by Alatea on November 14th, 2005

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It is true that in 1997 the LDS Church collected $5.2 billion (99% of it in US) in tithing?

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by BYRogers on November 22nd, 2006
the Church does not disclose its books. I would not be surpised however.
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by Changegrl on November 16th, 2006
I hope it's true, I hope next time the church collects over 6 billion in tithes and offerings. I am a firm believer in the paying of tithes and offerings, and not until 3 months ago did I start paying Tithing and it's been a blessing in disguise.
Comments
- Do you look at this like buying your way into God's Grace? You statement indicates that you feel you are more "blessed" since you started giving money to a church. It's been almost 500 years since Martin Luther wrote his "95 Theses" and nailed them to the door of Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany denouncing this practice as inherently worldly, and most definitely not godly. Do we really have to relearn this lesson?
  
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  by teknimage on November 22nd, 2006
- 500 years?
  
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  by Saltlick on September 29th, 2007
- I respect the mormon community but I think it's ridiculous they do not question what the church does with all that money money money
  
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  by Saltlick on September 29th, 2007
- Saltlick, do you belong to a church? If so, do you get regular reports that detail where it spends its money?
  
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  by Glenn Blaylock on September 29th, 2007
- Tenimage, have you ever read the third chapter of Malachi? (That is the last book of the Old Testament.) In there God commands His people to pay tithing and say that we are robbing Him if we do not. God also make some very great promises to those that do pay it. What Martin Luther was the sale of indulgences. This is not the same thing as tithing and never was. One is a commandment of God. The other was selling the a license to sin.
  
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  by Glenn Blaylock on September 29th, 2007
- To answer your question I am not religious, and of course I'm suspicious about where all that money goes.
  
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  by Saltlick on September 30th, 2007
- Your listening to the wrong person
  
  http://www.exmormon.org/mormon/mormon410.htm
  
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  by Dave2222 on April 1st, 2009
- No, Dave, you are.
  
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  by Glenn Blaylock on April 1st, 2009
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by Fred_G4954 on February 28th, 2011
yes its true and they kept it all g b hinckley bought viagra to take care of his wieves all 8 of them
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by Athrael on July 26th, 2008
I do believe that around $5 Billion is about 'right' for a estimate.

Consider a 10% tithe of all the members - plus donations, it should be rather easy.

I note many people question where the money is going.

Please to note that the Mormons have community 'vaults' of food clothing, blah. Even non members in need can get a bag of food and clothing at least once from a local church.

Further, the Mormons do have all of their churches to keep up, then there is the ongoing missionary work - those two guys on bikes riding down your street didn't just arrive in a flash of light, the church pays for part (in some cases all) of their transportation fees to the area they will do missionary work. Often in the industrialized nations the missionaries must also hold down a job and or school - however they need a roof over their head, clothes on their backs, food - if they are a student and not 'well off' the church gets their back.

In 'abroad' missions to less fortunate countries, the church pays more for food, lodging, water, blah since getting a job is most likely out of the question or pays so little (compared to First world currencies) that it is close to nothing.

Charity is done by the LDS. http://www.lds.org/ldsfoundation/welfare/0,7133,1325-1-9--cWELFAREPOSTER,00.html is the tip of the iceberg.

Community services, not just in Utah, is done by the LDS.

In all honesty they most likely are not pulling in more than any other organized religion - but they most likely ARE pulling in more per person since they do have a tithing rule - which is far different than passing the plate in throwing in a dollar or two.
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by philosopher-saint on July 26th, 2008
All tax-free too?!
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Well, did everyone get their money's worth?
-
;-)
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by Dave2222 on July 26th, 2008
Ok, I’m driving myself nuts thinking about it. Here’s the point people can see and can hear but
but they don’t know what they are looking at. Let me put it this way the sharks have us divided into groups and are eating us up one by one. Religion is only one part of it. Bush will go on TV and look you in the eye and tell you one lie after another. They have us split one group blames the Republicans other blames the Democrats, if you look past the BS you can see they both are at fault. We are fighting each other and can’t see past the front door. They have no idea that they protect whomever they think is right. The bottom line is who the hell do you think is screwing you???????

