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Female Episcopal Priest Visits a Mormon Temple
The Mormon Dialogue ^ | April 23,,2012 | Danielle Tumminio

Posted on 04/24/2012 1:28:27 PM PDT by Jeff Head

As I stood in front of the new Mormon Temple in Liberty, Mo., it struck me as ironic that close to 175 years ago, Mormons were forced out of this same state.

Whereas the Missouri public once urged their governor to force Joseph Smith and his followers out of the area surrounding Kansas City, Mormons began to return to the region in the 1900s, eventually gathering in such large numbers that the Church organization decided the region needed a temple.

Which is why I came to visit.

Latter Day Saints restrict temple access to members of their denomination who have proven themselves to be faithful and dedicated adherents. Because Mormons believe temples are the most sacred places on earth, one needs to be prepared to enter them by being an active member of the Church. (In contrast, chapels, where Mormons hold Sunday worship, are open to everyone. Temples are used only for certain rituals and are not open on Sunday so that Mormons can be at their chapel services.)

When a new temple is built, anyone may enter prior to its dedication. So, always curious to learn about the faith of others, I didn't want to miss an opportunity to see a site normally closed off to an Episcopal priest like myself.

My visit seemed all the more timely because Mormons have been in the news a lot lately, and so have their temples. Elizabeth Smart recently married her husband in a temple in Hawaii during a ceremony called a sealing, in which the couple and close Mormon friends and family gather together to witness God joining the couple together for time and all eternity. In less complimentary news, Elie Wiesel took Mitt Romney to task for his faith's practice of baptisms of the dead, which also take places within temple walls.

These headlines, in addition to my own curiosity, motivated my visit to the new temple in Kansas City, and with my curiosity came some questions:

What does a Mormon temple look like, and what happens inside it?

Would I feel God's presence in this space, even though it's not a space that's sacred for me?

Before I go any further -- and because I know it's the question at the front of your mind, dear reader -- no one tried to convert me. In fact, everyone was very welcoming. Members volunteered en masse, clad in pressed suits and dresses. They offered guided tours, bent down to put protective boots onto my feet so my shoes wouldn't dirty the carpeting, and offered me a chewy snickerdoodle at the end of the tour. They showed me every space from changing rooms to sealing rooms where marriages take place and answered every question I asked, no matter how challenging or controversial.

And in the end, yes, I did have a God moment.

But I'm getting ahead of myself.

Mormons go to temples to be close to God. Much like the ancient Jewish people believed God lived at the heart of the temple in Jerusalem, Mormons believe that followers can meet God most intimately in the temple. The reasons they visit temples vary: In addition to having their marriages sealed in the temple, Mormons also have sealing ceremonies that unite parents and children for time and all eternity. Others come to participate in baptisms of the dead, which are intended to be used only for deceased family members of active Mormons, though the Church acknowledged in the wake of Elie Wiesel's comments that others -- such as Anne Frank -- have had baptisms performed on their behalf. These baptisms are not intended to convert the deceased but rather to give them a choice in the afterlife to embrace the revelation of Mormonism: Assuming an afterlife exists, the baptized deceased are free to say yes or no as they please. Finally, Mormons come to the temple to receive their endowment, a ritual ceremony where followers make promises to God and receive knowledge about God.

Unlike a cathedral, which is primarily composed of one large worship space, a Mormon temple has a variety of smaller rooms that serve different purposes. There are sealing rooms and rooms for men and women to change into white clothes (every male or female Mormon who enters a dedicated temple wears the same white clothing) and instruction rooms where individuals learn about God in preparation for receiving their endowments.

It was in these rooms, and the final Celestial Room, where I caught a glimpse of God.

You see, as part of our final stop on the tour, our guide took us to a room with a mural of the Missouri countryside painted by a local artist. The room had earthy colors, browns and greens and rows of cushioned seats. This was the first instruction room. From there, we took a step up -- as if ascending closer to heaven -- and entered a second room, similar to the first in shape and size but all white. This was the second instruction room. When we left that room, we took another step up and entered the Celestial Room, a space designed to give those who sit in it a foretaste of heaven.

