| Church of Jesus Christ (Zion's Branch) | |
|---|---|
 Former Zion's Branch meetinghouse inIndependence, Missouri | |
| Classification | Latter Day Saint movement |
| Orientation | Latter Day Saints |
| Polity | Church conference |
| Region | United States |
| Founder | A.J.Cato, Robert Hall, Dennis Cato, Noel Goldsmith, and Lloyd Cunningham |
| Origin | April 6, 1985 Independence, MO |
| Separated from | Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (now known as theCommunity of Christ) |
| Congregations | 1 |
| Members | 40 |
TheChurch of Jesus Christ (Zion's Branch) is a denomination of theLatter Day Saint movement headquartered inIndependence, Missouri. It was formed on April 6, 1985[1] by individuals who had separated from theReorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, now the Community of Christ, due to certain doctrinal changes which took place in this organization during the 1970s and 80s, culminating in the adoption of Section 156 of the RLDSDoctrine and Covenants, which allowed women to be ordained to thepriesthood. Unable to accept this or other doctrinal changes, a group of elders and members led by A.J. Cato, Robert Hall, Dennis Cato, Noel Goldsmith, Roger E Billings and Lloyd Cunningham,[1] among others, formed Zion's Branch as a separate church. This organization no longer maintains a website, but despite this, many still claim to be proud members of the group. The meetinghouse was sold in April 2019 and is currently being repurposed.
Zion's Branch has a "Statement of Belief" on its official website.[2] It affirms thatGod the Father,Jesus Christ and theHoly Ghost are "separate, distinct entities", and that God is eternally unchangeable. The "fullness of the gospel" is contained within theBible andBook of Mormon. Other scripture is also accepted from theBook of Commandments and portions of the RLDS Doctrine and Covenants but specific revelations therein must be deemed by the church to be "in harmony with the fullness of the gospel as contained in the Bible and Book of Mormon" (which is not always the case). Zion's Branch utilizes theInspired Version of the Bible, and the RLDS edition of the Book of Mormon.
Zion's Branch teachesbaptism byimmersion,laying of hands for receipt of the Holy Ghost ("Confirmation"), administration of theSacrament (the church practicesclosed communion), laying on of hands for healing of the sick, and ordination (of males only) bylaying on of hands to various offices in theAaronic andMelchizedek priesthoods.
Zion's Branch believes that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God, but subject to error and deception like any man, and thus they do not accept all that he allegedly said or taught.Baptism for the Dead, a templeEndowment,Eternal Marriage,polygamy, and certain priesthood offices that are common within theLatter Day Saint movement, such aschurch president, are not accepted. For a short time, Zion's Branch endeavored to practice theUnited Order, but has since ceased doing so.
At present, there are noapostles within the Zion's Branch organization, though the organization has not formally disclaimed belief in such.
In September 2007, elder Ron Perkins of the Zion's Branch church offered a revelation entitled "An Admonition to all Saints of the Restoration". Although Perkins does not claim to be aprophet, he did assert that he had received this message "by the power of [the] Holy Spirit". In this short "admonition", Latter Day Saints in general are chided for following "sinful and ignorant men who have followed their own ways instead of God's ways", and "dishonorable priesthood" holders. The revelation admonishes its readers that God will no longer tolerate their "willful ignorance" of his truth. This revelation has been reproduced on the church's website.[3]