Listen to what people say we are right you are wrong. Spin around and take a good look at the whole picture. They are screwing us all and we can’t see it. They are telling you everyday the top 10% of the people own it all and the bottom 90% are getting screwed but here we are sitting like good little serfs going duh we want to see what Hilton is doing or Spears, whoever. You are not listening to what is going on. They are not telling you THEY DON”T WANT YOU TO KNOW!

All I’m saying is look around if the info stands good if it doesn’t it’s bad.
If you want to be right fine don’t make people prove it find out for yourself. You become a better and wiser person. Example by now you know many emails you get are scams. But you keep getting them why? Because there are still some people that don’t get it and when the get stung they raise hell. If you don’t know where the email comes from delete it your not going to miss anything people see a email that has a say bank logo on it and think it’s from the bank so the open the link and give them whatever info they want. WHY? Because they don’t listen. And they are too busy being right, believe me no one is right all the time. People hate to be wrong they are right fighters. Search scams now how many did you find? That’s my point
Peace
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by Dave2222 on July 14th, 2008
From what I read The church gets over 5 billion dollars a year from their members (tax free) and it's said that 60 million goes to humanitarian reasons and 14 times that for buying business, building shopping centers, etc. It's also said the church has some 30 billion in holdings. One person put it this way. The LDS church is a 30 billion dollar Corporation posing as as a church. I don't know about you but if my money was used to make someone rich I would want a cut of the profits. You Mormons might not like this but take a good look you claim it's God's money but I think you are making the Council of Twelve rich. You seem to believe what they tell you
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- You know? It is easy for someone to come on here and make all the accusations that they want. What is not so easy is to provide the evidence to back up those accusations. So, where is your evidence to back up these accusations?
  
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  by Glenn Blaylock on July 14th, 2008
- http://www.4truth.net/site/c.hiKXLbPNLrF/b.3444601/k.E79E/LDS_Church_Holdings.htm
  
  Do you want me too do your homework? Seek and you shall find.
  
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  by Dave2222 on July 23rd, 2008
- http://www.mormonstoday.com/020301/B4303Brief2.US.PA.Phil.shtml
  
  I would say this stands as proof
  
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  by Dave2222 on July 24th, 2008
- Assuming you have read those books, then I am sure that you can provide the quotes that show that the Church leaders are "getting rich" off of church funds or that the Charitable contributions are indeed going into commercial enterprises.
  
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  by Glenn Blaylock on July 24th, 2008
- I could point you to the Quote but enough it's your money, your the one being taken for the ride. Assuming you can read and want to know the truth open your eyes and look for it.
  
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  by Dave2222 on July 24th, 2008
- You’re probably right that only $60M/year goes to humanitarian reasons. $5B really isn’t a lot of money, if you’re spending a couple billion on new meetinghouses and temples, who knows how much more on maintaining tens of thousands of existing ones, and additional untold millions to help the poor and needy. (Fast offerings—which help individuals in need—are completely separate from humanitarian aid, which helps communities in need.)
  
  The Church’s finances are audited at least annually, and those members of the Church’s full-time leadership (fewer than 200 people worldwide) that stand in need receive a simple living stipend—basically, the same thing any other needy person receives.
  
  HTH!
  
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  by the Otter on July 25th, 2008
- http://www.utlm.org/onlineresources/paidclergy.htm
  
  Found on line, makes for some good reading
  
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  by Dave2222 on July 26th, 2008
- If you want to trust Sandra Tanner. You just insist on believing only those sources that have an agenda against the Church.
  
