Beyond One Church: Understanding the Competing Legacies of Joseph Smith

Explore how different branches of Mormonism emerged after Joseph Smith's death, each claiming to be the rightful inheritor of his spiritual and organizational authority.

By Garret Merkley · Explainer · Jun 13, 2026

Branched from The Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ: How Emma Smith's Faction Split From the LDS Church

Quick take

After Joseph Smith's 1844 death, a leadership vacuum led to multiple groups claiming to be his true successors.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) followed Brigham Young to Utah, becoming the largest group.
The Community of Christ (formerly RLDS) coalesced around Joseph Smith III, rejecting polygamy and emphasizing lineal succession.
Fundamentalist splinter groups emerged later, primarily to continue doctrines like plural marriage that the main LDS Church abandoned.

After Joseph Smith Jr., the founder of the Latter Day Saint movement, was assassinated in 1844, a profound leadership crisis ensued. With no clear, universally accepted successor, various prominent figures and factions stepped forward, each claiming the mantle of spiritual and organizational authority. This pivotal moment led to the formation of distinct religious traditions, each interpreting Smith's revelations, doctrines, and the path forward differently, creating the diverse landscape of Mormonism we see today.

The Succession Crisis and Diverging Paths

Joseph Smith's untimely death left a void that several leaders felt they were divinely appointed or logically positioned to fill. There was no established, clear-cut line of succession for the entire church, leading to conflicting claims based on different interpretations of Smith's past statements, ordinations, and the nature of church governance. The primary contenders for leadership, and the groups that formed around them, represent the major branches of Smith's legacy.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church)

The largest and most well-known branch, headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, traces its succession through Brigham Young. Young, then president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, asserted that the Twelve, as a body, held the keys of the kingdom and that he, as their senior member, was the rightful leader. This group, often referred to as "Mormons," undertook the monumental trek west to the Salt Lake Valley, where they established a thriving community and continued to practice doctrines like plural marriage until its official cessation in 1890, followed by a second manifesto in 1904. The LDS Church emphasizes apostolic succession and a centralized, hierarchical leadership structure.

The Community of Christ (Formerly RLDS Church)

Known for much of its history as the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (RLDS), this tradition coalesced in the Midwest around Joseph Smith III, the eldest son of the movement's founder. Members of this faction believed that leadership should pass lineally through Smith's family and that the church's headquarters should remain in the Kirtland, Ohio, and Independence, Missouri, areas. Crucially, the RLDS Church consistently rejected the practice of plural marriage, viewing it as an aberration introduced after Smith's death, and maintained a more congregational governance structure. In 2001, the church formally changed its name to Community of Christ to reflect its broader theological perspective and ecumenical outreach.

Fundamentalist Splinter Groups

Distinct from both the LDS Church and the Community of Christ are numerous smaller, often insular, fundamentalist groups. These groups primarily emerged from the Utah-based LDS Church in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Their defining characteristic is their commitment to preserving and practicing doctrines and customs that the mainstream LDS Church either modified or abandoned, most notably plural marriage (polygamy). These groups believe the LDS Church strayed from its original principles, particularly after its official abandonment of polygamy. They often claim to be the true inheritors of Smith's early teachings and practices, operating independently with varying leadership structures and interpretations of authority.

Understanding these competing claims is crucial because it illuminates the rich, complex history of a uniquely American religious movement. It explains why the term "Mormon" can encompass a wide range of beliefs and practices, and why different groups, all stemming from Joseph Smith, have distinct identities, organizational structures, and theological tenets. It's a testament to how foundational events like a leadership succession crisis can forever alter the trajectory of a faith, leading to diverse expressions of belief under a shared origin story.

Are all these groups considered "Mormon"?

The term "Mormon" most commonly refers to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. While the Community of Christ and fundamentalist groups also stem from the Latter Day Saint movement, they generally prefer their specific names. The broader term "Latter Day Saint" more accurately encompasses all groups originating from Joseph Smith's teachings.

Which of these groups is the largest?

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) is by far the largest, with over 17 million members worldwide. The Community of Christ has about 250,000 members, and fundamentalist splinter groups are much smaller, often numbering in the thousands or hundreds.

What are the main doctrinal differences?

Key differences include succession (apostolic vs. lineal), the practice of plural marriage (accepted by fundamentalists, historically practiced by LDS, rejected by Community of Christ), the nature of God, the role of temples, and the interpretation of certain scriptures and revelations. The Community of Christ also has a more progressive stance on social issues and ordination of women.

Did Joseph Smith name a successor?

This is a point of contention. Smith made various statements and ordinations that different groups interpret as evidence for their chosen successor. However, he did not publicly designate a clear, single successor to lead the entire church in a way that all factions accepted, leading directly to the crisis after his death.

Do these groups interact or recognize each other's authority?

Generally, no. Each group considers itself the true heir to Joseph Smith's legacy and does not recognize the spiritual authority of the others. There might be some historical or academic dialogue, but there is no overarching ecclesiastical recognition or unity among them.