Biography

The Church of Christ (Rigdonites) was a church formed after the death of Joseph Smith.

The Church of Christ (Rigdonites) was established by Sidney Rigdon, who had been a memebr of the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. After the martyrdom of Joseph Smith, Rigdon believed he was the rightful successor to the presidency of the Church. After recruiting leaders of the Church to his cause, he relocated to Pittsburgh and organized his church, at one point known as the Church of Jesus Christ of the Children of Zion. The Rigdonites heavily opposed the practice of polygamy and believed Joseph Smith to be a fallen prophet. They attempted to live the law of consecration. After this communal society failed, Rigdon abandoned his followers and lived the rest of his life with his family in New York. One of his apostles, William Bickerton, remained in Pennsylvania and, in 1862, formed a church with the other believers he had converted. This church, the only remaining church with ties to Rigdon's, is called The Church of Jesus Christ.

Citation:

Wikipedia.org, via WWW, April 17, 2020 (Established by First Presidency counselor Sidney Rigdon after death of Joseph Smith; Rigdon believed he was rightful successor to presidency; Rigdon recruited other and relocated to Pittsburgh and established own church; church at one point known as the Church of Jesus Christ of the Chlidren of Zion; Rigdonites rejected polygamy and saw Joseph Smith as fallen prophet; church attempted to live law of consecration; Rigdon abondoned followers and lived with family in New York after communal society failed; Bickerton established The Church of Jesus Christ with those that remained; only remaining church with ties to church Rigdon established).

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