James Clark was born and raised in the RLDS church. He was baptized at the age of eight and participated in many church activities while growing up. He was ordained a deacon during his high school years and after attending Graceland University was ordained an Elder. He later served as Presiding Elder for his congregation in Ann Arbor, Michigan. After reading and studying church history and the writings of authors such as Fawn Brodie, Tanners and others he came to the conclusion that Joseph Smith was a false prophet. He and his wife now attend the Congregational Church in Ann Arbor. This is his testimony.
I was born and raised in an RLDS family in the northwest. I was baptized and confirmed at the age of eight years in 1942. I grew up in the church and participated in the usual activities; church school, summer camps, Zion’s League, etc. I continued my participation in the church and was ordained a Deacon while in high school. I attended and graduated from Graceland in 1954. I was ordained an Elder in the early 1960’s while attending church in Ann Arbor, Michigan. I served one year as the Presiding Elder for the congregation in Ann Arbor. Following that year, I resigned my ministerial duties in what could be best described as an irreconcilable conflict with local Stake authorities. I ultimately withdrew from participation in local church activities, being content to watch what was happening in the church more as an observer than an active participant. I was divorced in 1973 (a church girl I met at Graceland), married again in 1976 (not a church girl). Last October we celebrated our 36thwedding anniversary. Yea! I never returned to the RLDS church but have found a home in the Congregational Church in Ann Arbor where we’ve been attending for 20+ years.
From 1957 until 1996 I was at various times a high school teacher, counselor and administrator. The better part of those years (29) was spent as a high school administrator. Whereas I never withdrew my membership from the RLDS church, I did remain “interested” in what was happening in the church. Only recently have I taken the time to read and study about church history, the aftermath of 1984, etc. I read Paul Trask’s book Part Way to Utah, and several others including works by the Tanners, Fawn Brodie, Michael Quinn, Jan Ships and several articles published by the John Whitmer Historical Association.
Through all of this, one (among several) items stands out: Joseph Smith was the “consummate con man.” Many of his associates saw him for what he was, “a false prophet” and chose wisely to reject his stories.
I just completed reading Carol Hansen’s book, Reorganized Latter Day Saint Church: Is it Christian? I very much appreciate the work done by Carol and the many others whom she would acknowledge for their assistance. For me, I found it very helpful in pulling together bits and pieces of information and data gleaned from other sources. I was especially interested in her take on the on-going “contention” between the “liberals” and “restorastionists”. During my readings, I’ve come to wonder whether or not there is any hope for the RLDS to turn the situation around. I believe the following quotation from Carol’s book states clearly what needs to happen:
“To be recognized as a Christian denomination, the church must acknowledge the fact that Joseph Smith was a false prophet. Then it must renounce the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants and Joseph Smith’s Inspired Version as scripture and accept the Bible as its only source of doctrinal authority. It must also reject its fictitious priesthood system and its quest for a mythical Zion.”
(Reorganized Latter Day Saint Church: Is it Christian?, pages 221-222).
Many thanks for the on-going work of your ministry.