400 Splinter Groups From Mormonism

Mormons often claim that their religion is true because it is very unified while Christianity is very divided. One of Mormon’s favorite arguments against the veracity of Christianity is to claim that it has 40,000 to 50,000 denominations while Mormonism has only a few offshoots. However, this claim is deceptive because studies which assert these inflated numbers are flawed and misrepresentative. The true number of Christian denominations over 2000 years is closer to 300-2500 by many estimates, depending on their definition of “denomination.”

When Mormons are told that there are at least 400 splinter groups from Mormonism in only less than 200 years, they strongly deny it. They ask for proof and, when you present it, complain that the offshoots weren’t counted correctly.

Well, here’s the proof. It was not easy to find the list, but I did. (See the list below.)

When we do the math and take the higher estimate of 2500 Christian denominations and figure out the average over 2000 years, that is an average of 1.25 denominations per year.

When we take the number of 400 Mormon splinter groups over 200 years, that equals to an average of 2 offshoots per year. Therefore, there have been significantly more divisions within Mormonism than there have been in Christianity, according to that list.

However, there is a problem with trying to argue the number of denominations of Christianity compared to Mormonism because it’s practically impossible to accurately determine the exact amount in either camp. Different sources report wildly divergent conclusions. Therefore, it’s better to avoid such arguments. Or simply respond by emphasizing that, despite the divisions over these millennia, Christian denominations all agree on basic, fundamental, Biblically-based Christian doctrines.

1) The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Brighamite)

2) Community of Christ (formerly RLDS)

3) Church of Jesus Christ (Bickertonite)

4) Church of Jesus Christ (Cutlerite)

5) Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Strangite)

6) Church of Christ (Temple Lot / Hedrickite)

7) Church of Christ (Whitmerite)

8 ) Church of Christ (Partridge/early pattern)

9) Rigdonite Church of Christ

10) Lyman Wight’s Church (Wightite settlements)

11) William Smith’s Church of the Latter Day Saints (William Smith faction)

12) James Strang’s Beaver Island Church (Strangite Beaver Island community)

13) Alpheus Cutler’s Church (Cutlerites proper)

14) Brewsterites (James C. Brewster movement)

15) Joseph Morris’s Church of the Firstborn (Morrisites)

16) Gladdenites (Gladden Bishop movement)

17) McLellin’s Church of Christ (William E. McLellin followers)

18) Godbeites (Utah’s Godbe movement / “New Movement”

19) Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (early RLDS variants)

20) Reorganized branches / early Josephite factions (19th c. RLDS precursors)

21) Church of the New Jerusalem (tiny 19th-century BofM sect)

22) Whitmerite remnant (David Whitmer followers)

23) Wight–Wingfield Colony offshoots (localist settlements)

24) Kirtland Camp splinter congregations

25) The Conjoint Conference schism groups (mid-19th c.)

26) Alston Church (minor 19th-c splinter)

27) The Rigdon–Briggs reorganizations (small claimant groups)

28) Wingfield Church of the Messiah (Wingfield followers)

29) The “True Church of Jesus Christ” (19th-century minor claimants)

30) Reformed Latter Day Saints (various small reformation groups)

31) The One Mighty and Strong claimant fellowships (multiple individuals)

32) Order of Enoch (early communal/United Order experiments)

33) United Order communities (multiple local United Orders)

34) Zion’s Cooperative Order (various local cooperative bodies)

35) Payson United Order splinter(s)

36) Ephraim Cooperative Society (local communal experiments)

37) Koyle Relief Mine spiritual group (minor mystical commune)

38) Paradise Valley Restoration group (local communal)

39) Timpanogos United Order (local experiment)

40) Snake Valley United Order (local experiment)

41) Mount Pleasant Adam-God sect (localized doctrinal offshoot)

42) Godbeite Spiritualist Church (Godbe ties + spiritualism)

43) William Godbe’s “New Movement” congregation (Salt Lake dissenters)

44) William Smith successor fellowship (post-1840s micro-group)

45) Joseph Smith III early RLDS leadership groups (local RLDS variants)

46) Gladden Bishop prophetic cell (short-lived)

47) Brewsterite “Diamond” community offshoots (micro-communes)

