Centennial Park group
Encyclopedia
The Centennial Park group is a Fundamentalist Mormon group, with approximately 1,500 members, who broke with Leroy S. Johnson
, the senior member of the "Priesthood Council" and leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
. However, there is no formal relationship between the FLDS Church and the Centennial Park community. The group is also known as the “Second Ward”, "The Work of Jesus Christ" and "The Work".
The Centennial Park group was profiled on the ABC
television program Primetime
in a story entitled, The Outsiders, and also on The Oprah Winfrey Show
.
It was also featured in Dawn Porter
's television documentary, Dawn Porter: Extreme Wife.
The Centennial Park group claims of authority are based around the accounts of John Wickersham Woolley
, Lorin Calvin Woolley
and others, of a meeting in September 1886 between LDS Church President John Taylor, the Woolleys, and others. Prior to the meeting, Taylor is said to have met with Jesus Christ and the deceased church founder, Joseph Smith, Jr., and to have received a revelation
commanding that plural marriage
should not cease, but be kept alive by a group separate from the LDS Church. The following day, the Woolleys, as well as Taylor's counselor, George Q. Cannon
, and others, were said to have been set apart to keep "the principle" alive.
Members of the Centennial Park group see their history as going back to Joseph Smith and to the beliefs he espoused and practices he established. Until the 1950s, Mormon fundamentalists were largely one group.
scriptural canon
of several denominations of the Latter Day Saint movement
, which states that only “there is never but one on the earth at a time on whom this power and the keys of this priesthood are conferred".
After two council members, Carl Holm and Richard Jessop, died, Leroy Johnson, as senior member of the Priesthood Council, was responsible for recommending new replacements. However, Johnson believing in the “one man doctrine”, made no recommendations for new Priesthood Council members.
Then, on 11 July 1983, Guy Musser died, leaving the council evenly split between those who believed in “one man doctrine” and those who did not. The remaining council members who opposed the "one man doctrine" were Marion Hammon and Alma Timpson.
In February 1984 Johnson's health improved enough for him to speak to the FLDS membership. Johnson had seldom participated in fundamentalist meetings for quite some time due to illness. He stated,
Six days later, he declared
Then Johnson dismissed Hammon and Timpson as members of the Priesthood Council and attempts were made to evict residents siding with Hammon and Timpson from their properties owned by the United Effort Plan, which was once a subsidiary organization of the FLDS church that owns most of the property in Hildale and Colorado City.
By 27 September 1986, the Centennial Park group had built a meeting house and later, in 2003, a charter school
was built for the town's growing elementary-age population.
Most of this group lives in Centennial Park City, Arizona (36°57′21.96"N 112°58′59.64"W), a town approximately 3 miles (5 km) south of the twin communities of Colorado City, Arizona
and Hildale, Utah
, with a small number living in the Salt Lake Valley
.
, also known as the Nielsen/Naylor Group and the "Third Ward", is a group based in the Salt Lake Valley
and has around 200 members. It broke with the Centennial Park group after Hammon died in 1988, leaving Alma Timpson as the presiding priesthood leader. Timpson called Frank Naylor as an apostles and Ivan Neilsen as a high priest and later as bishop. Eventually, Naylor and Nielsen disagreed with Timpson’s leadership, prompting them to migrate north to Salt Lake County and create the "Third Ward", with Frank Naylor presiding.
. This doctrine states that a man having multiple wives is ordained by God. The doctrine requires multiple wives in order for a man to receive the highest form of salvation. Like the FLDS Church, they practice a form of placement marriage
, but men do not solicit marriage. That decision is left up to the women.
According to members, this group does not permit the marriage of girls under the age of 18. Young ladies are encouraged rather to excel at school, and to become well rounded, intelligent individuals.
Additionally, most members dress in modest, yet modern attire.
Leroy S. Johnson
Leroy S. Johnson was the leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints , a religious group that practices plural marriage and was based in Colorado City, Arizona....
, the senior member of the "Priesthood Council" and leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is one of the largest Mormon fundamentalist denominations and one of the largest organizations in the United States whose members practice polygamy. The FLDS Church emerged in the early twentieth century when its founding members left...
. However, there is no formal relationship between the FLDS Church and the Centennial Park community. The group is also known as the “Second Ward”, "The Work of Jesus Christ" and "The Work".
