Recently, documents were leaked giving dollar amounts for the stipends of general authorities for the Church. I will start by mentioning that I agree that a living allowance is moral and appropriate for full-time leaders in the Church. I acknowledge the tremendous time and energy that many paid and unpaid leaders across auxiliaries, quorums, and missions give to the Work.
This leak was a revelation for many members who were unaware of the existence of paid clergy in our Church. Others have taken this opportunity to criticize those who haven’t known. This blog examines the likelihood an active, studious, member of the Church would come across this information through official channels.
I searched lds.org for the combinations to the words paid, ministry, minister, clergy, stipend, and living allowance. I found 58[1] instances declaring that the Church does not have a paid clergy. The results, in full, are available here. Of these, only 6 mention the existence of a living allowance. Ten mention the absence of paid clergy only in the context of local clergy. The large majority, 72% (42), make no distinction to where the “no paid clergy” statement applies. Furthermore, 38% (16) of these statements are worded in a way that reasonably could include the general authorities among the unpaid.
Opportunities for misinformation (28%) are larger than clear information (10%).
The six mentions of living allowances include the following. President Gordon B. Hinckley’s October 1985 general conference talk, which has been the primary source for recent defenses. Note that Hinckley’s statement is only “parenthetically” given. Church spokesperson, Michael Otterson, noted at a 2015 Fair Conference that “their stipend may be less than a tithe on what they previously earned.” Additionally, the D&C Seminary Teacher’s Manual includes it in the supplemental materials of two lessons. In lessons there is always more regular material than time affords – let alone any time for supplemental materials. The other two instances were only in the context of mission presidents. One in a 1979 BYU devotional, and the other in a 2011 Newsroom announcement. One notable absence is the Newsroom page for the Quorum of the Twelve which discusses their full-time service and the leaving of their careers, but no mention of any living allowances.
The somewhat misleading statements include phrasing such as “All of us”; “We”; “the leadership of … His Church…give their time freely”; “Any of the administrators”; as well as comparisons between the “self-sufficient” apostles of old and the unpaid clergy of today. My favorite was Hugh Nibley’s humorous statement. “Only when [the church] brought in professional help have they come to grief.” Another ironic instance was a 1997 Ensign article where some saints bemoaned the harassment from the “slaves of hirelings.” The word hirelings describing “ministers who accepted a stipend for their labors.”
Conclusion
In my lifetime, stipends have never been discussed in general conference or the main body of a manual. There has been ample attention paid to our “distinguishing feature” of unpaid clergy. There is only minimal clarification that this is only true on the local level. Perhaps through the grapevine, I was aware of their “modest living allowance.” But, after reviewing the official mentions, no one can blame anybody for not knowing. Our own scriptural exegesis allows for one to have thought otherwise. “But the laborer in Zion shall labor for Zion; for if they labor for money they shall perish” (2 Nephi 26:31). Or take Alma’s experience, “And notwithstanding the many labors which I have performed in the church, I have never received so much as even one senine for my labor; neither has any of my brethren, save it were in the judgment-seat; and then we have received only according to law for our time.” (Alma 30:33)
Let us be kind to those who are troubled. Let us seek to understand, especially given the Church’s history in discussing (or avoiding) the topic of finances. Hopefully this episode will be an opportunity for increased dialogue on the topic and perhaps further transparency – preferably from official sources.
[1] There are 62 in my data set. I do not include the repeat of the Teacher’s vs Study at Home seminary manuals. Nor do I include the entry where the topic is not explicitly broached (Quorum of the Twelve Newsroom page). Finally, I do not include the two mentions of local clergy receiving a stipend, as there is no discussion of either general authorities or “no paid …”. The first, where stake clerks would receive one for office supplies. The second mentioning young missionaries’ stipends.