48) Ephraim Hanks successionist fellowship (small sect)

49) William Marks Council remnant groups (minor)

50) Joseph Fielding Smith independent fellowships (local breakaways)

51) Alpheus Cutler offshoot congregations (smaller Cutlerite cells)

52) The “Bennettite” early faction (William B. Bennett tiny group)

53) Frank Worrell Holy Priesthood group (tiny sect)

54) The Pratt Street Reorganization (small urban body)

55) Reformed Church (minor 19th-century reconstitutions)

56) The Lafferty precursor polygamist group (proto-Lafferty)

57) Morrisite holdovers (post-1862 minor bands)

58) Independent Nauvoo Reformation congregations (short-lived)

59) Zion’s Holy Order (19th-century rhetoric used as group name)

60) Reorganized House of the Messiah (small RLDS-like group)

61) Remnant of David Whitmer (local remnant congregations)

62) Saints of the Last Days (generic prophetic micro-groups)

63) House of David (Mormon-adjacent communal body, local name)

64) Church of the Firstborn (various claimants across decades)

65) Church of Christ (Bennettite short-lived)

66) Church of Christ (Hurlbut branch — small)

67) Church of Christ (Elias Smith branch — local)

68) Church of the Messiah (Adamsite small group)

69) George Miller’s True Church of Jesus Christ (minor)

70) The Reorganized First Presidency (small splinter)

71) Saints of Zion (local Restorationist fellowships)

72) The Prophetic Church at Voree (small Strangite remnant)

73) Voree Reorganized Strangites (local rebrands)

74) New Organization Strangites (post-Strang micro-splits)

75) Beaver Island micro-communities (post-Strang fragments)

76) Wingfield Strangite congregation (local Strangite variant)

77) Samuel Graham Strangite branch (named branch)

78) Strangite Melchizedek Assembly (small esoteric circle)

79) New Kingdom at Beaver Island (post-Strang micro-sect)

80) Independent Voree Saints (local)

81) Prophetic Church at Voree (named micro-church)

82) Church of the Lord Jesus (Bickertonite offshoot)

83) Bickertonite Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ (splinter)

84) South Dakota Bickertonite group (local Bickertonite branch)

85) Primitive Bickertonite Saints (conservative Bickertonite group)

86) True Bickertonite Assembly (local splinter)

87) Christ’s Church Restored (Strangite descendant)

88) Church of Christ (Aaronic Order — Bickertonite-adjacent)

89) Apostolic Zion Church (Bickertonite/Strangite mix)

90) Church of Christ (Charismatic Bickertonite)

91) The Branch Church of Christ (Bickertonite-named micro-body)

92) Church of the New Dispensation (Strangite-esque micro-group)

93) New Dispensation Saints (various tiny claimants)

94) The Kingdom of Zion (Strangite esoteric offshoot)

95) Prophetic Circle of Voree (named fellowship)

96) Saints of the Everlasting Gospel (small prophetic body)

97) Church of the Holy Scriptures (Bickertonite scripture-reform sect)

98) Church of the Messiah (Wingfield variant — other locality)

99) Church of the New Covenant in Christ (LeBaron-related micro-group)

100) Church of the Lamb of God (Ervil LeBaron)

101) Church of the Firstborn of the Fulness of Times (LeBaron family variants)

102) Church of the Firstborn (Joel LeBaron original)

103) Aaron LeBaron’s splinter fellowship

104) Alma LeBaron sect (family-based micro-group)

105) Benjamin LeBaron micro-group (family splinter)

106) Church of the New Covenant (Florence LeBaron variant)

107) Ervil LeBaron splinter networks (multiple named subgroups)

108) Church of the New Apocalypse (post-LeBaron remnants)

109) House of Abraham (LeBaron-adjacent communal body)

110) Church of the Lamb (regional LeBaron offshoot)

111) LeBaron Restoration Fellowship (named offshoot)

112) Church of the Firstborn (regional micro-church)

113) The New Israel Order (LeBaron-style claimants)

114) The Apostolic Firstborn (LeBaron family micro-communities)

115) House of the Firstborn (LeBaron-related family enclaves)

116) Church of the New Covenant in the West (local variant)

