Church of Christ with the Elijah Message

Beliefs and scriptures

Members regard the Book of Mormon and parts of the Bible as canonical while also treating the Elijah Message as authoritative guidance. The Elijah Message is presented as a set of prophetic communications that supplement earlier Latter Day Saint texts and offer direction about organization, doctrine, and practice. Worship and organization echo other Temple Lot and independent Latter Day Saint bodies, with a strong emphasis on prophetic leadership and restorationist themes.

Origins and development

The movement grew from early 20th‑century events within the Temple Lot tradition of the Latter Day Saint family. Individuals within that milieu reported receiving new revelations, and those claims produced schisms and the formation of new, independent groups. Over time one group adopted the label "with the Elijah Message" to emphasize its acceptance of the newly claimed communications.

Practices and organization

• Regular worship services patterned on Latter Day Saint liturgy.
• Emphasis on prophetic counsel and the study of the Elijah Message texts alongside the Book of Mormon.
• Local congregations with lay and appointed officers who govern community affairs.

Distinctive points and controversies

What sets this church apart is the central place given to the claimed messages—often described collectively as 117 messages—whose origin and authenticity have been debated both inside and outside the movement. These disputes have contributed to fragmentation among related groups and to differing views about which messages, if any, are binding.

The church is one of several small denominations that trace their roots to early Latter Day Saint rivalries and reform efforts. For readers seeking more background on the movement or on the scriptures it endorses, see Latter Day Saint movement, Book of Mormon, and discussions of John the Baptist. A focused collection of the claimed communications is often referenced as the Elijah Message.