AboutMichael Kelley Expertise For a different viewpoint on Mormonism for your questions, try me. I am a staunch believer in the Book of Mormon and belong to another church (the Church of Christ)that is set up identically to the Biblical church. If there are things about traditional Mormonism that trouble you or you have questions about, just ask and you might find the answers from the Book of Mormon to be quite surprising. I have been studying the scriptures diligently for 16 years under the school of hard knocks... I may not have all of the answers but will sure go find them if I don`t. I`m strongest on Biblical and Book of Mormon doctrines, and am also somewhat familiar with Mormon history and archaeology.
Question Dear Michael, To follow up on the earlier question I asked you: on the Internet I found two groups called the "Church of Christ" which consider the Book of Mormon as holy scripture. They are the "Church of Christ Temple Lot" and the "Church of Christ with the Elijah Message." Is either of these the church you belong to? Or is it another church? Thanks and best wishes.
Answer Hi David,
I belong to the Church of Christ which is also known as the Temple Lot or Hedrickites (named after the man who brought the group back to Missouri). The Church of Christ Elijah Message split off from the Temple Lot group in the 1920s through Otto Fetting who had revelations brought to him by an "angel" that was "dressed in black attire" and tought doctrines that the church disagreed with such as rebaptism. Once the church refused to follow Otto Fettings messages he took off and brought with him about a third of the church.
There are some 100 factions that has broken off from the original Church of Christ (as it was called in 1830) or the LDS church. Most are small and obscure and not popular. One of the larger factions, the Reorganized LDS church changed their name to the Community of Christ and has since forsaken the Book of Mormon. I have researched all of these factions and found the Church of Christ (TL) to be the closest (while imperfect) representative of the Book of Mormon and Bible Church of Christ.
If you have any other questions about the Church of Christ our their doctrinal teachings feel free to ask as you wish, I will be happy to answer.