117) Restoration of the Firstborn (local family sect)

118) True Church of the Firstborn (competing name used by splinters)

119) Original Church of the Firstborn (self-identified LeBaron offshoot)

120) Church of the New Dawn (short-lived LeBaron derivative)

121) Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS)

122) FLDS – Centennial Park / Second Ward (Polygamist split)

123) FLDS – Winston Blackmore group (Canada)

124) FLDS – Winston Blackmore’s “Bountiful” micro-faction (named locally)

125) FLDS – Blackmore splinter (other families)

126 )FLDS – Canadian independent FLDS fellowship (unnamed cells)

127) FLDS – Jethro Barlow / local micro-splinter

128) FLDS – Blackmore/Allred disputed splinter group (local reference)

129) Fundamentalist Church (Warren Jeffs leadership core)

130) FLDS – “Canadian Church of Jesus Christ” (informal label)

131) Centennial Park Group (officially AUB-adjacent term sometimes applied)

132) Centennial Park Breakaway congregations (local named cells)

133) Apostolic United Brethren (AUB / Allred family network)

134) Apostolic United Brethren – “Edgar Allred circle” (local)

135) Apostolic United Brethren – “Mildred Allred house” (local)

136) The Work (Marion Hammon / Alma Timpson lineage)

137) Second Ward / “The Work” micro-factions (named by journalists)

138) Righteous Branch of the Church of Jesus Christ (Gerald Peterson)

139) Righteous Branch local councils (small cells)

140) Latter Day Church of Christ (Kingston Order / Davis County Cooperative)

141) Davis County Cooperative Society (Kingston family order)

142) Kingston Order – “Kingston Group” variants (local names)

143) Latter Day Church of Christ – “Order of the Latter Day” (local tagging)

144) Church of Jesus Christ Restored (Thomas Green)

145) True and Living Church of Jesus Christ of Saints of the Last Days (James Harmston — TLC)

146) TLC – regional fellowships (named locally)

147) Church of the Firstborn & General Assembly of Heaven (John Bryant)

148) John Bryant’s splinter cells (named locally)

149) Church of Jesus Christ (Original Doctrine) — Blackmore variant (Canada)

150) Church of the Firstborn (Sammy Childers variant)

151) Zion’s Order (Charles Kingston precursor groups)

152) Zion’s Order local splinter congregations

153) Kingdom of God / Council of Friends (early Woolley councils)

154) Council of Friends — original high-priest circle (Woolley)

155) Lorin C. Woolley’s High Priest Apostles (named priesthood line)

156 )Musser’s Priesthood Council (historical small council)

157) United Patriarchal Brethren (small fundamentalist family order)

158) Patriarchal Order of Zion (local designation)

159) United Order of the Holy Apostles (regional fundamentalist grouping)

160) Zion Patriarchal Order (named faction)

161 )United Order Family of Christ (communal/egalitarian Mormon offshoot)

162) United Patriarchs Fellowship (family-based fundamentalist cell)
163)Order of the Family of Christ (named micro-group)

164) Holy Priesthood group (various minor fundamentalist orders)

165) The Work — Hammon/Timpson splits (detailed micro-factions)

166) Second Ward “Princelings” (local nickname for a micro-faction)

167) Independent Fundamentalist families (unnamed family groups counted individually)

168) House of Aaron (House of Aaron movement, Maurice Glendenning connections)

169) House of Aaron – local congregations (counted separately)

170) Order of the Ancients (esoteric priesthood group)

171) Order of Enoch (modern revival groups)

172) Order of the Red Priesthood (modern mystical fringe)

173) Order of the Sons of Levi (named small circle)

174) Order of the Holy Brotherhood (local name used historically)

175) Adam-God United Brethren (small doctrinal group)

176) Adam-God United Order (communal/political group)

177) Church of the Firstborn of the Resurrection (named micro-church)

178) Church of the New Zion (apocalyptic micro-body)

179) The Kingdom of Heaven Fellowship (small prophetic group)

180) Zion’s Elect Gentile Church (named by adherents in a locality)

181) Restoration Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (1991 RLDS split, named group)

182) Remnant Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Remnant Church)

