honest, open inquiry and study of all available sources of information and history is fully encouraged, and a wide variety of conclusions about Joseph Smith, Golden Plates, historicity of the cartoons, etc., is all tolerated. I deeply appreciate the insight into CoC. Everything Steve said seemed to be the opposite of what LDS leaders would say. Veazey urges congregations not to open too early and being physically present in church is NOT a test of faith. Oh well…. Promote justice and peacemaking by… building an international community of congregations as a global witness of Christ's peace. I particularly liked the conclusion. After Joseph’s martyrdom many of the Saints dispersed throughout the surrounding states, with Brigham taking the LDS out to Utah. I would have really liked to have grown up in the version of the gospel. This interview is absolutely mind blowing. The included persons have served as President of the organization. Particularly minister with... World Church leaders, priesthood, members, affiliates, and partner organizations to promote Christ's mission. There are no sealing ordinances performed in the Temple. Their leadership seems to fully embrace the teachings and compassion of Jesus extended unconditionally to everyone, regardless of genitalia or attraction proclivities. Pres. i was impressed with Pres. Prior to his ordination on June 3, 2005, he served as a member of the Council of Twelve Apostles, the leading missionary quorum of Community of Christ. Especially proclaim and promote... God's vision for creation and the church's mission throughout the world. For a closer look at the history and beliefs of the Community of Christ, click here. 11:27; 2 Ne. 11:13, 20. d. He would be baptized by the messenger-prophet beyond Jordan near Bethabara; the prophet would testify of him, and the Holy Ghost would descend on him as a dove. Their head office moved several times and finally settled in Independence MO in 1920. Nephi. “Who is this man?” When we look for Godly men in the world, this man would qualify for the title. And since we don’t believe in the infallible word of God through a prophet, we do practice Common Consent, which serves as a kind of Check and Balance. This article lists the Prophet-Presidents of the Community of Christ. Be well. It summarizes the vibe I get from CoC. We also move away from the storehouse concept and signing over our property and surplus to the church. Cultural Context Preceding the Book of Mormon. Hi Mark. In 1844, Joseph Smith, prophet and seer and revelator of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, met an untimely death when he was killed in a gun battle at Carthage Jail in Carthage, Illinois (History of the Church 7:101-103). Are the sins that are not punishable considered a human error just like text in the BofM regarding skin color? Thank you so much for sharing. Born in Tennessee, he received a bachelor of science in biology from the University of Tennessee, and a master of arts in religion from Park College, Parkville, Missouri. Robertson divides his work into fourteen chapters. What are the grounds to punish for some sins and not others? 31:4–8. It affirms my belief in what Steve taught me so many years ago. I have a question. He distills the fruit of a lifetime of study into one masterful volume. It seems to me that the Community of Christ is to mainstream Mormonism something like what Unitarian Universalism is to the Judeo-Christian tradition. Required fields are marked *. It has been proven time after time the LDS General Authorities…well any LDS leadership for that matter, are quick to punish their congregation, while the CofC is understanding and more Christ like blaming the nature of man for short comings. Community of Christ International Headquarters is located in Independence, Missouri. Geeze! So members and nonmembers of the Church are welcome to enter all parts of the Temple as we understand it to be a House of God for all peoples and a place of preparation, worship and healing; 5) historically the RLDS/CofC church taught the three glories (Celestial, Terrestrial, and Telestial). As with this Familypedia wiki, the content of Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons License. It is an inspiration to read the comments left here regarding Steve the CofC by LDS and non LDS alike. Would that include most of what he taught in Nauvoo? Is there a way to download the video as there is a way to download the audio? While the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, commonly called the "Utah Mormon" church (which holds the allegiance of most of the world's Mormons) is known for its former practice of polygamy, the Community of Christ never accepted that doctrine.Originally insisting that Joseph Smith had nothing to do with it, the church's leadership in … Community of Christ has 250,000 members in more than 60 nations. Thank you. In this three-part series I interview Community of Christ Prophet-President Stephen M. Veazey. It is clear in the Bible/BofM that adultery is a sin, but what about all of the other sins listed too? The Community of Christ and Polygamy. Masterfully done, John. And this second beast looks like a lamb but speaks as a dragon, meaning he is deceptive. After hearing these videos, I really wish I had joined Community of Christ instead of the LDS. In the video link below, Community of Christ Prophet-President Stephen M. Veazey speaks about the importance of diversity in Community of Christ leadership. Thank you, John, for arranging the interview, and thanks to Stephen for being willing to speak so openly about the issues. Veazy’s formal attitude on the CofC website and how he is as a human person. Figure 2: Close-up of page 6 of Old Testament Revision 1, showing Satan’s rebellion. And you still get to keep Joseph Smith while shedding virtually ALL of the uncivilized aspects of Modern LDS homophobics and misogyny. No. In this Sacred Grove, God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, appeared to young Joseph in … Your email address will not be published. I wasn’t 100% certain on what teaching came in the pre- and Nauvoo periods, so I had to check with a friend who just finished a new two-volume set of RLDS/CofC history. The Community of Christ was formerly (1872–2001) known as the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (RLDS). Stephen M. Veazey is president of Community of Christ. Yet, I’m not ready. The organization is now known (since April 2001) as the Community of Christ in order to separate themselves from the Mormons. It shall be for reconciliation and for healing of the spirit. :o), However, CofC perfectly fits in my idea of Plan of Salvation, time and insight will tell how it will come together. 156:5d It shall be the means for providing leadership education for priesthood and member. One of the CofC apostles is a man from Zimbabwe. Hope this helps! But what I found most interesting this there is still discipline in the CofC for second offence adultery and a few other sins.