Unveiling Mormonism

Your leaving Mormonism and you've dealt with the emotions and your questions. Now you've gotta tell your family. How do you do that without burning bridges? Bo and KD share their insights.

1. Why leave in the first place? 
2. The Mormon Church has a great community, positive upbringing (for the most part), and a belief in eternal families… so why leave? 
3. We talked the past two weeks about the emotions and questions that come up when you realize what you’ve believed in or were raised in turned out to be false… 
4. To find and gain a relationship with Jesus, the biblical Jesus.
5. Luke 14:26
6. Love Jesus above all else… even family 
7. How to approach the conversation
8. Explaining your perspective
9. Explaining why you’re leaving
10. It’s important to call out what you no longer believe, but even more important to point out what you do believe in moving forward
11. Most family members will still want to respect your beliefs and support you 
12. Some won’t… simple as that. 
13. Emotions will run high, so try to remain level
14. Leave room for your family’s emotions as well as your own
15. Keep it simple and straightforward
16. 
    
17. How to handle the aftermath
18. You’ll likely be faced with plenty of questions / rebuttals 
19. Mormons are Christians too, why leave to find Jesus? 
20. Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater…
21. Covenants
22. Man can make mistakes (ie. Joseph Smith) 
23. Book of Mormon
24. Mormon Gospel
25. What about Eternal Families? 
26. What about the spiritual experiences you’ve had? 
27. What next? 
28. You’ve left the Mormon Church… NOW WHAT? 
29. Isaiah 41:10
30. “Don’t be afraid for I am with you”

Today we talk again with Bo and KD, two former Mormons who are leaving the LDS church and trying to do it right. We go over their insights around some of the major doctrinal differences between the Mormon church and biblical Christianity.

• Bible
• “As far as it is translated correctly…”
• Mormons lack trust in the Bible
• Joseph claimed that plain and precious truths were corrupted over time by translators (1 Nephi 13:26-29)
• “Precious things taken away from the book, which is the book of the Lamb of God.” 
• “Because of these things which are taken away out of the gospel of the Lamb, an exceedingly great many do stumble”
• Mormons attempt to contrast the Biblical translation process with the Book of Mormon translation process… 
• 5,800+ Greek Manuscripts compiled to translate the Bible
• 300 fulfilled prophecies in Jesus
• 25,000 archeological digs that prove biblical history
• BoM has 0 evidence 
• 
  
• Jesus
• Jesus of the Mormon Church
• Mormons believe we were all spirit children of Heavenly parents (Father and Mother) and that Jesus is their Elder brother. 
• Jesus is the Son of God
• Jesus is our Savior 
• This is where Mormons get the idea that they are Christians
• It can be pretty offensive to Mormons for others to assert that they aren’t Christian. 
• Biblical Jesus
• Jesus is God and has been from the beginning (John 1:1)
• Point out the JST that changes this verse substantially 
• Jesus created all things in Heaven and in Earth (Col 1:16) 
• The Fullness of the Father dwells in Jesus - Triune Nature of God (Col 1:19)
• Trinity vs Godhead?
• Atoned for our Sins on the Cross (Col 1:20)
• Hebrews 9:11-15
• Jesus’ death was the ultimate sacrifice and marked the end of Levitical sacrifices in the Temple. No more Temples or sacrifices needed.  We have a new covenant with Jesus through His blood.  When we accept Him in Faith we are saved. 
• Ephesians 2:11-17
• Grace
• Ephesians 2:8-9 vs. 2 Nephi 25:23
• Saved by Grace when we believed vs. saved by Grace after all the works we can do 
• How is one saved in Mormonism? 
• 3rd Article of Faith “by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel”
• How does God explain salvation in the Bible? 
• Galatians 2:16, 20-21
• Families
• Mormons believe the purpose of eternal families is to become Gods (D&C 132:19-21) 
• If you are married in the Temple and obey the commandments the rest of your life and do not commit murder, then you will become gods. 
• The Bible teaches (Ephesians 2:19-21)
• We are part of God’s family when we believe in Jesus
• We become God’s temple where His Spirit dwells
• Romans 8:1-17
• We received The Spirit of God when we believed in Jesus and we were adopted as children of God. 
• Romans 8:18-30

Fear, depression, anger, guilt, confusion. These are just a few of the emotions you'll feel when you leave Mormonism. But it's still worth it.

