Been Through Some Changes Lately?

So Have We…

Pull Up A Chair. Let’s Talk.

We know what it’s like to question. Many of us here share your Latter-day Saint roots—and like you, we’ve wrestled, deconstructed, and walked new and unfamiliar paths of faith. We’re not here to convert or convince, just to welcome and support. Whether you’re holding on, letting go, or simply wondering what’s next, you’ll find an open table and open hearts. Come as you are, stay as long as you need.

Kirtland Temple with tall windows and a steeple, surrounded by trees and grass, during sunset.

Introduction to Community of Christ:
An LDS Perspective

Community of Christ shares a common foundation in the Restoration. We understand the beauty, excitement, and promise of those early days—while also acknowledging the complexity, challenges, and pain that came with them. From our beginnings as the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints to today’s Community of Christ, we’ve walked a path of transformation. We've shifted our focus from historical origins to a mission rooted in the life and teachings of Jesus Christ—proclaiming peace, seeking justice, and practicing radical inclusivity.

Through it all, we’ve remained committed to being a prophetic people—where common consent, not top-down authority, guides our journey. That commitment has empowered us to make monumental changes. We’ve moved beyond rigid orthodoxy and fundamentalism to embrace a humble, curious, Christ-centered faith.

Rather than holding fast to doctrines that change with time, we now center our shared life on Enduring Principles: values like Worth of All Persons, Responsible Choices, Pursuit of Peace, Sacredness of Creation, and Grace and Generosity.

These aren’t rules or requirements. They’re spiritual guideposts—meant to inspire, challenge, and shape how we live, love, and lead. They invite reflection, conversation, and growth. And we trust that if they are truly of God, they will endure.

This journey has taken us in a very different direction from many other branches of the Restoration. The result? A spiritual home that may feel unfamiliar at first—but is open to all. Here are just a few things a Latter-day Seeker (what you might call an “investigator” in LDS terms) might notice:

  • Women in Priesthood and Leadership: Not only do women hold the priesthood, but our current Prophet-President, Stassi D. Cramm, is the first woman to lead the global church.

  • Informality and Authenticity: Our leaders are regular people. They don’t wear titles like badges. You’ll find them mingling at potlucks, inviting conversation—not delivering pronouncements.

  • Space for Complexity: We’re uncomfortable with claims of certainty. You get to decide what history you embrace and how it shapes your faith. We don’t treat church history as doctrine—and all perspectives are welcome.

  • We’re Not “The One True Church”: We are a community seeking the Divine through the ministry of Jesus Christ. Love, mercy, humility, integrity, justice, and peace are our guides—not creeds, certainty or checklists.

  • Community Is Central: Across the world, we gather at campgrounds and retreats for connection, worship, and rest. You won’t be interrogated about your faith journey. We’re just glad you’re here.

  • Temples: We have a temple in Inependence, MO, based on the concept of the original Kirtland Temple, which is a place of worship, education, community building, and pursuit of peace. No weddings or baptisms. All are welcome in this space.

  • Culture Shift: Coffee? Optional. Tattoos? Common. Worthiness interviews? Not a thing. Piercings, LGBTQIA+ inclusion, diverse worship styles, and faithful disagreement are all part of life here.

Whether you stay long enough to catch your breath, or decide to make this your home, we hope you’ll experience three things:

  1. A new way of doing “church”

  2. A welcome that doesn’t depend on belief

  3. A community that will love you wherever your journey leads

The San Luis Obispo congregation includes life-long members who have experienced institutional and peronal change from a more rules-based orthodox form of worship, to the Community of Christ of today. We also have members who have converted from the LDS faith, and those who not members but absolutely part of our congregation and community from other faiths.

A church with a tall, pointed steeple is seen in the distance, framed by tree branches and leaves, with a cloudy sky in the background.
A group of diverse people gathered on stage, with a woman in a red dress receiving an award from a woman in a floral dress. An elderly woman sitting in a chair is part of the scene. People are standing in a line, and there are audience members taking photos. The background includes an orchestra and audience seated in an auditorium.
An outdoor wooden deck with a circular arrangement of yellowish-green sand and various natural objects like leaves, sticks, and rocks, creating a geometric pattern.
Interior view of a large auditorium filled with seated audience members, with a stage at the front, decorated with international flags hanging along the balcony railing.

