A Partial Listing of Mormon Denominations
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) This is the main group of about 13 million, based in Salt Lake City Utah.
Scripture: Book of Mormon, Doctrines and Covenants, the Pear of Great Price, and the Bible insofar as it is translated correctly.
Old Beliefs: Used to believe that polygamy was an everlasting ordinance (abandoned 1890), blacks could never become gods, and for about 50 years that Adam was our god.
Community of Christ (Name changed in 2001 from Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (RLDS)) is the second largest group (250,000 members), based in Independence, Missouri. They are a member of the National Council of Churches.
Scripture: Book of Mormon, Doctrine and covenants, and Joseph Smith's "translation" of the Bible.
Key Beliefs: The true prophet must be a descendant of Joseph Smith.
The Church of Christ (Temple Lot) is based in Independence , Missouri) has 6,000 members.
Scripture: Book of Mormon, Book of Commandments, the Bible
Key Beliefs: Joseph Smith was a fallen prophet. They do not have a prophet today. They still have twelve apostles though.
The Church of Jesus Christ (Bickertonite) has 8,000 members and is based in Monongahela, Pennsylvania. Sidney Rigdon joined the Mormon Church in 1830, and about 3,000 Campbellites joined the church in the 1830's doubling its size. After Joseph Smith died I 1844, Sidney Rigdon started his own church.
Scripture: Book of Mormon and the Bible
Key Beliefs: Joseph Smith was a fallen prophet. They reject polygamy and are somewhat Pentecostal.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Strangites) only has about 300 members today. They are based in Artesia, New Mexico.
Scripture: Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, Book of the Law of the Lord (found on metal plates under a tree in Michigan).
Key Beliefs: polygamy, animal sacrifice, Saturday worship
The Church of the Aaronic Order was about 3,000 members and is based in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Key beliefs: communal living, Old Testament Law, Saturday worship.
Church of Jesus Christ (Fettingite) broke away from the Church of Christ Temple Lot. Their leader said John the Baptist appeared to him and talked with him.
Scripture: Book of Mormon, Book of Commandments, the Bible
Fundamentalist Mormons have over 60 groups, and about 75,000 people.
Scripture: Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, Pearl of Great Price, Bible, The hidden Revelations (by LDS prophet John Taylor)
Key Beliefs: Polygamy is the most holy principle, Adam-God doctrine. Black are cursed and should not be ordaince. The LDS church is apostate.
Fundamentalist Mormon Groups
Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (6,000 to 8,000 members) (Warren Jeffs was a leader)
Church of the Firstborn in the Fullness of Times (Galeana, Chihuahua Mexico) started by Alma Dayer LeBaron
Church of the Lamb of God (San Diego) in 1972 Ervil LeBaron split of from Alma Dayer LeBaron's group. They killed his brother, the leader of a rival polygamous group.
Scripture: Book of the New Covenants by Ervil LeBaron
Key Beliefs: Book of the New Covenants says to kill apostates
Latter Day Church of Christ (The Kingston Clan) 1200 members
Key beliefs: Allows marriage to underage girls
Apostolic United Brethren (AUB) (Rulon C. Allred) 5,000 to 9,000 members
Righteous Branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ()
True and Living Church of Jesus Christ of Saints of the Last Days (Manti, Utah) (300-500 members)
Centennial Park group (1500 members) Broke off from the FLDS
Nielsen / Naylor Group (200 members) (Leaders were Alma Adelbert Timpson and Frank Naylor) Most members came from the FLDS or Centennial Park group)
United Latter-day Church of Jesus Christ (Davis County Utah) (some leaders were Heber G. Smith and Steven H. Tucker)
Some estimate as many as 15,000 polygamous Mormon groups
by Steven M. Morrison, PhD.