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  by Glenn Blaylock on July 26th, 2008
- I'm trying to get you too look at both sides of the issue. Try this
  Benny Hinn gets hundreds of dollars a year. He claims to heal.
  Take a look at
  http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/hinndatelineresponse.html
  
  http://www.rickross.com/reference/hinn/hinn21.html
  
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  by Dave2222 on July 26th, 2008
- I HAVE looked at both sides. I HAVE read the works of the Tanners and a number of other anti-Mormon authors. I spent two years serving a mission in the middle of the Bible Belt where just about every week I ran into someone who wanted to convince me that my religion was wrong. Do you really think that you have anything that I haven't heard before? After all of this, I am still LDS and I recognize the distortions of the likes of the Tanners and Deckers of the world for what they are, quotes taken out of context and twisted to mean something completely different from what was intended, half truths, and sometimes outright lies. The sooner that you understand that, the sooner you will gain a real understanding of what we actually believe and do rather than the twisted image that these people are SELLING. You accuse the leaders of our Church of getting rich off of us. Keep in mind that it is the Tanners and Deckers that make their living by attacking us.
  
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  by Glenn Blaylock on July 26th, 2008
- Dave, I would agree that it’s interesting reading. While the source is highly dubious, I found nothing offensive on that particular page, but Glenn’s point is also extremely valid. The authors have a track record of twisting the truth to serve their own selfish needs, so a large grain of salt is strongly recommended.
  
  Regarding the “living allowance,” I still maintain that it’s basically the same as the funds my own family has received in times of need; it just so happens that since I’m not called to serve full time, I’m expected to hold a job to support myself. I would also assume that all General Authorities that do receive a stipend—which, according to the above link, is only about 20% of them—have demonstrated an ability to live within their means or they wouldn’t be called to such a position, anyway.
  
  HTH!
  
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  by the Otter on July 26th, 2008
- And I don't deny that some general authorities get such a payment. However, Dave's contention is that they are getting rich off of Church funds. That is not true, unlike the sources he cites who do make a lot of money from the sale of their bilge.
  -
  Oh and David, are you sure that you meant to write that Benny Hinn only make hundreds of dollars a year?
  
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  by Glenn Blaylock on July 26th, 2008
- For sure it’s hundred’s of millions of dollars. You say it is all lies so be. This is but one part of the story, there are many aspects that come into play let the people be the judge You must hate the internet there is so much information if you think that is all wrong again so be it. Take a look at ex Mormon members stories there are hundreds are they also all wrong? There are ex stories from every religion. As it goes God created Christianity
  and man created religion. Hard to believe that any church is God's Church It's the nature of man to screw things up. Agree or disagree I need to look at both sides and you don't like to look
  past what they tell you.
  
  http://www.exmormon.org/whylft58.htm
  http://members.aol.com/DiaLogos3/testimonies.htm
  
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  by Dave2222 on July 27th, 2008
- Dave, you’re right. There are hundreds of former members of the Church out there—perhaps even thousands!—but there’s also millions of current members, many of whom are at *least* as learned as the former ones. I read both of the pages you linked to and it’s the same story I’ve already read, a few hundred times: a member of the Church doesn’t know much about the Church’s doctrines and/nor history; he runs into some “anti-Mormon” materials that debunk a bunch of things that the Church doesn’t even teach; and he leaves the Church because he’s “discovered” that the Church is teaching things that the Church itself would be happy to tell him are lies, if he ever bothered to ask.
  
  The first site you’ve cited is a perfect example of this: the guy started doubting his faith because the Church wouldn’t let blacks hold the Priesthood before 1978, but he never seems to have noticed that the Church actually *did* let blacks hold the Priesthood before 1978. The entire basis of his doubts is an urban legend! He then goes on to cite stuff like Adam-God theory, which is also an urban legend based on an erroneous interpretation of a simple doctrine, i.e. Jesus is the Son of God.
  