Latter-day Seekers Ministry

A cartoon man in a white shirt, tie, and glasses stands near a white picket fence, talking to a man with a beard and orange shirt who is smiling and gesturing toward the open gate. The background features green grass, trees, and a cloudy blue sky. The text says, 'The gate’s always open. C’mon in!'

This page is part of the San Luis Obispo Community of Christ congregation website—but we also want to point you to Latter-day Seekers Ministry. It’s a welcoming space for folks from an LDS background who are exploring faith in new ways. They have many great resources. You can also reach out to us directly.

Latter-day Seekers Ministry introduces Community of Christ to those with a LDS background.  seek dialogue with all people, but do not proselytize. For those happy in their faith, we are happy for you. 

Not only does this ministry provide an opportunity to learn more about Community of Christ, but it also offers a welcoming and inclusive community for those who may feel isolated or disconnected from their current faith community.
​
​This ministry encourages dialogue and open-mindedness, which can help you gain a deeper appreciation for other perspectives and beliefs. By engaging with a community of seekers who share your background, you may find a sense of belonging and connection that you may not have experienced before.​

You can explore new ways of thinking about faith and spirituality without feeling pressured to abandon your current beliefs. The ministry offers a safe and supportive space to ask questions, share your experiences, and learn from others.

Our Latter-day Seekers Ministry is a great place to connect with others who are on a similar journey of seeking, learning, and growing. Whether you're looking to expand your understanding of faith or simply want to connect with like-minded individuals, this ministry may be a valuable resource for you.

Project Zion Podcast Logo

Project Zion Podcast

​Explores the unique spiritual and theological gifts the Restoration tradition offers today’s world. Project Zion publishes full-length episodes every Tuesday, with occasional “extra shots” of shorter, high impact content in between.

Project ZION Podcast is sponsored by the ​Latter-day Seekers Ministries team of Community of Christ. Latter-day Seeker Ministries supports those with a Mormon background who look to Community of Christ for sanctuary and potentially as a spiritual home.

Graphic with dark green background and teal 3D text reading 'Fair Trade' in bold.

Project Zion Podcast Series:
FAIR TRADE

​A faith crisis or transition is often disruptive. It’s a time of doubt, fear, questioning foundational beliefs and everything else you thought you knew. People often feel lonely or lost. You are not alone. Listen in as courageous people share the candid stories of their faith journey and what brought them to Community of Christ…where they found themselves and a new sense peace.

Project Zion Podcast Logo

Project Zion Podcast:
A New Culture for Latter-day Seekers

​In Project Zion Podcast  episode 161, Brittany sits down with past guest, Nancy Ross, to discuss some of the cultural surprises they each encountered as they started attending Community of Christ. They compare how their congregations do Sunday worship as well as some of the differences in prayers, hymns, and other mechanics of life in Community of Christ.

Project Zion Podcast Logo

Project Zion Podcast:
What’s Brewing | Temple Tuesday

Temple Tuesday is a video project sponsored by Latter-day Seeker Ministries that introduces the Temple to friends and members of Community of Christ. Every week host Joey Williams takes us to a new part of the Temple in Independence Missouri, and connects this important building to our mission of peace. 

“In Good Faith”

with Steve Perry on BYU Radio

Community of Christ Bishop Carla Long sits down with Steve Perry, with BYU radio, in an interview about her ministry and life in Community of Christ.

John Hamer Discusses Community of Christ as a Spiritual Home For Transitioning Mormons

Mormon Stories alumnus John Hamer returns to talk about Community of Christ as a viable spiritual home for transitioning Mormons in this two-part video series.  John Hamer was raised LDS, but became a doubting teenager and left organized religion altogether as an adult.  In 2010, he joined Community of Christ and currently serves as pastor of its congregation in downtown Toronto, Canada..

Part 1

John Hamer sits down with John Dehlin and makes the case for “non-literalistic” religion.  (The presentation is illustrated with John Hamer’s amazing diagrams, so the podcast audience is advised to watch the YouTube version.)  John Hamer describes how a church with Restoration roots has evolved beyond doctrine and dogma to become inclusive of the LGBT community and a wide diversity of individual beliefs.

Part 2

John Dehlin challenges John Hamer with tough questions, including whether it is possible for some transitioning Mormons who feel real betrayal to join a church that traces its origin to Joseph Smith, or, indeed, any organized religion.  The resulting dialogue was wide-ranging and intensely fascinating.  Regardless of where you are in your own Mormon journey, you’ll surely find John Hamer’s case for Community of Christ thought-provoking