Organization of The Church of Christ: April 6, 1830

On April 6, 1830, in Fayette, New York, Joseph Smith and five others officially organized The Church of Christ, which is recognized as the first denomination of what would become the Latter Day Saint movement. This significant event marked the formal establishment of a religious community based on Smith’s revelations and teachings, fundamentally altering the religious landscape of the 19th-century United States.

Context and Background

Prior to this date, Joseph Smith reported a series of divine revelations beginning in the 1820s. In 1823, he claimed to have been visited by an angel named Moroni, who guided him to a set of golden plates. Smith later translated these plates into what is now known as the Book of Mormon, published in 1830. These revelations inspired a core group of believers who eventually participated in the church’s formation.

Key Events

• Location: The church was organized in a small cabin owned by Peter Whitmer, Sr., in Fayette, New York. The gathering was modest and attended by close associates and family members.
• Founding Members: The official organization required six founding members, as stipulated by local law for the establishment of a religious society. These individuals included Joseph Smith, Oliver Cowdery, Hyrum Smith, Samuel H. Smith, David Whitmer, and Peter Whitmer, Jr.
• Ceremony: The meeting included religious observances such as prayer, hymns, and the administration of ordinances like the sacrament of Communion, marking the church’s initial function as a religious assembly.

Consequences and Significance

• Growth: The Church of Christ quickly grew as missionaries, including Smith and Cowdery, traveled to preach and convert new members, leading to the establishment of congregations beyond New York.
• Doctrine and Practice: This event set a precedent for new scripture, authority via revelation, and a distinct theological framework that came to define the Latter Day Saint movement.
• Legacy: Although the original “Church of Christ” later underwent several schisms, leading to numerous denominations, including the largest today, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the foundation laid on April 6, 1830, remains pivotal in Latter Day Saint history.

The organization of The Church of Christ under Joseph Smith’s leadership marked the beginning of a new religious tradition that continues to have significant cultural and spiritual influence worldwide.