In this podcast, we have examined a lot of issues relating to the credibility of Mormon doctrines and history. This might leave you wondering: why would anybody join the LDS Church? And does anyone ever leave it?

• LDS Church has 16 million members at present, roughly doubled in the past 25 years
• LDS Ch grows by birth of children AND baptizing converts
• About 30% of church members are converts
• About 4 in 10 converts were raised Protestant / same raised Catholic
• Growth rate has decreased = from 5% per year in late 1980s → 1.5% per year in 2017
• People join LDS Church for a myriad of reasons
• Many → testimony experience received while studying Mo’ism
• Some, M provides satisfying answers re: meaning of life
• Some like emphasis on righteousness & achievement
• Others like idea → everyone goes to some form of heaven
• Or that there is 2nd chance for salvation after this life
• Many find that LDS Church makes God comprehensible
• Compared to the biblical doctrine of the Trinity
• For others, emotional reasons play a role
• The appeal that families can be united forever
• Or a dead loved one has 2nd chance for salvation
• People find security in the structure & authority of Mo’ism
• Some encounter LDS Church when searching spiritually
• Or while looking to fill a void in their hearts
• Others find a welcoming, supportive community 
• When going through tough times emotionally
• LDS Ch → safe haven from society’s evils for families
• Some join for relational reasons
• Young ppl growing up in LDS majority → join to fit in
• Others join through a romantic relationship with a Mo
• Some join during a time of material need
• After Church provided practical or financial help
• But MOST LDS are members bc they were raised in Mo’ism
• Officially → church members at age 8, when baptized
• The majority stay in the Church
• Though probably experience periods of increased/decreased activity
• Regardless of why people join…
• M provides a positive way of life & caring community
• Gives sense → bldg something significant in this life & next
• ALL LDS are urged to experience a personal conversion
• Both those who grew up in it and those who join it
• Conversion is not moment of spiritual regeneration as in traditional Xianty
• But the moment they come to know with divinely-inspired certainty
• That JS is a prophet, the BOM is true 
• The LDS Church is the only true church
• Church membership is important, but faith journey starts at this point of conversion
• By gaining assurance / testimony of truth of LDS Church
• Application: to those outside, the LDS Church may seem irrational or strange
• Might have a hard time understand why ppl believe it
• Let’s have some empathy due to the powerful forces at work that confirm the LDS identity and commitment in ppl

• Serving a mission is a vital rite of passage that strengthens the commitment of young Mos
• In 2022, ~ 90,000 missionaries worldwide, from many countries
• Serving in 407 different geographical missions.
• Seen as an expectation / duty for young men
• As an opportunity but not obligation for  young women
• On the “mission field”
• Go in pairs: junior & senior companion
• Frequently transferred - every few months
• A day in the life
• Rise at 6:30 am → 1 hour to pray, exercise, prepare for the day
• Personal & companion Study - 2.5 hours of scriptures, lessons, manual, language, etc.
• Teaching People - begins at 10:00 am
• Referrals from members, knock on doors, pass out tracts, speak to anyone
• Follow-up visits → formal lessons / push toward baptism as an LDS member
• Work with members → activate inactives / help members reach out
• Return to lodging at 9:00 pm → planning, journaling, prayer = until 10:30
• Everyone who joins the LDS Church will go through the missionary lessons
• Designed to convince them of LDS truth claims
• Also: to prepare them for the commitments involved in living as a Mormon
• Application: being an LDS missionary is a tough gig
• Long hours, far from home, lots of rejection
• Treat them with kindness
• But don’t be afraid to engage in open, truthful but loving conversations

