Theology is something that comes between different branches of the Restoration. Some branches are Trinitarian (e.g., Community of Christ), while others are frankly henotheistic (LDS). Some are flexible regarding the theological views of their members; others are stricter in demanding conformity in belief. All of these various views and approaches, however, emerge from the abundant variety of theologies that exist within Christianity in all its forms. Not all Restorationists are orthodox, but all are some variety of Christian, however unorthodox they may be.
Unfortunately, differences in theology too often divide Restorationists when the existence of variety could be freeing. No two groups, no two people, will ever see the world in exactly the same way. This is a blessing because it means that we will always have good reason to look to others to teach us the things that we could not possibly already know. I often return to the potent and useful image of the gurus and the elephant, each grasping a different part of the animal and concluding that he knows what the animal is based on his own partial perception. The theologies are very much the same. Each church comes up with a view that best suits the organization and runs with it, but no single theology can possibly represent the totality of existence.
One impediment that lies in the Restoration's path is the arguably misunderstood "only true and living church" teaching, which originated in the November 1831 revelation to Joseph Smith, Jr. in the Johnson home at Hiram, Ohio. By late 1831, Joseph Smith had experienced challenges to his spiritual authority in incidents such as Hiram Page's revelation on the location of Zion, which Page received through his own seer stone. He had also experienced recent apostasies and the bad press they could generate in Ezra Booth's silencing, apostasy, and letters, which were published in the Ohio Star the same month as Smith received the revelation that would become D&C 1 (LDS edition).
Had Smith not attempted to get a handle on such situations and bring unity to the young church, it might not have endured. There is a purpose to seeking unity. But, there is also a time for embracing diversity. Now that the Restoration is firmly established, and different branches are relatively well established, having stood the test of time for nearly two centuries, it may be time to embrace fully the rich diversity of the Restoration and set aside the spirit of contention that divides us.
This is not to say that everyone must agree on a single way of seeing things or bow to the authority of one group or leader. Rather, it is time to form bonds and bridge gaps. It is time to recognize each other in a warm, loving, and open way. It is time to drop the exclusivity and judgmental attitudes. If we truly embrace some of the loftiest and noblest ideas of the early Mormons, Joseph Smith, Jr. being a special focalizing example, then we will not desire to shut each other out and hold others as being lesser than ourselves.
I would instead love to see members of the Restoration coming together more often and nurturing each other with our own special ways of seeing the Restoration, without feeling threatened that others see things differently. Let us not judge but rejoice in the fact that we all share this heritage--one that has a heavy dose of universalism within it; one that idealizes others worshiping according to the dictates of their own consciences. One that sees room for all to grow and improve as they seek to emulate Christ and become like the Father. This is not the time or place to insist on one view of the nature of the Godhead, but rather it is here and now that we can seize as our opportunity to emulate the most Christlike of attributes of charity in how we engage with each other.