Amboy Conference
Encyclopedia
The Amboy Conference was the setting of the official "re-organization" of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints into the Latter Day Saint denomination now known as the Community of Christ
. Held on April 6, 1860, this conference recognized movement founder, Joseph Smith, Jr's eldest son, Joseph Smith III
as his rightful successor and sustained the young Joseph as President of the Church
.
Elder Zenas H. Gurley, Sr. presided over the conference which was held in Amboy, Illinois
, and Samuel Powers and Edmund Briggs were reported to preach powerful sermons and bear strong testimonies of the restored gospel. Joseph Smith III
addressed the conference and told the assembled Latter Day Saints that he had accepted the calling "in obedience to a power not my own, and I shall be dictated by the power that sent me." Smith also denounced the practice of plural marriage
, stating that it was in opposition to the doctrine contained in the Book of Mormon
. He affirmed his allegiance to the constitution and laws of the United States and he said that the church must act in accordance with those laws that there be no antagonism between church and state.
Both Smith
and his mother Emma Hale Smith Bidamon
were accepted into the church without rebaptism
— as their original baptisms were considered to remain valid. After the conference, Smith and his mother returned to their homes in Nauvoo, Illinois
, from where he began to preside over the affairs of the newly reorganized church.
Community of Christ
The Community of Christ, known from 1872 to 2001 as the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints , is an American-based international Christian church established in April 1830 that claims as its mission "to proclaim Jesus Christ and promote communities of joy, hope, love, and peace"...
. Held on April 6, 1860, this conference recognized movement founder, Joseph Smith, Jr's eldest son, Joseph Smith III
Joseph Smith III
Joseph Smith III was the eldest surviving son of Joseph Smith, Jr., founder of the Latter Day Saint movement, and Emma Hale Smith...
as his rightful successor and sustained the young Joseph as President of the Church
President of the Church (Mormonism)
In the Latter Day Saint movement, the President of the Church is generally considered to be the highest office of the church. It was the office held by Joseph Smith, Jr., founder of the movement, and the office assumed by many of Smith's claimed successors, such as Brigham Young, Joseph Smith III,...
.
Elder Zenas H. Gurley, Sr. presided over the conference which was held in Amboy, Illinois
Amboy, Illinois
Amboy is a city in Lee County, Illinois, along the Green River. The population was 2,561 at the 2000 census. The chain of Carson Pirie Scott & Co. began in Amboy when Samuel Carson opened his first dry goods store there in 1854...
, and Samuel Powers and Edmund Briggs were reported to preach powerful sermons and bear strong testimonies of the restored gospel. Joseph Smith III
Joseph Smith III
Joseph Smith III was the eldest surviving son of Joseph Smith, Jr., founder of the Latter Day Saint movement, and Emma Hale Smith...
addressed the conference and told the assembled Latter Day Saints that he had accepted the calling "in obedience to a power not my own, and I shall be dictated by the power that sent me." Smith also denounced the practice of plural marriage
Plural marriage
Polygamy was taught by leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for more than half of the 19th century, and practiced publicly from 1852 to 1890.The Church's practice of polygamy has been highly controversial, both within...
, stating that it was in opposition to the doctrine contained in the Book of Mormon
Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon is a sacred text of the Latter Day Saint movement that adherents believe contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the American continent from approximately 2600 BC to AD 421. It was first published in March 1830 by Joseph Smith, Jr...
. He affirmed his allegiance to the constitution and laws of the United States and he said that the church must act in accordance with those laws that there be no antagonism between church and state.
Both Smith
Joseph Smith III
Joseph Smith III was the eldest surviving son of Joseph Smith, Jr., founder of the Latter Day Saint movement, and Emma Hale Smith...
and his mother Emma Hale Smith Bidamon
Emma Hale Smith
Emma Hale Smith Bidamon was married to Joseph Smith, Jr., until his death in 1844, and was an early leader of the Latter Day Saint movement, during Joseph Smith's lifetime and afterward as a member of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints...
were accepted into the church without rebaptism
Rebaptism (Mormonism)
Rebaptism is a practice in some denominations of the Latter Day Saint or Mormonism movement.The Latter Day Saints were headquartered in Nauvoo, Illinois. Many who were already baptized members of the church, were rebaptised either to show a renewal of their commitment to the movement or as part of...
— as their original baptisms were considered to remain valid. After the conference, Smith and his mother returned to their homes in Nauvoo, Illinois
Nauvoo, Illinois
Nauvoo is a small city in Hancock County, Illinois, United States. Although the population was just 1,063 at the 2000 census, and despite being difficult to reach due to its location in a remote corner of Illinois, Nauvoo attracts large numbers of visitors for its historic importance and its...
, from where he began to preside over the affairs of the newly reorganized church.