• In spite of positive elements of LDS life, ppl are leaving Mo’ism in unprecedented numbers
• Up to 50% of converts in the US drop out after a year
• When it comes to lifelong members → retention rate in adulthood is about 5 in 8
• Of those who leave, only ⅓ find a home in a new religion → ½ of those in some form of Protestant faith
• Many factors that contribute to LDS deconversion
• Some don’t want to live demanding LDS lifestyle
• Constant busyness, time & money pressure
• Tire of stress of living up to high expectations / pressure to be worthy
• Pressure to be worthy
• Discover unsavory episodes in Church’s history → cast a bad light on LDS prophets
• Or contradict official Church accounts
• Converts uncover info they were unaware of when baptized
• Such as temple practices / the idea of becoming gods
• Honest Qs go unanswered / discouragement sets in → people told not to question the faith
• Some leave bc they discover that LDS truth claims can’t stand up to intellectual scrutiny
• Others decide that Mormon doctrines don’t stack up to BIble
• More & more → leave due to LDS conservative stand on social issues
• Patriarchal vs feminism / traditional marriage vs. LGBT inclusion
• Some leave bc LDS Church feels like big business to them
• Others find Church too monolithically white and American
• Many leave because they never fit in culturally
• Some are poorly treated and don’t come back
• As many LDS have their faith confirmed by warm spiritual experiences
• Some also leave because of an experience → a dream or spiritual feeling caused them to doubt
• Application: don’t think your LDS friend is impervious to the gospel, or even to deeper friendship
• But realize → they have to trust you a lot to open up about their doubts / questions / concerns

• Closet doubters: some Mos reject claims & teachings of LDS Church
• But choose to stay in the church → quiet about their doubts
• Disaffected Mos stay in the Church for various reasons
• May appreciate some, if not all, Mo teachings & practices
• Marriage compels some to stay for family stability / to avoid divorce
• Some stay because of their family history / traditions
• Job security is an issue for many, esp in Utah
• One’s boss and co-workers may be LDS
• Many → no idea where to go / what to do w/o Mormonism
• Some hope to influence the church to change
• Others → church still seen as a safe place to raise kids w/values
• Application: your LDS friend might not be as convinced or loyal as it seems on the surface

• For those raised LDS, leaving Mormonism is hard
• Going vs. tide of deep roots & strong group identity
• When a person rejects authority & truth claims of Mo’ism…
• Considered apostate → a very negative label
• LDS are taught to fear apostasy
• Warned that if they leave the Church...
• Abandon safe umbrella of priesthood care & authority
• LDS sources claim → ppl leave the church out of pride, sin, or pettiness
• Or because they were deceived by Satan
• When people do finally leave, they do so at a cost
• Ex-Mo may suffer sense of anguish over loss of ID
• Family life and personal relationships are disrupted
• Those who leave are often stereotyped & slandered
• A doubting Mormon may go through agonizing transition period - perhaps years long
• Marked by insecurity, alienation, anger, and confusion
• Before ultimately accepting a decision to leave Ch
• Application: have compassion on ppl as they navigate a difficult faith transition
• Patience / kindness
• Give them space to sort things out
• Empathize with the emotional disequilibrium & relational challenges
• It’s not like going from Baptist to Presbyterian church

In this podcast, we will explore how Mormons typically relate to non-Mormons, and vice versa. One of the biggest questions that arises: is Mormonism a cult? We’ll talk about that and other issues about Mormons and non-Mormons that we hope will help you have more insightful & intelligent relationships with the Mormons you encounter.

