A schismatic Latter Day Saint sect formed in 1861, known for its unique teachings and involvement in the Morrisite War.
The Church of the Firstborn was an offshoot of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), formed in 1861. It was led by Joseph Morris and became involved in the Morrisite War. The sect’s adherents were known as Morrisites.
Leadership and Origins
The Church of the Firstborn was established as a distinct sect within the Latter Day Saint movement by Joseph Morris. The church’s leadership included various individuals identified as apostles, such as John Banks, John Cook, and Gudmund Gudmundson, and a bishop, William Harris.
Morrisite War
The Morrisite War was a significant event in the history of this sect. By spring 1862, discontent arose within the group due to food scarcity and failed prophecies of the Second Coming. Disputes over property entitlement led to heightened tensions, resulting in the arrest of Morris and other leaders by the Utah territorial militia. The conflict culminated in a skirmish on June 15, 1862, in which Morris was killed.
Teachings
The Church of the Firstborn taught that Joseph Smith, the founder of the Latter Day Saint movement, was succeeded by James Strang and then by Joseph Morris. A notable distinction of the Church of the Firstborn from other Latter Day Saint sects was its belief in reincarnation. This belief, termed “baby resurrection,” was taught by Morris and his successor, George Williams, who declared himself “Prophet Cainan.” The church also rejected certain teachings of Brigham Young and the LDS Church, such as plural marriage and temple ordinances.
Schism and Extinction
After the death of George Williams in 1882, the church experienced a division into several schisms, each led by different claimants to Williams’s successor. The largest of these groups was based in Montana, led by John R. Eardley. By the 1950s, most members had passed away, and the church officially disbanded in 1969.
Leland Jensen and Later Influence
One of Williams’s prophecies, asserting that Deer Lodge, Montana, would be the site of the Second Coming of Christ, was later discovered by leaders of a small Baháʼí Faith apocalyptic cult founded by Leland Jensen. Jensen believed that the Montana State Prison in Deer Lodge, where he had been incarcerated, was Ezekiel’s Temple.
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