the church of jesus christ of latter day-saints, as founded by joseph smith ceased to exist in 1887. that's why the church is now a group of corporations such as:
* Corporation of the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (to receive and manage money and church donations)
* Corporation of the Presiding Bishop of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (to acquire, hold, and dispose of real property)

http://puremormonism.blogspot.com/2010/10/how-corporatism-has-undermined-and.html

"
Back in 1887, the church found itself in a famous staring contest with the federal government, and our side blinked. The United States Congress punished us by dissolving the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and seizing all of its assets, including the Salt Lake temple and all of temple square.

Whether the government actually had the authority to do all this is a question for another time, but in 1890 the Supreme Court upheld the dissolution, and the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as a legal entity, simply ceased to exist. We had to do a lot of serious butt-kissing just to get our stuff back, but there was no question that the church itself was not returning any time soon. At least not in any form Joseph Smith would have recognized. Or Jesus Christ, for that matter.
"

how could jesus christ let his church be taken away AGAIN? =)

as waterman describes on his blog, the church as a corporation is subject to the legal limitations granted to it by US law, in order for it to continue to exist it must obey the state. jesus christ is no longer "the head of the church" (as if he ever was anyways).

see also:
* Edmunds–Tucker Act: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmunds%E2%80%93Tucker_Act
* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Church_of_Jesus_Christ_of_Latter-day_Saints



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/02/2010 05:10PM by Nick Humphrey.

I believe it was anything over $50.000 in church assets. (IMO) any "church", synagogue, mosque or whatever 'ministy' should be transparent concerning their finances in order to keep their text-excempt status.

But would he speak to me again..?

.

anon for this one Wrote:
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> But would he speak to me again..?

you never know until you try =) think positive. you could get it for him and ask him to read it and then give you his opinion of it.

amazing. good stuff, thanks Nick.

Nick Humphrey Wrote:
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> We had to do a lot of serious butt-kissing just to get our stuff back

i would like some more information on this point!

Nick Humphrey Wrote:
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> Nick Humphrey Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > We had to do a lot of serious butt-kissing just
> to get our stuff back
>
> i would like some more information on this point!

i found it:
"
"The Trustee thus offered bonds to Eastern bankers with the promised collateral being the Mormons themselves."

The Mormon people, you see, had untapped value: a sense of community, a uniquely productive work ethic, and best of all, a built-in propensity to be obedient to authorities.
These Mormons were made to order. The Mormon leaders offered up the future tithes of the Mormon people as guarantees against their investments. The members of what used to be The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints would be unwitting cash cows for the benefit of their leaders. And the leaders of what used to be that church were now climbing into bed with the whore of Babylon.
"

this is INSANELY scandalous! but what kind of proof is there to confirm this?

They also put the reversal of the revelation on polygamy into the pot for good measure in 1890