John Dehlin is joined by guests Spencer Anderson, Radio Free Mormon, and Rebecca Bibliotheca to go over the latest Widow’s Mite Report shedding light on the financial practices and transparency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We discuss the church’s significant wealth and delve into its historical and current approach to charitable giving. We expose discrepancies in reported figures, revealing how the church combines various donations to inflate its humanitarian efforts. We explore whether the church could do more with its immense resources and discuss its environmental stewardship initiatives. Additionally, the conversation touches on tax issues in Australia and Canada. If you’re curious about the financial side of religious institutions and their charitable efforts, this eye-opening discussion provides valuable insights.
The Widow’s Mite Report Overview
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Show Notes:
- Widow’s Mite Report
- Salt Lake Tribune article on the Widow’s Mite Report
- Mormonism Live! Podcast
- Radio Free Mormon Podcast
- Mormon.ish Podcast with Rebecca Bibliotheca
- Elder Oaks’ talk – a billion in humanitarian efforts
- Sunstone 2023 July 27-29
- Nauvoo Expositor
- 60 Minutes – Ensign Peak
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5 Responses
John and team,
You guys provide some of the best ‘real’ news out there today! I look forward to each new podcast.
Buh bye fake news!
Buh bye fake Mormon Church!
Thank YOU!
If the church wants to encourage autonomy and independence why not fund and subsidize education and higher education. Skilled labor and food security is perhaps the two best ways to enhance global impact that has exponential returns
Are you sure that the humanitarian line item from the tithing slip goes to charity? One of my huge shelf items before leaving was when I read the fine print on the tithing slip where it essentially says that the church reserves the right to use ANY of the funds you donate for any purpose, regardless of which category you chose.
In this episode there was a discussion among the hosts, wondering why the church does not use more of its “rainy day fund” to help the poor? It was discussed that if the pandemic was not a rainy day, then what is? Here is my two cents worth. I should mention I am no longer a believer.
For many years the church had an official “Three Fold Mission”. Helping the poor was not added as the “Fouth Mission” until the mid-ninties. In my opinion it was because of pressure from outsiders. I clearly remember hearing a talk prior to the addition of the Fouth Mission, that explained why. The church firmly believes it is the only holder of the truth. This includes the authority to “save” people both living and dead. In the talk I’m remembering, the position of the church was this: Any organization can feed the hungry, we are the ONLY organization that can offer saving ordinances, therefore we use our funds to do what only we can do.
The church also firmly believes that they must prepare the earth for the Second Coming. They believe that they must have enough temples to do work for the 100 Billion people during the 1000 year millennium.
Following Book of Mormon teachings, there will be great catastrophes prior to the second coming and the world will need the church’s leadership and funds to get through these catastrophes.
In my opinion, this is why the church seems to hoard its funds. Social pressure and PR seem to be driving forces in their charitable giving.
Just listening to this now (I’m always a month behind).
Keep in mind that the church is now being increasingly generous WITH OTHER PEOPLES MONEY. This isn’t a good thing. They took tithing from the world’s poorest people (and some of the richest) for decades under false pretenses. Instead of giving it back, they’re donating a small portion of it so they can save face while they keep the rest and turn it into a trillion dollars. This isn’t partial repentance; it’s PR to get away with fraud.
It’s infuriating, and justice will not be served until the church is again impoverished.
Bastards.