Warren County Iowa Genealogical Society

Indianola Community of Christ

Indianola Community of Christ, 1609 W. Euclid Ave, Indianola, IA, (515) 961-6037 (previously called the Indianola Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints), first church services in 1898.

     

The Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints changed its name to the Community of Christ in 2000. A history of the church organization can be found at http://www.watchman.org/profiles/pdf/rldsprofile.pdf

Reorganized Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints, written by Fred WELLS is copied from the History of Warren County, Iowa, by Gerard SCHULTZ and Don L. BERRY, The Record and Tribune Company, Indianola, Iowa, 1953, pages 119-151.

Among the religious groups working in the county are the reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The members of this church are not to be confused with the Utah Latter-Day Saints, or Mormons, as many of their teachings and practices are at complete variance with the reorganized Latter-Day Saints.

Following the death of Joseph SMITH June 27, 1844, the Latter-Day Saints church became disorganized and scattered. About the year 1860 the scattered members and ministers got together and effected a reorganization of the church and added to the church name "Reorganized" to distinguish it from the Utah church, who also claimed the name Latter-Day Saints. Brigham YOUNG, in the meantime having led some of the saints to Utah territory, changed many of the teachings of the original church and introduced new and pernicious doctrines, chief among which were polygamy, Adam God, blood atonement, etc. These doctrines have become so notorious that many now suppose they were a part of so-called Mormonism from the first.

The civil courts, after long and exhaustive investigations, have twice sustained our contention that we are the true successors. The significance of that fact is apparent at a glance. It means that all we stand for now in the way of morality and religion, the church stood for prior to 1844; and the conditions in Utah today and under Brigham YOUNG are not a true criterion by which to judge the Reorganized Latter-Day Saints.

Services by these people have been held in Indianola, Carlisle, Beech, Sandyville, Ackworth, Liberty Center, Lacona and Milo, and adherents to this faith live in many parts of the county. A branch or congregation was first organized in the county in 1898 and in 1951 the membership was transferred to Des Moines.

The members are law abiding citizens, being taught that "He that keepeth the law of God hath no need to break the law of the land." They are invariably on the side of law enforcement, morality, temperance and education, many having taught in the "little red schoolhouse" and the high schools of the county.