Temple Lot Mormons

[consiglieri]

We are fortunate to have on the board a member of the Church of Christ Temple Lot.

I know next to nothing about this fascinating religious group and would be anxious to learn more.

What do they believe?

Is accepting the Book of Mormon a tenet?

What about that little piece of ground they own?

How did they come by it?

Is it really "the right place" for the building of the Temple?

What relationship, if any, do they have with Community of Christ, Covenant?

All the Best!

--Consiglieri

[emeliza]

They have a nice little wikipedia that I read the other day after Sleepyhead joined. I recall they are incredibly small with only 6,000 members worldwide.

[ERMD]

We were in Independence 3-4 years ago on a Sunday, and the Temple Lot congregation was holding services. The door was open, but we didn't go in.

[firepatch36]

I had never heard of them, but here's the wikipedia page. When I read it the first paragraph said church "membership is about 6000" but on the sidebar it says 2,400. It doesn't give much on doctrinal issues.

[JAHS]

Here's a link to their website:

http://www.churchofchrist-tl.org/

[cdowis]

I heard years ago that their association with the Reorgs was very poor when the reorgs attempted to take away the temple lot when they had some financial difficulties.

I remember that some of their leaders attended General Conference several decades ago 9before the temple burning). We have assisted them on occasion, and had a very good relationship with them. Hopefully the temple burning has not affected our association with them.

Hopefully someone can fill in the details. I noticed their magazine over the past several years have gone from monthly to bi-monthly, and the last issue posted on their site was Jan/Feb 2008.

[Uncle Dale]

I heard years ago that their association with the Reorgs was very poor when the reorgs attempted to

take away the temple lot when they had some financial difficulties....

Fairly close to the truth, Chuck --- the RLDS made an effort to get the TL folks to

merge their priesthood with the RLDS during the 1920s.

Suspicions arose that the RLDS were simply trying to absorb the TL church and

get title to its valuable property.

So, the effort fell apart.

Temple Lot folks don't like to be called "Mormons."

Nor do they recognize the D&C as scripture.

UD

[ERMD]

Fairly close to the truth, Chuck --- the RLDS made an effort to get the TL folks to

merge their priesthood with the RLDS during the 1920s.

Suspicions arose that the RLDS were simply trying to absorb the TL church and

get title to its valuable property.

So, the effort fell apart.

Temple Lot folks don't like to be called "Mormons."

Nor do they recognize the D&C as scripture.

UD

I was hoping you would shed some light on this.

[a_little_taller]

We are fortunate to have on the board a member of the Church of Christ Temple Lot.

I know next to nothing about this fascinating religious group and would be anxious to learn more.

What do they believe?

Is accepting the Book of Mormon a tenet?

What about that little piece of ground they own?

How did they come by it?

Is it really "the right place" for the building of the Temple?

What relationship, if any, do they have with Community of Christ, Covenant?

All the Best!

--Consiglieri

Here is a link to some information about them. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_Christ_Temple_Lot They are called the Church of Christ - Hedreckites. How they ended up with the temple lot, I have no idea. Based on some legal wranglings.

[Uncle Dale]

...How they ended up with the temple lot, I have no idea....

Their members simply moved into Jackson County and purchased the lot from

the owner. Most "Mormons" were then afraid to settle in/near Independence, but

the followers of Granville Hedrick had the courage to make the experiment. So

far as I know, they were not persecuted by the local "Gentiles."

UD

[torquate]

1st edition Book of Mormon, Book of Commandments, No 1st Presidency, Church led by 12 apostles.

Last time I was there, a few years ago, I was told that the Zion's Camp revelation was not a revelation from God and that was when Joseph Smith became a fallen prophet. It was one of the twelve apostles that I talked to at the Temple Lot. He was friendly and bold.

[jadams_4242]

Here's a link to their website:

http://www.churchofchrist-tl.org/

Oh my gosh! its some more of them dang Mormans!

