With the death of the prophet, the early saints put a date of 1844 on the disorder or disorganization of the church presidency. They now believed the authority or “church” resided in branches. (RLDS CH vol 5 p346–351) The faithful saints still functioned as members of the original church and believed, as per revelation, that the true prophet and son of the martyred prophet would return and take his rightful place. They were not a new church, but held to the original beliefs of the 1830 church.

 

“Where was the Church during the lapse of time between the disorganization and the reorganization?  It was with the remnant scattered abroad, who remained true to the principles first given as the gospel of Christ and with any body of such remnant, numbering six or more, under the pastoral charge of an elder, priest, teacher, or deacon.”  Joseph Smith III, Foundations of the Reorganization, Church History 5:346; see also 5:52

 

We would call these bodies “numbering six or more,” branches of the original church. The original church functioned in branches from 1844 to 1860.  In 1860 the legitimate prophet and president returned to take leadership of the original church in succession from his father Joseph Smith Jr.  Per Joseph Smith III, the church remained and functioned as branches of the original church without a change in ordinances, doctrine, or leadership structure.  Untainted by factions, the “stream of authority” of these branches did not rise higher than the fountain of the 1830 church, thus they were no new organization.  Thus, many saints were accepted into the reorganization on their baptism in the original church.

 

“When I went to the Amboy conference in 1860, the first thing done in which I was personally interested was, I made application to be received upon my original membership, and it was so done upon motion and vote, and my mother was received the same way.  Both were received as members, and our original membership acknowledged at that time.” (Testimony of Joseph Smith III – The Temple Lot Case – p 40)

 

The term “reorganized” was added to delineate from the other factions who had split off from the 1830 church.  With the implementation of polygamy, change of prophetic lineage, rebaptism and other doctrinal changes, these factions could no longer be considered the original church, even though they claimed the original name.  The reorganization of 1860 was implicated in association with these factional groups until finally in 1870 they had to adopt a platform that distinguished them as a separate organization. In March of 1894 a US trial court ruled that the RLDS Church was the rightful successor to the original Latter Day Saint church and the Temple Lot property should be entitled to them. (see Temple Lot Suit) When the ruling was appealed, rather than reversing the decision of the trial court, the appeals court dismissed the case from the courts entirely, which meant that the controversy stood as though no case had ever been brought. This decision was made upon grounds of unreasonable delay (laches doctrine) from the RLDS in filing suit and not because of an issue with the ruling that the RLDS Church was the rightful successor to the original Latter Day Saint church.

 

Additional pertinent information:

 

Branches: The first church organization of April 6, 1830, was a branch according to all subsequent definitions (“Articles of Incorporation of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints,” Rules & Resolutions, App. A, 1980).  The words “church” and “branch” were often used interchangeably (compare Doc. & Cov. 17:16a with CH 1:561; see also Doc. & Cov. 83:22).  “Branches are the primary and congregational organizations of the Church…” Rules of Order, 1891, p. 9

 

No New Organization, but a Continuation of the Original Church:

 

“I was received into the Reorganized Church, like others, on my original baptism, and became identified with the movement…”  (Testimony of Joseph Smith III – The Temple Lot Case –  Page 38)

 

“Yes, sir, I maintain that if a church organization…, that is, it would be the same unless there was a radical change made in its organic structure, or faith and doctrine; but it would be the same body if the rules and regulations added were in harmony with its organic laws, and particularly would this be the case if the same body of people substantially remained with it and came under the government of these rules and regulations.  So that it is the same church even if it has additional or added rules for its government in the Book of Doctrine and Covenants, so long as they are not in conflict with its organic laws and fundamental principles…We do not propose to reorganize a dead body, in the case of the reorganization of the church the body was alive all the time from 1844, although for a time its vitality was very low.” (Testimony of Joseph Smith III – The Temple Lot Case – Page 69)

 

“The Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints could not properly be called a new movement or new organization, for that would mean a new organization of the church, which this was not; at least I never considered it so, nor did the church as an organization. It always contended and believed that it was the original church in succession; that was my individual opinion, and that was the attitude of the church as an organization.”-Plaintiff’s Abstract, pp. 401, 402. Ch III page 198

 

“Reorganized” added to delineate between original and factional churches:

 

Notice below that RLDS is used for an “association or organization” to incorporate under the laws of men.  When speaking of doctrine and tenets, the original “Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints” is used as the proper name.  RLDS is an organizational name to distinguish from others, not an identity of Christ’s true church.

 

Articles of Incorporation:  The Semiannual Conference was in session at Parks Mill, near Council Bluffs, Iowa, from September 12 to 15, 1872; Joseph Smith was chosen president, and D. H. Bays and R. M. Elvin secretaries. The first two days were occupied in routine work. On the 14th, the Articles of Incorporation were carefully considered by sections, and after some amendments were adopted. This incorporation was to be effected, and Articles of Association adopted by “The Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints,” at a general meeting of the members of said church, held at Plano, in the county of Kendall, in the state of Illinois, on the 21st day of October, A. D. 1872. Article 1. The name of this association and organization shall be “The Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints,” and shall be incorporated under the laws of Illinois, under and by that name. The church adheres to the doctrines and tenets of the original “Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints,” as organized by Joseph Smith (the martyr), now deceased, on the 6th day of April, A. D. 1830, as the same has been reorganized by Joseph Smith, now of Plano, Illinois, with the advice and assistance of Jason W. Briggs, Zenos H. Gurley, William Marks, Sen., Israel L. Rogers, Isaac Sheen, and many others.” CH Vol 3 pp 709-710