Righteous Branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Coordinates: 37°42′30″N 113°49′01″W / 37.708384°N 113.816949°W

Righteous Branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Pyramid-shaped temple located near Modena, Utah

Pyramid-shaped temple[1] located near Modena, Utah, west of Cedar City, Utah.[2]
Classification Mormonism
Polity Hierarchical
Leader Gerald W. Peterson, Jr.
Founder Gerald Peterson, Sr.
Origin April 6, 1978
Temples 1

The Righteous Branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also known as The Righteous Branch, The Branch Church, The Peterson Group and Christ's Church, is a fundamentalist Mormon sect of the Latter Day Saint movement. There are approximately 100 to 200 members, most of whom live 7 miles (11 km) west of the area of Beryl, Utah, on Utah State Route 56,[2] which is close to Modena, Utah. The ranch property itself was part of the original Gerald Peterson, Sr.[2] property outside of the area Cedar City; however it is not part of either incorporated city.[1] Additionally, some of the sect members live near Tonopah, Nevada, and throughout the United States.

History

The Righteous Branch was organized on April 6, 1978, by Gerald Wilbur Peterson, Sr. (born October 8, 1917 in Lusk, Wyoming, died January 1981).[3] Peterson claimed that after Rulon C. Allred (President of the Priesthood of the Apostolic United Brethren from March 29, 1954 to May 10, 1977) was murdered by followers of Ervil LeBaron, Allred appeared to him and instructed him to preside over the presiding keys of the priesthood.[4]

As with other Mormon fundamentalist groups, the Branch believed that a priesthood organization and council existed outside of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). The keys of the priesthood were believed to have passed from John Woolley to Joseph Musser to Rulon Allred and then to Gerald Peterson, Sr. A key distinction between the Righteous Branch and the LDS Church is that when in 1978 the LDS Church changed the temple ordinances and gave the priesthood to black people, the Righteous Branch believed this was the final act of apostasy. Peterson relieved the LDS Church's First Presidency from its duties and reorganized a new church body with a new temple. This was done on April 6, 1978, two months before the LDS Church's First Presidency claimed to have received inspiration to ordain people of African descent. Peterson claimed that he had foreknowledge of this coming apostasy through revelation. It was organized in the same manner as the LDS Church with a First Presidency, Quorum of Twelve Apostles, Presiding Bishopric and other priesthood and auxiliary organizations, with full responsibility for all the functions of the original church. As such Christ's Church is fully engaged in all gospel functions including missionary work and proxy Baptism for the dead. In contrast, other Mormon fundamentalist groups such as the AUB still believe the LDS Church to be the one true church, but that some functions of the priesthood continue with its organization (such as plural marriage and the United Order), whereas the keys of missionary work and genealogy primarily lie with the LDS Church.

After the death of Peterson on January 9, 1981, leadership was passed to his son Gerald W. Peterson, Jr., who then moved the headquarters of the sect to St. George, Utah.[3]

Regarding Peterson Sr.'s claim to succeed Allred, the Branch claims that Peterson Sr. was Allred's "worthy senior" chosen to succeed him, supporting that statement with a claim that Peterson was ordained a patriarch and a "high priest apostle" (the latter being a priesthood office unique to some Mormon fundamentalist groups). There is no evidence that Peterson Sr. was a member of Allred's Priesthood Council and no ordination date has been provided.

Doctrines and practices

Along with all other original Mormon doctrines, ordinances, and practices the Righteous Branch also practices plural marriage (polygamy) and teaches the Adam–God doctrine, the Curse of Cain doctrine, and lives the United Order.[5] Adherents are modern in their dress and do not allow women under 18 to be sealed into plural marriages.

The Righteous Branch built a pyramid-shaped temple near Modena, Utah,[5] making it one of seven Latter Day Saint denominations to have built a temple. [lower-alpha 1]

Prominent members

Gerald Peterson, Jr. has a doctorate of osteopathic medicine[6] and practices homeopathy in Tonopah, Nevada.[7] Peterson served as a medical officer in the United States Army and received training there before deciding to practice in the private sector.

Gerald Peterson, Sr. also practiced homeopathic medicine.

Prominent Mormon fundamentalist Tom Green was a member of the Righteous Branch for a short time.[8]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ The other six are the Church of Christ, the LDS Church, the Community of Christ, the Apostolic United Brethren, the Church of Christ (Wightite), and the FLDS Church.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Utah Attorney General's Office and Arizona Attorney General's Office (June 2006), The Primer: Helping Victims of Domestic Violence and Child Abuse in Polygamous Communities (PDF), p. 23, archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-07-19.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Spencer, James R. (December 2004), Spying Out Polygamy in Utah, mazeministry.com, pp. 1–4
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Shields, Steven L. (1990) Divergent Paths of the Restoration, 4 edition. Herald Pub House. ISBN 0-942284-13-5
  4. ↑ Hales, Brian C. (2009) Gerald Peterson and the Righteous Branch of the Christ's Church".
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Moore-Emmett, Andrea. (2004) God's Brothel. Pince-Nez Press. ISBN 1-930074-13-1
  6. ↑ Gerald W Peterson DO Hmd in Tonopah, Nevada
  7. ↑ Tonopah Based Business see Professional Services: DR. Gerald Peterson Jr. D.O.
  8. ↑ Hales, Brian C. (2009) "Tom Green".