It was a simple room yet ornate at the same time, all white with sparkling crystal chandeliers, large mirrors, and plump sofas and chairs reminiscent of those that must have existed in Joseph Smith's day. Our guide asked us to be silent and said we were welcome to sit wherever we liked and take a moment to pray. So I sat down on a sofa that seemed to envelop me, folded my hands on my lap and closed my eyes.

Like Dante, who saw God face to face but had no words to describe the encounter, I have few words to describe what I felt in that moment. But I can say this: While it did not convert me, nor did it make me want to be a Mormon, the silence and peace I felt reminded me of the many other times I've felt close to God, whether in an Episcopal cathedral, in a clear, warm ocean or in my ratty old car. And because of that, I came to understand why temples exist and why they are so important to Mormons across the world.

And along the lines of Mormons being across the world: As I wrote earlier, Mormons were ironically driven out of Liberty, Missouri and the surrounding region nearly 175 years ago. It cannot be lost on those who visit the new temple that almost two centuries later, Mormons are often still held in suspicion by society, but they are far from being as vulnerable as they were in their early years. They are building stronger foundations every day, and striving, as they do so, to catch a glimpse of heaven.


TOPICS: Ecumenism; Other Christian; Theology; Worship
KEYWORDS: ecusa; femalebishop; lds; ldstemples; mormon; mormonhatersclub; mormonpropaganda; openhouse; religiousleft; wehatemormons
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Comment #261 Removed by Moderator

To: Elsie; BlueMoose; bert; cva66snipe; Lurker; AppyPappy
Repudiate, affirm, ignore...

Once upon a time there were seven people (or you pick the number).

One belonged to a certain Christian denomination and spoke freely of it when asked...declaring his own beliefs and witness for Christ.

Two (or whatever grouping) of the others had belonged to this same organization and years ago had left it, disaffected and hurt by individuals therein that did not treat them well.

Four others (or whatever grouping) belonged to other denominations who did not believe the first one was Christian and who went to great lengths to declare that it was not and tell anyone who would listen how they felt this first denomination believed and felt, and that it was a cult.

The first person, who had been in the denomination for over 40 years and had raised his family therein...and who had themself converted from one of the other denominations those many years before, thanked all of the others for their own Christian beliefs and blessed them for it, but refuted the quotes and talk from the others about how they viewed the beliefs of the first denomination based on his own personal experiences therein, and his own personal faith as a result.

The other six would not believe, and could not allow such confessions of faith to stand and constantly badgered and spoke against the first individual who continued to bless them, but also continued to affirm his own witness of Christ and that of his faith.

The others relentlessly tried to tell him that he did not, that he could not believe those things...and yet he did, and continued to let them know it.

Oh, they would quote from, cut and paste and refer to numerous articles published quoting individuals and even leaders in the first denomination to which the first individual belonged. That individual on numerous occassions replied that the documents they were quoting (like the Journal of Discourses) were not official church doctrine or scripture and did not represent in many cases the offical position of the 1st denomination. This individual refered to the offical denomination site and publications to find the true beliefs of that denomination, which center on Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.

These others went through great mechanisms and oratory to try and explain how the Jesus, born of Mary, raised in Nazareth, taught His Gospel in Judea, was crcified on the cross for the sins of the world and who was resurrected on the third day after His death and would return to earth one day professed by the first individual was absolutely not the same Jesus Christ, born of Mary, raised in Nazareth, taught His Gospel in Judea, was crucified on the cross for the sins of the world and who was resurrected on the third day after His death and would return to earth one day of their own beliefs.

Over and over the discussions went, around and around, month after month.

Whenever the 1st individual would quote experiences of others or witness of his own Christian faith, these others would regurgitate the very same things that had already been discussed, as if though they never had been, and demand him to repudiate, affirm or ignore what they were once again presenting.

The 1st individual on numerous occassions stated his beliefs and assertions again, referred them again to official sites...but was accused of being evasive, of lieing, was damned to hell, and told that he was deceiving others as thanks for his responses.

The next time...and time...and time again, they asked for the same answers to the same assertions. Ultimately the first individual asked them to simply refer to past posts and threads on the matter.

Immediately the cry would go up that now the 1st individual was unwilling to repudiate or affirm and was now ignoring their claims...but the 1st individual simply continued to bear his own witness and once again ask them to...

