Dan and Ann Hatch are the temple president and matron for Christ’s Church. We’ll discuss their conversion from LDS to Christ Church and temple theology.

Conversion to Christ’s Church

Ann and Dan Hatch converted to Christ’s Church about 20 years ago. Ann grew up LDS and shared a dream she had of having two mothers. She felt like it was a premonition of her current conversion, and felt something was missing from her experience. Ann shared her experience growing up LDS with a focus on genealogy and patriarchal blessings.

Dan converted to the LDS church, and served a mission in France. Apparently missionaries were getting beaten up, so the mission president recognized his military background, and told him to defend himself. After a few scuffles, people left them alone and he even changed some hearts with some volleyball matches (that the missionaries lost.)

View of Joseph Smith in Fundamentalism

We discussed Mormon fundamentalism and theology, including multiple mortal probations and the role of Joseph Smith.
Dan was the first to feel the Spirit during a meeting with Christ’s Church, leading both of them to join. They did not join with the intention to practice polygamy, but to be with a church with strong priesthood. We discussed the Council of Friends. It was interestinng to attend church and find out they used Cristina Rosetti’s book about Joseph Mercer as lesson material. Christ’s Church also accepts that Joseph Smith plays the role of the Holy Ghost. I was surprised to learn that
Hannah Stoddard, a member of the Joseph Smith Foundation, shares similar beliefs about the Holy Ghost’s role and importance.

We also discussed the founding of Christ’s Church by Gerald Peterson Senior. It is claimed he was ordained a key holder by Rulon Allred in a private conversation between 1971 and 1975. Ann describes encounter with resurrected Rulon in Gerald’s medical office, where Rulon appointed Gerald Senior as keyholder and instructed him to set up a church. Gerald Senior established a church entity in 1978 and the group built a temple in southern Utah.

Priesthood authority and succession in Mormon fundamentalism.

LDS church authority and priesthood ordination.

I asked how Christ’s Church views LDS Priesthood. Dan responded that Gerald Peterson Sr, “released” President Kimball from his calling (essentially excommunicating him) and that Gerald was the new keyholder. The group recognizes LDS Temple ordinances prior to 1978 but not after. Dan was baptized and ordained into the Aaronic priesthood in Christ Church, and then baptized his wife. He was re-ordained to both the Aaronic and Melchizedek priesthoods to ensure proper recognition by Christ’s Church. He believes there are righteous men with priesthood authority on earth, even LDS members. The LDS Church has an important mission to spread the gospel. The church keys and sealing keys were believed to have returned to Gerald W. Peterson, Senior.

Wilford Woodruff’s decision to issue the Manifesto

I asked about Wilford Woodruff’s issuance of the 1890 manifesto, which led to the church’s ban on polygamy. Did they feel Woodruff was a traitor? Both Ann & Dan weren’t willing to go that far, and understood the tough decision Woodruff had to make. They believe Woodruff made the best decision for the entire church by prioritizing temple preservation over polygamy, despite personal opinions on the matter.

Early Mormon history and Temple practices.

I was surprised to learn that Christ’s Church still practices the Law of Adoption which was disbanded in 1894 when Wilford Woodruff created the Genealogical Society of Utah and directed the saints to be sealed to their parents rather than Church leaders. I asked if it was redundant to have both the Law of Adoption & be sealed to parents. In Christ’s Church, members learn about file leadership and return and report in the temple, with accountability being emphasized for certain tasks.

Rebaptism Practices in Christ’s Church Temple.

Rebaptism is done for various reasons, including recommitment and repentance. They perform Baptisms for the dead and living, including health blessings. Blessings and baptisms for health and forgiveness of sins are practiced in Christ’s Church. The Hatches discuss baptism for health as a means of spiritual healing.

Women’s role in priesthood

Women in Christ’s Church can lay hands on the sick in certain circumstances, but don’t recognize that as holding priesthood. I asked them about when Elder Oaks discussed the distinction between priesthood authority and priesthood power, and how women in the LDS church hold priesthood but not priesthood office. Was that true in Christ’s Church as well. Dan said that was a good way to think about it. Ann shared a personal experience of giving a blessing to a sick child, highlighting the importance of giving blessings in certain circumstances.

Long Endowment

Christ’s Church mostly uses the 1877 long endowment with some additions in 1930s. The length of an endowment session in Christ Church depends on the number of people present and (sometimes the) inspiration of the church president. They will sometimes stop and explain certain portions of the endowment, repeat parts for people who didn’t hear/understand, and sometimes add additional explanation. Ann highlights how the ceremony is adapted for different individuals, including elderly women, stop to allow a nursing mother to leave and come back, help those with health issues, and repeat certain parts to ensure understanding and significance. Ann has multiple roles in the church, including temple matron, historian, librarian, and Relief Society teacher.

Dan is a missionary, temple president, and apostle. Most members wear multiple hats and pitch in to help each other out in their callings, with a focus on working together and supporting each other.

Beliefs and practices, including blood atonement.

Dan explains the oath of vengeance in Mormon temple ceremonies, asking for God’s intervention when someone takes a life unjustly. The group clarifies that they do not condone or seek revenge for past injustices, but rather ask for God’s intervention. They do not believe or support blood atonement. They emphasize personal responsibility for sins.

Mormon temple rituals and spiritual experiences.

Dan & Ann shared a personal experience of feeling someone missing in a family’s temple ordinance work. Some members have reported experiencing a vivid vision during proxy temple work with a sister. Ann has felt the presence of deceased family members in different sessions. The Church’s focus is on building community, saving souls, and continuous revelation, not polygamy.

Church policies, Patriarchal Blessings & Temple Recommend Expiration.

A Solemn Assembly recommend is required to attend general conference. I was surprised that only priesthood members can attend priesthood meetings. Apparently a non-member created a ruckus once, so only those seeking baptism are allowed to attend. For this reason, I attended Relief Society. The group does not closely follow LDS General Conference, unless someone in their family brings it up for discussion.

Ann said there are plans to create a hymnal called “Songs of Zion” with LDS hymns and some of their own songs. While most fundamentalists are more lax in their adherance to the Word of Wisdom, Christ’s Church is more strict with additional restrictions, such as abstaining from cocoa-containing products and swine flesh, as taught in the Journal of Discourses. Ann shared a fun story about her mom’s conversion to Mormonism, including her insistence on eating chocolate oranges for Christmas before being baptized.

Policy on Blacks

Many fundamentalists don’t like to talk about the ban on blacks from priesthood and temple. Dan and Ann said it would require a revelation by their prophet to allow such to happen, and do not recognize the 1978 revelation in the LDS Church.