May 16, 2020

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Letter 3, December 1834

It’s a cliffhanger of an anticlimax.

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May 2, 2020

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Letter 2, November 1834

Letter 2, November 1834

In one heck of a misdirect, we learn the “history” according to the bible, not the history of Mormonism.

 

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Jared Carter

Gyan Books

Compare D&C

Tertullian

The Nutritional Value of Locusts

Book of Mormon Central essay

April 18, 2020

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So long and thanks for all the fish!

The Finale

It’s the end! We’ve run out of canon. Time to wrap it up. Thank you for listening for all these years!!!

 

-Marie and Bryce

April 11, 2020

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CC 165: The Final Revelation

CC 165: The Final Revelation

Pres. Veazey presented his words of counsel in 2013, it became canon in 2016. This is the most recent and therefore final revelation of the Community of Christ.

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Watch Pres. Veazey here

The president’s address in 2016 about evangelist blessing

World Conference Resolutions as of 2019

March 28, 2020

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CC 163: Scripture is not to be worshiped

CC 163: Scripture is not to be worshiped

Stephen Veazey begins his tenure as president of a prophetic people. It’s easy! Love your neighbor, take your church callings seriously, be humble, and know that the Book of Mormon isn’t a historical document that should ever be worshiped as divine.

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War in Afghanistan

Climate Change 2007

 

March 21, 2020

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CC 162: I quit, says the prophet

CC 162: I quit, says the prophet

Pres. McMurray shifts the church from a people with a prophet to that of a prophetic people. Then he quits.

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Boston Archdiocese

Letter of Resignation

Sunstone Magazine commentary

March 14, 2020

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CC 161: Transformation 2000

CC 161: Transformation 2000

This new thing called “the web” is a perfect place to invest, the stock market is definitely only going to go up. Pres. Grant McMurray expands the Community of Christ accordingly. They officially define themselves by who they are instead of who they are not.

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The Dot Com Bubble

March 7, 2020

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CC 160: Not a Smith

CC 160: Not a Smith

In a break from tradition, the next prophet-president isn’t a direct descendant of Joseph Smith, Jr. Welcome to the show, W. Grant McMurray!

 

Walking Into the Heart of the Questions: An Interview With Grant McMurray

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February 22, 2020

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CC 159: Alternate Universe

CC 159: Alternate Universe

Hirings and firings continue, but what really matters is how different Utah LDS is from Missouri RLDS. Finances. Gender. Transparency. Focus. Use of resources. Take everything you knew a true from Utah LDS, flip it and reverse it into an alternate universe, and that’s Missouri RLDS.

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The Father and the Family

Utah LDS Audit Committee Report, 1994

Danny Belrose

Dale Luffman

Utah LDS Women of the Church

February 15, 2020

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CC 158: Open Communion, Open Minds

CC 158: Open Communion, Open Minds

The last big breakaway wraps up, and its officially a new era for the church. Women rise to power all over, members with AIDS are officially accepted as worthy humans (while the world rejects them), communion is open to everyone, and further research is ordered to help the church better serve those suffering from addiction or domestic violence.

 

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File the paperwork to own your churches!!!

Historical Amnesia: Corporate Identity and Collective Memory

Grant McMurray

David Brock

Larry Tyree

Larry Norris

Dennis Piepergardes

 

February 8, 2020

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CC 157: The Ongoing Ramifications of Fred M

CC 157: The Ongoing Ramifications of Fred M

Wally Tony blocks the remaining fundamentalists from removing revelation 156 by introducing a resolution that petitions for revelation must come from the Prophet-President, not the people. Say thanks to the domineering personality of Fred M back in 1925! Is this a good change? Eh…

 

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Richard Price is Excommunicated

Lloyd Hurshman

Roy Schaefer

Norman Swails

February 1, 2020

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CC 156: Women hold the priesthood!

CC 156: Women hold the priesthood!

It’s 1984 and women are now officially allowed to hold the priesthood! Almost. They have to go through all the same training as the men do, and THEN they can hold the priesthood.

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Geoffrey Spencer

The Last Smith Presidents

 

January 18, 2020

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CC 154: Schism, Inc

CC 154: Schism, Inc

The first international apostle is called as the fundamentalist movement strengthens. Restoration Festivals, Inc is formed and subsequently silenced by the Q12.

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Read Steve Veazey’s blog about his Asia tour

Everett Graffeo

Kenneth Robinson

Steve Veazey’s appeal for more tithing dollars

1970s energy crisis

 

January 11, 2020

2 Comments

Marie’s Spirit Prison (Articles of Faith (and Doctrine))

Marie’s Spirit Prison (Articles of Faith (and Doctrine))

It’s time for some context to the 1980 proto-schism in RLDS. The Epitome of Faith and Doctrine is exactly the same as the Articles of Faith, just rebranded.

