| Menu |
| Topic: | Church of Christ | LDS | RLDS |
| First Presidency | No | Yes | Yes |
| High Priests | No | Yes | Yes |
| Patriarches | No | Yes | Yes |
| 12 Apostles at the head | Yes | No | No |
| A prophet at the head | No | Yes | Yes |
| Prophets | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Church name as of 1830 | Yes | No | No |
| Bible | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Book of Mormon | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Book of Commandments | Yes(*) | No | No |
| Doctrine & Covenants | Yes(*) | Yes | Yes |
| Pearl of Great Price | No | Yes | No |
| Baptism by Immersion | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Baptism for the dead | No | Yes | No |
| Celestial Marriage | No | Yes | No |
| Polygamy | No | Yes(+) | No(#) |
| Man to become a God | No | Yes | No |
| God, once a man | No | Yes | No |
| Temple in Zion (Indep., Mo.) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Other temples (except at Jerusalem) | No | Yes | Kirtland, Ohio |
(*) Joseph Smith gave some divine revelations, but not all were divine. They must be compared with the Bible and Book of Mormon, the only safe standards. See Isaiah 8:20 and Ezek. 37:19 - only two "sticks" or, "books"of scripture.
(+) Utah D & C provides for plural marriages, but the practice was since declared illegal by President Woodruff.
(#) In recent years, polygamists in India have been accepted into fellowship without requiring a change in family status. The Church of Christ is a remnant of the original church of 1830, being neither disorganized nor reorganized. Its priesthood may be traced back, intact, to Joseph Smith and the angel. Early Church innovations were accepted for a time, but we later repudiated them, reverting to the scriptural pattern in organization and doctrine. As the Bible and Book of Mormon were said to contain the fullness of the gospel, a fullness will admit of no new doctrine nor priesthood office. See Doc. and Cov., Utah ed. 42:12, 59: RLDS ed. 42:5, 16.
Source:Sheldon, William A., A Synopsis of the Church of Christ Beliefs and Practices, as Compared to Other Latter Day Churches.