Look at the other threads where this has been discussed and rehashed ad-nausim for their replies.


Hmmm...sound familiar, Elsie?

Please take your answers from the story, and again, God bless you for your own sincere belief and faith in and reliance upon Jesus Christ who is mighty to save, and your efforts to sincerely witness His love, compassion, and sacrifice for all who profess His name and confess Him and their acceptance of and reliance on Him for their salvation.

The Holy Bible teaches us that none can confess and witness this save those who are moved upon by the Holy Ghost...again, I so witness and confess my own acceptance of, faith in and reliance on Jesus Christ born in Bethelhem of the Virgin Mary, raised in Nazareth, curcified on the cross for the sins and suffering of the world, and arose the 3rd day, who will return in great glory one day to this earth. I look forward to that great day. He is my personal Savior, and I witness and confess Him to you, Elsie, and anyone else reading this thread.

For the littoral barrage of replies that are apt to follow this post, please simply refer back to this very post, or to my own personal testimony linked above, by way of response.

262 posted on 04/26/2012 10:30:13 AM PDT by Jeff Head (Freedom is not free, never has been, never will be (www.dragonsfuryseries.com))
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To: Jeff Head; Colofornian; Elsie; FastCoyote; svcw; Zakeet; SkyPilot; rightazrain; Tennessee Nana; ...
I’ve worked on Church Farms, Orchards, and Ranches in Texas, Utah, Montana, and Idaho.

Thanks for introducing the subject of the mormon corporation being a business, rather than a religion.

Ostling (Mormon America) compared the Mormon Church to the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA). They had a similar number of reported members in 1997. At that time, the ELCA had $152 Million in assets that was primarily the pension fund for the employees.

This is compared to the assets of the Mormon Church as reported above. In 1997 the ELCA raised $11.8 Million for humanitarian aid and $3.64 Million for disaster relief for a total of 15.44 Million in cash donations for charity.

In the 14 year period from 1984 – 1997 the Mormon Church reported cash donations for non-Mormon charity at $30.7 Million, or an average of 2.19 Million per year to the Ostlings. This translates to ELCA donating a little over 10% of its holdings in 1997 and the Mormon Church donating approximately .2% of its holdings.

Most businesses in the United States have higher percentage charitable contributions than does the Mormon Church.

Comment by Tal Bachman:
“I am incapable of imagining that Jesus of Nazareth, He who called the ancient Jews back to the true spirit of righteousness, the spirit of humility and love, the spirit of alleviating human suffering, would ever endorse spending
one
BILLION
dollars
(that could have done so much, for so many underprivileged people out there, Mormon and non-Mormon)

buying - and refurbishing - shopping malls!

A list of a FEW of the holdings of the mormon empire:


Deseret Management Corporation - http://www.deseretmanagement.com/
Beneficial Financial Group - http://www.beneficialfinancialgroup.com/
Bonneville International - http://www.bonnint.com/
Bonneville Communications - http://www.bonneville.com/
Bonneville Interactive Services
Bonneville Satellite -
http://www.bonnevillesatellite.com/
35 Radio Stations
1 Television Station (KSL)
Deseret Book -
http://deseretbook.com/
Excel Entertainment - http://www.xelent.com/
Deseret Morning News - http://deseretnews.com/dn
Hawaii Reserves - http://www.hawaiireserves.com/
Polynesian Cultural Center (PCC) - http://www.polynesia.com/ and http://www.polynesia.co.jp/
La'ie Shopping Center
La'ie Park
La'ie Cemetary
Hukilau Beach Park
La'ie Water Company
La'ie Treatment Works (sewer)
Mstar.net -
http://www.mstar.net/preportal/index.asp
Temple Square Hospitality - http://www.htsc.net/ and http://www.hoteltsc.com/
Weddings (JSMB and Lion House)
The Inn at Temple Square -
http://www.diningattemplesquare.com/
Lion House Pantry - http://www.diningattemplesquare.com/
The Roof Restaurant - http://www.diningattemplesquare.com/
The Garden Restaurant - http://www.diningattemplesquare.com/
Passages Restaurant - http://www.diningattemplesquare.com/
Zions Securities Corporation - http://www.zsc.com/