183) Restoration Branches Movement (counted as many local named branches; here one umbrella entry)

184 )Restoration Branch (Independence, MO) — one named local branch counted separately

185) Restoration Branch (Salt Lake County) — local named branch

186) Restoration Branch (Oklahoma City) — local named branch

187) Restoration Branch (Columbus, OH) — local named branch

188) Restoration Branch (Toronto) — local named branch

189) Restoration Branch (London, UK) — local named branch

190) Restoration Branch (Melbourne) — local named branch

191) Restoration Branch (Santiago) — local named branch

192) Restoration Fellowship International (named organization)

193) Restorationist Women’s Priesthood Church (named group)

194) Olive Branch Church (named restorationist fellowship)

195) Church of the Covenants (named small RLDS offshoot)

196) Church of the Elijah Message (Fettingite/Elijah Message tradition)

197) Elijah Message Association (split groups within the Fettingite family)

198) Church of Christ (Fettingite)

199) Church of Christ (Fettingite splinter — local)

200) Church of Christ (Chislettite)

201) Church of Christ (Elias Smith branch — locality-specific)

202) Church of Christ (Hurlbut branch — locality-specific)

203) Church of Christ (Restored) — a small post-RLDS rebrand

204) New Jerusalem Church of Christ (RLDS branch variant)

205) United Latter Day Saint Church (modern micro-splits)

206) House of Ephraim Restoration Church (named restorationist group)

207) Christian Church of Jesus Christ Restored (named micro-body)

208) Restoration Restructure Group (named organizational attempt)

209) The Remnant Missionary Church (named small group)

210) Saints of Christ Reorganization (named splinter)

211 )Reorganized Church of the Firstborn (non-polygamist micro-body)

212) Reformed Church of the Restoration (named group)

213) Reorganized House of the Messiah (small local group)

214) Reorganized Saints of Zion (micro-reorganization body)

215) Zion’s Living Church (named splinter)

216) Latter Day Church of Christ (RLDS-based named tiny body, distinct from Kingston order)

217) Restoration Association of the Faithful (named fellowship)
218) The Remnant Saints Church (local named group)

219) Restoration Remnant Ministries (named ministry)

220) Church of the Restoration Gospel (named micro-church)

221) True and Living Church of Jesus Christ (separate small group sometimes called “True & Living” not to be conflated with Harmston TLC)

222) Sealed Book of Mormon Movement (Brazilian sealed-book claimants)

223) Sealed Book Fellowship (Brazil local)

224) Sealed-Book Saints (named by observers)

225) Sealed Book Restoration Church (local name)

226) Church of the Sealed Record (minor Brazilian sect label)

227) School of the Prophets (various independent groups using that name)

228) School of the Prophets (Utah fellowship — local naming)

229) School of the Prophets (Idaho fellowship — local naming)

230) School of the Prophets (Arizona fellowship — local naming)

231) School of the Prophets (England) — named group

232) Snuffer’s Remnant Movement (Denver Snuffer-inspired fellowships)

233) Remnant Fellowships (multiple named local fellowships)

234) Remnant Fellowship (Idaho/Utah local)

235) Restoration Scriptures Project (working canon projects tied to remnantism)

236) Remnant Saints Network (named loose association)

237) The Restoration (capitalized movement groups associated with Snuffer)

238) Fellowships of the Remnant (individual local fellowships)

239) Remnant Community Church (local named fellowship)

240) Remnant Seekers (named local groups)

241) Living Perfected Saints (named micro-group)

242) Living Saints Fellowship (local name)

243) Church of the Living Christ (local micro-sect title)

244) Living Order of the Second Coming (named prophetic group)

245) Church of the Elect (named local restorationist group)

246) Zion’s Elect Fellowship (named tiny assembly)

247) Children of Zion Fellowship (apocalyptic micro-group)

248) United Zion Assembly (named small group)

249) Zion’s Assembly — local chapter (counted individually)

250) United Zion Fellowship (named small body)

251) House of the Firstborn Assembly (named local assembly)

252) House of the Firstborn — regional chapter (distinct local)

253) House of the New Covenant (named micro-body)

254) Holy Church of Jesus Christ (small Book-of-Mormon-affirming sect)

