086 Why Does God Guide Those Not of His Church? (w/Dr. Christopher Blythe)
Oct 22, 2024
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Dr. Christopher Blythe, an assistant professor of English at Brigham Young University and an expert on Latter-day Saint literature, dives deep into the nuances of divine guidance across various Restoration branches. He explores how the Henrickites and Cutlerites honor the Book of Mormon, challenging the belief that only The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has God's notice. The conversation highlights personal faith experiences, emphasizing that sincere belief can connect individuals to God, regardless of church affiliation.
The widespread reverence for the Book of Mormon among various Restoration branches illustrates a unifying element despite doctrinal differences.
God's guidance is not limited to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, showing His involvement in diverse faith expressions.
The unique priesthood keys and ordinances of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints distinguish it within the Restoration movement, offering essential access to sacred practices.
Deep dives
Love for the Book of Mormon Across Restoration Branches
Members of various branches of the Restoration movement, not just The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, deeply revere the Book of Mormon. These individuals find their faith in Christ strengthened through its teachings, demonstrating a broader appreciation for this sacred text within the Restoration community. This shared affection for the Book of Mormon highlights a unifying element among different groups that may have diverged in doctrine and practice over time. Such reverence suggests that the Book of Mormon serves as a bridge for interfaith dialogue among these branches.
God's Notice and Guidance Beyond One Church
It is evident that God is involved in the lives of those in various Restoration branches, indicating that His notice and guidance are not exclusive to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Despite differing beliefs and practices, members of other Restoration groups experience divine interaction, which may be surprising to some Latter-day Saints who believe they hold a monopoly on God's direction. This realization may prompt introspection about the nature of divine guidance and where it is manifested across different faiths. Understanding that God works with all people, regardless of their affiliations, can foster a spirit of inclusivity and cooperation.
Exploring Hendrikites and Cutlerites
The podcast explores two lesser-known branches of the Restoration: the Hendrikites and the Cutlerites. The Hendrikites, formally the Church of Christ or the Church of the Temple Lot, were founded in the 1860s and possess a portion of the original Temple Lot in Independence, Missouri. They emphasize the Bible and the Book of Mormon as their primary texts, and maintain distinct beliefs regarding church governance and priesthood authority. The Cutlerites, founded by Alpheus Cutler in 1853, continue to practice some Nauvoo-era temple ordinances, including endowments, although they have ceased plural marriage; their approach highlights a unique blend of restorationist theology and historic practices.
Reconciling Experiences of Other Faiths with Personal Beliefs
The discussion raises important questions about the experiences of members from other faiths who report miracles and spiritual gifts, posing challenges to the idea that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is uniquely authorized. The belief that God can guide and send inspiration to all who sincerely seek Him suggests a more expansive view of divine interaction within Christianity and other world religions. Recognizing that sincerity of faith can lead to divine experiences in various traditions acknowledges a broader view of the divine. This perspective does not detract from the unique keys and ordinances offered within Latter-day Saints theology, which are seen as crucial for exaltation.
The Unique Role of Keys and Ordinances in the Restoration
The podcast emphasizes the importance of priesthood keys and ordinances as a distinguishing feature of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, setting it apart from other branches of the Restoration and world religions. Whereas many churches share truth and spirituality, the unique claim of authority and the ability to perform sacred ordinances like sealing and temple work is central to Latter-day Saint faith practice. This understanding reinforces the idea that while many faiths can connect with God and experience spiritual gifts, the Church maintains a unique responsibility in providing access to essential ordinances. Ultimately, this vision encourages members to appreciate both their unique heritage and connections in a diverse religious landscape.
From our brief survey of some of the various branches of the Restoration in this series, a few things have become apparent. First, it’s clear that members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints do not have a monopoly on a love of the Book of Mormon. Many of our Restoration cousins also deeply revere this sacred text, have their faith in Christ strengthened because of it, and draw near to God by abiding by its precepts. Second, and perhaps more puzzling to some Latter-day Saints, it’s also clear that we do not have a monopoly on God’s notice, God’s mercy, and God’s guidance in our Church. In spite of many key differences between us, God also seems to actively be at work among many in the other Restoration branches as they seek him in faith. So what are we to make of this? What does it mean for our Church if God is guiding others as well?
In this episode of Church History Matters, Casey and I sit down with Dr. Christopher Blythe, a gifted historian, author, fellow podcaster, and Joseph Smith Papers editor. Together we briefly overview two additional branches of the Restoration—the Henrickites and Cutlerites—and then dig into the question about how we reconcile God’s involvement in other faiths with the generally shared belief among Latter-day Saints that ours is God’s one-and-only authorized Church (and not least because we got succession right!). We each share why we choose to continue our membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in spite of other attractive alternatives.
