No they didn't. Where is your proof of this?
This would have netted him approximately $1,500,000.00, after which he could simply repay his LDS investors and claim that he was unable to secure the purchase.
Not a penny was ever spent on any "documents"
(On a related note, one faithful Latter-day Saint actually committed suicide as a result of the crisis of faith he had which was triggered by the contents of the Salamander Letter.)
Lame
During the course of this inventory, members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles were made aware of a startling discovery: The McLellin collection was already in the archives, having been purchased by the Church itself in 1908!
and of course they told the author of this article
Whoever wrote this is the biggest DOLT! It is not even well written.
From Desert News Newspaper:
“Steve Christensen and Kathy Sheets were Hofmann’s most tragic victims. But Hofmann also had three other financial victims: the LDS Church, which owns 446 Hofmann forgeries and whose history was challenged by some of Hofmann’s more damaging distortions; coin and document dealer Al Rust; and Provo document collector Brent Ashworth.”
Full Story: http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,635153542,00.html
How did the LDS church get 446 Hofmann forgeries without buying them? If the modern prophets have discernment wouldn’t they know the forgery of something directly related to their doctrines? And . . . why do you put your faith in a fallible man in light of this?
Christ is your savior and judge. Not Smith, and not Hinckley, who are false and stumbling blocks for you. The Bible is infallible, not Smith or Hinckley. You are trusting your soul, and the souls of those you lead down this road, to false men.
HOPEFUL sounds more like it!