This article will be permanently flagged as inappropriate and made unaccessible to everyone. Are you certain this article is inappropriate? Excessive Violence Sexual Content Political / Social
Email Address:
Article Id: WHEBN0000416858 Reproduction Date:
The House of Aaron, less commonly known as the Aaronic Order or The Order of Aaron.[1] is a sect centered in EskDale, Utah,[1] a small farming community in Millard County, with additional branches in Partoun, and Murray, Utah. It was founded in 1943 by Maurice L. Glendenning and has a membership estimated between 1,500 and 2,000 members.[1]
Glendenning, born February 15, 1891 in Randolph, Kansas, and his family were unfamiliar with the Latter Day Saint movement and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). However, as a boy, he confided in his father that he could "hear heavenly music even when wide-awake".[5] As a young teen, the heavenly music became interspersed with angelic voices uttering poetry, which he began to write down in notes he kept private out of fear of ridicule.[5] As a young man, the "angelic poetry" evolved into doctrinal and philosophical statements,[5] and he gradually began sharing the text of his messages with more and more friends and relatives.
In 1928, Glendenning and his family moved to Provo, Utah looking for employment. Counseled by LDS missionaries, Glendenning began to feel that a number of LDS doctrines helped him understand his own writings including the priesthood and proper authority.[5] Glendenning and his wife were baptized on August 14, 1929.[5]
On January 15, 1945 he was excommunicated as the "Instigator of the Aaronic Order".[6] LDS Church General Authorities asserted that while people could receive inspiration for themselves, no one could receive authentic divine messages for the church except the President of the Church.[7] However, Glendenning claims not to have received divine messages for the church, but was accused of wrongdoing presumably because he had received divine inspiration that, if true, would affect the validity of some of the teachings of the LDS Church.[7]
Glendenning died October 5, 1969 in Utah.
The House of Aaron does not consider itself to be part of the Latter Day Saint movement.[8] However, religious researchers have categorized it as part of the Latter Day Saint movement, due to Glendenning's membership and excommunication from the LDS Church,[2] the LDS roots of most of its founding members,[2] the similarities between Glendenning's claims and those of Mormonism's founder Joseph Smith, and the Utah location of its commune and branches.[8][9][10]
The House of Aaron ministry is currently under the leadership of John M. Conrad,[4] who states, "Our passion and mission is to assist in the gathering of Israel into a Holy Nation with Yeshua as King and the Torah (Word) as its constitution. Our focus is on Yeshua (Jesus)." [11] The House of Aaron website states its mission is "to participate in and hasten the preparation of the Body of Jesus Christ for His second coming." Its vision is to "restore the Biblical, Levitical ministry to its prophesied fulness in Jesus Christ and to reconcile individuals, families, and fellowships to their places in the Body of Christ."[12]
The following statement comes from the official House of Aaron website:
The House of Aaron is the Biblical name of the family of Israelite priests ordained by God to serve Him at the Tabernacle in the wilderness and, later, at the temple in Jerusalem. Aaronites were a family within the tribe of Levi. This entire tribe was called by God to minister to him and then to the people. The specific duties of the Levites were to assist Aaron in the work of the Tabernacle, in teaching, ministering in music and judging all the tribes of Israel. God made clear that Levi was to have no inheritance in the land but Him. (Deuteronomy 18:1–2) Thus, no territory was identified as Levi and Aaron's home. Instead, 48 Levitical cities were scattered about the land, some in each tribe to remind Levi that his ministry extended to all the tribes of Israel.[12]
The House of Aaron considers its beliefs to be strictly Biblical and part of the broader messianic movement united under the Alliance of Redeemed Israel (ARI). Its basic beliefs have never included the Book of Mormon, nor any other LDS scriptures.[3]
In 1978 the Levitical Writings was published. This book was a compilation of 1944's Book of Elias, or the Record of John, 1948's New Revelations for the Book of Elias, or the Record of John, and 1955's Disciple Book.[3]
Currently, House of Aaron says that the "Levitical Writings" is only mentioned and studied on occasion but is not used for doctrine.[11][14][15] House of Aaron leader John Conrad states unequivocally that the Bible is "the undisputed basis of our doctrine and teaching." [11]
In contrast to the LDS Church's teaching of Godhead, the Aaronic Order teaches that Christ is seen as having a Heavenly Father, but also is to be thought of as the Father and that the Holy Ghost is the spirit of God and Jesus Christ resumed after his resurrection.[16]
The Aaronic Order believes that members given the Aaronic Priesthood in the pre-mortal existence, and need not be ordained.[16] Members therefore believe that they are Biblical leaders who were predestined to come to the earth and fulfill their the responsibilities.[16]
In 1955 the church established a communal settlement called EskDale, Utah, named after Eskdale, Scotland.[17] EskDale has become a small unincorporated farming area in Millard County, Utah, located just east of the Nevada border.
In its early years, EskDale community was isolationist, and a uniform was worn: the men in blue slacks and shirts with "Aaron" embroidered in gold over the pocket; women in blue and white dresses with "Levi" embroidered on their small, white caps.[1] However, over the past several decades, the community has slowly become an open, integral part of the local valley, and the dress code has been relaxed.[4]
The House of Aaron states that they have never believed in or practiced polygamy and House of Aaron leader John M. Conrad has described polygamy as "abhorrent and disgusting."[11]
However, in 2005, due to numerous publications which claimed the House of Aaron practiced plural marriage, the House of Aaron was included in the Utah Attorney General’s Office and the Arizona Attorney General's Office publication titled The Primer.[1] It was included within the list of "Fundamentalist Groups" that are practitioners of plural marriage.[1] However, in 2011 the House of Aaron was removed from the publication.[18]
Church of Christ Organized by: Joseph Smith Joseph Smith's original 1830 organization; multiple sects currently claim to be true successor 1844 (trust reorganized) 1851 (incorporated) 1860 (reorganization) The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Organized by: Brigham Young and Quorum of the Twelve 14 million members Community of Christ (Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) Organized by: Joseph Smith III More than 250,000 members New Restoration Sects. 1857 1943 1861 Church of the Potter Christ Organized by: Arnold Potter defunct House of Aaron Organized by: M. L. Glendenning 1,500–2,000 members Church of the Firstborn (Morrisite) Organized by: Joseph Morris defunct 1861 1936 1951 1866 1882 1884 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Gibsonite) Organized by: Walter M. Gibson defunct Third Convention Organized by: Abel Páez Status: Continued into the 21st century Zion's Order, Inc. Organized by: Merl Kilgore approx. 100 members Kingdom of Heaven Organized by: William W. Davies defunct Church of Jesus Christ of Saints of the Most High Organized by: John R. Eardley defunct Order of Enoch Organized by: James Brighouse extant 1955 1983 2007 Perfected Church of Jesus Christ of Immaculate Latter-day Saints Organized by: William C. Conway Status: unknown Church of Jesus Christ (Bullaite) Organized by: Art Bulla Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ Organized by: Matthew P. Gill
Joseph Smith, Book of Mormon, Jesus, Doctrine and Covenants, Brigham Young
Salt Lake City, Wyoming, Provo, Utah, Ogden, Utah, Arizona
Book of Mormon, Brigham Young, Illinois, Missouri, Sidney Rigdon
Community of Christ, Joseph Smith, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Church of Christ (Temple Lot), Latter Day Saint movement
Kerala, Christianity, Anglicanism, United Church of Christ, Freemasonry