Josh Gehly is an evangelist from the Church of Jesus Christ. His church dates back to the days of Sidney Rigdon and is sometimes called the Bickertonite Church. Josh has written a new book “Witnessing Miracles” that provides evidence for both the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the Book of Mormon. We’ll get acquainted with Josh and his book. Check out our conversation…
As I read the book, I was surprised to hear him quote Hugh Hefner, the founder of Playboy magazine. Josh said that Hugh could have benefitted from reading the Book of Mormon! But seriously, he was quoting an interview of Hefner where Hefner said if the resurrection of Jesus was true, it would be a great thing! We went on to discuss the founding of his church, especially the role of Sidney Rigdon who started the church following Joseph Smith’s death in 1844. Sidney returned to Pittsburgh, and baptized William Bickerton, a coal miner who picked up the pieces of Sidney’s church when he basically abandoned it a few years later.
Josh Gehly gives a non-LDS Defense of the Book of Mormon. He is an Evangelist (what LDS would call a Seventy) of the Church of Jesus Christ based in Monongahela, PA, and shares his book, “Witnessing Miracles” which deals with a defense of the Book of Mormon. He even takes on Dan Vogel! We’ll talk more about his church, and find out if this “non-Mormon” gets discriminated against just like Mormons. (They do, even though they don’t call themselves Mormons.)
Josh goes on to say that even Dan Vogel acknowledges golden plates existed, but disagrees with Dan as to whether Joseph Smith created the plates himself. Josh notes there are no historical records that say Smith fabricated plates. He goes on to quote several LDS leaders about the authenticity of the Book of Mormon. I would say that this book would be considered quite orthodox by LDS members. Their version of the Book of Mormon also puts the words of Jesus in red letters, something LDS leaders are strangely against.
The Church of Jesus Christ based in Monongahela, PA allows for limited female priesthood ordination of women. We’ll discuss women’s roles with Josh Gehly, an evangelist in the church and discuss Bickertonite Church structure. From the beginning Josh’s church has allowed ordination of women as deaconnesses. There are no other priesthood offices they can hold, but Josh notes that Phoebe was a deacon in the New Testament and that’s why their church allows deaconnesses in their church.
Is an Evangelist similar to the LDS calling of Seventy? Sort of! His church has just 30,000 members and I’d say that when the LDS Church was that small, the role of a Seventy was quite simliar, but has morphed into being a trainer for stake presidents now.
We’ll also discuss differences in baptismal practices. Just like Jesus, Bickertonites believe a person must be baptized in a natural body of water. He said his first baptism occurred when it was so cold outside that they had to use chainsaws to cut the ice for the baptism. They also don’t allow 8-year olds to be baptized. Instead the person is usually a late teen to early 20s to decide to be baptized.
Are you familiar with the Bickertonite Church? What do you think of their ordination of women, baptismal practices, and belief in the Book of Mormon?
Wheat & Tares 
I wonder if the Church of Christ believes in the Doctrine and Covenants? It may be sensible to wait on baptism, however the D&C requires parents to baptize their children by age 8.
Their views on female ordination don’t make a lot of sense in my opinion. Yes Phoebe was a deaconess, but Junia was an apostle, and Deborah and Huldah were prophetesses. Joseph Smith had Elder Taylor give the priesthood to Emma and her counselors at the first RS meeting and told them it was the same power his presidency had, and to select deacons and teachers from among the sisters.
If women can only be deaconess, they still are 2nd class citizens. Still, I hope this allows for more involvement of women in their church.
Good points. No, neither the Church of Jesus Christ (Bickertonite) nor Church of Christ (Temple Lot) accept either the Doctrine & Covenants or Pearl of Great Price, as we mentioned in the interview.
Sorry about that. I don’t like to play video with other people present so I only read the post.
It is interesting to read that both Bickertonites and Temple Lot reject D&C and Pearl of Great Price. By the late 1830’s Joseph Smith was a fallen prophet, becoming a sort of Mormon pope with strong political ambitions. Rigdon hewed to Campbellite tradition. Sadly Brigham Young followed Smith’s path.
I’m Mennonite Brethren.
“For some reason WordPress did not allow me to log in and post yesterday.
My comment was related to Bickertonians rejection of D&C and Pearl of Great Price. Rigdon did you a great favor in rejecting Smith’s bizarre theology, returning the church to its 1830 Campbellite roots. Unfortunately Brigham Young didn’t.
Every so often the Salt Lakers have a revelation and reject another piece of Smith’s latter day nonsense. Polygamy disappeared with Utah statehood. Racism disappeared in 1978 to make BYU competitive in football.
Like Smith in 1844, it’s all about politics.