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January 4, 2020

1 Comment

CC 153: Faith of our fathers

CC 153: Faith of our fathers

W. Wallace Smith officially retires, Wallace B. Smith takes over. It goes smoothly, except for the 15%-25% of the congregation who Does Not Believe. Or more it’s that they believe in the fundamentals and their new progressive leader.

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Read about the presidency of Wallace B Smith here

Listen to the patron-exclusive bonus episode here

 

December 28, 2019

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CC 152: Hello, Wally Tony

CC 152: Hello, Wally Tony

In a shocking turn of events, W. Wallace Smith decides to retire rather than remain prophet-president until death. He nominates his son, Wallace Bunnell Anthony Smith, as successor.

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GCR 564

Graceland College Book of Knowledge

 

 

December 21, 2019

2 Comments

CC 151: Not the Meeting Minutes

CC 151: Not the Meeting Minutes

Sweeping changes have been made in core beliefs and how the church teaches theology to the children. Naturally, this revelation mentions literally none of that.

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Roy Cheville

Pax Mondial

Temple School

Paul Booth

December 14, 2019

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CC 150: Build it… where?

CC 150: Build it… where?

God wants the Saints to build a temple, which is problematic since RLDS doesn’t own the land where temple should be built. Can they resurrect and old agreement that would allow them to slide right into that plot of land?

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Journal of Mormon History

Cuyahoga River

 

December 7, 2019

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CC 149A: Schismpalooza, Part 2

CC 149A: Schismpalooza, Part 2

God is so great that his words require clarification in not only a supplemental revelation, but also for months and months in the official church newspaper.

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November 23, 2019

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CC 149: Schismpalooza, Part 1

CC 149: Schismpalooza, Part 1

Oh snap, it’s a revelation so groundbreaking that god had to make this a two-parter! What’s a surplus? Are the bishops the bad guys? Will the temple be used for… anything? No idea!

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Differing Visions: Dissenters in Mormon History

Ruby Irene Jones, total badass

November 16, 2019

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CC 148: And Everything Changes…

CC 148: And Everything Changes…

The Statement on Objections rocks the church to its core, so naturally the revelation regarding personnel changes is what’s in the D&C.

 

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F. Henry Edwards

Duane Couey

Aleah Koury

 

November 9, 2019

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CC 146-147: Look to the Future

CC 146-147: Look to the Future

The church shifts its focus from cultural anecdata from the past to hard truths for the future. Cracks in the church foundation begin to appear.

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Cecil B Ettinger

The Conference of Restored Elders

Duane Couey

Arthur Oakman

Russell Ralston

William Timms

 

November 2, 2019

1 Comment

CC 145: It is my will…

CC 145: It is my will…

Pres. W. Wallace Smith flexes his prophetic muscles by doing a ton of staffing changes. On the surface, nothing is changing. In reality, he’s setting up the church to do things like include non-white members in their leadership.

 

All the Links

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Maurice Draper

Roy Cheville

Charles Neff

Outreach International

The splinter group that broke off circa 2005

Comments on Clifford Cole

 

October 26, 2019

1 Comment

CC 143-144: Goodbye and Hello, Pres. Smith

CC 143-144: Goodbye and Hello, President Smith

It’s the end of an era as President Israel “Dutch” Smith passes away in a car crash. President W. Wallace Smith is named successor, which makes sense since he’s essentially been acting president for a solid six years.

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Historical Amnesia: Corporate Identity and Collective Memory

Nauvoo in the 1960s

October 19, 2019

1 Comment

CC 142: A series of bad looks for Dutch

CC 142: A series of bad looks for Dutch

Prophet-President Israel “Dutch” Smith starts making tours of the Pacific and Europe to meet the members of his church. Or, from another perspective, he uses the church as an excuse to travel, get fancy gadgets installed on his car, and watch baseball. It’s all a matter of perspective.

 

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John Garver

Gentle Monarch, by Norma Derry Hiles

October 12, 2019

1 Comment

CC 140-141: Zion is in your heart (possibly)

Zion is in your heart (possibly)

Israel “Dutch” Smith spends his first years of his presidency at his wife’s bedside, with breaks to write correspondence and delegate decisions to F. Henry Edwards, his nephew-in-law.

All the Links

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Roscoe Davey

Maurice L Draper

Reed Holmes

A Gentle Monarch

October 5, 2019

2 Comments

CC 139: RIP, Fred M

CC 139: RIP, Fred M

The post-WWII era ushers in an era of economic growth for the church, and a grumpy Fred M., a prophet who failed to write down his succession plan. Israel “Dutch” Smith becomes prophet-president, soon thereafter giving his first revelation.