• Two nationwide studies released recently
• YouGov poll (Nov 2022) explores Americans’ attitudes toward different religious groups & belief systems
• High end: Christianity (general) = +34 favorability rating
• Protestantism is next = +15
• Low end: Satanism & Scientology = -49 rating
• LDS Church = -21
• To break it down: very favorable 6%; somewhat favorable 11%
• Neither favorable or unfavorable 36%; not sure 9%
• Somewhat unfavorable 20%; very unfavorable 19%
• Ppl who say religion is not important to them = -41 rating
• Ppl who say religion is important to them = -11 rating
• Pew Research Center study (Sept 2022) measured sentiments toward several religious groups (self-ratings excluded)
• Jews = +27 favorability
• Mainline Protestants = +20
• Catholics = +5
• Evangelical Xians = -14
• Atheists = -4
• Muslims = -5
• Mormons = -12 → 15% favorable / 25% unfavorable / 59% neither or don’t know
• Unsurprisingly, % of favorable reactions increases for ppl who actually know a member of any of these religious groups
• Interesting! Mormons evaluate evangelical Xians = +43 rating
• Evangelicals evaluate Mormons = -12 rating
• So: what are some reasons for this unfavorability?
• Pew: non-religious people & social liberals have very high unfavorability to LDS, as to other conservative faith groups
• Non-religious affiliated = -26 / (evangelicals - 38)
• Atheists = - 55 / (evangelicals - 76)
• Presumably based on conservative social views / politics
• But what about other people of faith?

• Here’s the question we teased in our title: Is Mormonism a cult?
• Answer to that Q depends on how you define the term
• Also reflects the attitude you have toward others
• The doctrinal definition of a “cult”
• Huge doctrinal differences divide M’ism from historic, biblical Xianity
• As explored in earlier episodes = the underlying worldview that drives M’sim is radically different at key points from biblical Xian worldview
• In narrow theological definition: that makes M’ism a cult
• (Though from their perspective, WE might be seen as the cult.)
• The sociological definition
• A relatively small group that excessively controls its members
• Mind control / social control / thought-stopping techniques
• Never question leaders / opponents & outsiders vilified
• Avoidance of dissent / difficult to leave
• Share a set of acts & practices that require unwavering devotion
• Considered deviant compared to norms of society
• Typically led by a charismatic leader, often self-appointed
• This definition is irrespective of any particular beliefs
• Though “cult” is often linked with unusual religious / spiritual beliefs
• The cultural assumption
• Most ppl don’t have theology in mind when they use or hear the term “cult”
• Rather, they think of weird / aberrant groups…
• Poison-Kool-Aid-drinking Jim Jones & People’s Temple
• Heaven’s Gate group that committed mass suicide to join aliens
• David Koresh & Branch Davidians fighting it out w/FBI in Waco TX
• IOW: in popular usage, “cult” can mean “a religion I don’t like”
• Result: “cult” carries a strong negative / perjorative tone
• LDS take it as an insult
• Recent media productions present M’ism in this light
• Under the Banner of Heaven
• Keep Sweet - Pray and Obey
• The Book of Mormon Musical
• Focus on some of the more unattractive aspects of LDS history / culture
• Polygamy is a big one even though LDS Church has sought to distance itself
• If our goal is to share the good news of God’s grace → don’t call ppl names
• Using “cult” framework / terminology cuts off communication
• Both sides end up arguing over mere labels vs talking about real issues
• Xians should find language that communicates the vast belief differences
• Without needlessly insulting the LDS community
• Col 3:12 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness,humility, gentleness, and patience.

