Church finances

FAIR Answers—back to home page

Mormonism and church finances

Gospel Topics (lds.org), "Church Finances—Commercial Businesses"

Gospel Topics (lds.org)

The Church holds business interests that are primarily an outgrowth of enterprises which were begun when the Church was isolated in the West. The commercial businesses owned by the Church help serve the needs of the Church in accomplishing its mission. The money made from these commercial enterprises is relatively small; the majority of financial resources in the Church comes from the tithes and offerings of Church members.

Click here to view the complete article

Topics

21st Century

Financing of City Creek Center

Summary: It is claimed that the Church claim that the Church-financed redevelopment project in downtown Salt Lake City known as City Creek Center has been funded using tithing.

Why does the Church build expensive temples?

Summary: Why does the church spend so much money on temples when children are dying of starvation in other parts of the world? Wouldn’t the money spent on these buildings be better used in feeding the hungry?

No paid ministry

Summary: It is claimed that Mormonism prides itself in having unpaid clergy as one proof of the Church's truthfulness. They then point to the fact that some General Authorities, mission presidents, and others do, in fact, receive a living stipend while serving the Church, and point to this as evidence of the “hypocrisy” of the Church.

• • No professional clergy—
    Brief Summary: There can be no doubt that the Church does have an unpaid ministry. More precisely, it does not have a professional clergy. (Click here for full article)
    ∗       ∗       ∗
  • General Authorities living stipend—
    Brief Summary: Some members of the Church are unaware that at least some General Authorities do receive a modest living stipend. While it is true that some Church leaders receive a living allowance while they serve in a given position, it cannot be said that the Church has a professional ministry in the traditional sense. (Click here for full article)
    ∗       ∗       ∗
  • Priestcraft—
    Brief Summary: Church members have a particular sensitivity to issues surrounding paid ministries particularly due to admonitions in the Book of Mormon relative to a practices known as priestcraft, which is "that men preach and set themselves up for a light unto the world, that they may get gain and praise of the world; but they seek not the welfare of Zion." (Click here for full article)
    ∗       ∗       ∗

Tithing

• • How is tithing calculated?—
    Brief Summary: I've been told by critics of the Church that the Church expects or teaches its members to tithe on gross income. What can you tell me about how tithing it taught in the Church? (Click here for full article)
    ∗       ∗       ∗

19th Century

Kirtland Safety Society

Summary: Critics attack Joseph Smith over the Kirtland Safety Society (KSS) on multiple grounds: 1) they claim the KSS was a "wildcat bank," 2) they claim that the bank was illegal, and that the Church broke the law by founding it, 3) they claim it was a money-making scheme for Joseph, and 4) they claim its failure proves Joseph was not a prophet

Missionaries exploited poverty in England

Summary: It is claimed by critics that LDS missionaries sent to England "capitalized on the intolerable social and economic conditions" in order to gain converts.