What is the relationship between Mormon fundamentalism and the mainstream LDS Church?

Officially, there is no organizational or legal tie between any of the Mormon fundamentalist groups and the mainstream LDS Church (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints). However, all Mormon fundamentalists are considered offshoots of Mormonism. The mainstream LDS Church is simply one of several dozen different organizations that that lay claim to the historical Mormonism of Joseph Smith. (It just has the distinction of being by far the largest of all the sects of Mormonsim.) Some of those offshoot churches embrace polygamy, and some do not. The term "Mormon fundamentalist" or "Mormon fundamentalism" is typically used to denote those breakaway groups that practice polygamy, which at one time was also practiced by the mainstream LDS Church. In fact, many of the modern-day polygamist groups broke away from the mainstream church when the main LDS Church gave up the practice of polygamy. By the way, the use of the term "Mormon fundamentalist" is frowned upon, and even ...  more