4.89 Reform Mormonism

2002 • Seattle, Washington • Mike C. Richan and Rob Lauer

Mike C. Richan of Seattle, Washington, founded Reform Mormonism in 2002. The movement was incorporated in 2004 in the State of Washington. Richan, however, is not president or prophet, but only defined the principles of the faith. Richan was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (4.0), but left that affiliation in 1990.

Reform Mormonism “is a religion—not a church or organization.” Reform Mormonism uses the internet as its primary means of building community among what is now estimated to be several hundred people. Members are found in the United States, Canada, and in many other nations, such as Germany, Ireland, Scotland, Israel, and the West Indies. Regular gatherings for worship are encouraged when and where possible. A new book of scripture, the Book of Michael, was published in 2003.

Reform Mormonism clearly declared that it

“takes the best and some of the most unique principles taught by Joseph Smith [Jr.] and builds upon them. Reform Mormonism is not a movement to criticize or reform the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints … or any other Mormon denomination or sect. … Reform Mormonism shares a common history and heritage with the church, but it is a completely new and separate approach to philosophy, ethics, theology and religious observance.

In short, Reform Mormonism is a new religious tradition—the principles of which we believe have the power to revolutionize the world by offering humanity a new and more rational view of itself and the world in which we live.”

Mike Richan put forth the following basic ideas for the faith: “All scriptures or ordinances are art (man-made) and best understood figuratively. God does not demand obedience to commandments, nor does He demand our worship. … Mormon history (and all history) must be approached from a naturalistic, rational point of view and not from a mystical/miraculous/magical point of view.”

Declaring that no church or organization can be “the only true church,” obedience or faithfulness to a church or a group is not required or essential, but an individual choice if it contributes to personal progression. All human beings are viewed as equal, regardless of race, gender or sexual orientation. Prayers and ordinances refer to “Heavenly Parents” or “Heavenly Mother,” rather than identifying God only in the male gender.

Rob Lauer explained that Reform Mormonism is

“based on the earliest writings of Joseph Smith [Jr.] (from the late 1820s). … [Reform Mormonism holds] that Mormonism began, not as a restoration, but as a ‘reformation’ of existing religious institutions. (The concept of Mormonism as a restoration of ancient priesthood structures and authority was a later development, introduced to Joseph Smith by Sidney Rigdon in Ohio). During the last years of his life in Nauvoo, Joseph Smith began what he called “a reformation” of Mormon theology and practice. Reform Mormonism is founded upon the doctrinal innovations that Joseph Smith introduced at this time; we build and expand upon those ideas. Church structures and organizations, priesthood offices and authorities and ordinances—which were emphasized by Brigham Young and the Quorum of the Twelve following Joseph’s murder … and which are central to LDS Mormonism—are simply irrelevant to Reform Mormons. For us, Mormonism is a personal religion centered on what we call “The Mormon Paradigm” (or “Mormonism’s new theological paradigm”). That paradigm is one of eternal progression (as opposed to salvation or damnation) based on the acquisition of knowledge (as opposed to faith, obedience to external authorities or submission to ordinances). This paradigm embraces polytheism (a plurality of Gods) over monotheism, and envisions Gods as limited beings (limited by time and space) who share a common nature with humanity.”

Reform Mormonism is

“not a church per se, and we have no “prophets” or “apostles” or leaders in the way that most Mormon denominations have them. We are individuals who are bound together by certain things:

A rational approach to Mormon theology.
A conviction that all scripture is art; that no book is dictated by God; that no book or human creation, regardless of how inspired it may be, is infallible.
An open scholarly approach to Mormon history (we don’t make excuses for wrongs in Mormon history, nor do we ‘explain away’ certain events in order to justify a church or an idea).
A belief that an individual is to be valued and his/her Agency respected.
A belief in or an appreciation for the Mormon theological paradigm.
A belief in and commitment to the unique Mormon principle of Eternal Progression.
Conversion to Reform Mormonism doesn’t consist of joining a group or going through an ordinance. Conversion consists of making a personal covenant to pursue a path of Eternal Progression in one’s life. Reform Mormonism at its heart is a personal religion, a personal covenant between the individual and God.”

Reform Mormonism has created several liturgies for the sacraments, or ordinances, of the religion, which include an ordinance for naming and blessing infants, communion, and the endowment.

“The sacrament,” or communion, is observed “as part of a person’s or family’s Sabbath day meal. This means that … the actual dinner table … (not a church) … is the central meeting place.”

The Reform Mormonism endowment is a “temple observance” but “is a vehicle for social interaction and a means of outwardly celebrating one’s values and convictions.” The details of the endowment are openly posted to the movement’s website. Four different endowment ceremonies are celebrated at different stages of life.

Gatherings in different parts of the United States to perform endowments have reportedly been held occasionally since 2009.

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Sources:

Dawson, John. Email to the author, Apr. 6, 2008.

Lauer, Rob, email to author, 19 January 2006, 7 April 2009.

———. Emails to [email protected], July 7, 19, 20, 21, 31, Aug. 1, 2, 3, 2006, May 18, July 8, Aug. 5, 2008.

———. Email to [email protected], July 29, 2006.

“A New Kind of Mormon Life.” Online at reformmormonism.org, accessed July 13, 2009.

“The Reform Mormon Endowment.” The Mormon Community (blog), Feb. 24, 2007, refmogospeldoctrine.blogspot.kr.

Richan., Mike C. Book of Michael. N.p.: by the author, 2003.

———. Emails to the author, Apr. 7, July 14, 2009.

———. “Reform Mormonism: Leaving the Latter-Day Saints and Reclaiming One’s Tradition.” Posted reformmormonism.org, accessed Feb. 1, 2006.

Secretary of State, Washington State. Corporate filing for Reform Mormonism, online at secstate.wa.gov/corps, accessed Feb. 1, 2006.