979: Fundamentalist Mormon Temple in Missouri (Tangent Travels)

[@RyanMercer]

Hey I'll be there for it Saturday!

[@rickhansen1753]

Where is it (precisely)?

[@RyanMercer]

@@rickhansen1753 about 8 miles outside of Stockton. It's GPS coordinates not a street name on private property.

[@prophetsofbabel]

To me this Temple symbolizes what unity should look like. This isn't one fundamentalist group, this is several that created a board and once they started the Temple the Lord provided. Several groups with different beliefs came together to build a truly beautiful Temple. Someone there called it the People's Temple because, they believe it will be used by many people that believe differently from them. The concept that it will be a temple of inclusion is very heart warming to me.

[@memahselfni]

I had the privilege of getting to tour it and assist a tiny bit with the construction back in 2020. I knew even back then that it was going to be beautiful and I am so blown away at the end result.

[@elpensadero5035]

I would like to visit such Beautiful place, just watch the video make me feel so glad. Our Lord love all his children is wonderful.

[@kasdanasal]

I received pictures of the interior of this temple from a fundamentalist acquaintance. I was quite impressed with the craftmanship and thought that has gone into the design, particularly the tree of life door.

[@GospelTangents]

Yes I thought the tree of life door was really cool.

[@AarmOZ84]

I am constantly amazed at how much the independent Mormon fundamentalists can do with no formal church organization. ⛪️

[@GospelTangents]

Me too!

[@likeness_image]

My friends in Christ's Church mention alot of feasts and holy days and such; but they still observe sunday sabbath. My wife and I observe 7th day but I thought the only others who did were Strangites. Thank you Rick Bennett for your efforts to study the faith, I admire how you are so open to other perspectives, and are respectful and charitable while standing firm in your own convictions. Im not really good with tech stuff but I'm going to try to figure out how to support the channel monetarily through one of the subscriptions.

[@GospelTangents]

The easiest way is to click the join button here below the video. You can also go to either Patreon.com/gospeltangents or gospeltangents.com/subscribe-to-podcast/ and use your PayPal account . KZbin is probably the easiest, then Patreon, then my website.

[@likeness_image]

@@GospelTangents okay, ill make a paypal and figure it out. Thanks for the help 🤝

[@SUD_SUD_MORMON]

Es increíble saber que hay una iglesia tan similar en algunos principios fundamentales, que no los oculta ni los elimina, gracias por lo compartido, soy de Chile

[@GospelTangents]

Thank you for commenting. I'm glad to hear you enjoyed the video.

[@elpensadero5035]

Pues como ve hermano, muchas veces por presión, no porque debamos algunos, incluso ignoran los convenios que son sagrados, e importantes, pues prueban nuestro testimonio, ya que si incrementa el conocimiento, compromiso, sabremos que no son cosas que cesaron sino más bien que, se adaptan para su regreso en la plenitud de esta dispensación como parte de las leyes que todo discípulo de Jesucristo debe entender, atara vez de Él y El padre Celestial, pero cuando le queremos poner candado a El Espiritusanto, es cuando se esconde información o se inventan excusas sin proceso doctrinal, para decir eso fue en el pasado, Pero Dios está siempre viendo hacia adelante por nuestro potencial a veces debemos recurrir más a El que a nuestro punto de vista, o el quedar bien con la opinión de la sociedad tan inmoral que rodea a los santos donde quiera que se encuentren.

[@Skooter58]

It appears that a lot of love, devotion and sacrifice went into this beautiful temple. Thanks. Are there any pictures of the inside?

[@GospelTangents]

I've heard some people were allowed to take photos of the inside, but I was not allowed to.

[@jonathanfelt2529]

My friend Joshua Erickson is down there now. He is one of the Zarahemla Foundation's shepherds and lead thinkers. I believe you would find him to be an excellent and qualified person for an interview. I predict the Messianic Movement among Mormons will grow and grow. The Zarahemla Foundation hosts an annual Torah Restoration Conference in Lehi, Utah.

