Community of Christ's Doctrine and Covenants

After the martyrdom of Joseph Smith, most of his followers followed Brigham Young into the Salt Lake Valley. But some stayed behind in the East, Emma Smith and her son, Joseph Smith III being some of them. 

Jason W. Briggs was a follower of Joseph Smith. He did not follow Brigham Young into Utah as he believed they fell into apostasy. He affiliated with James Strang's group, until Strang started practicing polygamy, after which he left. In the early 1850s he, along with other important leaders in the restoration, organized a new church that became to be known as the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also known as the RLDS Church. On April 6, 1860, Joseph Smith III was made the President of the Church. Joseph Smith III's descendants continued to preside over the church until Wallace B. Smith, who designated W. Grant McMurray as his successor. On April 6, 2001, the Church under McMurray changed its name to the Community of Christ. Recently in 2024, the Community of Christ sold the Kirtland temple to the LDS Church.

Joseph Smith III

Despite sharing a common heritage, The Community of Christ is very different in many ways. They do not have the Book of Abraham in their scriptural canon. Within their scriptural canon is the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible, the book of Mormon, (though it is central to the faith compared to the LDS Church), and their own version of the Doctrine and Covenants, which contains 166 sections. They believe in the Trinity, more akin tom mainstream Christianity. They allow women to be ordained to the priesthood and officiate same sex marriages. They only have one temple located in Independence Missouri, compared to the over 100 temples of the LDS church. The Community of Christ never accepted polygamy and condemned the LDS church for practicing it.

Shared below are some entries in the Community of Christ's version of Doctrine and Covenants. 

Section 114

October 7, 1861-This is the first revelation to the church through Joseph Smith III. It was initially published as an appendix to the first general epistle sent from the Quorum of Twelve "to all the Saints scattered abroad."

The Twelve are to work with the Bishop in executing the law of tithing

D&C 114:1a In order to place the church in a position to carry on the promulgation of the gospel and as a means of fulfilling the law, the Twelve will take measures in connection with the Bishop to execute the law of tithing;

D&C 114:1b and let them before God see to it that the temporal means so obtained is truly used for the purposes of the church-and not as a weapon of power in the hands of one man for the oppression of others or for the purposes of self-aggrandizement by anyone, be he whosoever he may be.

D&C 114:2 As I live, saith the Lord, in the manner ye execute this matter, so shall ye be judged in the day of judgment.

Section 115

March, 1863-Revelation given through Joseph Smith III and addressed to the elders of the church.

William Marks is called to the First Presidency-Elders are to travel two by two to preach the gospel

D&C 115:1a Hearken unto me, O ye elders of my church. Lo, I have seen your efforts in my cause, and they are pleasing unto me.

D&C 115:1b I declare unto you, It is my will that you ordain and set apart my servant William Marks to be a counselor to my servant Joseph, even the President of my church, that the First Presidency of my church may be more perfectly filled.

D&C 115:1c And, moreover, it is expedient in me that my elders, in going to declare my gospel to the nations, shall observe the pattern which I have given.

D&C 115:1d Two by two let them be sent, that they may be a help and a support to each other in their ministry.

D&C 115:1e Press onward, ye elders and people of my church, even my little flock; and, as I have spoken to you in times past, so will I speak again to you as my friends, inasmuch as you speak in my name; and lo, I am Alpha and Omega and will be with you unto the end. Amen.

Section 127

April 14, 1906-Independence, Missouri. Revelation through Joseph Smith III regarding temporal ministry.

Establish a sanitarium to care for the sick, with Apostle Joseph Luff to be medical director-Establish a home for children-Joseph Burton to minister in the South Sea Islands-Counsel on the gathering-Designation of Frederick M. Smith as successor to Joseph Smith III

Thus saith the Spirit unto the Church:

D&C 127:1a It is the will of the Lord that a sanitarium, a place of refuge and help for the sick and afflicted, be established by the church at Independence, Missouri, as my servant Joseph Smith has already stated to you.

D&C 127:1b This should be done as soon as it is found to be practicable and without unnecessary delay.

D&C 127:1c The Presiding Bishop and his counselors and the Bishopric of the Independence Stake should take counsel together in locating and establishing this sanitarium.

D&C 127:2a It is also expedient that these should be assisted by the advice and counsel of one of my servants who is acquainted with the laws of health and the practice of medicine and who may have charge when the institution is established.