• Some of the unfavorability might be → LDS can be insular
• Mormonism creates a tightly knit community
• Result: LDS can be very inwardly focused
• Not usually tuned in to how comes across to neighbors or coworkers 
• Wrapped up in LDS world, can be unaware of the lives and experiences of outsiders living around them
• Example: public schools in Utah
• Often run on assumption that everyone is LDS
• This can result in a feeling of isolation for non-Mormons in LDS areas
• Welcomed warmly when first move in
• Until they discover you are not a prospect for conversion
• Sometimes outsiders are resented
• These attitudes vary greatly by community or neighborhood
• Can be heightened if LDS find Xian neighbors distant / unfriendly themselves
• A lot of stereotypes are a work in LDS culture
• “Evangelical Christians aren’t serious about their faith. They abuse grace.”
• “Evangelical Xians hate us”
• It’s more likely = LDS are just can very unaware of what others believe / how they live
• May lump all other Xian groups together → every pastor is a “priest”
• Honestly think that we believe pretty much what they believe
• This is why Mormons are confused and offended when evangelicals don’t regard them as Christians
• We have very different definitions of “Christian” from them
• It’s really 2 questions
• Is Mormonism a Cristian institution?
• Are individuals Mormons Christians?
• These two questions require two different approaches
• Institutions → a doctrinal approach
• Individuals → an experiential approach
• Some elements of evangelical culture are attractive to LDS
• Contemporary Christian music
• Non-denominational Bible study
• Generically Christian media productions, like The Chosen

• Another reason for unfavorability → Mormonism is a missionary-minded faith
• This is the major point of contention between LDS and Christians
• Mormons confidently & aggressively seek to win converts from Xian churches
• The LDS Church’s stated purpose is “to preach the gospel to the world” 
• They deploy some 65K missionaries in 350 regions worldwide
• A 2-year proselytizing mission = important rite of passage for LDS youth 
• LDS Church baptizes over 300,000 new converts each year
• Missionaries rely heavily on members to refer their friends 
• In response to how Mormons view us, traditional Christians have three options. 
• We can attack Mormonism,  as many have. 
• But Mormonism is fueled by a persecution complex. 
• When opposed, the Mormon people resist and grow stronger. 
• We can agree with Mormonism. 
• Not an option if we are committed to biblical truth. 
• Or, like Jesus, we can engage with Mormons as real people and point them toward a different kind of relationship with God. 
• This is modeled by his interaction with the Samaritan woman in John 4. 
• Perhaps one day we will come back to that passage and explore it more fully.

Sandra Tanner has been a leading figure in Mormon Studies for over 50 years. Along with her husband Jerald, she is the author of scores of books and pamphlets, including Mormonism: Shadow or Reality and The Changing World of Mormonism. They are the subjects of the recent biography Lighthouse: Jerald and Sandra Tanner, Despised and Beloved Critics of Mormonism, by Ron Huggins. Sandra recently retired from Utah Lighthouse Ministry (utlm.org). This is part 2 of an interview conducted at the 2019 Faith After Mormonism Conference. (Part 1 was recently published.) You can view the entire conversation on YouTube.

Sandra Tanner has been a leading figure in Mormon Studies for over 50 years. Along with her husband Jerald, she is the author of scores of books and pamphlets, including Mormonism: Shadow or Reality and The Changing World of Mormonism. They are the subjects of the recent biography Lighthouse: Jerald and Sandra Tanner, Despised and Beloved Critics of Mormonism, by Ron Huggins. Sandra recently retired from Utah Lighthouse Ministry (utlm.org). This is part 1 of an interview conducted at the 2019 Faith After Mormonism Conference. Part 2 will be published in another session, coming up soon. You can view the entire conversation on YouTube.

This conversation is based in part on the book Understanding Your Mormon Neighbor, by Ross Anderson. 

Mormonism makes a big deal about families. You can’t understand life as a member of the LDS Church without factoring in the strong emphasis on family. This family focus is laudable. It’s a great way to establish common ground with your LDS neighbors. But how Mormons approach family starts with a big difference from traditional Christians…

• Many LDS values re: family are similar to traditional Xian values
• But at heart of LDS view of families is a different world view
• Families are the center of their Plan of Salvation
• Universe is organized along family lines
• Heaven an extension of home life on this earth
• Thus “Families are Forever”
• Family is the basic unit of exaltation
• Essence of exaltation = reproduce family life eternally
• This explains the emphasis on genealogy
• Connect families backward / forward in time