The Centennial Park group was profiled on the ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
television program Primetime
Primetime (TV series)
Primetime is an American news magazine show which debuted on ABC in 1989 with co-hosts Sam Donaldson and Diane Sawyer and originally had the title Primetime Live.-Early history:...
in a story entitled, The Outsiders, and also on The Oprah Winfrey Show
The Oprah Winfrey Show
The Oprah Winfrey Show is an American syndicated talk show hosted and produced by its namesake Oprah Winfrey. It ran nationally for 25 seasons beginning in 1986, before concluding in 2011. It is the highest-rated talk show in American television history....
.
It was also featured in Dawn Porter
Dawn Porter
Dawn Porter is a British television presenter and writer. She was born in Scotland, but grew up in Guernsey.-Early life:Porter's mother died of breast cancer two days before her seventh birthday, and she was then raised by her aunt...
's television documentary, Dawn Porter: Extreme Wife.
History
John Wickersham Woolley
John Wickersham Woolley was an American Latter Day Saint and one of the founders of the Mormon fundamentalism movement.-Early life:...
, Lorin Calvin Woolley
Lorin Calvin Woolley
Lorin Calvin Woolley was a Mormon fundamentalist leader and a proponent of plural marriage.-Early life:Woolley was born in Salt Lake City, Utah. He was the son of John Wickersham Woolley and Julia Searles Ensign...
and others, of a meeting in September 1886 between LDS Church President John Taylor, the Woolleys, and others. Prior to the meeting, Taylor is said to have met with Jesus Christ and the deceased church founder, Joseph Smith, Jr., and to have received a revelation
1886 Revelation
In the Mormon fundamentalist movement, the 1886 Revelation is the text of a revelation said to have been received by John Taylor, third President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , that is claimed to restate the permanence of the principle of plural marriage...
commanding that 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...
should not cease, but be kept alive by a group separate from the LDS Church. The following day, the Woolleys, as well as Taylor's counselor, George Q. Cannon
George Q. Cannon
George Quayle Cannon was an early member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and served in the First Presidency under four successive presidents of the church: Brigham Young, John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff, and Lorenzo Snow...
, and others, were said to have been set apart to keep "the principle" alive.
Members of the Centennial Park group see their history as going back to Joseph Smith and to the beliefs he espoused and practices he established. Until the 1950s, Mormon fundamentalists were largely one group.
Priesthood Council split
In the early 1980s significant disagreement arose regarding the question of presiding authority of the FLDS Church. This disagreement was over what is called the “one man doctrine”, or if there was “one man” who presided over the priesthood or if the entire Priesthood Council presided. The term “One Man Doctrine” refers to section 132: 7 of the Doctrine and Covenants, a part of the openContinuous revelation
Continuous revelation or continuing revelation is a theological belief or position that God continues to reveal divine principles or commandments to humanity...
scriptural canon
Biblical canon
A biblical canon, or canon of scripture, is a list of books considered to be authoritative as scripture by a particular religious community. The term itself was first coined by Christians, but the idea is found in Jewish sources. The internal wording of the text can also be specified, for example...
of several denominations of the Latter Day Saint movement
Latter Day Saint movement
The Latter Day Saint movement is a group of independent churches tracing their origin to a Christian primitivist movement founded by Joseph Smith, Jr. in the late 1820s. Collectively, these churches have over 14 million members...
, which states that only “there is never but one on the earth at a time on whom this power and the keys of this priesthood are conferred".
After two council members, Carl Holm and Richard Jessop, died, Leroy Johnson, as senior member of the Priesthood Council, was responsible for recommending new replacements. However, Johnson believing in the “one man doctrine”, made no recommendations for new Priesthood Council members.
Then, on 11 July 1983, Guy Musser died, leaving the council evenly split between those who believed in “one man doctrine” and those who did not. The remaining council members who opposed the "one man doctrine" were Marion Hammon and Alma Timpson.
In February 1984 Johnson's health improved enough for him to speak to the FLDS membership. Johnson had seldom participated in fundamentalist meetings for quite some time due to illness. He stated,
"I want to say a few words to these men who sit here on the stand today. (He turned to face J. Marion Hammon and Alma A. Timpson.) The Lord gave you men five and a half years to change your thinking on this principle of having one man holding the sealing powers in the earth at a time, and you have made a miserable mess of it by coming here and preaching over this pulpit that I was about to die because of my attitude towards this principle."
