Donations for "Priesthood Restoration Site"

[aebrown]

The Church just announced plans for a new historic site at Harmony, Pennsylvania. Part of the announcement said:

The announcement letter from the First Presidency invites interested Church members to make a small, one-time contribution to the restoration project by specifying “Priesthood Restoration Site” on the Tithing and Other Offerings slip that is available from bishops and branch presidents.

But there are no more details than that regarding procedures to be followed by financial clerks in accounting for such funds. I'm guessing that some faithful members who are eager to help will be making donations as early as this Sunday. How should we handle such donations?

Until we get further instructions, we could receive such donations into a new subcategory of Other:Authorized Member Financed Activities called "Priesthood Restoration Site". As with all AMFA donations, such a donation would not be treated as a charitable donation on the year-end tax statement. At some point I'm sure we'll be told just what to do with the accumulated funds, and then we could always submit the funds or recategorize any such donations as instructed.

Does anyone know any more details on the financial procedures for these donations?

[crislapi]

If you're asking, I can almost guarantee the answer is no, no one knows more.

I wonder, though, if this will operate as some of the temple construction funds have: The ward collected the money in Other and would periodically cut a check and send it in to the Corporation of the Presiding Bishopric. In other words (for those not aware), it was not an automatically swept account. Of course, that still leaves you with the question of if this is true and, if so, to whom should the check be cut.

[russellhltn]

The announcement mentions a letter dated the 15th to church leaders. I'm guessing that letter will have the details.

[eblood66]

The announcement mentions a letter dated the 15th to church leaders. I'm guessing that letter will have the details.

That letter is already available from the Official Communications Library that is accessible from the leader portal (under the Resources menu). Unfortunately it pretty much mirrors the public announcement and doesn't provide any guidance to clerks. Maybe there will be an MLS message.

[ckmcdonald]

From CHQ:

As indicated by the First Presidency letter dated April 15, 2011, donations may now be received for the new “Priesthood Restoration Site” fund. A subcategory has been set up in the “Other” category in MLS to record these donations. The subcategory will appear in MLS after doing the Send/Receive Changes process.

Donations to the new “Priesthood Restoration Site” subcategory will be transferred to Church administrative offices the same way tithing and other offerings are transferred.

Indeed, our MLS has a new Other category named “Priesthood Restoration Site”.

[simonmudge]

Does anyone know when the donation for this ends, or has it already?

[aebrown]

Does anyone know when the donation for this ends, or has it already.

The category still exists in MLS, and there has been no announcement that donations will no longer be accepted, and the site has not been completed (it's still just in the design phase). So members are still welcome to make donations.

[simonmudge]

That makes sense.