Question to LDS about Church Funds.....?

Question

I grew up LDS but no longer believe in it. I am not trying to bash the religion in any way.....I think it is a good church, just wrong is all.

So....about the church funds. I went to the provo temple the other day and started to wonder a little more. The financial records for the church are private...which I think is ridiculous considering how much money most of the members have given, but dont you LDS people think there is a better way to spend that money than gardening among other things at places like the Provo Temple? Just seems to me that if Christ existed he would rather have starving people in Africa fed than good looking lawns and temples. Not that I even believe Christ exists, but I can't imagine any type of "God" that cares more about his gardening than people.

Just a question!!!!! I have nothing against mormons....all my best buddies are LDS on their missions right now. Any people that want to slander the religion, you are just wasting time. Please don't respond.

I realize the church does a lot of good things, I just think they could do more is all. Wasn't saying that they just blow all that money on design, ha. I wish the curch would make all financial records available to the public is what I think should be done.

I was driven away from the church when I was like 13. Just started to think logically about everything. I still can't imagine how an all powerful being appears out of nowhere. How needlessly complicated a being would have to be to do such a thing like create the world and things like realitivity. Or how the bible and book of mormon have been changed so many times....yet they are "Gods" word(don't deny it, its fact). I don't see how a Personal God can even be a serious belief anymore. The whole concept is completely ridiculous.

The first answser was a good one BTW. I had no idea about the donating for temples thing. I seriously doubt that covers all the temples, but at least it helps.

Thanks

Another good answer by mormon_4_jesus

Thanks again

But if God didn't appear out of nowhere somewhere down the line some all powerful being must have.

And once again, I am NOT saying the church doesn't give most of them money to a good cause. I KNOW THEY DO. Just seems wrong all the money they spend trying to get people to believe like they do when there could clearly be a better way of spending. Money for temples/missionaries/converting = good Money for starving people = better.
How would God not see it the same way?????????????

Answer 1

The church gives A LOT!! oh humanitarian service, they help poor people, they are there when catastrophes happen. When you fill out that little paper to give your tithing, there is an option in which you can donate money for the building of temples... that is apart from the tithing, and that is where the money for temple comes and it is totally optional, you do it if you want to.

Answer 2

There have been several good answers already given here - yes, for all we know those who work on the grounds of the various LDS temples may need decent employment that they can't get anywhere else for some reason or another (that also goes for the local construction workers who help build a temple in the first place - the job helps employ local people, and puts money directly into the local economy, both by the people employed to build and maintain the temple and in such other areas as restaraunts and hotels because of people who come from far away to visit the temple, money which can then be contributed to such things as humanitarian efforts).

Also, it's important to remember that the LDS Church believes that temples help provide eternal ordinances, and that members believe it doesn't do much good to save someone temporally if they aren't also saved eternally.

(And as for some of your additional comments - LDS Church members don't believe that God appeared "out of nowhere." He has parents, who have parents, who... And the "changes" in the Bible are due to things like translational difficulties, and the changes in the Book of Mormon were for such things as corrections of spelling and grammarical errors.)

Answer 3

I think there are practical reasons not to disclose all financial records. First it causes needless debate. Just as you have done, everyone has an opinion about how much should go to buildings, temples or welfare. If I disagree, should I withhold tithing? If I want more to go to welfare, I just increase my fast offering. If I want to help the poor in the third world I give to the Perpetual Education Fund. If a disaster occurs in the world, I can earmark a contribution.

Second the church leaders eased a burden on members when they kept the numbers to themselves. It used to be that the local members had to raise building funds for chapels and temples. Today we are not asked for the extra offering.

Third, we both get volunteer help and pay others in work in chapels and temples. We clean our own buildings and do other every day chores. Some functions go to those who receive welfare, to permit them to feel they earned it. Sometimes a job in the church can go to someone who has no other options. If people are talking about how rich the church is, then members start expecting they aren't really needed to do meanial tasks.

Last, we create an atmosphere at the temple that promotes the highest spiritual feelings. When visitors enter the grounds, they begin to understand our love for God. The Saints in Kirkland where in poverty, but they gave their best China to be crushed into the plaster to give the temple a special glow.

Answer 4

I think Solomon could have done a lot of good with everything he put into the temple, but he was commanded by the Lord to do so. Temples are the houses of God, and should be treated accordingly. I don't know the actual budgets, but I would imagine that temple maintenance funds are much smaller than the humanitarian funds.

I also know that at least some of the people that are hired to take care of temples and other buildings are members that cannot find other types of employment, so in a way, they are contributing to the poor, and letting them earn it at the same time.

Good question. Thanks.

Answer 5

Well, for one thing, we do report financial auditing twice a year in general conference. I dont know what else you expect as far as knowing the financial records. We're not a business in the stock market...

As far as the gardening and other expenses, the temple is a house of the Lord, so we keep it clean because it is one of the most holiest places on earth. I dont know if the church pays for other people to do the lawncare. I dont know any better, but I would not be surprised if the church called members to volunteer to keep it tidy.

It seems like you have some things you are working out for yourself. What drove you away from believing in God all together? I repect your agency to choose your religion, but I just wonder what turned you off to Christ in general...

Answer 6

To begin with, financial records are NOT private, but public record because it is a non-profit origanization and therefore must be public record to prove that it is actually non-profit. It is one of the few non-profit organizations in this country that is under constant scruteny. We remain non-profit by utilizing every penny that is donated. It may be put into new buildings, missionary work, relief aid given to disaster victims, food for the poor, etc. Trust me, all the money is used for building of the Lord's kingdom.

One thing people need to be aware of is that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is called upon by the Red Cross for humanitarian aid EVERY time there is a major disaster and people need food, clothes, blankets, housing, etc. We have the largest and best run welfare program in the world.

EDIT: At the end of WWII and the people of Europe were starving, the US Secretary of Agriculture at the time (Ezra Taft Benson, later became President of the Church) was also a member of the Quorum of the 12. The people of Europe were starving and the US was asked for assistance. They were given a list of items they could NOT send. One of these items was "canned meat". The people of Europe needed protein. However, on the list of items they could send was "pork & beans". Ezra Taft Benson (US Secretary of Agriculture under President Eisenhower) called Church Headquarters in Salt Lake City and said for the Deseret Cannery to start canning Pork & Beans with a teaspoon of beans and the cans filled the rest of the way with pork to send to the people of the wartorn areas of Europe. Now, isn't that a good use of funds? They stayed within the guidelines and gave the needed meat to the people of Europe.

EDIT2: The last link I just found showing where certain monies went.

Answer 7

The church gives so much to people who need, as well. In fact it was kind of funny, after Hurricane Katrina on the news it said "There were 2 churchs that pitched in and helped alot, The LDS church and the mormons". The church has alot of money and spends a lot on others. True, some does go to nice lawns or pretty flowers. But only to make the Lord's house look beautiful. Hope you understand. And I also hope someday, you can come back to the church. The lord loves you.

Answer 8

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Answer 9

As far as I know, those people who keep the temple grounds looking good are LDS people who are paid to do this work. I don't see anything wrong with giving deserving people jobs tat they can handle. MAYBE one or two of those people might be on welfare or something, if they weren't working fo the church.

Answer 10

A lot of the gardening is done by volunteers. I've done some myself. (Anything that looks like it isn't planted very skillfully-yeah, that was me...lol)

Many of the building materials, landscaping materials, and plants are donated. And each building has its own fund. While the funds may not cover the entire cost, they do take a large chunk.

Good question, though. I didn't feel like you were trying to bash anyone-just looking for honest answers. Thanks! =)