[NauvooSaint]

There was some sharing of priesthood among the RLDS and Hedrickites prior to the 1920s. Both churches were moving toward eachother. The Hedrickites started firming up their position with the use of the 'Book of Commandments' vs. 'Doctrine and Covenants' and other differences between the two churches. The RLDS then withdrew their hand of fellowship. One possible reason that contributed to the two churches moving further away from eachother was the RLDS church 'Supreme Directional Control' issue in the 1920s. This gave more control of the church to the prophet vs. the Common Consent of the membership. Several RLDS officials transferred membership to the Hedrickites (including some of Alexander Hale Smith's decendants) This influx of disgruntled RLDS seemed to contribute to the Hedrickites developing beliefs more strongly against the office of High Priest, Prophet and First Presidency, etc...

It's my understanding that the Hedrickites at one time attempted to build a temple on the Temple Lot, but the 'Great Depression' didn't allow them to do much more than start digging. The RLDS assisted in filling in the hole.

There is an interesting book that was published by the RLDS church that debates/defends differences between the RLDS and Hedrickite churches. "Our Beliefs Defended" by Apostle J. F. Curtis It's available in reprint at http://restorationbookstore.org/Merchant2/...;Category_Code=

It's also my understanding that most Joseph Smith, Jr. decendants who have joined the LDS/Mormon church have come through Alexander Hale Smith's line and through the Hedrickite church. Granville Hedrick was involved for a short time in a few of the early Reorganized Church conferences before going in a direction of his own. There are some direct decendants of Hedrick among the RLDS Restorationists.

Apostle John E. Page's wife (Mary) was staunch RLDS. Apostle Page died October 14, 1867 and prior to his death requested that Seventy John Landers of the RLDS Church preach his funeral sermon.

Regards,

Bradley.

[cdowis]

Thanks very much for the info, Dale and Nauvoosaint.

I noted on their website that they were doing fund raising for missionaries. Does anyone have info on current missionary work. Have any in Georgia? (the second Zion)

[Uncle Dale]

Thanks very much for the info, Dale and Nauvoosaint.

I noted on their website that they were doing fund raising for missionaries.

Does anyone have info on current missionary work. Have any in Georgia? (the second Zion)

They had a couple of Seventies in northern Ohio during the 1980s --

That's the last time I crossed paths with them, outside of Missouri.

UD

[CTR]

Me and a few elders went there on a P day to check it out. We were greeted by an elderly man who said he was one of the apostles. He showed us around the tiny chapel which housed the original cornerstones that Joseph Smith placed. He was kinda grumpy, probably tired of us missionaries coming in all the time (Mission office was across the street) While I was there it seems a story circulated that since the RLDS were the majority in the City Council they decided to require a sidewalk placed around the Lot. They knew the Temple Lot folks would not be able to afford it and perhaps be forced to sell the land, but the LDS stepped in and paid for the sidewalk. That was the story going around at the time (1987-88), probably just rumor.

[Alan]

I understand that they will not sell the temple lot land at any price because they consider themselves custodians of it. They expect to either be told by the Lord to build the temple, or give it to the group he has decided will build it. So we may get it for free when the time is right.

I don't know if this is true, but I read somewhere that the LDS church assisted them with a legal case brought by the RLDS who were trying to obtain title to the temple lot. Maybe NauvooSaint would know if that was true.

Alan

[phaedrus ut]

Temple Lot folks don't like to be called "Mormons."

Nor do they recognize the D&C as scripture.

UD

IIRC they believe the Book of Commandments to be correct not the Doctrine and Covenants.

Phaedrus

[Uncle Dale]

IIRC they believe the Book of Commandments to be correct not the Doctrine and Covenants.

Phaedrus

I'm not even sure that all of them now accept the BoC totally.

Back during the 1920s (I think it was) a remnant of the Whitmerites published

a new edition of the BoC -- and some copies ended up with the Temple Lot group.

They may have made some use of that edition -- I'd have to check old issues of

their "Truth-Teller" periodical to find out for sure. But, if so, they don't appear

to be making much use of those texts now.

Anybody ever see a Church of Christ Temple Lot BoC?

UD