Understanding the Differences Between the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) and the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (FLDS)
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, commonly known as the LDS Church, and the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, known as FLDS, both trace their roots back to Joseph Smith's early revelations in the 19th century. However, their teachings, practices, and leadership have diverged significantly over the years.
LDS Church: Principles and Practices
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a global organization with approximately 16.8 million members across 153 countries. It is known for its positive engagement with the world, including encouraging education and civic participation. Its leadership, headed by a retired heart surgeon,interfaces regularly with world leaders to promote understanding and goodwill.
Principles of the LDS Church include:
The Second Coming of Jesus Christ Zion, a community bound by love, obedience, and cooperation Education and community serviceThe LDS Church encourages cooperation with other religions and promotes the welfare of its members and the broader community. Among its notable practices are its missionary program, which seeks to spread the gospel and build strong, supportive communities.
FLDS: A Closed and Controversial Organization
In contrast, the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a small, closed, and often controversial group. It is primarily located in areas of Utah and Southern Arizona. The FLDS has gained significant notoriety for its practices, which include:
Polygamy, which is illegal and heavily criticized in the modern context Social isolation and inbreeding Manipulation and pressure of youth into arranged marriages Leadership by a imprisoned and convicted individual for child sexual abuseThe FLDS claims to be a follower of early Mormon principles, but its interpretations and practices have long been seen as deviating significantly from the mainstream LDS Church.
The Historical Evolution of the FLDS
The FLDS emerged from the fractured remnants of early Mormon communities that denounced polygamy in the late 19th century. Key historical factors that contributed to the FLDS include:
The 1890 Manifesto, which officially declared an end to new plural marriages The subsequent excommunication of certain leaders who continued to promote polygamy The formation of groups like the Consortium of Friends (Council of Friends), which sought to maintain traditional practices The eventual incorporation of these groups into the FLDS under leaders like Rulon JeffsDifferences and Overlap
While the LDS and FLDS are distinct organizations with few overlapping members, they both claim to follow the teachings of Joseph Smith. However, their beliefs and practices have diverged significantly:
The LDS Church embraces education and community service, while the FLDS maintains a predominantly closed society. The LDS Church has an extensive missionary program and engages with mainstream society, whereas the FLDS operates largely in isolation. The LDS Church has a more inclusive leadership structure, featuring several leaders and councils, while the FLDS has a centralized and authoritarian leadership.Nonetheless, the FLDS occasionally attracts media attention through drama and controversy, but this is not indicative of a continuous organizational or spiritual affiliation.
Conclusion
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints both have roots in the same early Mormon movement, but their paths have diverged dramatically. While the LDS Church is known for its open and cooperative approach, the FLDS maintains a closed and often isolated existence, with practices that are shunned by mainstream society. Understanding these differences helps to clarify the distinctions between these two groups within the broader Mormon tradition.