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The denominations in the Latter Day Saint movement are sometimes collectively referred to as Mormonism. Although some denominations opposed the use of this term because they consider it to be derogatory, it is especially used when referring to the largest Latter Day Saint group, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), and offshoots of it. Denominations opposed to the use of the term consider it to be connected to the polygamy once practiced by the Utah church.
Contents
- Categorizing the churches
- Era of Joseph Smith
- Original church within movement
- Churches that separated from Smiths organization prior to 1844
- Lineage of Brigham Young
- LDS Church
- Left of center LDS derived churches
- Additional churches claiming lineage through Brigham Young andor founded in the US Intermountain West
- Other lineages
- Reorganized Church and other followers of Joseph Smith III Josephites
- Followers of Granville Hedrick Hedrickites
- Followers of Sidney Rigdon or William Bickerton Bickertonites
- Followers of Alpheus Cutler Cutlerites
- Followers of James J Strang Strangites
- Additional Latter Day Saint churches usually headquartered in US east of the Rocky Mountains
- Spontaneous or unknown lineage
- Gallery
- References
The Latter Day Saint movement includes:
Though a few small factions broke with Smith's organization during his lifetime, he retained the allegiance of the vast majority of Latter Day Saints until his death in June 1844. Following Smith's death, the movement experienced a leadership crisis which led to a schism within the church. The largest group, which would become the LDS Church, followed Brigham Young, settling in what would become the Utah Territory. The second-largest faction, the RLDS Church, coalesced around Joseph Smith III, eldest son of Joseph Smith. Other would-be leaders included the senior surviving member of the First Presidency, Sidney Rigdon; the newly baptized James Strang from Wisconsin; and Alpheus Cutler, one of the Council of Fifty. Each of these men still retains a following as of 2014—however tiny it may be in some cases—and all of their organizations have experienced further schisms. Other claimants, such as Granville Hedrick, William Bickerton and Charles B. Thompson, later emerged to start still other factions, some of which have further subdivided.
Categorizing the churches
Given the large number of Latter Day Saint churches and their differing backgrounds, categorizing them can be difficult. A common approach in some histories and studies is to use Rocky Mountain Saints for those denominations headquartered in the American West and Prairie Saints for those denominations that formed in and around Nauvoo, Illinois; Voree, Wisconsin; Independence, Missouri; and other locations in the Midwest and East. These terms do not necessarily relate the current geographical locations of all denominations within those two groupings, but rather the original location of their respective parent organizations, which may be seen in the table below.
Another method uses provenance: for instance, all denominations that ultimately trace their history back to the LDS Church in Utah are organized as one factional group. Divergent Paths of the Restoration—a reference work on this subject—follows this approach.
In such studies, and in general Latter Day Saint parlance, the -ite-suffixed terms Josephite and Brighamite have been used for the Missouri-based Community of Christ and the Utah-based LDS Church respectively; these terms have sometimes been used to distinguish groups of denominations as well. Those denominations within each group share a common ancestry and basic beliefs that are different from groups sharing other provenances. The present article, in a similar fashion, distinguishes among groups of denominations by use of commonly understood names such as Mormon fundamentalist or else by short descriptions that often reference a founder of the first church within a factional group–for example, Joseph Smith III in reference to Community of Christ as well as various churches and factions that trace their origin to it.
Era of Joseph Smith
Joseph Smith's original church, and those bodies which broke with him during his lifetime.
Original church within movement
The original organization, founded by Joseph Smith in 1830, later called the Church of the Latter Day Saints and then Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
Churches that separated from Smith's organization prior to 1844
Other small churches formed on the basis of disagreements with Smith prior to his murder in 1844 (including church established by William Law within 1844), all of which are now defunct.
Lineage of Brigham Young
Sometimes called "Rocky Mountain Saints," "Brighamites," or "Mormons", tracing their leadership or influence through Brigham Young.
LDS Church
By far the largest and best known Latter Day Saint church, which is colloquially, but imprecisely, referred to as the "Mormon Church".
Churches that believe they are strictly following the revelations and teachings of Joseph Smith and Brigham Young, including the practice of plural marriage, which was discontinued by the LDS Church in the late-19th century after the Manifesto.
Left-of-center LDS-derived churches
The defunct Godbeites and a few other small churches that broke with the LDS Church to pursue a more liberal, inclusive, or rationalist theology.
Additional churches claiming lineage through Brigham Young and/or founded in the U.S. Intermountain West
Several small churches rooted in Mormonism; formed under the belief that their leader was inspired to restore a new religious tradition in the mold of Joseph Smith
Other lineages
Those churches rejecting Brigham Young's leadership, in favor of some other claimant. These adherents are occasionally referred to, collectively, as "Prairie Saints."
Reorganized Church and other followers of Joseph Smith III ("Josephites")
The Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and related churches tracing their leadership through Joseph Smith III.
Followers of Granville Hedrick ("Hedrickites")
The Church of Christ (Temple Lot) and related churches tracing their leadership through Granville Hedrick.
Followers of Sidney Rigdon or William Bickerton ("Bickertonites")
Churches tracing their leadership through Sidney Rigdon or William Bickerton.
Followers of Alpheus Cutler ("Cutlerites")
The Church of Jesus Christ (Cutlerite) and related churches tracing their leadership through Alpheus Cutler.
Followers of James J. Strang ("Strangites")
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Strangite) and related churches tracing their leadership through James Strang.
Additional Latter Day Saint churches (usually headquartered in U.S. east of the Rocky Mountains)
Other "Prairie Saint" branches of the movement, such as the Church of Christ (Whitmerite), none of which is known to be extant.
Spontaneous or unknown lineage
Those denominations which originated independent from other organizations and do not trace their doctrinal or priesthood lineage to any 19th-century Latter Day Saint factions, but still hold Latter Day Saint beliefs.