Community of Christ and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints share fourteen years of history—and nearly two centuries of separate growth and development. Both originating in the early years of the Restoration, the two churches also share similar heritage, teachings, and several important historic sites, such as Kirtland, Independence, and Nauvoo. Throughout their history there has been a sibling rivalry as the two faiths competed over claims to authority, scripture, and historical properties, among other issues. Even though their early leaders shared history and even some familial ties (like the Smith family), there have often been sharp exchanges on issues such as polygamy, ordination of Blacks, women, and, more recently, treatment of members of the LGBTQ+ community.

Relations began to improve when historians on both sides began to cooperate—for instance, in sharing documents from each other’s archives, beginning in 1968. Then academics from both traditions began participating in the Mormon History Association and John Whitmer Historical Association, sometimes becoming presidents of each other’s association. However, at times the understandable intransigence on rival truth claims between the “Prairie Saints” and the “Mountain Saints” continued.

Since 2016, a twice-yearly gathering of scholars from Community of Christ and Religious Education at BYU has aimed to increase understanding and fellowship among these two members of the Restoration family. As disciples of Christ, members of both dialogue teams felt a keen desire to heal old wounds, build on common ground, and foster mutual self-respect.

The dialogue emerged from small and simple interactions. One of the first occurred in 2014, when Scott Esplin, now dean of Religious Education, sat next to Andrew and Jewell Bolton at a gathering of the John Whitmer Historical Association in 2014. At the time Andrew was serving as a member of Community of Christ’s Quorum of the Twelve, while Jewell was an elder in the church. As Esplin remembered it, “conversation began with Andrew and Jewell Bolton about our respective life experiences and beliefs. I wanted to better understand the Community of Christ and to represent them properly when questions arise (as they often do) in my classes, and it quickly became clear that they had questions about our teachings as well. A lengthy, productive conversation emerged, followed by a lasting friendship. As we talked, others gathered at our table until there were several together, asking and answering questions in a spirit of genuine understanding.”[1] Of that encounter, Andrew Bolton remarked how Scott Esplin was authentic, nondefensive, and very thoughtful.

Another influential experience took place during the annual Book of Mormon in Zion conference in Independence, Missouri, when Andrew Bolton became acquainted with Robert L. Millet, an emeritus dean of Religious Education at BYU.[2] Millet had been involved in pioneering dialogue between Christian Evangelicals and BYU academics for about fifteen years, and in conversations with other religions. He recalled, “Andrew asked if I thought that a Latter-day Saint / Community of Christ dialogue would be something worth doing. I expressed a desire to investigate the possibilities.”[3] Bolton also came away from the experience with warm feelings: “I had been impressed by the kindly, insightful, and personable reasoning of Bob. . . . In addition, Bob Millet had inspiringly introduced me to the concept of ‘infinite atonement,’ for which I will be forever grateful. There were already blessings of Latter-day Saint / Community of Christ conversations happening.”[4]

Not long after that, Millet was at Church headquarters in Salt Lake City, where he visited with Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. During their conversation, Millet asked Elder Holland his feelings about beginning a new interfaith effort with Community of Christ. “I specifically asked if he could foresee any problems in doing so. [Elder Holland] was quiet for a few seconds and then said, ‘No, I don’t see any problems there.’ He then added, ‘I think Brother Joseph and Hyrum would be very pleased.’”[5]

Several scholars from BYU and Community of Christ agreed to take part in the first dialogue session that year. The BYU cohort included Robert Millet, Keith Wilson, and Richard and Lani Moore. Representing Community of Christ were Andrew and Jewell Bolton, Lachlan Mackay, David Howlett, Matt Frizzell, and Shandra Newcom. Millett began the conversation by sharing guidelines for discussion based on his experience. He quoted Krister Stendahl, a Swedish theologian and New Testament scholar, along this line:

• Ask a member of the faith what he or she really believes.
• Compare best with best.
• Leave room for holy envy.

Discussion can be fiercely honest, but love and friendship can grow.

This first meeting began a series of twice-yearly gatherings that took place in some of the most revered sites for both faiths, including the top floor of the Kirtland Temple, the Joseph Smith properties in Nauvoo, and the temple lot in Independence, Missouri.

The meetings included a rotating roster of scholars from both faiths who complemented the core group. Both scholars and students from Religious Education benefited from the dialogue. Members of the Community of Christ team became familiar faces in Religious Education classes, visiting in person and over Zoom. In one particularly memorable exchange, the Community of Christ team came to Utah to participate in a discussion with the entire faculty of Religious Education and also attend a performance of Handel’s Messiah on Temple Square. A discussion about ordinances and sacraments took place in an endowment room of the Jordan River Temple before it was rededicated after renovation. Another dialogue took place in the Independence Temple, worldwide headquarters for Community of Christ.

After a series of productive meetings, both teams agreed to collaborate to produce a book based on their discussions. The result is Restorations: Scholars in Dialogue from Community of Christ and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The book consists of a brief history of the dialogue and ten chapters of alternating exposition and response on different subjects. Topics highlight the differences and common ground shared by both faiths on Jesus Christ, scripture, ordinances and sacraments, apostasy and restoration, sacred spaces, Zion, and more.

Both groups carried many misunderstandings and misconceptions into our first conversations. Over time we gradually grew to respect each other and even became comfortable enough to engage in some good-natured teasing in our fellowship together. Restorations is filled with honest, frank conversations but also collegiality and friendship. From the beginning we all acknowledged that our work was not about uniting the two churches or converting each other. Each faith has a unique and vibrant character that has flourished under greatly different circumstances and merits appreciation and study. This dialogue is about informed scholars from the two churches working together, with goodwill, to accurately understand each other.

The two churches share a formative foundation from our fourteen years of shared history. Their separate development, now approaching two centuries, has led to radically different views on a number of topics. Yet those shared years, brief though they were, created a bond between the two churches. Like two family members who come together in their mature years to reconcile their differences and embrace shared history, we have experienced an abiding sense of fellowship and understanding in our dialogues together. Our history, doctrine, and shared sacred spaces will always connect us, but we are only just now finding that members from the two faiths can find connection, peace, and the grace of Jesus Christ as we create new sacred space together. Perhaps old rivals can become respectful friends.

Reading Restorations empowers members of both churches to also enter this interfaith discussion and to be more confident in initiating conversations when they meet someone from the “other church.” As taught by President Gordon B. Hinkley, Latter-day Saints have a mandate to participate in respectful interfaith dialogue. The peace mission of Community of Christ invites its members to also enter into respectful conversations with members of other faiths, including member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. May fruitful conversations continue in widening circles.

Notes

[1] Scott Esplin, personal correspondence with Richard Moore, April 9, 2021.

[2] The Book of Mormon Festival was created by Patrick and Jim McKay in 2009. In 2012 Keith Wilson and Richard Moore from Brigham Young University were invited to speak at the festival. Since that time, the annual event has become known as the Book of Mormon in Zion Conference, jointly planned by the McKay brothers and several faculty members from BYU, with speakers from various Restoration churches.

[3] Robert Millet, personal correspondence with Richard Moore, February 26, 2021.

[4] Andrew Bolton, personal correspondence with Richard Moore, January 14, 2021.

[5] Robert Millet, personal correspondence with Richard Moore, February 26, 2021.