Farm Management Corporation (commericial farms and agricultural properties)
Deseret Land and Livestock
200,000 acres of land in Rich, Morgan and Weber counties (Utah)
Sun Ranch (Martin's Cove)
Deseret Ranches of Florida (Orlando) (largest ranch in Florida)
Deseret Farms of California
Rolling Hills (Idaho)
West Hills Orchards (Elberta, Utah)
Cactus Lane Ranch (Arizona)
(more)

Corporation of the Presiding Bishop of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (CPB)
Corporation of the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Deseret Trust Company
LDS Family Services
Property Reserves Inc. (PRI)
Ensign Peak Advisors -
http://www.imno.org/articles.asp?qid=123

Deseret Mutual Benefit Administrators (DMBA) - http://www.dmba.com/

Brigham Young University (BYU) - http://home.byu.edu/webapp/home/index.jsp
BYU - Idaho - http://www.byui.edu/
BYU - Hawaii - http://www.byuh.edu/index.jsp
LDS Business College - http://www.ldsbc.edu/

Nebraska-Farmland Reserve Inc-Rex Ranch
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/news/archive/2004/10/06/national1932EDT0838.DTL

Australia-Agreserves Australia Limited-Kooba Station
http://www.lds.org.au/newsmedia/showmedia.asp?m=%7BA160E0E4-1EB2-493D-841D-4F2C85487485%7D

Agreserves Australia LTD Kooba Station,Australia.
Deseret Ranches of Alberta Raymond,AB Canada
Agreserves LTD Cambridge,England
AgroReservas, S.C. Los Mochis, Mexico
Deseret Farms of CA Woodland, CA
Deseret Farms of CA Modesto,CA
Deseret Farms of CA Chico,CA
South valley Farms Bakersfield, CA
Deseret Security Farms Blythe, CA
Naples Farms Naples,FL
Deseret Cattle & Citrus ST. Cloud, FL
Deseret Farms of Ruskin Ruskin, FL
Kewela Plantation O'ahu,HI

Rex Ranch Ashby, NE
Riverbend Farms ST.Paul, OR
Deseret Land & Livestock Woodruff, UT
Wasatch-Dixie Farms Elberta, UT
Agreserves Cottle CO.,TX
Agrinorthwest kennewick,WA
Handcart Ranch Alcova, WY
Deseret Ranches of Wyoming Cody,WY


And, Jeff by your own admission, these businesses utilize FREE LABOR from members along with their tithing dollars.



263 posted on 04/26/2012 10:34:45 AM PDT by greyfoxx39 (I do not expect the (FR) house to fall - but I do expect it will cease to be divided-Jim Robinson)
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To: greyfoxx39

What group does Albertson grocery chain belong to?


264 posted on 04/26/2012 10:45:27 AM PDT by SkyDancer ("Talent Without Ambition Is Sad - Ambition Without Talent Is Worse")
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To: greyfoxx39; Jeff Head; xzins

I don’t see any hospitals on that list.

There are Catholic hospitals, Methodist hospitals, Jewish hospitals, Presbyterian Hospitals and even Masonic Hospitals all within driving distance of my house.

Where are the Mormon Hospitals?

I do note they own a cemetery. Is that for people who can’t make it to the Mormon Hospitals?


265 posted on 04/26/2012 10:47:19 AM PDT by P-Marlowe
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To: greyfoxx39
Burning in my bosom bump!

I hereby ordain Greyfoxx39 by proxy and call her to the mission field.

266 posted on 04/26/2012 10:52:35 AM PDT by Utah Binger (Southern Utah where the world comes to see America)
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To: Jeff Head; Tennessee Nana; svcw; Colofornian; Elsie; aMorePerfectUnion; colorcountry; MHGinTN
One belonged to a certain Christian denomination and spoke freely of it when asked...declaring his own beliefs and witness for Christ.

How amusing that you believe that the proselytizing by the mormon church (which is NOT a Christian denomination)...and by yourself on this thread should or WOULD be met with acquiescence by Christians.