D&C 127:2b It is in accordance with the instruction given to my servant Joseph Smith that my servant Joseph Luff, who has been giving his attention to the study of medicine and has been preparing himself for usefulness in this direction, be associated with this sanitarium as a medical director and physician to the church and be put in charge,

D&C 127:2c that he may be an assistant to those who seek the aid of this institution of the church in his spiritual office and his calling as a physician,

D&C 127:2d with those who from time to time may be called to administer in laying hands upon the afflicted and sick, where they may be removed from the influences and environments unfavorable to the exercise of proper faith unto the healing of the sick.

D&C 127:2e And this my servant Joseph Luff may do and retain and exercise his apostleship.

D&C 127:3 There should also be a home for children established; and the efforts of the Daughters of Zion should be approved and carried unto completion as soon as is consistent with the necessary demands of the work of the church in other directions.

D&C 127:4a In the establishment of the sanitarium and the home for children, debt should not be contracted nor too large nor expensive buildings be built at the outset.

D&C 127:4b Those to whom this work is assigned should exercise the necessary degree of wisdom, that the work be effectual for the intent and purposes designed.

D&C 127:5a It is necessary that some, one or more, be sent to the South Sea Islands. The heaving of the sea beyond its bounds has been trying to the faith of many of the Saints in that far-off region.

D&C 127:5b They should be visited, and comforted, and encouraged.

D&C 127:5c Someone of experience and knowledge of the situation should be sent, accompanied by another, who should be prepared to make a stay of years, if necessary, in the mission to those islands.

D&C 127:5d My servant Joseph F. Burton, though aged, will be an efficient officer and representative of the faith and, choosing someone to go with him, may be intrusted with this difficult mission.

D&C 127:6 It is the will of the Lord that the mission to Utah and the west should be continued and suitable representatives of the church be sent and maintained there under the conditions prevailing at the present time. It is essential that the church have proper representatives there.

D&C 127:7a As the Saints have heretofore been instructed in reference to the gathering, they are now again admonished that the gathering must not be in haste nor without due preparation,

D&C 127:7b and must be done in accordance with the revelation given to the church upon Fishing River and in accordance with the counsel and advice of the elders of the church whose duty it has been made to counsel and advise the Saints.

D&C 127:7c The spirit of speculation, the exhibition of greed for gain, is unseemly in the Saints and officers of the church and should be avoided. It has the appearance of evil.

D&C 127:7d Heed should be paid to the admonitions of those who from time to time preach and write upon the gathering-to remove the principle of selfishness from the hearts of the Saints and especially from those upon whom rests the burden of the church and its ministrations abroad.

D&C 127:8a Inasmuch as misunderstanding has occurred in regard to the meaning of a revelation hitherto given through my servant Joseph Smith in regard to who should be called to preside in case my servant should be taken away or fall by transgression,

D&C 127:8b it is now declared that, in case of the removal of my servant now presiding over the church by death or transgression, my servant Frederick M. Smith, if he remain faithful and steadfast, should be chosen in accordance with the revelations which have been hitherto given to the church concerning the priesthood.

D&C 127:8c Should my servant Frederick M. Smith prove unstable and unfaithful, another may be chosen according to the law already given.

Independence, Missouri

April 14, 1906

 

Section 131

April 14, 1914-Independence, Missouri. The last revelation given to the church through Joseph Smith III before his death on December 10, 1914.

Counsel to the Bishopric-Counsel against spreading suspicion and distrust

D&C 131:1a In agreement with the notice for the general fast of the church to be observed on the first Sunday, being the fifth day of April, 1914, I, Joseph Smith, President of the church, in common with the custom of the brotherhood, observed the rule requiring the fast and spent that day in meditation and prayer upon the work of God and our present duty in the affairs intrusted to our care.

D&C 131:1b Before the hour of breaking the fast came, I was blessed by the presence of the Holy Spirit resting upon me in quiet assurance and in power.

D&C 131:1c In the still, small voice which giveth light and understanding to the intelligence of man, exalting the soul and sanctifying the spirit, there came unto me the directing voice of him whose work we are engaged in.

D&C 131:2a Thus saith the Spirit unto the church: The time has now come when the necessities of the work require that the servants of the church, Bishops Edwin A. Blakeslee and Edmund L. Kelley, should be more closely associated in the carrying on of the financial affairs of the church and caring for the various organizations requiring the expenditure of moneys collected from the membership of the church and the care of the properties belonging to the church as an organization under the laws of the church and of the land.

D&C 131:2b To accomplish this object, the servant of the church, Edwin A. Blakeslee, should make himself more thoroughly acquainted with the affairs in the office of the Bishopric, that he may be better prepared to advise, strengthen, and aid in controlling the affairs of the Bishopric to the successful accomplishment of the object in view when he was called and ordained to the Bishopric.