• Father is the leader of home → as the one holding the authorized priesthood
• Baptize children / ordain sons to priesthood offices
• Give a blessing when sick or at crossroads of life
• One structured activity = Family Home Evening: weekly family time
• Religious lessons / fun activities
• Many LDS families also have a weekly “business meeting” - prayer & planning
• If you live in Utah → explains why historically sports teams don’t practice on Monday pm, etc.
• Other common practices reflecting value of family…
• Reunions are big
• Emphasis on family history: records / journals
• Families do genealogy together / share results

• Service
• Worthy members give huge amt of time & energy in service
• Each involved in a calling in the local ward
• Regional church service projects → like welfare farm
• Doing genealogy
• Temple work for ancestors
• Baking casseroles for neighbors
• Helping needy in their community, and more
• Children are involved wherever possible
• However, Mormon parents are kept so busy with service callings / meetings
• Often LDS feel like emphasis on family is contradicted by lack of time to spend with family
• Sabbath keeping
• Active LDS honor Sabbath by not working unless necessary
• Sundays reserved for church attendance & family time
• Eating out, shopping, movies, similar → discouraged
• Bc they require others to work on Sunday
• Standards are loosening in younger generations
• Still → in Utah, when 4th of July falls on a Sunday
• Many towns reschedule patriotic celebs for Sat pm
• Explains why your LDS neighbors might not accept an invitation to dinner on Sunday, etc.
• Don’t mow your lawn on Sunday
• Values = Mormon worldview defined by principle of progression toward exaltation
• Produces a drive for achievement & advancement
• Coupled with “can-do” attitude and strong work ethic
• Again, the family is the key environment for cultivating these personal values
• Personal righteousness
• Mormons speak of this as “worthiness”
• The most compelling motive driving daily life in culture
• Worthiness is generated by obedience
• Children are to obey parents
• At baptism, new members make covenants to obey God’s commandments
• Ward members expected to obey leaders → “magnify their callings”
• All of this is modeled in the family
• Is expected of family members as appropriate to their age

If your LDS neighbors are too busy to hang out with you, this explains why. Family and church come first. 

But family life is also a great way to develop common ground, by talking about parenting challenges or by spending family time together.

Have you ever wondered what life as a Mormon is like? In some ways it is similar to how traditional Christians experience their faith life. In other ways it is vastly different. In the next few episodes, we will explore the core experiences of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of LDS. 

• Mormons call it simply “The Church” - as if it is the only one
• Shorthand for the entire history, doctrine, practice, and organization of the LDS Church
• Mormons don’t just “go to church” - for active members, it is their life
• Immensely dedicated to the Church
• Significant investment of time, money, energy, and loyalty
• The reason → faithful Mormons believe that their church is the only true church on earth
• The very church Jesus founded
• The only vehicle through which salvation can be achieved
• Without its teachings, ordinances, and authority, no one can get to the highest level of heaven. 

• The LDS Church has almost 7 million members in the US
• Local unit of organization = the “ward” 
• 300 people or so living near each other
• Almost 13,000 wards in US
• 5 to 12 wards make up a larger region called “stake”
• The Church is led from Salt Lake City by a large staff of administrators
• At the top of the hierarchy are the “General Authorities”. 
• LDS believe → their Church is led by living prophets who speak and act for God
• The supreme leader = President of the Church, known also as “The Prophet.” 
• Assisted by two counselors; these 3 make up the First Presidency. 
• Policy is set by the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, along with 1st Presidency
• These 12 - like the President - hold their positions for life. 
• These men are held in high esteem by church members
• Active Mormons decorate homes with portraits of the President
• People reverently share personal encounters they have had with apostles and prophets.
• General Authorities include other groups that implement church policy regionally
• Under them, LDS Church is governed by network of managers & career bureaucrats
• Ultimately, the LDS Church is administered by the power of the priesthood
• Mormons consider this to be the authority to act in God’s name