I am convinced that your mind is shut tight to the messages that we post but there is always the possibility that someone who comes across them will be influenced to seek more information and not be led astray by the propaganda pumped out by the mormon sect on the internet, TV and radio and find the REAL Christ, not the "one who was once a man", the "one who is a brother to Lucifer" or the "one whose mother cohabited with a god to conceive him".

Our goal is that the seeker instead finds the One who is part of the Triune God and didn't have to work His way to perfection, whose Mother conceived as a Virgin and the One who atoned for all our sins on the Cross.

That description of the True "One" is by definition of your OWN doctrine, not your "christ".

267 posted on 04/26/2012 11:04:57 AM PDT by greyfoxx39 (I do not expect the (FR) house to fall - but I do expect it will cease to be divided-Jim Robinson)
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To: greyfoxx39; Jeff Head; colorcountry; Colofornian; Elsie; Godzilla; MHGinTN; narses; reaganaut; ...

Thanks for introducing the subject of the mormon corporation being a business, rather than a religion.

In the 1950's, L. Ron Hubbard admitted that he founded Scientology because it was the easiest way he could think of to make a lot of money.

In 1945 in her famous book, No Man Knows My History: The Life of Joseph Smith, the historian-biographer, Fawn Brodie, makes a compelling case that the same was true for Joseph: the Mormon Church was founded for the primary purpose becoming a money-making venture for Smith and his family.

Mrs. Brodie noted that Joseph had virtually no practical education (he purportedly completed the third grade), no professional skills, no vocational skills, and significant physical limitations (he was almost crippled when he contracted typhoid at age 8 and the infection eventually centered itself in his leg ... which was almost amputated by surgeons without anesthesia). Joseph did have one remarkable talent, however ... as one newspaper editor put it, "Joseph can sell a muzzle to a dog."

Joseph tried to peddle himself as a purveyor of the occult ... gazing into a peep stone (i.e. crystal ball set in a silver holder) for the avowed purpose of locating buried treasure. Following his March 1826 conviction for fraud in Bainbridge, NY, Joseph turned to a "safer" (from prosecution) trade ... he supposedly "discovered" some "golden plates" and "translated" them using a peep stone in a hat ... leading to the founding of Mormonism and its United Order and Law of Tithing. All of this would financially sustain Joseph for the rest of his life, as well as his extended family and their descendants for generations.

268 posted on 04/26/2012 11:25:06 AM PDT by Zakeet (Obama loves to wok dogs)
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To: Utah Binger
I hereby ordain Greyfoxx39 by proxy and call her to the mission field.

[Head bowed]
[Arm to the Square]
"Lord, hear the words of my mouth".

269 posted on 04/26/2012 11:25:55 AM PDT by greyfoxx39 (I do not expect the (FR) house to fall - but I do expect it will cease to be divided-Jim Robinson)
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To: Zakeet

"If you want to get rich, you start a religion"
L. Ron Hubbard, founder of Scientology

"Rookie..."
Joseph Smith, founder and "prophet" of The Mormons

270 posted on 04/26/2012 11:36:54 AM PDT by ejonesie22 (8/30/10, the day Truth won.)
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To: greyfoxx39

I have an elderly lds aunt and uncle who are on a fixed income, because they have nothing to spare in order to keep their TR, they work for FREE about 30 hours a week (between them) at these “farms”, in exchange for the “tithes”. (Not sure what they have in southern California, that count as “farms”)


271 posted on 04/26/2012 11:39:22 AM PDT by svcw (If one living cell on another planet is life, why isn't it life in the womb?)
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To: greyfoxx39
T Bird Mission
272 posted on 04/26/2012 11:42:26 AM PDT by Utah Binger (Southern Utah where the world comes to see America)
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To: ejonesie22

egads! Where is that second pic located??


273 posted on 04/26/2012 11:52:22 AM PDT by bonfire
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To: bonfire

you silly

thats the Mormon temple in Taj Mahal Square in India...

:)


274 posted on 04/26/2012 12:29:18 PM PDT by Tennessee Nana (Why should I vote for Bishop Romney when he hates me because I am a Christian)
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To: Tennessee Nana

Does one have to follow the Yellow Brick Road to get there?