[@GospelTangents]

Yes, I met him while I was there. I almost had him on the thumbnail for the video, but he didn't want to be on the thumbnail. Super nice guy!

[@michaelness5406]

@@jonathanfelt2529 Mormons already believe in a Messiah

[@Nunya45573]

What is changing about their beliefs in Christ?

[@jonathanfelt2529]

@@michaelness5406 That's a good point, and the modern Latter-day Saint interpretation of "Messiah" appears to be enough in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. On that point I would not argue with you. I think, however, what Mormon Type Messianics are doing is trying to understand and return to what Jesus taught. For example, he kept and taught Sabbath as a 7th day of the week sabbath. Current-day Latter-day Saints keep a 1st day sabbath in the same way the mother church did making it unlawful to "Judaize" the church with worship on the 7th day. This is only one example.

[@GospelTangents]

@@Nunya45573 no idea. I don't understand what you are asking.

[@angelwolf51]

I'll be there for the dedication

[@GospelTangents]

Wish I could be there, but I'm glad I was able to see it and participate. I helped hang the mirrors on the outside bathrooms, so I literally left my fingerprints on the mirror as we hung it in place.

[@rickhansen1753]

What are the GPS coordinates?

[@ruigomes9487]

Your are the man Rick.

[@GospelTangents]

Thank you!!!

[@top_gallant]

Such an interesting religion to study.

[@t.thompson9977]

Is there any contact info for this group? Thanks

[@melissajanecesariaerickson767]

I can get you connected. We need to figure out how to connect.

[@GospelTangents]

He sent me an email, and I gave him Tom's contact info.

[@stevenparkin6486]

Rick. Please tell us more about this church and how its history fits with the other restoration churches.

[@GospelTangents]

It's not a church. It's a rag tag group with different backgrounds (LDS, AUB, Centennial Park, Nielsen -Naylor, etc) with essentially a non-denominational polygamist temple. It is open to all who "believe."

[@reedrussell3035]

You got this out quick!

[@GospelTangents]

Yes, I was stuck in PHX airport for 8 hours, so that helped (sort of). I definitely stayed up way too late to get this out.

[@Bittersteel24]

Do you know if they will release photos? I’d love to see it. Looks very beautiful and you can tell the community put a lot into it. Also do they have a temple presidency? And how would one contact this group?

[@GospelTangents]

As far as photos, I think it depends on who you talk to, & I didn't get lucky. (Being a podcaster, I think they were more worried than normal non-podcaster folks.) I have seen some photos of the inside, but I don't have permission to take them or share them. I understand they have a Council of Seven that runs the temple. They don't really have a hierarchy like LDS are used to. I understand there is no tithing requirement, but donations are appreciated. I think there are about 10 families in the area that pay for maintenance, and all labor was volunteer so I expect that won't change. I'm in a Mormon Fundamentalism Facebook group, and that's how I found out about the open house and dedication. I'm not really "in the know" but people there know people. You could do a search for the group and they would probably let you join as long as you're respectful.

[@C_Glind]

I doubt they'll release interior photos to the public. If you want to contact the group, one way you could is by getting in touch with the man who runs the Mormon Renegade podcast.

[@jonathanfelt2529]

Rick, this is kind'of what I have been asking you about. How big is the Messianic movement within the Mormon types? When I ask around I get blank stares among the faithful. You'll notice your program states they are celebrating during the feast days. The feast days are one of those practices that many of us are wanting to see restored. The "Messianic Movement" is loosely tied to Hebrew Roots, but Mormon Style. We were, after all, nearly the first to say we are NOT a replacement of Israel (especially the Jews). So, how big is this movement of believers returning to the LAW Jesus gave to Moses at Sinai. Thanks for your work.

[@GospelTangents]

Thanks Jonathan. I understand the blank stares. I know some Jewish people are annoyed/offended when Christians do cultural appropriation and try to celebrate Jewish feasts, so I'm a little leery of that. I think Messianic Christians who do Jewish feasts have good hearts, but I see it as problematic. I'm happy to attend these, but I want to be sensitive.

