Business ventures

During the early days of church history the Church itself owned and operated many businesses to help the Church grow.

A few smaller businesses were formed in Nauvoo. Those were dismantled when members left in 1846. When the Church first went out to Utah they started many of the day to day businesses as well. Some of these included the ZCMI department store, whose facade will remain as part of the City Creek Center although it will be removed during the construction. The very first one was the Deseret News, founded in 1853 and still in existence today. Other businesses were formed as well that have long since been discontinued. Other businesses were started much later such as Beneficial Life, Bonneville International, and others.

As the Church grew many no longer became necessary because businesses themselves came to being particularly when Utah became a state and some outgrew there usufulness, such as those that made wagon wheels or other implements that were rendered obsolete, for example.

However the church has kept some businesses. The Deseret News and KSL radio and TV through Bonneville Internationall since they feel communication is important. Bonneville has become a respected national owner of largely radio stations.

As an outgrowth still invests in some real estate and commercial ranches as well. These are not welfare ranches but profit making ranches, some are in Florida, Hawaii, and Arizona. President HInckley several times has said they are not tax-exempt, so they pay taxes on their profits and property owned by them as any other business is required to under the laws of the land. They also have holding and investments in some airlines and railroads as well as mining companies.

There are a few nonprofit ventures such as Deseret Industries are for the welfare program. President Hinckley has said however that the Church would only last a few months on the income of the commercial ventures alone, but gets most of its income from member tithes and offerings.

Though the church itself has outgrown most businesses still keeps a few that they feel essential or are outgrowths to what they had before or that may be essential to some ecclesiatical needs such as the broadcast of General Conference or as KSL is considered, to be a voice in the media for the Church.

The Church also encourages members to be entrepeuners. Frank Vandersloot head of Mealeluca, Don Aslett head of cleaining company, J Willard Marriott, Motel chain, John Huntsman chemical engineer, Larry Miller Jazz owner and businessman are among many succesful lds businessman. They are a credit to the church as well.

While not as many businesses now the church will continue to invest in businesses from time to time as it feels they might be able further its mission.