;)


275 posted on 04/26/2012 12:50:08 PM PDT by bonfire
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To: bonfire

LDS temple Oakland California


276 posted on 04/26/2012 12:51:33 PM PDT by ejonesie22 (8/30/10, the day Truth won.)
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To: ejonesie22

Thanks! I googled it. That smarty pants, Nana!


277 posted on 04/26/2012 12:55:00 PM PDT by bonfire
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To: bonfire
No, just sign away 10% of your gross income, be willing to clean toliets at the meeting hall, follow Joseph Smith, wear special undies and learn the secret handshake...
278 posted on 04/26/2012 12:58:32 PM PDT by ejonesie22 (8/30/10, the day Truth won.)
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To: Jeff Head
Repudiate, affirm, ignore misdirect...
279 posted on 04/26/2012 1:26:44 PM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going)
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To: greyfoxx39
Thanks for introducing the subject of the mormon corporation being a business, rather than a religion.




Corporation of the President

ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
of the
CORPORATION OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS
CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

STATE OF UTAH

COUNTY OF SALT LAKE

I, the undersigned, having been duly chosen and appointed President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in conformity with the rites, regulations and discipline of said Church, being desirous of forming a corporation for the purpose of acquiring, holding and disposing of Church or religious society property, for the benefit of religion, for works of charity and for public worship, under and pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 3, Title 19, of the Compiled Laws of Utah, 1917, on "Churches and Religious Societies," and all acts amendatory thereof and supplementary thereto, for that purpose do hereby make and subscribe, in duplicate, the following

ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION

First: The name of this corporation shall be the CORPORATION OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS.

Second: The object of this corporation shall be to acquire, hold and dispose of such real and personal property as may be conveyed to or acquired by said corporation for the benefit of the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a religious society, for the benefit of religion, for works of charity and for public worship. Such real and personal property may be situated, either within the State of Utah, or elsewhere, and this corporation shall have power, without any authority or authorization from the members of said Church or religious society, to grant, sell, convey, rent, mortgage, exchange, or otherwise dispose of any part or all of such property.

Third: The estimated value of the property of which I hold the legal title for the purpose aforesaid, at the time of making these Articles of Incorporation, is One Million, Five Hundred Thousand Dollars.

Fourth: The title of the person making these Articles of Incorporation is "PRESIDENT OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS."

Fifth: The corporation seal shall contain the words, "Corporation of the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints," and an impression thereof is hereto affixed.

[Seal] [Signed] Heber J. Grant
President of the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints.

STATE OF UTAH
SS:
COUNTY OF SALT LAKE

On this 26th day of November, 1923, before me, Arthur Winter, a Notary Public in and for said County, personally appeared HEBER J. GRANT, who is known to me to be the person whose name is subscribed to the foregoing instrument as President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and duly acknowledged to me that he executed the same as such President.

[Seal] [Signed] Arthur Winter
Notary Public
Residing at Salt Lake City, Utah.
My commission expires Dec. 1, 1923.


AMENDMENT TO

ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
of the
CORPORATION OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS
CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS.

 

 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
STATE OF UTAH ss.
COUNTY OF SALT LAKE

HEBER J. GRANT, being first duly sworn, deposes and says:

That he is now and for more than twenty years last past has been the duly chosen and appointed President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and as such President has been since on or about the 26th day of November, 1923, and now is, the legally constituted Corporation of the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter=day Saints, a corporation sole; that under and pursuant to Section 18-7-5 R.S.U. 1933 he hereby amends Article "Fourth" of said Articles of Incorporation as now of record in the proper offices of this and other states, said article as amended to read as follows:

ARTICLE FOURTH

Fourth: The title of the person making these articles of incorporation is "President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints." He and his successor in office shall be deemed and are hereby created a body politic and corporation sole with perpetual succession, having all the powers and rights and authority in these articles specified or provided for by law. But in the event of death or resignation from office of the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or in the event of a vacancy in that office from any cause, the President or Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of said Church, or one of the members of said Quorum thereunto designated by that Quorum, shall, pending the installation of a successor President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, be the corporation sole under these articles, and the laws pursuant to which they are made, and shall be and is authorized in his official capacity to execute in the name of the corporation all documents or other writings necessary to the carrying on of its purposes, business and objects, and to do all things in the name of the corporation which the original signer of the articles of incorporation might do; it being the purpose of these articles that there shall be no failure in succession in the office of such corporation sole.

