The Pure Church of Christ was the first known schismatic organization to emerge within the Latter Day Saint movement.
The Pure Church of Christ was organized in 1831 in Kirtland, Ohio, by Wycam Clark, Northrop Sweet, and four others who claimed that Joseph Smith, Jr. was a false prophet. They had a few meetings and soon disbanded. According to speeches made by George A. Smith that were recorded in the LDS Journal of Discourses, this church never had more than six members.
According to George A. Smith, Wyman Clark was baptized about the same time as Sidney Rigdon. He, another follower of Joseph Smith, Jr. named Northrop Sweet, and four unnamed others were responsible for the creation of the "Pure Church of Christ".
At the time of the creation of the "Pure Church of Christ" in Kirtland, a society that had undertaken to have a community of property. A number of people located on a farm owned by Isaac Morley had been baptized, but had not yet been instructed in relation to their duties. These people claimed that a spirit entered into them. Some claimed to see angels, and letters would come down from heaven.
Upon hearing of these events, Joseph Smith, Jr. came to Kirtland to teach these Saints that they were in error. When Joseph attempted to instruct these Saints in relation to the true Spirit, and the manner of determining the one from the other, in a short time a number of those who had been influenced by those manifestations, apostatized. Among the number was Wycom Clark who claimed he received a revelation that he was to be the prophet and that he was the true revelator. Clark organized the "Pure Church of Christ" and commenced having meetings and preaching.
Famous quotes containing the words pure, church and/or christ:
“In a pure society, the subject of marriage would not be so often avoided,—from shame and not from reverence, winked out of sight, and hinted at only; but treated naturally and simply,—perhaps simply avoided like the kindred mysteries. If it cannot be spoken of for shame, how can it be acted of? But, doubtless, there is far more purity, as well as more impurity, than is apparent.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“The Tories in England had long imagined that they were enthusiastic about the monarchy, the church and beauties of the old English Constitution, until the day of danger wrung from them the confession that they are enthusiastic only about rent.”
—Karl Marx (1818–1883)
“For often at Church I’ve seen the stained high glass
Pour out the Virgin and Saints, twist and untwist
The mortal youth of Christ astride an ass.”
—Allen Tate (1899–1979)