| 644 honored to be the mother of seven members of his kingdom, has been a member herself for about twenty-seven years."
It would seem from these declarations that this organization claimed to be the original church, reorganized or reformed. Lately we have heard from some of its leading representatives that they claimed to be a branch of the church, and was in fact a continuation of the Crow Creek branch organized a few years prior to the death of Joseph Smith, in Woodford County, Illinois. They accepted the revelations which were adopted by the General Assembly held at Kirtland, Ohio, August 17, 1835, and published in the 1835 edition of the Book of Doctrine and Covenants; but rejected revelations of a later date. They rejected, as false doctrines, baptism for the dead, plurality of gods, tithing, and polygamy.
In accordance with the communication before mentioned, this body of worshipers removed to Independence, Missouri, where they have maintained an organization ever since. The organization, however, has undergone some changes. It has no one now recognized as prophet, seer, and revelator, nor have they apostles. When they removed to Independence, Missouri, they bought up, as opportunity offered, some of the lots belonging to the block originally dedicated for the building of the Temple, including the site for the Temple. Some conditions not necessary to fully mention here, prompted the Reorganization in 1893 to enter suit in the Circuit Court of the United States for Western District of Missouri, for possession of the Temple Lot. The decision was rendered by Judge John F. Philips in favor of the Reorganization in the following: "Decree will go in favor of Complainant, establishing the trust in its favor against Respondents, removing the cloud from the title, enjoining Respondents from asserting title to the property, and awarding the possession to the Complainant."
The Church of Christ appealed, and the case was heard by the Circuit Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. The Court of Appeals did not disturb the decree of Judge Philips so far as title was concerned, but sustained one of the contentions of the Church of Christ, that of "Laches,"
(page 644) |
