More on the United Order

In explaining the United Order, the Lord repeatedly mentions the apostates who apostatize after receiving their inheritances(D&C 85:2), or those who have not kept the commandment, but have broken the covenant through covetousness, and with feigned words (D&C 104:4). He makes their spiritual fate clear: It is contrary to the will of God that [they]... should have their names enrolled with the people of God. I began to wonder, though, what was to happen to the property of Church members who defied the Order and were excommunicated.

It turns out that it is really quite simple. In D&C 134:10, the Prophet declared that we do not believe that any religious society has authority to try me on the right of property or life, [or] to take from them this world's goods... They can only excommunicate them from their society, and withdraw from them their fellowship. The member's property was legally deeded to them, so the Church couldn't take it away. Thus, the United Order's basis of private property ownership therefore would have protected the members from robbery by the Church, and the Church from false accusations of such by disgruntled apostates.

On an unrelated topic, I find it interesting that in 104:80, when the Lord is commanding the Church to pay off its debts, he says, And inasmuch as you are diligent and humble, and exercise the prayer of faith, behold, I will soften the hearts of those to whom you are in debt, until I shall send means unto you for your deliverance. He didn't promise that he would get the Church's debts canceled, as one might expect. There is no free lunch, even - especially - for the chosen people of God. He loves and helps and forgives, but he doesn't coddle.