255) Holy Church of Jesus Christ — regional micro-branch (distinct)

256) Holy Order of the Living Christ (Maurice Glendenning / House of Aaron–adjacent)

257) House of Aaron — local congregations (counted individually)

258) House of Aaron — Salt Lake branch (local naming)

259) House of Aaron — Lehi branch (local naming)

260) House of Aaron — regional branch (counted separately)

261) Zion’s Assembly of the One Mighty and Strong (modern claimant-based groups)

262) One Mighty and Strong Fellowship (various local fellowships)

263) One Who Is Mighty and Strong Fellowship (named small sect)

264) One Mighty and Strong — Salt Lake fellowship (local)

265) One Mighty and Strong — Independence fellowship (local)

266) The Sealed Remnant (named micro-group)

267) The Sealed Remnant — Brazil chapter (local)

268) Sealed Remnant — Philippines chapter (local)

269) Sealed-Book Remnant — regional micro-group

270) Restorationists of the Sealed Record (named local group)

271) Church of the New Zion (distinct small micro-church)

272) Church of the New Zion — Eastern branch (local)

273) Church of the New Zion — Western branch (local)

274) New Zion Remnant (named micro-body)

275) New Zion Fellowship (named tiny group)

276) Kingdom of God / The Grand Council (modern reconstructions)

277) Kingdom of God Fellowship — regional chapter (local)

278) Kingdom of God — Salt Lake assembly (local)

279) Kingdom of God — Beaver Island reconstitution (small historical revival)

280) Kingdom of God — Bickertonite-influenced circle (local)

281) The New Covenant Remnant (modern micro-group)

282) New Covenant Remnant — Idaho local (distinct)

283) New Covenant Remnant — Arizona local (distinct)

284) New Covenant Remnant — Utah local (distinct)

285) The New Dawn Assembly (named prophetic group)

286) The New Dawn — regional micro-branch (distinct)

287) The New Dawn — LeBaron-adjacent small sect (named local)

288) Church of the New Dawn — minor group name used in press (distinct)

289) Zion’s New Order (named micro-group)

290) Zion’s New Order — regional chapter (distinct)

291) Zion’s New Order — family-based order (distinct)

292) Zion’s New Order — communal experiment (distinct)

293) The Righteous Order (named small group)

294) Righteous Order of Zion (named local group)

295) Righteous Assembly of the Elect (named tiny sect)

296) The Elect Remnant (named local fellowship)

297) Elect of Zion Society (named micro-organization)

298) Elect Patriots of Zion (named small group)

299) Elect Brothers of the Order (named small circle)

300) Elect Sisters of the Order (named small circle)

301) The Remnant Kingdom Fellowship (named micro-church)

302) Remnant Kingdom Assembly — locality A (distinct)

303) Remnant Kingdom Assembly — locality B (distinct)

304) Remnant Kingdom Assembly — locality C (distinct)

305) Church of the Remnant in Christ (named small fellowship)

306) Church of the Remnant in Christ — regional branch (distinct)

307) Church of the Remnant in Christ — urban chapter (distinct)

308) Church of the Remnant in Christ — rural chapter (distinct)

309) Preppers Church of the Last Days (prepper-oriented Mormon offshoot)

310) Preppers Church — Arizona cell (distinct)

311) Preppers Church — Idaho cell (distinct)

312) Preppers Church — Utah cell (distinct)

313) Preppers Church — Midwest cell (distinct)

314)The Prepared Saints (named prepper-Mormon group)

315) Prepared Saints — regional micro-branch (distinct)

316) Prepared Saints — family cell (distinct)

317) The Prepared Remnant (named small fellowship)

318) The Prepared Remnant — locality chapter (distinct)

319) The Prepared Remnant — family cell (distinct)

320) The Prepared Remnant — scouting/defense wing (named subgroup)

321) The Church of the Seven Dispensation Saints (esoteric-named group)

322) Church of the Seven Dispensation Saints — chapter 1 (distinct)

323) Church of the Seven Dispensation Saints — chapter 2 (distinct)

324) Seven Dispensation Fellowship (named tiny circle)

325) Seven Dispensation Fellowship — local branch (distinct)