• Day in, day out → a Mormon’s life & relationships center around the local ward they attend
• But much of LDS life is experienced in relation to the Church as a whole. 
• Church holds General Conference every spring and fall. 
• Local ward meetings are canceled on those weekends
• Members encouraged to watch Conference
• Eagerly anticipate what new changes the Prophet will introduce
• Many LDS young adults will attend a church-owned college (BYU, etc)
• The Church Education System runs classes for high school and college students
• Typically at buildings adjacent to schools. 
• High school students attend “Seminary”
• College students go to the “LDS Institute of Religion” 
• LDS Welfare Services provides material help for people during times of need. 
• Many members will interact with Welfare Services either as a volunteer or as a recipient

• Typical ward = 300-400 members (not all active) 
• Unlike traditional churches, every LDS ward has set boundaries
• Members have no choice but to attend the ward in which they live
• LDS ward is similar in many ways to any local church
• Weekly meetings / programs for various age groups
• Classes for children
• Groups for young men / young women
• Adult groups for men / women
• Provides a close-knit community
• Wards are uniform throughout the US
• Standard schedule / ward meetings all the same everywhere
• People dress similarly 
• Buildings (“chapels”) are very much alike
• Each ward is led a bishop and 2 counselors
• All leaders are laymen
• Bishop is primary administrator and spiritual overseer of the congregation
• No professional training / no pay
• Extensive volunteer organization
• People serve in a “calling” assigned to them by the bishop
• Ward meets every Sunday → 2 hour block
• Sacrament meeting = equivalent of traditional worship service
• Ward business, hymns, talks, and “the sacrament” (LDS communion)
• People dress in Sunday best - dresses / ties
• Mood = reverence
• 2nd hour rotates: 1 week Sunday School / 1 week men’s & women’s auxiliaries
• First Sunday of month = Fast Sunday
• Members fast and give money saved to help the poor
• Instead of talks → member testimonies
• Come to pulpit to express an emotion-laden affirmation of deeply held truths
• In places with high proportion of LDS → the ward is one’s neighborhood
• Source of primary relationships / interconnection much like in a small town
• Can be pretty insular
• Where Mormons travel farther to attend → ward is like LDS cultural center
• An island of Mormonism in a non-Mormon community  

The news hit early this week about a hefty fine levied by the US Securities and Exchange Commission against the LDS Church. The LDS Church has a huge investment portfolio and has violated some reporting requirements. This points to the vast wealth of LDS Church. Just how wealthy are they? How was this wealth obtained? How is it used? These massive investments have created some problems inside and outside of the church.

Best source on this: https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2023/02/21/lds-church-investment-firm-agree/

• Active Mormons are expected to pay one-tenth of their income to the LDS Church
• Access to temples depends on paying a full tithe
• Members meet with local church leaders annually to verify their tithe-paying status
• This generates a large amount of income for the Church
• Again → impossible to verify
• One study (2012) based on countries that require more disclosure than the US
• Estimated tithing income of $7 billion / year
• Used to build and maintain meetinghouses
• To build and maintain temples
• To support the global missionary program
• To help needy people around the world 
• 2.3 billion since 1985
• May seem like a lot → until we see later how much $$ the Church has
• To educate Church members - seminary, institute, universities
• To carry out the general administration of the Church
• Many LDS will offer tithe-paying testimonies
• When paying a full tithe was a sacrifice, God provided
• Others offer testimonies of abuse
• Counseled to take out a 2nd mortgage in order to tithe / or other drastic measures
• Understanding the tithing culture & expectations is a key part of making sense of the news that came out this week about LDS investments

• LDS Church was not always wealthy
• In 1960’s = started settling aside $$ from contributions for future contingencies
• In late 1970’s → investments estimated at around $1 billion
• Ensign Peak Investors established in 1997 as agent / arm of the LDS Church to manage investments
• Employs around 70 people
• BTW: you have to be an active member in good standing to work there
• The rainy-day fund has grown beyond what anyone imagined
• In 2012, LDS investments estimated at about $40 billion
• Much more today