All the Links

John Garver

Frank Henry Edwards

Fred M.’s funeral bulletin

September 21, 2019

1 Comment

CC 138: Hello, Israel.

CC 138: Hello, Israel

The revelation is just another staffing change from Fred M. The reality is that nobody likes him and his closest confidantes are quitting. Somehow, despite a lifetime of being treated as Lesser, little brother Israel A. Smith steps in to start the process in becoming the next prophet-president.

All the Links

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L.F.P. Curry

Gentle Monarch: The Presidency of Israel A. Smith

Bonus Episode – Russell M. Nelson tells us the November policy was motivated by love. He’s wrong.

September 14, 2019

1 Comment

CC 137: Even More Depressioning

CC 137: Even More Depressioning

Fred. M’s vision of a literal, physical Zion slips even further from his grasp. Church membership is falling, money is tighter than tight, and WWII is just around the corner.

All the Links

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1933 Saints Herald

1937 Saints Herald

C. George Mesley

Arthur Oakman

Charles Hield

Mr. Hield looks pretty fly

 

 

 

September 7, 2019

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CC 136: Oops! A Great Depression

CC 136: Oops! A Great Depression

Fred M. has gained complete control of the Church, for both good and bad. Great strides are made in the quest for a physical Zion on earth! And he completely misses how overspent the coffers are, and then a Great Depression wipes out what little resources were left.

All The Links

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Supreme Directional Control

F. Henry Edwards

The Graceland College Book of Knowledge, by David Goehner

August 31, 2019

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CC 135: Too Many Controversies

CC 135: Too Many Controversies

Brother McGuire stages a coup, sort of, with the help of immense amounts of bureaucracy. Fred M. is temporarily ousted from The Saints Herald, only to regain power at the expense of his younger brother, Israel.

 

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Historical Amnesia: Corporate Identity and Collective Memory

General Conference Resolutions

 

August 24, 2019

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CC 134: SDCC #2 – Common Consent

CC 134: SDCC #2 – Common Consent

There’s so much controversy that we just don’t have anything harmonious, except a tiny little background clause in membership transfer that we’ll care about in 1925. Right now it’s 1922-1924, and Fred M’s leadership is tanking the church. Membership? Money? Happiness? It’s bad news bears. Let’s yell about it at general conference!!

 

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Historical Amnesia: Corporate Identity and Collective Memory

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August 17, 2019

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CC 132-133: SDCC #1

Supreme Directional Control Controversy #1

Fred M becomes the prophet, and immediately things go awry. He micromanages, he gives his wife biological specimens, he throws down during general conference. It’s the first of six controversies!!!!

 

All the Links

Patron Bonus – Sunstone 2019

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NPR article about surgery on a boat

Historical Amnesia : Corporate Identity and Collective Memory, the doctoral dissertation by Dr. Kenneth Mulliken

Rubber suits during baptism

August 3, 2019

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CC 131: Rest in Peace, JS III

CC 131: Rest in Peace, JS III

An era comes to a close as the son of the prophet passes away of old age. Let’s recap his life and read his final revelation. Suspicious that his final words from God sound a lot like everything Fred M. wants, eh?

 

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Lyman Wight’s recollection of Joseph Smith Jr passing the torch to his son

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July 27, 2019

1 Comment

CC 130: A Shift in Tone

CC 130: A Shift in Tone

Prophet Emeritus Joseph Smith III suddenly sounds an awful lot like his son, Fred M. It’s shocking how much the divine will of god aligns with the mortal will of Fred M. This does not bode well.

 

All the Links

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Isaac White

J.W. Wight

Joseph R Lambert

Wiliam M Aylor

“The Apostolic Office”, by Paul Hanson

 

July 20, 2019

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CC 129: Dissent!!!

CC 129: Dissent!!!

R. C. Evans is ousted from the presidency and he is NOT happy about it. He’s replaced with “just another Smith”.

 

All The Links

Section 129

Pretender to the Throne: R.  C. Evans and the Problem of Presidential Succession

Bertha Madison Smith

Roger Launius, NASA historian

Elbert A. Smith (a grandson)

J.F. Curtis

July 13, 2019

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CC 128: Zion Is Calling

CC 128: Zion is Calling

Fred M.’s influence grows ever stronger. The church is (slowly and thoughtfully) on the move from rural everywhere to Independence, MO. Saints are advised to migrate only after they’ve secured a job and housing, and to integrate kindly with their neighbors.