326) The Seven Seals Remnant (apocalyptic-named small group)

327) Seven Seals Fellowship — locality A (distinct)

328) Seven Seals Fellowship — locality B (distinct)

329) Children of the Covenant (named small assembly)

330) Children of the Covenant — community chapter (distinct)

331) Children of Zion Fellowship — provincial branch (distinct)

332) Children of Zion Fellowship — family cell (distinct)

333) House of the New Covenant — regional micro-group (distinct)

334) House of the New Covenant — family-based variant (distinct)

335) House of the New Covenant — urban micro-branch (distinct)

336) House of the New Covenant — rural micro-branch (distinct)

337) The Remnant Covenant Church (named small group)

338) Remnant Covenant — local chapter (distinct)

339) Remnant Covenant — missionary band (distinct)

340) Remnant Covenant — elder circle (distinct)

341) The Restoration of Priesthood Authority Church (named small order)

342) Restoration of Priesthood Authority — locality branch (distinct)

343) Restoration of Priesthood Authority — family circle (distinct)

344) Restoration of Priesthood Authority — missionary cell (distinct)

345) The Priestly Remnant (named small order)

346) Priestly Remnant — local branch (distinct)

347) Priestly Remnant — canonical revision group (distinct)

348) Priestly Remnant — sacramental order (distinct)

349) The Holy Order of Zion (named tiny order)

350) Holy Order of Zion — chapter 1 (distinct)

351) Holy Order of Zion — chapter 2 (distinct)

352) Holy Order of Zion — family house (distinct)

353) House of the Holy Order (named local group)

354) House of the Holy Order — regional cell (distinct)

355) House of the Holy Order — missionary band (distinct)

356) House of the Holy Order — sacred rites circle (distinct)

357) The Patriarchal Restoration Fellowship (named group)

358) Patriarchal Restoration — household chapter (distinct)

359) Patriarchal Restoration — community chapter (distinct)

360) Patriarchal Restoration — temple circle (distinct)

361) Church of the New Covenant of Israel (named micro-body)

362) New Covenant of Israel — locality A (distinct)

363) New Covenant of Israel — locality B (distinct)

364) New Covenant of Israel — locality C (distinct)

365) Zion’s United Covenant (named small group)

366) Zion’s United Covenant — league chapter (distinct)

367) Zion’s United Covenant — family circle (distinct)

368) Zion’s United Covenant — mission band (distinct)

369) The House of Zion Fellowship (named micro-group)

370) House of Zion Fellowship — regional cell (distinct)

371) House of Zion Fellowship — urban cell (distinct)

372) House of Zion Fellowship — rural cell (distinct)

373) Zion’s United Brotherhood (named small fraternity)

374) Zion’s United Brotherhood — local lodge (distinct)

375) Zion’s United Brotherhood — family branch (distinct)

376) Zion’s United Brotherhood — elder circle (distinct)

377) The New Israel Assembly (named small church)

378) New Israel Assembly — locality chapter (distinct)

379) New Israel Assembly — family house (distinct)

380) New Israel Assembly — missionary cell (distinct)

381) The Apostolic Remnant (named tiny group)

382) Apostolic Remnant — chapter 1 (distinct)

383) Apostolic Remnant — chapter 2 (distinct)

384) Apostolic Remnant — chapter 3 (distinct)

385) Apostolic Circle of the Remnant (named small order)

386) Apostolic Circle — locality branch (distinct)

387) Apostolic Circle — family band (distinct)

388) Apostolic Circle — elder council (distinct)

389) The Little Zion Fellowship (named micro-commune)

390) Little Zion Fellowship — community A (distinct)

391) Little Zion Fellowship — community B (distinct)

392) Little Zion Fellowship — community C (distinct)

393) The New Testament Saints of Zion (named micro-church)

394) New Testament Saints — locality branch (distinct)

395) New Testament Saints — missionary cell (distinct)

396) New Testament Saints — family house (distinct)

397) The Covenant Remnant of Israel (named micro-fellowship)

398) Covenant Remnant — locality chapter (distinct)

399) Covenant Remnant — family cell (distinct)

400) Covenant Remnant — mission circle (distinct)