[Signed] Heber J. Grant
President of the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints,
corporation sole.
[Seal]

Subscribed and sworn to before me this 18 day of June, 1940.
[the name of Notary Public not shown on copy of amendment]

(Original in State of Utah Archives, Salt Lake City, Utah)


ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT
TO THE

ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
of the
CORPORATION OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS
CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS.


A UTAH CORPORATION SOLE

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 16-7-5 of the Utah Code Annotated 1953 (as amended) relating to amendments of articles of incorporation of corporations sole, the CORPORATION OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS, a Utah Corporation Sole, does hereby amend its Articles of Incorporation by adding an additional Paragraph V thereto as follows:

Upon the winding up and dissolution of this corporation, after paying or adequately providing for the debts and obligations of the corporation, the remaining assets shall be distributed to a nonprofit fund, foundation or corporation, which is organized and operated exclusively for charitable, educational, or religious and/or scientific purposes and which has established its tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused these presents to be executed this 19th day of November, 1973.

CORPORATION OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE
CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY
SAINTS, a Utah Corporation Sole

By: [signed] Harold B. Lee
Harold B. Lee, Corporation Sole

STATE OF UTAH ) ss:
County of Salt Lake )

HAROLD B. LEE, being first duly sworn, deposes and says: That he is now and ever since July 7, 1972, has been the duly chosen and appointed President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and, as such president, is now and ever since said date has been the legally constituted CORPORATION OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS, a Utah Corporation Sole; that the original Articles of Incorporation of said Corporation Sole were executed by Heber J. Grant, President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints; that he, Harold B. Lee, is the successor in office to the said Heber J. Grant; that he, Harold B. Lee, executed the foregoing Articles of Amendment as said Corporation Sole.

[signed] Harold B. Lee

SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN to before me this 19th day of November, 1973.

[signed] Wilford W Kirton, Jr
NOTARY PUBLIC
Residing at Salt Lake City, Utah
My commission expires:
2-3-77


Articles of Incorporation as amended:

ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION

First: The name of this corporation shall be the CORPORATION OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS.

Second: The object of this corporation shall be to acquire, hold and dispose of such real and personal property as may be conveyed to or acquired by said corporation for the benefit of the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a religious society, for the benefit of religion, for works of charity and for public worship. Such real and personal property may be situated, either within the State of Utah, or elsewhere, and this corporation shall have power, without any authority or authorization from the members of said Church or religious society, to grant, sell, convey, rent, mortgage, exchange, or otherwise dispose of any part or all of such property.

Third: The estimated value of the property of which I hold the legal title for the purpose aforesaid, at the time of making these Articles of Incorporation, is One Million, Five Hundred Thousand Dollars.

Fourth: The title of the person making these articles of incorporation is "President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints." He and his successor in office shall be deemed and are hereby created a body politic and corporation sole with perpetual succession, having all the powers and rights and authority in these articles specified or provided for by law. But in the event of death or resignation from office of the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or in the event of a vacancy in that office from any cause, the President or Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of said Church, or one of the members of said Quorum thereunto designated by that Quorum, shall, pending the installation of a successor President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, be the corporation sole under these articles, and the laws pursuant to which they are made, and shall be and is authorized in his official capacity to execute in the name of the corporation all documents or other writings necessary to the carrying on of its purposes, business and objects, and to do all things in the name of the corporation which the original signer of the articles of incorporation might do; it being the purpose of these articles that there shall be no failure in succession in the office of such corporation sole.

Fifth: Upon the winding up and dissolution of this corporation, after paying or adequately providing for the debts and obligations of the corporation, the remaining assets shall be distributed to a nonprofit fund, foundation or corporation, which is organized and operated exclusively for charitable, educational, or religious and/or scientific purposes and which has established its tex-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Sixth: The corporate seal shall contain the words, "Corporation of the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints," and an impression thereof is hereto affixed.

280 posted on 04/26/2012 1:28:18 PM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going)
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