TheChurch of Christ was aschismatic sect from theLatter Day Saint movement that was founded in 1848 byJames C. Brewster andHazen Aldrich. Because of the church's belief that Brewster was aprophet, the group is often called theBrewsterites.
After themob killing ofJoseph Smith,apostleWilliam E. McLellin and other early church leaders returned toKirtland, Ohio, to pick up the remnants of the church there. The group adopted the original name of theLatter Day Saint church, the "Church of Christ". Two principles of the movement were to (1) acceptDavid Whitmer as leader, and (2) declare Kirtland as the proper center of the church.
At the organization of the church inSpringfield, Illinois,Hazen Aldrich was selected as the organization's first president. He selectedJames C. Brewster and Jackson Goodale (1816–1896) as his counselors in theFirst Presidency. The church published a periodical known as theOlive Branch, which often containedrevelations that Brewster had obtained. Notable adherents includedJohn E. Page, one of the original members of theQuorum of the Twelve.
Because Brewster lived in Springfield, the newspaper eventually moved operation to Illinois. In October 1849, a newspaper article indicated that Kirtland was a temporary headquarters, and they planned to move to California. On June 23, 1849, the group held a General Assembly in theKirtland Temple. Six members accepted Brewster's revelation to move to California.
In 1850, Brewster declared that there was a land called "Bashan" in theRio Grande Valley that God had selected as the new gathering place for the church. In 1851, Brewster and Goodale led a wagon train of followers to find Bashan, while Aldrich—who had begun to doubt Brewster's prophetic abilities—remained behind in Kirtland.
There were disagreements between Brewster and Goodale and the other members of the church on the journey to Bashan, and most of Brewster's followers, includingOlive Oatman and her family, deserted Brewster and headed forCalifornia. Brewster returned to Illinois and the church was never reorganized.
 | This article includes alist of references,related reading, orexternal links,but its sources remain unclear because it lacksinline citations. Please helpimprove this article byintroducing more precise citations.(April 2015) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
