CRE Solemn Assembly Class Notes

CRE Solemn Assembly Class Notes
Glendale Restoration Branch
By Elder Vance G. Snively
August 16, 2020

I. The Conference of Restoration Elders (CRE) has called a “solemn assembly” for September 27, 2020.
A. We need to investigate this call to assemble to see if it is of the Lord and whether we should participate. B. DC 52:4b: “And again, I will give unto you a pattern in all things, that ye may not be deceived; for Satan is abroad in the land, and he goeth forth deceiving the nations.” C. This scripture served us well determining truth/falsity of Brazil Plates—it will do the same regarding this issue. D. The pattern we should use is His Word in the Scriptures and any precedents set by Him in Church history.
1. God is unchangeable—so His Word is also unchangeable.
2. God restored His Church in 1830 and Reorganized it in 1860. Thus, solemn assemblies of the Church in the past would have been called according to God’s will—establishing God’s pattern for them in Church history.
3. The pattern that God set in Scriptures and Church history is the same for us, as well as for all people in all ages because He is unchangeable.
E. First, we are going to look at the pattern for solemn assemblies in the Scriptures and Church History.
F. Second, we will examine the CRE solemn assembly to see if it fits that pattern.
G. If CRE solemn assembly does not fit the pattern, it is not of God because He is unchangeable. II. What was the pattern for solemn assemblies in the Old Testament?

A. On the “Solemn Assembly Scriptural and Church History References” handout, you will see all the references in the Three Standard Books about solemn assemblies.
B. Note that there are none in the New Testament or the Book of Mormon—only in the Old Testament and the Doctrine and Covenants.
C. For the most part, the Old Testament references indicate solemn assemblies were associated with various feasts of the Mosaic Law.
D. Since Christ gave the Mosaic Law (3 Nephi 7:5–10), His covenant people were following His directions (His Word) when they held their solemn assemblies.
E. He was directing them through those in authority—His priesthood (Aaronic / Levitical).
F. In one instance Solomon, who was one in authority, dedicated the Temple to the Lord as His House and called a solemn assembly (see 2 Chronicles 5–7).
G. The Old Testament pattern was that solemn assemblies were called according to God’s law for a specific purpose (i.e., to obey the Law of Moses in worshiping the God of Israel; to dedicate Lord’s temple to Him in worship and praise). The assemblies were called and overseen by those having authority from God over the people. III. What was the pattern for solemn assemblies in the Restored Church?

A. I could find no record in Church history of solemn assemblies being held in the RLDS Church—only in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints during the period from 1830 to 1844.

B. There is one mention of a future solemn assembly in the RLDS Church—“a grand solemn assembly ere long to take place” (see RLDS History of the Church 3:616)—a possible reference to a solemn assembly to be held in the Zion Temple to receive a full spiritual endowment.

C. According to RLDS Church history and the Doctrine and Covenants, there were only four solemn assemblies held in the Church prior to Joseph’s death in 1844. 1. In 1833, a solemn assembly was called by priesthood having jurisdictional authority to resolve a problem about the appointment of presiding elders in the Land of Zion (see RLDS History of the Church 1:284).

1.

On August 17, 1835, a General Assembly of the Church (the highest legislative body of the Church—see Vision 49 [March 2005]:20), which was also a solemn assembly (according to Joseph Smith III, The Saints’ Herald 57 [July 13, 1910]:681–685 and Vision 85 [June 2015]: 13,14; also according to Alexander Smith, Autumn Leaves 14 [Lamoni, Iowa, August 1901]: 349–351 and Joseph Smith Fought Polygamy 2:236), approved the Doctrine and Covenants as the word of God, making it binding upon the Church as Church law.

2.

In March 1836, a solemn assembly was called by God through His Prophet Joseph Smith Jr. a. To dedicate the Kirtland Temple as the House of the Lord b. To endow God’s priesthood with power to take the fullness of His Gospel to the Gentiles first and then the House of Israel (see DC 85:18–20, 36; DC 87:3-4; DC 92; RLDS History of the Church 1:602–603; 2:18, 33–47). 4. On April 6, 1837, a solemn assembly was called by the First Presidency and held in the Kirtland Temple for several purposes: a. Worshipping the Lord in His House b. Conducting Church business 1) Resolving organization problems with the Quorums of Seventies 2) Resolving debt a) Incurred by the building of the Temple b) Incurred by the expulsion of the Saints from Jackson County, Missouri c) Incurred by purchasing land for the Saints to gather (see RLDS History of the Church 3:99–101).

3.

These four solemn assemblies in Church history present a very clear pattern, even though their subjects and purposes were varied. a. First, all of these solemn assemblies were called by those having jurisdictional authority over large groups of organized Church members. b. Second, there was always a clear purpose for the assembly. c. Interestingly, this is the same general pattern of the solemn assemblies held in the Old Testament. IV. Does the solemn assembly called by the CRE for 9/27/20 reflect this pattern?—NO

A. The CRE has no jurisdictional authority over any Church members.
B. In their writings on the subject, as well as at the “Pre-Solemn Assembly Informational Meeting” held at the Outreach Restoration Branch on 8/9/20, the CRE has never given a specific purpose for their solemn assembly except to come together in unspecific repentance. (If you want to watch a livestream of pre-solemn assembly meeting, see me and I will send you the email that links to the recording.)
C. Since the CRE solemn assembly does not fit the pattern shown in the Scriptures or Church history, it is not of God because He gives us a pattern in all things so that we are not deceived by Satan. V. There are other issues indicating that the CRE solemn assembly is not of God.

