Comments on: Does my tithing really go to the Lord’s use?

By: Arnie

Arnie — Tue, 27 Jan 2015 14:08:00 +0000

It is very difficult to grasp the length and breadth and complexities of the worldwide church, and the resources it takes to move it all in the direction and the momentum it currently has. At one time the church itself was impoverished, but the Lord inspired the church leaders to reinvigorate the church membership to pay tithing, and the church has prospered and has been able to use the proceeds to move the work forward. Meetinghouses, temples, administration offices (such as mission offices), distribution centers, etc all require maintenance, utilities, and other upkeep such as security and grounds-keeping. Manuals (not just for Sunday block meetings, but for administration, for seminary and institute, and training) and other materials need to be researched, compiled, written, edited, printed, translated (into dozens of languages) stored, and shipped. Records (membership, ordinance, unit reports, etc) need to be created, maintained, stored (physically and digitally), and archived. Videos are produced, sometimes in multiple languages, which all require equipment, logistics, studio space, talent and expertise. The church has invested heavily in information technology, communications infrastructure, and the like, and has bought advertising space to present its message to the world. Missionaries and leaders at various levels travel frequently to teach and administer the church. The church has many lawyers to defend its interest before the law, and it has many lawyers to advise priesthood leaders on conducting church affairs in accordance with the laws of the many countries where the church has, or is aspiring to have, a presence. On top of all this (where most members see the tithing funds used), is the local ward budget, which is given to the ward to carry on activities mostly for fellowshipping. The church tries to optimize its resources by using a mix of employed professionals and experts as well as using unpaid volunteers either locally (eg cleaning the church) or on special church service missions (take a look at the current Senior Missionary Opportunities Bulletin, it’s over a dozen pages long) to fill these needs. The Council on the Disposition of the Tithes is composed of the First Presidency, the Quorum of the Twelve, and the Presiding Bishopric. This council decides what amount of tithing funds to use towards which end.

By: Jason Hale

Jason Hale — Mon, 05 May 2014 05:48:00 +0000

I worked at Deseret Industries, a donation/thrift store operated by the Church, our paychecks came from Fast Offerings, that seemed a little uncomfortable to me.

By: Concerned Dad

Concerned Dad — Wed, 19 Mar 2014 15:19:00 +0000

In reply to Karen. I fully understand the direction of the GSA, and the connection to Planned Parenthood along with other issues. It is just sad that we make an exception for the boys and not the girls. I like to know that my tithing and fast offerings are truly used to do the work of the Lord. Supporting an organization just because we are so invested, well its just a bummer.

By: conservativeuso

conservativeuso — Wed, 19 Mar 2014 05:13:00 +0000

Awesome insight and info. Thanks Highwinder

By: G-Pa

G-Pa — Wed, 19 Mar 2014 02:59:00 +0000

There are many members who pay tithing in kind. I am one of them. Once a year, I go to the Tithing in Kind office and pay tithing in the form of securities. The church immediately sells them and deposits the money from the sale into the general tithing fund. When I go to tithing settlement, I report such to my bishop.

By: Karen

Karen — Wed, 19 Mar 2014 02:06:00 +0000

If you understood the direction the Girl Scouts of America is going, you would be glad that the Church does not support them. I agree with you in that the Activity Days for the Primary girls are not funded as well as the Cub Scouts or Boy Scouts. I don’t see that changing, though.

By: Highwinder

Highwinder — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 21:30:00 +0000

I would be remiss to let this go without offering some additional info, especially since I work for the church. It’s true that the Lord’s church operates as an unpaid ministry. That is dictated in scripture, and none of the clergy in the LDS church receive wages for their work. Christ had stern criticism for paid ministry. All LDS clergy from the presidency down to the bishop provided for themselves throughout their lives and receive their compensation elsewhere. For example, President Uchtdorf was an airlines pilot, President Eiring was a professor at Standford and MIT, and President Monson was a professional news agency publisher. Even in church leadership, if any of them live in any luxury whatsoever, they earned it by their own hand – it was not
furnished by the Church. However, the church does pay wages to those workers who build and maintain the church in non-proselyting roles, and many of those paychecks do indeed come out of tithing – which is one of the purposes of the treasury as set for by the lord. The Lord expects the Gospel to be preached at no cost. But he has always recognized the earthly material needs of the church must also be met. This means paying for services not directly involved in preaching the Gospel itself, such as mandatory full-time facilities construction and maintenance, clerical and technical staff, financial management professionals, legal staff, infrastructure, etc. The buildings don’t maintain themselves, nor do the extensive data systems, organizational skills, and other professional services required to make the church operate. The church also operates according to the law of the land, which requires nearly all of these services and skills. Tithing is paid specifically for these resources to be obtained and put to use, and the church’s commercial investments, productions and assets offset these costs to a staggering degree (in accordance with the parable of the talents). The Lord himself recognizes these expenses and stated that a Treasury would be established as such. But does the church pay industry standard wages for these positions? Or even more? No. Church wages are well-known for being slightly less than industry standard in most cases. There is a saying amongst employees of the church: “Nobody gets rich working for the church”. And in my view, it is conducted this ways though it was policy, and rightly so. There are no lucrative paychecks here, nor are there any “Cadillac” benefits packages. People quit church employment all the time because of better pay and benefits elsewhere. Additionally, the church should not be found responsible for the government’s newfound love of mismanagement of the law or the mismanagement of its finances. A common occurrence in today’s economy is for recipients of newfound economic challenges to frown on any organization that hasn’t been mismanaged enough to cause its employees to suffer like everyone else. Is that what we’d expect to see in any organization run by the Lord? Of course not. Before the government’s mismanagement of the economy, church jobs were not envied at all. The Lord’s kingdom is efficiently – but not decadently – operated by those He chooses to do such in ways that would shock any government or corporation. For the functions of the church that require funding from the treasury, you will never find more “bang for the buck” anywhere else in the world. This should be a source of inspiration for members and non-members alike, not a source of
contempt or mistrust because the Lord choses to run his affairs in a manner that are less subject to failure than mankind does. The church is a model organization on every level, from top to bottom. If only governments and private corporations would operate on even a fraction of such efficiency, it would literally fix the world’s economy overnight.

By: Concerned Dad

Concerned Dad — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 18:39:00 +0000

Is tithing used to support the Boy Scouts of America (BSA)? I do not agree with the direction that the church has chosen with the BSA. I am an Eagle Scout, and it saddens me to see the LDS church fall to the pressures of the BSA, but stand in opposition to the Girl Scouts of America (GSA). If it is all based on church standards then the church needs to remain consistent. I understand both reasons that have been
given for the decisions. I know the budget for BSA activities are well into the thousands of dollars, and at the same time they nickel and dime the Activity Day girls (ages 8-12). I do have to say that the parents are also at fault, because I have witnessed many occasions when the family will abandon the activity for the young lady to attend a Boy Scout ceremony.