Love ‘Em Or Hate ‘Em: Christian Sect Leaders Through The Ages

“We have no creed by Christ,” so many people say – and it’s true that Jesus is the author and perfecter of our faith, but throughout the centuries, Christianity has seen many sects. Check out this simplified list of leaders through the ages.

Joseph Smith

During the early 1800s, western New York was a hotbed of religious revival during the Second Great Awakening. A young boy was caught up in the excitement and showed an interest in Methodism, but didn’t want to commit to any one denomination because of the confusion. Smith claimed he received multiple visits from the angel Moroni, and founded the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormonism) based on the teachings of this angel, purportedly revealed in the Book of Mormon, as all modern denominations had departed from the true gospel – and the testimony of Jesus was preserved in the Americas, where He witnessed after His resurrection.

Ellen White

After being struck in the head by a rock, severely disfiguring her nose, Ellen White sought comfort in Jesus around the time of the Second Great Awakening. Like a young Joseph Smith, Ellen was fascinated with Methodism and converted, and a spin off group emerged. She was strongly drawn to William Miller, who claimed that Jesus’ return was imminent, and helped shape Seventh-Day Adventist theology that she would found with her husband James White. Ellen was subject to many visions and visitations. She promoted the Methodist understanding of obedience, and worked to reform health – giving us Corn Flakes through one of her followers, John Harvey Kellogg.