A. “A Call to a Solemn Assembly” and the “Pre-Solemn Assembly Informational Meeting” clearly state that the assembly is not only for members of independent Restoration branches, but is also for members of all present-day RLDS Church factions—The Remnant, JCRB, Community of Christ, and even Joseph F. Smith’s group.

1.	Such a position appears to support the beginning of another veiled attempt by men to “set the Church in order,” even though this purpose for the assembly is presently denied by the CRE leadership.

2.	Richard Neill spoke for an hour at the “Pre-Solemn Assembly Informational Meeting” skirting around this idea as the specific purpose of the assembly.

3.

Only after others from the JCRB and Remnant spoke that they believed the assembly could bring the Church factions together, Richard Neill indicated that the assembly might prove to us that we all could worship together. He said something to the affect that the Spirit may be so strong at the assembly that it will be revealed to us that we all (including factions) can worship together. He also indicated that by doing so, there would be no more “ites” (i.e., separate groups like Nephites, Lamanites, Josephites, or Brighamites, etc.) because we would be willing to give up things (doctrine?) in an attempt to unify the various groups.

4.

It is interesting to note that in 2003 and 2005 (Visions 45 and 49, respectively) Richard Price warned the CRE to not start a new church. Could it be that the CRE’s present solemn assembly is the beginning of the fulfillment of their long held plans? 5. At the beginning of the Reorganization the Lord told Jason Briggs and Zenos Gurley Sr. to have nothing to do with the factions of the time. In addition, the branch at Beloit, Wisconsin and the first conference (June 1852) resolved to have nothing to do with the factions of the time (see RLDS History of the Church 3:200–203, 206, 209, 211). At the 1853 conference that reorganized the Church (except for the First Presidency) they were told in prophecy that the factions of the day, as well as future ones, would all fail (see RLDS History of the Church 3:224).

5.

Such unity will not work because only when we are unified in the doctrine of Christ—which we are not with the factions—can we be unified with Him and each other (see 2 John 1:9–11). B. In the preface of the “Sixty Days of Preparation for the Solemn Assembly,” the statement is made that 9/27/20 was chosen for the date of the assembly because it coincides with Yom Kippur. Through prayer it was impressed upon their minds that the assembly should be on this date. They vaguely implied that doing so might bring similar spiritual blessings as Joseph received from Moroni—whose appearance to him occurred generally around the time of the Israelite harvest festival season. However, this impression could not have been from the Lord because the Mosaic Law was fulfilled in Him, thus no longer needed.

6.	3 Nephi 7:5–10 tells us that Christ was the one who gave the Law of Moses (making Him the God of Israel) and in Him—through His sacrifice—the Law of Moses is fulfilled and ended.

7.	Colossians 2:16–17 also indicates that the Jewish holidays from the Law of Moses are done away in Christ.

8.

Thus, coordinating this event with a Jewish holiday seems to be a false similitude, since the Lord told us that in Him, the Law of Moses is fulfilled. C. In the “Sixty Days of Preparation for the Solemn Assembly,” page 10, September 4, a statement is made indicating that the RLDS Church is dead. From this it seems that the CRE has taken the same position as the Remnant, JCRB, CofC, and Joseph F. Smith’s group.

9.	During Richard Neill’s presentation at the “Pre-Solemn Assembly Informational Meeting,” he never once indicated he was a member of the Reorganization or RLDS Church. He consistently used the phrase “within the Restoration” when he referred to the Church.

10.	How can we earnestly seek out the Lord in the worship of a solemn assembly and be unified with those who believe His Church is dead, when it is not?

11.	How can it be expected that the Lord will pour out His Spirit upon a group of people who have left His true Church because they believe it is dead, without them repenting of this position? The RLDS

Church is not dead, but remains with those who practice the original beliefs of the RLDS Church and are waiting upon the Lord to set His Church in order. D. As discussed earlier, the only stated purpose by the CRE for their solemn assembly is to come together in unspecific repentance.
1. If their intention is for participants to repent of their individual sins, why is it necessary to go to an assembly to do this, when we should be doing this on a daily basis at home?
2. Or could it be that the repentance the CRE is suggesting is for the lack of unity between independent Restoration branches (who they say they represent) and the various factions?
3. If this is what the CRE wants to happen at the assembly, they are way off base. The split in the branches has occurred as a result of various groups wanting to establish a Church. The independent Restoration branches never “kicked them out,” they left to have a fully organized church. Thus, the repentance that should be done is for the factions to give up their churches— including any higher quorums and priesthood callings such as seventies, apostles, high priests, bishops, and prophets—and return to waiting upon the Lord to set His Church in order. 

VI. In summary, I believe the CRE solemn assembly is a misguided attempt to unify the Church on the lowest common denominator of belief. While the men involved appear to be honest in their belief that the Lord is leading them in this endeavor, I believe He is not and that they are being led by some other spirit. The Lord is unchangeable and gives us a pattern in all things. I do not believe this endeavor speaks to either of these two aspects of Him.