Restoration Branch Scripture Collection

Restoration Branch scripture collections come from the conservative RLDS-derived side of the Latter Day Saint movement. The Restoration Branches developed among members and congregations that separated from, or became independent of, the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints during the late twentieth century.

Many Restoration Branch groups use the Inspired Version of the Bible, the RLDS Book of Mormon, the RLDS Doctrine and Covenants, and Lectures on Faith. These texts reflect the older RLDS scriptural tradition rather than the standard works used by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The Inspired Version is Joseph Smith’s revision of the Bible and is often treated as the preferred Bible text in Restoration Branch settings. The Book of Mormon is usually used in an RLDS edition, commonly the 1908 Authorized Edition or editions based on that tradition. The Doctrine and Covenants is also generally used in an RLDS form, with section numbering and contents that differ from the LDS Church edition.

Lectures on Faith is commonly preserved in Restoration Branch scripture collections because of its place in the 1835 Doctrine and Covenants. Although it was later removed from the LDS Doctrine and Covenants and is not included in the current Community of Christ Doctrine and Covenants, Restoration Branch groups often continue to value it as part of the early Restoration scriptural record.

The Restoration Branches are not one centralized denomination, so exact scripture use can vary by congregation, association, or conference. Still, the common pattern is an older RLDS-style collection centered on the Inspired Version, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Lectures on Faith.

Used by: Restoration Branches and related conservative RLDS-derived groups.

Old Covenants (affiliate link) is part of the Restoration Edition scripture arrangement used by Covenant Christians associated with Denver Snuffer. It broadly corresponds to Old Testament material.

The title reflects the movement’s covenant-based organization of scripture. Instead of using only the traditional Christian title “Old Testament,” the Restoration Edition places the earlier biblical writings under the heading Old Covenants. The collection is paired with New Covenants and Modern Covenants as part of the larger Restoration Edition scripture project.

Old Covenants contains the scriptural material connected with the ancient covenant record before the ministry of Jesus Christ. In this arrangement, it serves the role normally filled by the Old Testament in Christian scripture collections, while also fitting into the Restoration Edition’s broader structure of ancient, New Testament, Book of Mormon, and modern Restoration writings.

The text is used within the Covenant Christian movement as part of its accepted scripture set. It is not the same edition structure used by the LDS Church, Community of Christ, or traditional RLDS-derived Restoration Branches.

Used by: Covenant Christians associated with Denver Snuffer and the Restoration Edition scripture project.

New Covenants (affiliate link) is part of the Restoration Edition scripture arrangement used by Covenant Christians associated with Denver Snuffer. It includes New Testament material and Book of Mormon material within that movement’s scripture structure.

The title follows the movement’s covenant-based naming system. Instead of treating the New Testament and Book of Mormon as entirely separate categories, the Restoration Edition places them together under New Covenants. This connects the record of Jesus’ ministry in the Old World with the Book of Mormon account of his ministry in the New World.

In this arrangement, New Covenants contains the writings connected to Jesus Christ’s mortal ministry, resurrection, teachings, apostles, and covenant people. The New Testament material covers the early Christian record, while the Book of Mormon material covers the Restoration movement’s American scripture tradition.

New Covenants is paired with Old Covenants and Modern Covenants. Together, these volumes organize scripture around earlier biblical covenants, the ministry and teachings of Christ, and later Restoration writings.

Used by: Covenant Christians associated with Denver Snuffer and the Restoration Edition scripture project.

Modern Covenants is part of the Restoration Edition scripture arrangement used by Covenant Christians associated with Denver Snuffer. It contains Restoration-era and modern covenantal materials used within that movement.

The title follows the same covenant-based structure as Old Covenants and New Covenants. In this arrangement, Modern Covenants gathers texts connected to the modern Restoration rather than placing them under the traditional title Doctrine and Covenants.

Modern Covenants includes materials associated with Joseph Smith, early Restoration history, later Restoration teachings, and covenant documents used by Covenant Christians. It includes Teachings and Commandments, which functions as the movement’s collection of Restoration-era and modern revelation material.

The collection is part of the Restoration Edition scripture project and is used alongside Old Covenants and New Covenants. Together, the three categories organize scripture into ancient biblical writings, New Testament and Book of Mormon writings, and modern Restoration writings.

Used by: Covenant Christians associated with Denver Snuffer and the Restoration Edition scripture project.

Teachings and Commandments is part of the Restoration Edition scripture collection used by Covenant Christians associated with Denver Snuffer. It functions as the movement’s modern Restoration scripture collection.

The text contains materials connected to Joseph Smith, early Restoration history, later Restoration teachings, and the covenantal claims of the Covenant Christian movement. It includes revelations, letters, talks, historical documents, and other writings arranged for use as scripture within that community.

Teachings and Commandments serves a role similar to the Doctrine and Covenants in other Latter Day Saint branches, but it is not the same book as the LDS Doctrine and Covenants or the Community of Christ Doctrine and Covenants. It uses its own arrangement and includes material selected for the Restoration Edition scripture project.

The collection is part of the larger Restoration Edition structure, which also includes Old Covenants and New Covenants. Within that structure, Teachings and Commandments belongs to the modern Restoration portion of the canon.

Used by: Covenant Christians associated with Denver Snuffer and the Restoration Edition scripture project.

Covenant of Christ is a modern English version of the Book of Mormon used in the Covenant Christian and Restoration Edition scripture setting. It presents the Book of Mormon text in updated language and formatting for use within that movement.

The book follows the same broad narrative as the Book of Mormon, including the records of Nephi, Jacob, Enos, Jarom, Omni, Mosiah, Alma, Helaman, Third Nephi, Fourth Nephi, Mormon, Ether, and Moroni. Its purpose is to present the Book of Mormon in a modernized English form rather than as a separate narrative unrelated to the Book of Mormon.

Covenant of Christ belongs to the New Covenants portion of the Restoration Edition scripture arrangement. In that structure, Book of Mormon material is grouped with New Testament material as part of the record of Christ’s covenant people.

The title distinguishes this edition from the standard LDS Church edition of the Book of Mormon, the Community of Christ edition, the 1830 edition, and other traditional Book of Mormon editions used by different Latter Day Saint branches.

Used by: Covenant Christians associated with Denver Snuffer and the Restoration Edition scripture project.