[@jonathanfelt2529]

@@GospelTangents I guess that's the point. The Messianic Mormons are proclaiming their card-carrying bonefides as legitimate members of the royal tribe of Ephraim which represents all 10 of the lost tribes. The feasts belong to all Torah believers. Our friends of Judah are just as blind as we are. Keep up the great work.

[@mysterypro_music]

@@jonathanfelt2529 I’m a Mormon messianic type. It’s taking time because the Q15 evidently aren’t interested. So it’s grass roots then.

[@jonathanfelt2529]

@@mysterypro_music Attention Q15: I am pretty sure gathering scattered israel has little to do with channelling every lost one of us across the world and in every corner of belief into the highest order of temple worship that not only requires specific membership and but also other qualifications for specific houses of worship that are not necessarily scriptural. @mysterypro_music I understand if you and Rick Bennett don't agree with me on that. Nevertheless, it's good to know the few of us whom I associate with are not alone. Rick Bennett does a good job of staying open-minded which is why he evidently went to Missouri in the first place. I will keep searching and hoping for a full restoration.

[@sondrafitzgerald]

They aren't the Jews' Feasts. They are the Lord's-- Leviticus 23:1-2: “And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: “The feasts of the LORD, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, these are My feasts.”’”

[@FranklinBanks-f5u]

Do they have a prophet ? And are they affiliated with the Warren Jeffs group ?

[@GospelTangents]

No prophet. They think Warren Jeffs is a creep.

[@skidawg22]

2:00 That's the Missouri River. I'm in Kansas City and drive across that river way too often.

[@GospelTangents]

Thanks! I thought it was, but wasn't sure.

[@C_Glind]

Lovely work! Quick thing, but the dedication date has a typo in the video description.

[@GospelTangents]

Thanks for letting me know. I fixed it.

[@rickgrimes931]

Which group is this?

[@Misa_Susaki]

No group; they're independent!

[@rickgrimes931]

@@Misa_Susaki - If there is more than one person, it is a group…

[@Misa_Susaki]

Sure, I guess. The "group" is fundamentalist Mormon. As far as I know, they are not an officially organized church, but a set of people who share similar beliefs. They are independent, meaning that they are not associated with a specific church movement.

[@rickgrimes931]

​@@Misa_Susaki- That is fair, just makes it hard to research and understand.

[@GospelTangents]

While I was there, I learned that there used to be an AUB community in the area, but it sounds like it fell apart. People who built the temple do not affiliate with any group. I asked a few people what groups they came from and got former LDS, former AUB, former Centennial Park, former Nielson-Naylor. I hear there is a council of 7 that runs the temple and pays expenses. I asked how much it cost to build, and they said they didn't track it. All labor was donated. I would guess it is likely a $2 million building. I think I heard there are about 10 families who basically are in charge of bills, but they are opening it to all "believers." I asked if I could do an endowment session. The person said if I only wanted to do it for historical purposes, that wasn't a good enough reason. (That was the reason I would.) So, you should be a believer. There are no temple recommends, and no tithing requirements, but they hope for donations from people to help defray costs.

[@Thunorwine1]

Thanks for posting this. I am familiar to the area as i used to do case management there. I wonder how they take care of excess males which appears to be a problem with most modern poli-groups

[@GospelTangents]

I have no idea. They told me there are just 10 families in the area and they don't have a hierarchy, and claim it's not really a group so it would seem to be hard to kick people out of a non group.

[@castledoctrine1548]

Exciting!

[@MormonPerfection]

I am so curious to know more of their practices and beliefs. I would have loved to see inside.

[@GospelTangents]

It is open to the public until it is dedicated, so go there this week!

[@AveryChapman-o6s]

Does the group have a Facebook page?

[@GospelTangents]

Not really, but this is the Facebook group referred I found out about the dedication. m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=8307718822626686

[@GospelTangents]

I'm not sure if the link works but do a search for Mormon Fundamentalism.

[@GospelTangents]

They didn't have a specific page but look for Mormon Fundamentalism. As long as you're respectful, they will let you join the Facebook group.

