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Archiver > IADECATU > 2002-11 > 1036380840


From: "Craig Fenton" <>
Subject: Re: [IADECATU] Re: Decatur County History
Date: Sun, 3 Nov 2002 21:34:00 -0600
References: <OHEMLAKAACMJPPKKHOIPAEMJCCAA.grandma-r@netamumail.com>


Rhonda et al.

Sorry if I insulted anyone. Like most issues in genelogy, recounting family
stories can get you into some hot debates. Just ask my great-aunts about
being related to Davey Crockett. They insisted we are, but I can't prove it.
I didn't dare tell them that! :') Nancee, I think we were a little more
lively today, don't you think?

My grandpa and great aunts and uncles always said they were raised "Mormon"
Since they were a family that settled in Decatur County in the 1850's era
and were briefly in Nauvoo before the exodus they were probably not LDS but
RLDS. They (my family) scattered early in the 1900s and I would guess they
never made the distinction. Grandpa didn't talk about his religion much. I
assume it was because he married a woman that was not from that church and
she had a fairly strong set of fundementalist christian beliefs. Later in
life, after grandpa died, my great aunts talked of growing up "Mormon" This
is the only term they ever used. I don't profess to be an expert on either
religion, but I am guessing that they were not LDS since they grew up in the
Lineville - Pleasanton area. Like I said, my dad's cousin did the temple
work to have my grandparents and most of my aunts and uncles sealed to the
LDS Church. I would guess they made the transition from one group to the
other when they moved to California. Since that line and generation has died
out, I don't know if they really made the distinction. Looking back however,
unless there was a LDS church in Decatur County in the late 1800's and early
1900's, I would think they were not LDS growing up. Does anyone know, did
both the LDS and RLDS churches exist in Decaur Co. at the turn of the
century? This one fact may help me with my research as I have assumed that
only the one group was present in Decatur Co in the early 1900's.

Best regards and an apology:

Craig Fenton

----- Original Message -----
From: "Rhonda Stammer" <>
To: <>
Sent: Sunday, November 03, 2002 11:42 AM
Subject: RE: [IADECATU] Re: Decatur County History


> I will have to argue this one. You can find the entire history of the RLDS
> church (and they are not Mormon's) at
> http://www.centerplace.org/history/ch/default.htm Joseph Smith is the man
> who started the church. As far as I know the word "reformed" has never
been
> in the name of the church. Lamoni, Iowa is the home to a large RLDS
church
> which has now changed it's name to "Community of Christ". Their web site
is
> at http://www.cofchrist.org/default2.asp The RLDS Church has a large
church
> in Lamoni, Ia as well as a church run college: Graceland University. The
> church is headquartered in Independence, Missouri and at one time their
> building was the largest unsupported dome in the world. It is truly a
> beautiful building. I have attended World Conferences for the church
there.
> Although I am not up to date with the church anymore, I was as a child and
> young adult. As I said, the Mormon's left Navoo, IL and headed for Salt
> Lake City, Utah, now the home of the Mormon's. History books always talk
> about he Mormon's and seldom about the group led by Joseph Smith who
stayed
> behind. Anyway, that is what I know about it in a nutshell. Please do
not
> call RLDS memebers Mormon's, as they are not!! Not anymore than a Catholic
> is. Iam sorry if I sound grouchy about this, but it has always stirred me
up
> when I get called a Mormon! I hope this clears things up for everyone.
> Sincerely,
> Rhonda Stammer
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Craig Fenton [mailto:]
> Sent: Sunday, November 03, 2002 10:18 AM
> To:
> Subject: Re: [IADECATU] Re: Decatur County History
>
>
> Reformed Latter Day Saints - It is largest group of "Mormons" outside of
> Utah and at one time had it's religious center in Lamoni, IA. Not all the
> Mormons that left Nauvoo, IL went on to Utah with Brigham Young. Many
> stopped in Iowa and Missouri and because they were cut off from the larger

> group, they didn't develop some of he later teachings of the LDS group,
such
> as temple work and some sacrament beliefs This is why they use the word
> "Reformed" in their name, to separate their teachings.
> Most of the Mormons (my ancestors included) that settled in Decatur
County
> became RLDS. Later generations in my family either left the RLDS (My
parents
> were Presbyterian) or became LDS once they left Decatur Co. (My California
> relatives) My grandfather, and his brothers and sisters are sealed to the
> LDS by one of my Dad's cousins temple work They were all "Mormon"
according
> to them. They did not ever make the LDS / RDLS distinction when discussing
> their religion as a child.
>
> Craig Fenton
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Violet" <>
> To: <>
> Sent: Saturday, November 02, 2002 8:53 PM
> Subject: Re: [IADECATU] Re: Decatur County History
>
>
> >
> > OK, Sandy, now you have me stumped! I know what the LDS (Latter Day
> Saints) stand for, but what did the RLDS stand for?
> > Violet
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ---------------------------------
> > Do you Yahoo!?
> > HotJobs - Search new jobs daily now
> >
> >
> > ==== IADECATU Mailing List ====
> > Nancee, ; List Administrator
> > Stacey, ; Coordinator
> > Decatur County IA Genweb - http://www.rootsweb.com/~iadecatu
> >
> > ==============================
> > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy
records,
> go to:
> > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237
> >
>
>
> ==== IADECATU Mailing List ====
> Nancee, ; List Administrator
> Stacey, ; Coordinator
> Decatur County IA Genweb - http://www.rootsweb.com/~iadecatu
>
> ==============================
> To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records,
go
> to:
> http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237
>
>
>
> ==== IADECATU Mailing List ====
> Nancee, ; List Administrator
> Stacey, ; Coordinator
> Decatur County IA Genweb - http://www.rootsweb.com/~iadecatu
>
> ==============================
> To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records,
go to:
> http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237
>

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