Show notes
The Community of Christ has sold the Kirtland Temple and several Nauvoo properties to the LDS Church for a jaw-dropping $200 million. But RLDS finances are still shaky! That money is only expected to keep the church afloat for about five years. Historian John Hamer joins us to explain why he thinks the deal could have been much better, why he’s disappointed there are still no openly gay apostles, and to share his brutally honest thoughts on Steven Veazey’s leadership. Stick around—this conversation pulls no punches.
John is the co-author of Scattering of the Saints: Schism Within Mormonism.
https://youtu.be/E5KnJviUlQM
Don’t miss our other episodes with John Hamer! https://gospeltangents.com/people/john-hamer/
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Gospel Tangents
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Deep Dive into the Kirtland Temple Sale & Path Forward
The recent sale of the Kirtland Temple sent shockwaves through the Latter Day Saint movement, and for the Community of Christ (formerly RLDS). It highlighted significant and ongoing financial challenges. John Hamer, a Community of Christ historian and Seventy, has offered candid insights into the church's financial state, the controversial temple sale, and his hopes for the future.
Kirtland Temple Sale: A "Pittance" and a Crisis of Legitimacy
The sale of the Kirtland Temple to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) for less than $200 million was a deeply troubling event for many in the Community of Christ. John Hamer describes the price as a "pittance," emphasizing that the property's value, particularly in terms of "legitimacy" for the LDS Church, is "priceless" and far exceeds the sale amount. He provocatively suggests that the LDS Church, with its "hundreds of billions of dollars," would not sell the temple for even $200 billion.
A major point of contention was the lack of transparency and consultation surrounding the sale. The decision was made "in secret," without any input from the World Conference, the church's "giant legislature". This went against historical precedent, as a previous General Conference had determined that a revelation would be necessary to sell the Kirtland Temple, which had originally been built by revelation.
Hamer views the sale as a missed opportunity, stating that it was sold for "a third of what was necessary" for the church to achieve a "sustainable endowment for operations" (which he estimates would have required $600 million.) He suggested that a wealthy family foundation within the Community of Christ could have acquired the assets for the same price, held them as an investment, and then sold them to the LDS Church for a significantly higher amount later, but this option was not considered.
Broader RLDS Financial Woes and Leadership Accountability
The Kirtland Temple sale is just one symptom of deeper financial struggles within the Community of Christ:
Declining Tithing to Headquarters: Over the 20-year tenure of former prophet-president Steve Veazey, "tithing to headquarters... has gone down so precipitously," with only around 6,000 members in the United States and Canada contributing to the world church. Hamer attributes this partly to members feeling their input is ignored when resolutions from the World Conference are ruled "out of order" by the executive leadership.
High Operating Costs: The Community of Christ headquarters apparatus costs approximately $2.5 million annually to operate, while its current income is less than $10 million.
Unsustainable Endowment: The endowment established to perpetually fund the Independence Temple was, in Hamer's opinion, "invested not like a responsible investor would do" and became "not worth anything" during Veazey's leadership. Unfunded pension obligations also contributed to the financial crisis.
Short-Term Fix: The $200 million from the Kirtland Temple sale is projected to sustain headquarters only until "up through 2030," after which "anything goes". This raises concerns about the future of other significant properties, such as the Community of Christ Auditorium (which Hamer argues functions as a temple for the church) and Graceland University, both of which face potential future sale or closure.
Hamer is critical of the leadership during this period, suggesting that Steve Veazey should have "take[n] responsibility for the fact that all of this financial loss schemes had happening on your watch and resign yourself". He contrasts Veazey's tenure, which he describes as "unmitigated decline," with earlier presidents like Joseph Smith III and Fred M. Smith, who oversaw significant church growth and modernization.
New Leadership and Hope for a "Prophetic People"
Despite the financial challenges, Hamer expresses hope for the future under the new prophet-president, Stassi Cramm. He describes her ordination as "electric" and highlights her "incredible competence" and extensive experience as a presiding bishop and apostle.
Hamer believes that Cramm has the potential to lead the church toward necessary reforms. He advocates for her to establish a constitutional system for leadership oversight and responsible government, moving beyond a "fixed chain of succession" or a "prophetic monarchy". This would allow the church to fully embrace its calling to be a "prophetic people," where all members have input and leaders are accountable. He even suggests term limits for the president, such as a six-year term with the possibility of renewal. Such reforms, he argues, would retroactively legitimize Cramm and her successors by grounding leadership in the collective discernment of the church.
Furthermore, Hamer finds inspiration in the decentralized and innovative spirit within the Community of Christ:
Local congregations and mission centers, such as his "Beyond the Walls" ministry in Toronto, have demonstrated significant growth and outreach, attracting thousands of subscribers online, many of whom are not from a Restoration background.
Members in places like French Polynesia are taking initiative to create their own resources, like French-language pamphlets, rather than waiting for headquarters.
While the financial situation at headquarters remains a concern, Hamer is hopeful that Stassi Cramm's leadership and the self-empowered efforts of the "prophetic people" within the Community of Christ can guide the church toward a meaningful and growing future.
Don’t miss our other episodes with John Hamer! https://gospeltangents.com/people/john-hamer/
Copyright © 2025
Gospel Tangents
All Rights Reserved
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