Ecclesiastical government

An ecclesiastical government is a governmental body that derives its powers from spiritual or religious teachings. Such governments are usually the hierarchy of a church, and they do not often achieve statehood. However, one such state, Vatican City achieved its independence from Italy in 1929. Another example would be the administration of the short lived State of Deseret, an independant entity briefly organized in the American West by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.