  I’ve been reading stuff like this for over 17 years, Dave. I hope this doesn’t sound mean, but why I should take the word of an ignoramus over the word of God?
  
  Thanks.
  
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  by the Otter on July 27th, 2008
- Your right I maybe a ignoramus, as for the word of God how do you spin this. God tells of false prophets many many times you don't have to start here but what the hell you have to start somewhere.
  
  http://www.phact.org/e/dennis26.htm
  
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  by Dave2222 on July 27th, 2008
- Dave, while every one of us is certainly ignorant of plenty, I actually wasn’t referring to you, in my last comment; I was referring to the guy in the first link. This man has been a member of the Church for twenty-some-odd years and has consistently been taught the same thing; then he discovers some random book that claims the Church teaches the exact opposite, and he leaves the church without even bothering to figure out if the book is full of crap. *That* is ignorance.
  
  Let’s imagine someone that’s been a Baptist for twenty-plus years. One day, this man reads some book claiming to “expose” the false teachings of the Baptists. Among other things, this book says that Baptists believe the Apostle John to be Jesus Christ’s gay lover. So what does the man do? Does he look for confirmation of this in Baptist literature? Does he talk to his pastor? No. He takes the book’s word for it and leaves the church. IMHO, this hypothetical individual is just as much an ignoramus as the guy that left our Church over his run-in with the equally ridiculous “Adam-God” theory.
  
  Anyway, sorry for the confusion. Does this make a little more sense?
  
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  by the Otter on July 27th, 2008
- That's the point. Many religions proclaim to be the true religion,
  according to God there is only one true religion. So do we accept what we are told and don't bother to do any further research. Pastors, Ministers, Preachers are not Gods they are men and you do know the nature of men. I have to see if what they say holds any truth. At least we agree we must search for the truth whatever that may be
  
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  by Dave2222 on July 27th, 2008
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by Dave2222 on July 24th, 2008
http://www.mormonstoday.com/020301/B4303Brief2.US.PA.Phil.shtml

Care to read some proof?
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- Dave, I’m a bit baffled by this link. Could you please explain what you’re trying to prove by it?
  
  Thanks!
  
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  by the Otter on July 25th, 2008
- I found this thought you might like to read it. It's still all about the money
  
  http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/hinndatelineresponse.html
  
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  by Dave2222 on August 2nd, 2008
- Okay, I won’t say I read it in detail, but I at least got the gist of it. I’m still not sure what you’re trying to say; what does Benny Hinn have to do with the Church of Jesus Christ?
  
  (I’m honestly not trying to be obstinate here; just trying to follow your logic and, as of yet, failing.)
  
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  by the Otter on August 3rd, 2008
- Nothing, just that so many people believe what their told. Many old an sick people give these people their last few dollars in hopes of a miracle that never comes. Their greedy and prey on people. If these people are as holy as they say they sure flaunt it. They use the money to live the good and people believe they should. I think it's plain wrong to bleed people dry and use it for their own benefit.
  
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  by Dave2222 on August 3rd, 2008
- Oh, heck yeah. I agree with that 100%. But the question wasn’t about bleeding people dry; it was about how much was tithed by members of of the Church of Jesus Christ in 1997. Tithing is a set 10% of one’s increase; no one is ever asked for more than that. Furthermore, no one in our Church has ever gotten rich off of tithing; the Church is run by a lay ministry, meaning everyone that serves in the Church does so without any monetary remuneration. (A small percentage of the Church’s General Authorities do receive need-based living stipends, but even those don’t come out of tithing funds.)
  
  HTH!
  
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  by the Otter on August 3rd, 2008
- Appears articles written on the subject shows worldwide tithing set at 5 billion. New article I found to answer your question appears to
  give a breakdown. Is this what you are looking for? one note (another article) said all money collected worldwide ends up in SLC
  
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finances_of_The_Church_of_Jesus_Christ_of_Latter-day_Saints
  
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  by Dave2222 on August 3rd, 2008
- Yeah, I’d say that’s a pretty even-handed assessment. And you’re right: all the tithing does wind up in Salt Lake City, since that’s where the Church is headquartered. It certainly doesn’t all *stay* in Salt Lake City, though. ;-)
  
  Thanks again!
  