Six days later, he declared
"I want to tell you, the first thing that is going to take place is the cleaning up of the Priesthood Council. I want to tell these men on the stand, B Brother J. Marion Hammon, and Brother Alma Adelbert Timpson, that from now on, I am throwing you off my back, and I am not going to carry you any more."
Then Johnson dismissed Hammon and Timpson as members of the Priesthood Council and attempts were made to evict residents siding with Hammon and Timpson from their properties owned by the United Effort Plan, which was once a subsidiary organization of the FLDS church that owns most of the property in Hildale and Colorado City.
Centennial Park ("Second Ward")
On 13 May 1984 the portion of Johnson’s followers who were dismissed or left on their own, held their first Priesthood Meeting just outside of town. They named their group the “Second Ward” in contrast to those following Johnson, who the Centennial Park group refers to as the “First Ward.” Initially they met in the home of Alma Timpson.By 27 September 1986, the Centennial Park group had built a meeting house and later, in 2003, a charter school
Charter school
Charter schools are primary or secondary schools that receive public money but are not subject to some of the rules, regulations, and statutes that apply to other public schools in exchange for some type of accountability for producing certain results, which are set forth in each school's charter...
was built for the town's growing elementary-age population.
Most of this group lives in Centennial Park City, Arizona (36°57′21.96"N 112°58′59.64"W), a town approximately 3 miles (5 km) south of the twin communities of Colorado City, Arizona
Colorado City, Arizona
Colorado City is a town in Mohave County, Arizona, United States, and is located in a region known as the Arizona Strip. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the town was 4,607...
and Hildale, Utah
Hildale, Utah
Hildale is a city in Washington County, Utah, United States. The population was 2,726 at the 2010 census.Hildale is a twin city to the more well-known Colorado City, Arizona, both of which straddle the border between Utah and Arizona. Hildale is the headquarters of the Fundamentalist Church of...
, with a small number living in the Salt Lake Valley
Salt Lake Valley
Salt Lake Valley is a valley in Salt Lake County in the north-central portion of the U.S. state of Utah. It contains Salt Lake City and many of its suburbs, notably West Valley City, Murray, Sandy, and West Jordan; its total population is 1,029,655 as of 2010...
.
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Kingdom of God
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Kingdom of GodChurch of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Kingdom of God
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Kingdom of God is a fundamentalist church in the Latter-day Saint movement. The sect was founded by Frank Naylor and Ivan Nielsen, who split from the Centennial Park group, another fundamentalist church. The church is estimated to have 200-300...
, also known as the Nielsen/Naylor Group and the "Third Ward", is a group based in the Salt Lake Valley
Salt Lake Valley
Salt Lake Valley is a valley in Salt Lake County in the north-central portion of the U.S. state of Utah. It contains Salt Lake City and many of its suburbs, notably West Valley City, Murray, Sandy, and West Jordan; its total population is 1,029,655 as of 2010...
and has around 200 members. It broke with the Centennial Park group after Hammon died in 1988, leaving Alma Timpson as the presiding priesthood leader. Timpson called Frank Naylor as an apostles and Ivan Neilsen as a high priest and later as bishop. Eventually, Naylor and Nielsen disagreed with Timpson’s leadership, prompting them to migrate north to Salt Lake County and create the "Third Ward", with Frank Naylor presiding.
Doctrines and practices
The Centennial Park group is led by a “Priesthood Council”, and teaches the doctrine of plural marriagePlural 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...
. This doctrine states that a man having multiple wives is ordained by God. The doctrine requires multiple wives in order for a man to receive the highest form of salvation. Like the FLDS Church, they practice a form of placement marriage
Placement marriage
The term placement marriage refers to arranged marriages between members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints...
, but men do not solicit marriage. That decision is left up to the women.
According to members, this group does not permit the marriage of girls under the age of 18. Young ladies are encouraged rather to excel at school, and to become well rounded, intelligent individuals.
Additionally, most members dress in modest, yet modern attire.
Leaders
- J. Marion Hammon (1983–1988)
- Alma A. Timpson (1988–1997)
- John W. Timpson (1997–present)
See also
- Factional breakdown: Mormon fundamentalist sects
- Mormon fundamentalism
- List of Mormon fundamentalist churches
- List of Mormon fundamentalist leaders
External links
- Centennial Park Action Committee, Centennial Park committee website