What is the link between "Restoration Movement" Churches and Mormonism? (Church of Christ, Christian Church)

Question

Restoration Movement Churches (churches that typically use the name "Christian Church" or "Church of Christ") have several things in common with Mormonism:
They both teach that one must be baptized in water for salvation.
They both teach that only baptism by full immersion is valid.
They both take the Lord's Supper every week.
They both teach that the "true Gospel" or apostolic teachings were lost/abandoned and had to be "restored".
etc.

What is the link between these two groups?
I have heard that Sidney Rigdon was a Church of Christ pastor who left to follow Joseph Smith. Any insight?

Answer 1

Sidney Rigdon did leave his own church and was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. However, he had some problems (like trying to take over, and trying to speak on behalf of the Church), and he eventually left and went off to do his own thing when those efforts failed.

A "restored" church is a church that follows Christ's original church, and so should not fail a comparison of the two. The LDS church (aka Mormons, although that term is discouraged) believes in baptism by immersion as Christ taught and participated in. They believe in partaking of the Sacrament weekly in memory of Christ's body and blood (although they do not believe it is LITERALLY his body and blood, as do Catholics and others - but symbolism only); and they believe that Christ's church was lost/abandoned and had to be restored. They believe in a Prophet and 12 apostles as leadership, in tithing, in temple work, in revelation, and so on down the line.

A few early LDS people broke away from the Church and started their own versions of it, such as the Reorganized LDS church (which changed its name a few years ago). However if their "good works" and size of membership are compared to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, they are insignificant.

The LDS Church is also not associated with break-off groups who are polygamists and still claim to be LDS. Any polygamist is excommunicated from the Church and is not truthful if he/she calls themselves a Mormon.

Answer 2

The Mormon church and the church of Christ are not related, except they see some of the things taught in the Bible alike.

As for the idea of "restoration", the bible clearly teaches that some shall depart from truth and some need to be restored (Gal. 6:1). Many have departed from sound doctrine and gone into error. If they return to the Bible, they can restore themselves to the original teaching.

The Word of God is compared to a seed in the Bible. God established that every seed reproduces after its own kind.

If I plant corn, I will only get corn from that seed. If something else grows, I know it came from a different kind of seed.

The word of God can only produce Christians. If a division, sect, or denomination arises, it came from another type of seed.

Those 3000 in Acts 2 all heard the same thing, understood it the same way, believed it the same way, and obeyed it the same way. They became Christians, nothing more, nothing less, nothing else. Then they continued in "one accord", in fellowship, and they all followed the same doctrine as taught by the apostles (Acts 2:42-47).

If we read and understand what they understood, believe only what they believed, and do what they did, we will become what they became: Christians, nothing more, nothing less.

Paul pleaded in 1 Corinthians 1:10, "Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment."

This can only have been done if we return to the scriptures for our authority (Acts 17:11, 2 Tim 3:16-17). If we leave behind all man-made doctrine, and return to the word of God, then we can restore the New Testament church as it was originally established.

Answer 3

I can only speak for our beliefs:

Some of the basic beliefs of the Church are:

* God is our Heavenly Father. He loves us and wants us to return to Him.
* Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is our Savior. He redeems us from death by providing the Resurrection. He saves us from sin as we repent.
* Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we can return to live with God if we keep His commandments.
* The Holy Ghost helps us to recognize truth.
* The first principles and ordinances of the gospel are faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism, and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost.
* The Church of Jesus Christ has been restored to the earth.
* The priesthood authority of God exists in His Church today, just as it did in the original Church.
* The Bible and the Book of Mormon are the word of God.
* God reveals His will to prophets today, just as He did anciently.
* Our life has a sacred purpose.
* Families can be together forever.
* Through serving others, we can experience joy and draw closer to God.

The Church of Christ does not believe in the BOM and I am not sure what they believe was restored. The idea of a falling away from truth and the need for the restoration of truth to prepare the way for Christ's return is a common one. The Church of Christ does not allow musical instruments to be played in their Church--we do. I have friends who are members of the Church and they are very sincere people who reflect the love of Christ.

Sidney Rigdon was a former member of the Church of Christ and held some prominent callings in the ealry Church . . . all the original Church members were converts from other religions.