D&C 131:3a The Spirit saith further that it is expedient that additional aid be given to the Bishopric in charge of the general affairs of the finances;

D&C 131:3b and to do this, Richard C. Kelley, son of my servant Bishop Edmund L. Kelley, should be called and ordained to the office of an elder, that he may act with the Bishopric in case of necessities and to work in the office of the Bishop in looking after and caring for the affairs appertaining to that office;

D&C 131:3c and in due time, if he approve himself in this work, he should receive an ordination to the high priesthood which would authorize him to act fully as a part of the Bishopric.

D&C 131:4a The Spirit saith further that the spirit of distrust and want of confidence in those who are called and ordained to act in the various responsible positions in the priesthood and in authority in the church is unbecoming those professing faith in God, Jesus Christ, his Son, and the Holy Spirit of truth, and evinces a serious lack of that charity which Paul, an apostle of Christ, declared to be the quality of Christian virtue which thinketh no evil.

D&C 131:4b Those who go out from the assemblies and solemn conclaves of the church should exercise great care in their ministration abroad, both to the branches where they may officiate and in their preaching the gospel to those outside, to avoid sowing seeds of distrust and suspicion either in public ministration or in private conversation.

D&C 131:4c The church has been admonished heretofore in this respect; and the Spirit saith again, It is unbecoming to the character and calling of those who administer in the name of Jesus Christ, the Lord.

D&C 131:5 In witness whereof, I, Joseph Smith, president and servant of the church, hereto set my hand this fourteenth day of April in the year of our Lord 1914.

(Signed) Joseph Smith

Section 132

April 5, 1916-Independence, Missouri. The first revelation given to the church through Frederick Madison Smith, who had been approved by the 1915 General Conference to be President of the high priesthood and of the church.

Appointments to the Bishopric-The hastening time requires cooperation and consecration

The matter of selecting one to succeed Bishop E. L. Kelley in the office of Presiding Bishop has received by me careful and prayerful consideration.

D&C 132:1 I am, therefore, now prepared to say that the voice of the Spirit to me is that Bishop E. L. Kelley should be released from the responsibilities of Presiding Bishop, though he may act as traveling bishop, counseling and advising on the law of temporalities in harmony with his successor and the Presidency.

D&C 132:2 Let Benjamin R. McGuire be set apart and ordained Presiding Bishop of the church, and two of the brethren be set apart as counselors to him-one to be selected by him and supported by the conference, the other to be Bishop James F. Keir.

D&C 132:3a I admonish the church, and particularly those of the priesthood, that the hastening time being upon us, there is great necessity for confidence in the men of the church chosen for positions of great responsibility,

D&C 132:3b and all should consecrate of their talents, abilities, and substance for the prosecution of the great work intrusted to us.

D&C 132:4 Everywhere the demand for great activity exists; and for the accomplishment of our work, the great essential is fraternal cooperation in service to man and devoted consecration to God and his work.

Your servant,

Frederick M. Smith

Section 144

May 28, 1952-Independence, Missouri. Prior to leaving for ministry in Europe, President Israel A. Smith prepared the following document. After his death on June 14, 1958, this document was brought to the attention of general church officers. It was approved at the General Conference of October, 1958.

William Wallace Smith is appointed to be Israel A. Smith's successor as President of the church

To the Church and to the Council of Twelve Apostles:

D&C 144:1 As I am about to go overseas, and realize the usual hazards of travel, and being ever conscious of the uncertainties of life and the certainty of death, and in order that my demise, whether soon or longer postponed, may not cause confusion, I hereby declare that in the event of my death, whenever it shall occur, my brother, William Wallace Smith, should be selected to succeed me as President of the high priesthood of the church, this having been manifested to me by the Lord at the time he was chosen and set apart as an apostle and again when he was called to be a counselor and member of the Quorum of the First Presidency at the General Conference of 1950.

D&C 144:2 I feel at liberty to make this appointment at this time because he has become better acquainted with the members since he was called in 1947 and has proved himself to the body.

D&C 144:3 This action is taken by me pursuant to the authority vested in me by the terms of Section 43 of the book of Doctrine and Covenants, in connection with other references in the law, notably paragraph 8 of Section 127, all as interpreted by my father, the late President Joseph Smith, in The Saints' Herald of March 12, 1912, and all of which I believe is in complete harmony with precedents established by the church in General Conferences of 1860, 1915, and 1946.

(Signed) Israel A. Smith

Witnessed this 28th day of May, 1952