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  by the Otter on August 3rd, 2008
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by Dave2222 on July 25th, 2008
Some guy by the name of Glenn got upset with my answer to you. The fact is there is some 12 million people worldwide that do donate 5 billion plus all of it going to Salt Lake. It’s also common knowledge the Mormon church invests millions of dollars in for profit businesses and it’s said this money comes out of the pockets of the members. That link shows that the Mormon Church is in for profit businesses. He wants more proof and I don’t feel like I need to prove anything to him and if he wants to take a look for himself he would see what is going on.
Sad part is if you study different religions, TV ministers and the like the bottom line is money, we can see and hear and believe what we want. Example most people would agree physic hotlines are as phoney as a three dollar bill ( I even applied for a job on a hot line and I told them I wasn’t physic, they said don’t worry about it they would teach me. I said thanks I couldn’t knowingly cheat people) anyway people do believe to the tune of a billion dollars a year.

Benny Hinn is another phony all the people he claims to heal not one documented case of him curing anyone. He claims to build orphanages and help many of the poor, noone seems to be able to find him helping anyone but him self. Look for yourself he lives in a mansion drives $60,000 dollar cars and has the people convinced to send him their last dollar to be cured. It goes on and on. I try to look at this stuff from a logical point of view but it all ends up the same they are able to convince people they are right and everyone else is wrong. On the Mormon side had many talks with Missionaries and without a doubt the keep to a scrip. I don’t have anything against what people believe but when I want some answers and they say pray about I take a deeper look.

Some things that are stated by the Mormons we are right and everyone else is wrong, The Mormon Church is the only true Church and everyone else is Satan”s Church. They add that all scientific, archaeological and historical evidence is nothing more than anti-Mormon propaganda.
I can’t help it I have too take a closer look. If you study both sides of the issue you come to a conclusion. Is it the real deal or is it not. If you want to know do a search for yourself and weight the evidence yourself. I’m not against the people but after 7 years of looking into different Religions there is much more to look at. I after looking at other Religions took a good look at my own and I cut out the middle man if you take things in context God didn’t say you have to buy your way into Heaven. There are some 4,000 Religions People believe the Mormons are right, some people believe the Johovah’s Witnesses are right, some believe the Seventh-day Adventists are right can I assume God spoke to all the founders of these different Religions to start their own Religion and rewrite history?.

If you combined the tax free money donated to all the Church’s the amount would be staggering
Greedy people in the name of God has turned him into a billion dollar business. You just can’t take anything for granted you have to take a good look at everything. People can think what they want but it’s all there all you have to do is look. If you think I’m off base forget it but if you have any doubts take a good look got nothing to lose. Start with you own Religion and dig as deep as you can. Spend a month and look around then tell me what you think.
Peace
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Question

It is true that in 1997 the LDS Church collected $5.2 billion (99% of it in US) in tithing?

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Is it true that tithing contributes at least 30 billion dollars to the assets held by the LDS Church?

Does the LDS Church release information (exact figures/estimates) to its members about how tithing money is spent?

Can volunteer services provided to the Church be counted towards the 10% tithing requirement, or is it strictly monetary?

The Mormon church says it gave since 1985 1.115 billion in assistance(Cash and material). This works out to $3.75 per member per year(1.115/13,508,509 (members)/22 (years) do you think this is good or shouldn't they be doing more?

If a mormon has neglected to pay tithing for a period, must he pay "back tithing" before he is considered a full tithe payer and go to the temple, or can he repent for not paying, and start fresh?

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It is true that in 1997 the LDS Church collected $5.2 billion (99% of it in US) in tithing?

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