a visitor asked: I heard that Mormons contribute 10% of their incomes to the Church. Is that correct? How is the money used - for charity or for church business? Members of the Church may make financial contributions in several ways, including payment of tithing, donation of fast offerings, and contributions to missionary work. Tithing is the basic contribution by which Latter-day Saints fund the activities of the Church. By revelation to the Prophet Joseph Smith, the Lord stated that members should pay one-tenth of all their interest [increase] annually; and this shall be a standing law unto them forever (D&C 119:4). Tithing is used to pay most of the operating expenses of the Church and also now funds the construction of buildings, including meetinghouses and temples. Fast offerings are cash or in-kind donations given to the bishop to help the needy following a short period of fasting. Member contributions are not used to fund Church businesses. It should be noted that Church businesses make contributions from their pretax earnings to fund community needs such as the arts, education, and charitable groups, and other beneficiaries. The LDS foundation coordinates the distribution of major portions of the charitable contributions designated by Church-owned businesses. In recent years, the Foundation has been a significant contributor to the new LDS Hospital wing, the new Primary Childrens Medical Center, the new Holy Cross Hospital, the Salvation Army, Saint Vincent De Paul Center soup kitchen for the homeless, the Salt Lake City Homeless Shelter, the Utah Symphony, Ballet West, the United Way, and related organizations. Income from Church business operations permits participation in local community causes without using the tithing of members from around the world. Those tithes are dedicated to continuing the primary work of the Church, which includes teaching the gospel to the world, building faith and testimony and promoting activity among the membership, and helping members to complete sacred temple ordinances in proxy for the deceased.
Posted on: Fri, 06 Jun 2014 05:05:19 +0000
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