Handbook of Instructions (1940): Corporations Sole

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by Seattle Jon:

My youngest brother gifted me a 1940 Handbook of Instructions issued by Heber J. Grant, J. Reuben Clark, Jr. and David O. McKay. At 170 pages, the handbook is much shorter then our current versions (Handbook 1 alone is 186 pages) and contains some interesting rules, regulations and language which I'll share over time.

Corporations Sole

There is in operation in the states of Utah, Idaho, Arizona, Wyoming and Nevada, a law which permits the bishop of a ward, or the president of a stake, to become a corporation sole, with perpetual succession. The law vests the corporate power in the bishop, or the stake president, and his successors in office. When a bishop, or president of a stake, ceases to hold office, his successor succeeds to all the rights of his predecessor by filing a certified copy of his appointment, (which is issued by the First Presidency), with the county recorder of the county in which the property is located. The ward corporation should hold title to all ward real estate, including cemetery, tithing department, Relief Society and other auxiliary organizations. The stake corporation should hold title to all stake property.


Seattle Jon is a family man, little league coach, urban farmer and businessman living in Seattle. He currently gets up early with the markets to trade bonds for a living. In his spare time he enjoys movies, thrifting and is an avid reader. He is a graduate of Brigham Young University and the Japan Fukuoka mission field. He has one wife, four kids and three chickens.