Christopher Clarke
Christopher is a doctorate student in economics at Washington State University. He grew up in Las Vegas, NV. He is a husband to his wife and a father to two boys. He plays the organ at church, the piano at home, and the ukelele when no one is looking. He sometimes blogs at http://bit.ly/2iDPCAf and reads books at Goodreads (http://bit.ly/2jqcdxj)
All posts by Christopher Clarke
I do not have trouble about to pay anybody for their labor, my trouble is HOW much and WHAT for. In a “wordly” bussiness (particularly in a free country in America”) a leader, owner, high possitions in a bussiness can earnt whatever they WANT. In a “spiritual/Christ possition) labor is another issue. I dont remmember to read that Jesus Christ woul use money of the “poor” or rich to buy expensive cloths, good horses for transportation, eat in expensive hotels, pay vacations, etc. In fact, nor His apostles whom some wete profesionals: Doctor, acountants, etc… Jesus said:” …leave it all and follow me”.. In our times, we need to acomodate to our NEEDS, but….in to became “millionaries” in the name of God when there is so much missery in the world. When the MAIN reason to “follow” Christ in to HELP (probide with the MEANS they need: the HOW), NOT just to “preach”/talk about WHAT. It is my understanding fir the “stablish the Kingdom of God”thist this Kingdom eould be the example to the WORLD as the perfect GOVERMENT where the needs of the most vulnerable would be meet and we will be one in JOY and peace. My trouble with the FINANCES of ANY church is HOW come Their Leaders are become so wealthy jus to preach ( talk), and they do not CREATE with that wealth the RESOURSES for the LIVING: hospitals(doctors, nurses), shools(teachers, therapist, social workers), instead to build for the dead (expensive thetemples that only 2% of 15 million LDS appear to be “worthy, and thousands of chaspel buildings only open about 2% a week). Example: how in UTAH with 17 temples about 600 chapels with a population only of 3 million people and about 70 % LDS out of that maybe 50% active, we are the state in USA that have the highedt petcentage of youth suicides and “homelees”, grug adicts, people dying in the streets because of the cold weather because they do not have a “building” to stay in in winter out of the 600 chapels that are CLOSE during the week, etc. What about the “investments” of the “church” in luxury apartments for the rich”) it is the time for “apocwlipsis” which means the TRUTH will be reveal as it was “profetized” in D&C 112:24-25 “..112:24-25 “vengeance cometh speedily upon the inhabitants if the earth….” ” …and upon my house shall it begin, and from my house shall it gi forth..”
Yes, there is room for plenty of discussion on where tithing funds should be spent; how best to promote goodness.
I am unaware, however, of anything indicating that any G.A.s have become millionaires through their service in the Church.
$ 120,000 a year x how many years of service plus posible “investments of the church” that the church have said they have, etc and more to be discover. I think that if “they” require me a 10% of MY INCOME for my “salvation” I diserved every year to know HOW this money is HANDLE for the “salvation” of the SAINTS ALIVE. I live around those “general authorities” and followers, and I have been WITNESS of a lot of corruption (missleading) information and actions that I did not wanted belive because it was very painful to know the truth for my spirituality. But “the truth will set you free….” of the abuser, of misleading, etc…how many FREE of PAY hours the members are giving of their lives besides “tithings” the “church invest” for “top” people are the beneficiaries of it. Expect more things to come up. This is the church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day SAINTS….NOT of the apostles, prophets, general authorities, etc…the SAINTS are ALL members, from all sides
Here’s some more data to add to your collection.
https://www.lds.org/manual/preach-my-gospel-a-guide-to-missionary-service/lesson-5-laws-and-ordinances?lang=eng
In Preach My Gospel, it says “All of the work in the Church is voluntary. No one is paid for such service.”
No distinction is made between administrative and ministerial work. It clearly says all of the work is voluntary, which is clearly not true.
Thank you for posting this very level-headed view of the problem!
This is an older article but sheds some interesting light on the for-profit endeavors of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints under the Corporation of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints umbrella: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2012-07-18/how-the-mormons-make-money
WOW!!! Jake, thanks so much for this information. This is something that needs to be known to all LDS. We need the TRUTH to come out to the light. Thanks. I got this info at the right time for me.
Another mention of no paid professional clergy…
http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/what-to-expect-at-church-services?filter=leadership?filter=leadership
“As there is no paid professional clergy, sharing congregational responsibilities and duties instills the values of community and fellowship.”
One last reference and then I’ll stop.
https://www.lds.org/manual/preparing-to-enter-the-holy-temple/preparing-to-enter-the-holy-temple?lang=eng&query=unpaid+clergy
In the temple preparation course, “Preparing to Enter the Holy Temple”, this statement is made.
“A major difference between your churches and ours is that we do not have a professional clergy, as you do.”
It’s pretty easy to see how members would be under the impression that the General Authorities are not paid. Unless you use the language and logic employed by the author of the polygamy Gospel Topics essays.
https://www.lds.org/topics/plural-marriage-in-kirtland-and-nauvoo?lang=eng
“The statements emphasized that the Church practiced no marital law other than monogamy while implicitly leaving open the possibility that individuals, under direction of God’s living prophet, might do so.”
One last example and then I’ll stop.
From the Preparing to Enter the Holy Temple manual…
“A major difference between your churches and ours is that we do not have a professional clergy, as you do.”
Is it any wonder that members are surprised that we do have paid clergy? Unless you employ the language and logic of the author of the polygamy essay in the Gospel Topics.
https://www.lds.org/topics/plural-marriage-in-kirtland-and-nauvoo?lang=eng
“The statements emphasized that the Church practiced no marital law other than monogamy while implicitly leaving open the possibility that individuals, under direction of God’s living prophet, might do so.”
I would love it if we could just be frank and transparent, but I won’t hold my breath.
Admin, could you please remove my double post? One of them was trapped in moderation.
Thank you.
Thank you Pete. I was needing all that info
You might also try searching for “stipend”. What else might turn up a reference?
Pete,
Thank you for the additions. I already had the Temple manual, but the other two were new.
Brian,
I searched for stipend and found a few more.
These are now included in the post. It didn’t change the numbers too much.