 

All The Links

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Mormon Extermination Order

The Stone Church (historical)

The Stone Church (today)

July 6, 2019

1 Comment

CC 127: The women (try to) speak

CC 127: The women (try to) speak

The church is in transition from the founders to the next generation. Fred M is named the successor to JS 3.0, money isn’t enough for all the things, and are children or old people more important? Discuss.

 

All the links

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Health Ministries in the RLDS Church

Independence Sanatorium

Ennovation Center

Mite to Bishop

Emma Burton is a Queen (her husband’s biography)

June 29, 2019

1 Comment

CC 126: JS 3.0 has a vision

CC 126: JS 3.0 has a vision

Joseph Smith III has a vision. Happily, it streamlines responsibilities within the church and nominates people to leadership positions. It’s official canon… but not everyone believed so at the time.

 

All the Links

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List of the Presiding Patriarchs

Richard P Howard

James Caffall

Edmund C Briggs

R.C. Evans

Francis Sheehy

Cornelius Butterworth

John Rushton

 

June 22, 2019

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RLDS vs LDS

RLDS vs LDS

It’s 1901, and the differences between RLDS and LDS are big enough to warrant a full-on comparison. What does the two factions believe? How does the afterlife work? Which is the One True Church?

 

All the Links

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Community of Christ (formerly RLDS) vs LDS

June 15, 2019

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CC 125: Do What I Say Because I Say So

CC 125: Do What I Say Because I Say So

The church is at a turning point. Should their money go to the newly-begun Graceland College? What about strengthening their existing membership? Missionary work?

Joseph 3.0 solves it all by taking a turn from Common Consent to Divine Revelation, but in a nice way, not an authoritarian dictator sort of way.

 

All the Links

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Gomer T Griffiths

History of Graceland

Patron Bonus Ep

June 1, 2019

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CC 123-124: The Q12 is Fulfilled

CC 123-124: The Q12 is Fulfilled

The Q12 is being fully filled, not just on paper, but in reality. Sure, we could focus on the formality and the procedure. Nope! There’s human drama all over the place. Much for fun to focus on that.

 

All the Links

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Presiding Patriarchs

E. L. Kelley

William W. Blair

William H Kelley

Isaac White

J. W. Wight

R. C. Evans

 

 

May 25, 2019

1 Comment

CC 122: Be Kind

CC 122: Be Kind

Be nice to each other!!! For real, just be nice. All this administrative stuff is important, and boring.

 

All the Links

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Temple Lot Case

Thomas W Smith

Joseph Bazalgette, the sewer architect

The Great Stink

 

 

May 18, 2019

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CC 121: Joseph’s Younger Brother

CC 121: Joseph’s Younger Brother

On the surface, this is all some administration and encouragement for unity and peace. Just underneath, two members of the Q12 flounce away while Joseph Smith 3.0’s younger brother, David, is committed to a hospital for the insane.

 

All the Links

David H. Smith, the youngest son of the Prophet and Emma

From Mission to Madness: Last Son of the Mormon Prophet, by Valeen Tippetts Avery

The Sweet Singer of Israel, Deseret News

Northern Illinois Hospital for the Insane

The Temple Lot Court Case(s)

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May 11, 2019

0 Comments

CC 119: Organize the Reorganization

CC 119: Organize the Reorganization

Sometimes you just have to write out the boring church policies. Slog through it with us. Please? It’s real boring, but we’re interesting. Promise. Oh god, go get a drink and chug.

 

All The Links

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Alexander H Smith

May 4, 2019

2 Comments

CC 119: No, we are the OTHER Mormons

CC 119: No, we are the OTHER Mormons

The RLDS drama is so small in comparison to the Brighamite LDS shenanigans of polygamy/theocracy. A few of the leadership flounce away, basically peacefully, a few others pass away. JS 3.0 gently chides the Saints in matters of ceremony.

 

All the Links

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Wikipedia on The Quorum of the Twelves Apostles

Read about Gurley Jr’s snit with JS 3.0 

RIP, Josiah Ells

 

April 27, 2019

0 Comments

CC 118: Our Motto is Peace

CC 118: Our Motto is Peace

The church is a bit too scattered, consensus isn’t quite where it needs to be. JSIII calls his flock back together. Time to solidify the base.

 

All the Links

JSIII and the Kirtland Temple Lawsuit

And the article about that lawsuit is here

Community of Christ, An Illustrated History

 

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April 20, 2019

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CC 117: Show Up and Be Heard

CC 117: Show Up and Be Heard

RLDS struggles with how to maintain a foundation in Joseph Smith while also distinguishing themselves from Joseph Smith’s actions.

 

All the Links

Council of the 12 Apostles

The Changing RLDS Reponse to Mormon Polygamy

Daniel B Rasey

The Oshkosh Northwestern

History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saint: 1844-1872

 

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Read along with us, CC 117