[@AntonioAFelizJr]

Tell us more about the "....new Community of Christ female prophet....!" Is she a biological descendant of Joseph Smith? Blessings 🙌

[@GospelTangents]

They haven't had a lineal descendent of Joseph Smith for at least 30 years. Following Wallace Smith, they had Grant McMurray and Steve Veazey (who is retiring.)

[@AntonioAFelizJr]

@GospelTangents Antonio, here. That, of course, I already knew. My question remains, I'm officially still a member of Community of Christ, but I haven't been active since 2016. The last President I'm familiar with is President Veazy. If he's retiring, my question is if the succeeding President is a woman, is she a descendant of Joseph Smith, like the late, Wallace B. Smith was? So, again, do you know the answer?

[@GospelTangents]

@@AntonioAFelizJr yes I know. She is not.

[@AntonioAFelizJr]

@@GospelTangents Thanks 😊

[@MrDaveKC]

Yes, you went the wrong way at the beginning, that's I-70 west (and I-35 south) and it would take you to Kansas. Downtown can be quite confusing, but it's a loop around downtown Kansas City, and you went across the Missouri river on the Christopher Bond bridge. Missouri 7 is what you drove to to through Garden City And the Truman lake section south of Clinton is Missouri 13, which would take you to Springfield. The temple is in the Ozarks, which means crop farming just doesn't happen. Building basements in the Ozarks is rare, as a shovel goes in maybe a foot and it's hard rock everywhere. It's definitely "out there" but there are Latter Day Saint groups of various forms tucked in throughout Missouri. It seems the Ozarks tend to be popular for them to go. I have friends who aren't any form of Latter Day Saint that own land about 1/2 hour north of there, and I have a friend from one of the Church of Christ with the Elijah Message groups not far from there either. Sounds like it was a very interesting trip. Hope you enjoyed your drive through the Missouri country side.

[@Austin8thGenTexan]

Having borrowed so much from freemasonry, I was wondering if they have a cornerstone on the northeast corner of this building?

[@AntonioAFelizJr]

@Austin8thGenTexan Antonio, here. It's logical that they would. After all, their roots are from Brigham Young's changes in the original temple ordinance. And, why wouldn't they do that? A southeast corner in the northamerican hemisphere is, after all, the point of greatest light and such a stone would, therefore, represent The Resurrected Christ! Blessings 🙌

[@weirdlanguageguy]

Very cool! What are the standards for being allowed to worship in this temple?

[@GospelTangents]

Good question! I know tithing isn't. WoW is much more relaxed in fundamentalism, so I don't think that is a requirement. I suspect being a good person and belief in polygamy are probably the only standards.

[@weirdlanguageguy]

@@GospelTangents Very interesting! I've become somewhat of an independent brighamite Mormon myself recently, though definitely non-polygamist, so it would be interesting if they would allow someone like me in

[@GospelTangents]

You'll have to let me know one way or the other.

[@C_Glind]

I think so. I don't believe that wanting to be polygamist would be a requirement, more being fine with other people practicing.

[@weirdlanguageguy]

@@C_Glind Interesting! I would consider myself accepting of other people's polygamy, providing it's consensual and non-abusive

[@eliraven85]

Which church is this?

[@GospelTangents]

It's a bunch of independent fundamentalist Mormons, so not really a church. It's a bunch of people who believe we still need to practice polygamy, but there is no formal organization.

[@gwenwilliams8117]

😅​@@GospelTangents

[@dereklaub6533]

😶

[@top_gallant]

I think those are... I dunno didn't get a good look at them. lol.

[@GospelTangents]

They looked like deer mixed with goats.

[@mj9888s]

Which Fundamentalist group is this and why is there no coverage of this event in the mainstream media? Is this a 'real' story?

[@Misa_Susaki]

No group; they're independents. I don't think there is any coverage because the media doesn't really care about this kind of stuff.

[@GospelTangents]

Actually, I get the impression that the people who built this temple are just fine with the media not knowing about it. They generally like to be left alone, and too much scrutiny can cause problems. They were very nice to me.