This article was published in Sunstone Magazine, Volume 10, Number 10 (March 1986).
On February 8th, 1986 three people representing the Restoration Church of Jesus Christ spoke about their organization to a small audience at the Salt Lake Public Library. The Restoration church was established less than a year ago in Los Angeles by a group of people who had been excommunicated from the LDS church for homosexuality. The group is called by some onlookers “The Gay Mormon Church.”
The “Temporary Presidency” of the new denomination is headed by Elder Antonio A. Feliz (Presiding High Priest), who once served as a bishop inn the LDS church. Feliz and others felt they had received a revelation to create the new church. The church was officially organized on August 28th, 1985 and has approximately twenty members. Counselors in the presidency are LaMar Hamilton (presiding Bishop) and John R. Crane (Presiding Patriarch/Evangelist). Feliz and Crane have collected their revelations in the book Hidden Treasures and Promises.
The Restoration church differs from the LDS church in several significant ways. Its membership is dominated by lesbians and gay men. Also, it refuses to declare itself the only true church. The Restoration church believes in the ordination of women into its priesthood; Elder Pamela J. Calkins was ordained a minister in the church. An interesting concept in the new church is gay polygamy. Triangle magazine quotes Feliz as stating “If a group of people feels that a plural relationship is confirmed by the Lord and the presidency has no objection, a sealing will be performed.”
However, the Restoration church does maintain practices that are similar to the LDS church. They believe in paying tithing, holding Family Home Evening, and in having a lay clergy. The Restoration church plans to implement a missionary program to proselytize gay people. They plan to have temples in which endowments and marriage sealings can be performed. The leaders of this new denomination stress that the Restoration Church of Jesus Christ follows the doctrine presented by the Prophet Joseph Smith, and those found in the four standard works.
The gay Mormon community itself ahs not totally embraced the Restoration church. Some members of Affirmation, a support group for Mormon gays and lesbians, oppose the new church because they maintain a belief in the LDS Church. Affirmation and the Restoration church are decidedly separate organizations with completely distinct goals. The Restoration church is not allowed to solicit converts at Affirmation gatherings.
When asked if the LDS Church had made any official statement about the Restoration Church of Jesus Christ, Jerry Cahill – spokeman for the LDS Church – said, “I’ve never heard of it.”