• For decades, financial analysts have speculated about just how wealthy the LDS Church is
• But those are only outside estimates → without full data
• Bc the Church is very secretive about its financial dealings
• 2019 - a whistleblower report filed with IRS
• Former Ensign Peak employee = David Nielsen (a senior portfolio manager)
• Filed along with brother Lars Nielsen
• Lars went farther → gave the info to the Washington Post
• Revealed in this filing = Church’s investment fund worth as much as $100 billion
• $40 billion in US stock
• Over $1 billion in Apple, $1B in Microsoft, $B in Alphabet
• Also: Chevron, Visa, JPMorgan Chase, Home Depot, etc.
• Timberland in Florida panhandle
• Investments in prominent hedge funds
• For all we know, the Church has other assets not managed by EP
• Unknown how much foreign investment it might have
• That may not be required to report by SEC rules

• Earlier this week, SEC fined LDS Church and Ensign Peak $5M in penalties
• Failure to properly disclose past stock holdings
• Going to great lengths to deliberately obscure their investment portfolio
• Quote from SEC:
• “The church was concerned that disclosure of its portfolio, which by 2018 grew to approximately $32 billion, would lead to negative consequences. To obscure the amount of the church’s portfolio, and with the church’s knowledge and approval, Ensign Peak created 13 shell LLCs, ostensibly with locations throughout the U.S., and filed forms 13F in the names of those LLCs rather than in Ensign Peak’s name.”
• Breaking down what Ensign Peak did
• Required to file form annually to disclose the Church’s equity investments: Form 13F
• Instead, EP created a number of shell corporations
• Could not be traced back to the Church
• Completely owned / controlled by EP
• Created for sole purpose of preventing public disclosure of the amount and nature of the Church’s assets
• Each one filed the required form
• Nowhere could anyone see the actual total
• This secrecy was out of fear of discouraging members from paying tithing (WSJ 2020)
• Practiced this approach to reporting for about 20 years prior to 2019
• After whistleblower → been filing correctly
• The latest SEC filing = $44B → reports only those investments that must be disclosed by law
• Does not reflect the portfolio’s total holdings
• The Church’s finances are now also under scrutiny in Canada & Australia

• Many don’t see the problem
• The church didn’t really do anything wrong; it’s a minor issue like a traffic ticket
• The church relied on lawyers; it’s their fault
• Believe the church was secretive bc as a big player in markets, it didn’t want to cause market swings
• Others: the church didn’t want individual investors to mimic the church’s investment strategy (thinking it inspired?), bc it would not apply to individual investors
• Others have raised questions / critiques
• Critique #1 = What the $$ could be used for
• In spite of overall wealth → yet still heavy-handed tithing techniques
• Still ask members to do more and more
• Spend very little (proportionally) on caring for needy
• Avg $60M / yr
• Compared to annual tithing of 7B
• Compared to annual investment growth of 7% of 100B
• Critique #2 = What the money is actually used for
• $1.4 billion for City Creek Mall in SLC
• $600K to bail out Beneficial Life Insurance
• Two church-owned commercial enterprises
• Critique #3 = the LDS Church should pay taxes, or lose its tax-exempt status for using contributions for commercial purposes
• A lot of $$ not being spent on its stated charitable purposes
• Critique #4 = Hiding the actual amount
• Church claims that use of $$ is guided by prayer
• Temple recommend question: are you honest in all your dealings?
• Undermines credibility of apostles & prophets
• Deliberately trying to evade an applicable law → to shield reputation
• Mistakes? 
• The Church’s statement on the matter expresses regret for mistakes made
• But this wasn’t a mistake → a deliberate strategy to circumvent reporting requirements put in place for the public good
• Sam Brunson, a Mormon who teaches tax law at Loyola U Chicago
• “The apparent hypocrisy is potentially harmful in its relationship with its members.”