LDS Church Finances
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (sometimes erroneously called the "Mormon Church"), is now a world-wide church and the fourth largest church in the United States, but it is still small, at just over 14 million members (2011). The LDS Church has a reputation for being wealthy, mostly because of its sound financial practices, which follow guidelines the Lord has set. Because of the success of the Church, some try to find worldly excuses for its financial soundness, but it is possible to be successful following eternal principles — no cheating allowed.
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History of the Finances of the Church of Jesus Christ
The Church of Jesus Christ was established as the restoration of the ancient Church of Christ, with the same organization as was had in the primitive church. The image of the early apostles performing their ministry without "purse or scrip" holds true today. There is no paid clergy in the Church, and members are called to split their time between their worldly pursuits and church service for which they are untrained. They learn as they serve through inspiration from God. Thus, in the first days of the restoration of the gospel of Christ (early 1800's), those who were able donated what they could to forward the work of the Lord. Martin Harris donated the funds for the first printing of the Book of Mormon and others allowed the prophet, Joseph Smith to stay in their homes when necessary for him to work on scriptural translations.
The Latter-day Saints established themselves in New York and Pennsylvania, but were soon driven out. They gathered in Kirtland, Ohio, where many were extremely poor. Speculation was rife in the United States at that time, and some of the early Mormons became caught up in that. Land prices rose in Kirtland. With the financial crash of 1837 in the U.S., the bank established in Kirtland failed, leading again to the destitution of the Saints. Driven out of Kirtland, the members of the Church of Jesus Christ gathered in Missouri, again mostly impoverished. When the Saints were driven out of Missouri, most of their goods and cattle were confiscated by mobs, and they had to begin again in Nauvoo, Illinois. The Saints built Nauvoo into a large, beautiful city during the five or so years they were there. Prosperity increased during this time. But then the prophet, Joseph Smith, was martyred and the Saints driven out to begin their famous exodus to Utah. Again, they started over.
Once in Utah, the Saints struggled again, but gained a foothold and increased in financial stability, establishing agricultural and manufacturing cooperatives along the way. However, in Utah the LDS Church publicly revealed its practice of polygamy (which was discontinued by revelation in 1890). The result was a series of more and more onerous acts of American congress, eventually leading to the confiscation of LDS Church property, the suspension of citizens' right to vote, the incarceration of the men of the Church, etc. Under Prophet Lorenzo Snow the Church was in debt to the tune of $2.3 million.
As was had in ancient times, and as commanded by God, the members of the Church of Jesus Christ made donations by paying "tithing," which is ten percent of one's increase, sometimes paid "in kind" (contributing goods). Members were afraid to pay tithing, assuming that the federal government would just confiscate it. After receiving a revelation concerning the suffering Saints in St. George, Utah, where there was a severe drought, Lorenzo Snow, promised them that if they would pay tithing, rain would come, and they would prosper. This came to pass. Other times of leanness included the period of the Great Depression, during which time, the Church of Jesus Christ established a welfare system that encouraged self-reliance, now a shining light to governments everywhere that desire to copy its principles.
The Biblical Principle of Tithing
The main source of the financial strength of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the tithing of the members. (See Doctrine and Covenants 119:4.) Members also contribute other voluntary offerings and volunteer service. All offerings, including tithing, are voluntary, and are also confidential — no collection plate is passed around during church services, and there are no plaques identifying donors in Mormon meetinghouses or Mormon temples. Since the paying of tithes has been a scriptural principle since ancient times, and since sacrifice is a foundational principle of the gospel, the paying of tithing is basic as a demonstration of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, only a full tithe-payer qualifies to enter Mormon temples and make higher covenants there. However, a member tells his or her bishop whether he or she is a full tithe-payer, and the bishop accepts that declaration as truth.
- Latter-day Saints regard the payment of tithing as a privilege and often tell of spiritual and financial blessings that have come through obedience to this law (Encyclopedia of Mormonism, p. 508).
There are very exact procedures for the collection and management of tithing funds on every level. These procedures are standardized worldwide. Other sources of income for the Church of Christ include limited business investments. These investments all relate to the welfare of the Saints (communications for broadcasting Mormon media or farms for raising food for the welfare system, for example). The Church accrues financial reserves for difficult times, and pays even for its temples in cash. The LDS Church has no debt.
Other Offerings
Specially dedicated funds also exist in the LDS Church to which members (and friends of other faiths) may donate as able. These funds include the ward missionary fund (to help local missionaries), the general missionary fund (to help finance Mormon missionaries in other locations), a Book of Mormon fund (to supply Books of Mormon to missionaries), the Humanitarian Aid Fund, the temple construction fund, and the Perpetual Education Fund (which helps to educate poorer members who have finished serving missions).
A large part of tithing funds are allocated to the construction of meetinghouses and temples, as the Church of Jesus Christ grows quickly around the world. Although members clean the meetinghouses in many locations, there are a myriad of other operating costs, including updating of buildings and temples.
On the first Sunday of each month, members fast for two meals and donate the money they would have spent on food to the benefit of the poor. If a family has financial problems, they may be able to obtain goods from a nearby Bishop's storehouse, stocked with groceries. Some of these foodstuffs come from dairies and orchards and canneries owned by the Church and manned by volunteer members. Other products are purchased with "fast offerings." The poor may also obtain temporary financial assistance, along with employment counseling and other helps.
Like tithing, fast offerings are collected by the local congregation (branch or "ward"), but unlike tithing, they are first used for local needs with the excess then sent to LDS Church headquarters.
The Finances of the LDS Church
The Church of Jesus Christ has a Council on the Disposition of Tithes. It is comprised of the First Presidency, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and the Presiding Bishopric. This council supervises all expenditures worldwide and establishes financial policies. There are two subcommittees: the Budget Committee, and the Appropriations Committee, again comprised of the General Authorities of the Church. Financial controls consist of sound financial policy, budgeting, organizational structure, and regular comprehensive audits (Encyclopedia of Mormonism, p. 509). The "Audit Committee" is made up of experienced businessmen who are neither General Authorities of the Church nor employed by the Church. It is independent of all other departments of the Church. This and other committees ensure that the Church adheres to ethical practices and set procedures.
There are other boards and committees that supervise investments and participation in business. General Authorities of the Church also participate in these committees. The Deseret Management Corporation has its own board of directors. The DMC functions as a holding company for most of the commercial businesses owned by the LDS Church. These companies pay the same taxes as do commercial corporations. Some properties are held to support the religious efforts of the Church, for development of sacred sites, and for the building of meetinghouses and temples. The LDS Church has divested itself of many commercial holdings in recent years.
A Lay Clergy
Everyone serves in some capacity in the "Mormon" Church, as there is no professional clergy, no divinity school to provide training for ministers or administrators. All callings except for the General Authorities of the Church are temporary. Missionaries support themselves in the mission field. If they can't afford it, they appeal to their families and then to the Church. The Church does, however, pay their transportation to and from their missions. Mission presidents and General Authorities must leave their professional vocations to serve full-time in the Church, so they receive a modest living allowance provided from income on Church investments and not from the tithes of the Saints.
LDS Philanthropies
The Humanitarian Aid efforts of the Church of Jesus Christ are so well-managed with volunteer labor that virtually one hundred percent of donations to the humanitarian aid fund go to the needy. There are both emergency and ongoing projects admired the world over. The LDS Church often partners with other reputable charitable entities to get aid to stricken regions quickly and is often the last to leave, rebuilding devastated areas after disasters. Thus, the LDS Church is the ideal venue for donating to Humanitarian Aid.
*See also Mormon Money
