How Much Are LDS Apologists Paid?

[_Mister Scratch]

[Note: this is a branch-off from GoodK's "Outing Anonymous Posters" thread]

In an absolute bombshell of a post, GoodK, the child of a "top-flight" LDS apologist, has revealed that, in fact, LDS apologists are paid to engage in apologetics. This is absolutely, utterly stunning. All of us have long been told that these "stalwart faithful" aren't compensated at all!! In fact, here is an email from DCP, denying this very strenuously:

Young University, as are all other professors and staff at the University (including those who are not Latter-day Saints). Thus, at best, I'm indirectly paid by the Mormon Church. This is less dramatic than your formulation, but it’s more accurate.

Second, no part of my salary -- absolutely none, not a dime -- comes from my apologetic undertakings.

(Emphasis added. This was taken from the SHIELDS website, where it was posted in order to try and discredit Infymus.)

But GoodK---who, I'd like to reiterate, is an "insider", i.e., a child of some well-known Mopologist---has totally blown apart this apparent bit of spin:

Just out of curiosity: Why would this harm a Mopologist's "credibility"/"opportunity"?
For one thing, DCP has said repeatedly that Mopologists do not gain financially in any way for their apologetics activities.

Did he really? What does Dan do besides Mopology?

Of course they gain financially from apologetic activities, even small time contributors to the FARMS review. He should at least be able to admit that.

And this:

Well, I know that people like my Dad are more content with seeing their name in print, and recieving free books or other publications in return (which he usually does, either because he doesn't need the money or would rather have books anyway), but I am postive they all aren't working for free or for "store credit".

I imagine it depends on who it is, celebrities like DCP probably wield bigger paychecks than the Michael Jibson's (the author of the worst FARMS review ever) but I can try and dig up some more information regarding specific salaries.

(this may be hard, now that my cover has been blown)

But yes, the Earth shattering truth is correct, they don't do it for the Love of the Game, well, at least they all don't do it just for the Love of the Game.

I can't believe DCP would even say that, if I wasn't banned from MADB I would ask him to elaborate on how exactly he is compensated for his time ;)

Wow. I am just flabbergasted at all of this. I will anxiously await to hear just how rich DCP has gotten off of his apologetic work.

[_GoodK]

Who do you think pays travel expenses when someone like DCP flies to Southern California to do a fireside?

[_moksha]

Who do you think pays travel expenses when someone like DCP flies to Southern California to do a fireside?

Not to mention his speaking tours of the Yukon, Swaziland, Albania and Australia. However in his defense, could one ask for a more fun loving ambassador of Mormonism?

[_GoodK]

Who do you think pays travel expenses when someone like DCP flies to Southern California to do a fireside?

Not to mention his speaking tours of the Yukon, Swaziland, Albania and Australia. However in his defense, could one ask for a more fun loving ambassador of Mormonism?

I used to feel the same way, until we spoke via discussion board and was a total dick.

Sorenson was much cooler, my favorite Mopologist.

[_Mister Scratch]

Who do you think pays travel expenses when someone like DCP flies to Southern California to do a fireside?

I gather that you're saying that he essentially gets to play the role of the globe-trotting ambassador for Mormon Apologetics, and that he gets to charge it all to the Church's petty cash fund....

Seriously, though: Do you have a sense of how much these folks get paid? Further, can you speak to any specifics vis-a-vis "financial gain"? I.e., how much does a FARMS Review contributor typically get paid? How much does DCP make from apologetics on top of his BYU salary? (In your estimation?)

[_GoodK]

Young University, as are all other professors and staff at the University (including those who are not Latter-day Saints). Thus, at best, I'm indirectly paid by the Mormon Church. This is less dramatic than your formulation, but it’s more accurate.

Second, no part of my salary -- absolutely none, not a dime -- comes from my apologetic undertakings.

I wonder if he considers FARMS an apologetic undertaking. I can forsee a battle over the semantics of this statement.

[_Mister Scratch]

Young University, as are all other professors and staff at the University (including those who are not Latter-day Saints). Thus, at best, I'm indirectly paid by the Mormon Church. This is less dramatic than your formulation, but it’s more accurate.

Second, no part of my salary -- absolutely none, not a dime -- comes from my apologetic undertakings.

I wonder if he considers FARMS an apologetic undertaking. I can forsee a battle over the semantics of this statement.

Yeah, I wondered the same thing. For example, when he uses the word "salary" is he referring only to what he's paid for his professorial activities at BYU? Is what he's paid by FARMS considered (at least in his own mind) to be something other than "salary"---e.g., does he consider it honorarium, or something like that?

I mean, you are certain that these guys are drawing checks specifically for apologetics, right?

[_GoodK]

Who do you think pays travel expenses when someone like DCP flies to Southern California to do a fireside?

I gather that you're saying that he essentially gets to play the role of the globe-trotting ambassador for Mormon Apologetics, and that he gets to charge it all to the Church's petty cash fund....

Seriously, though: Do you have a sense of how much these folks get paid? Further, can you speak to any specifics vis-a-vis "financial gain"? I.e., how much does a FARMS Review contributor typically get paid? How much does DCP make from apologetics on top of his BYU salary? (In your estimation?)

Well, I am saying that, as well as speculating how much of the trip is dedicated to church things vs. apologetic things. It seems silly to fly a DCP type figure out to california from utah for a fireside on the atonement...

I have no clue regarding his exact salary and where the line is drawn between FARMS and BYU pay. I also am waiting to hear back from a friend at BYU regarding his specific role there, as he seems to have a lot of free time to post at MADB.

I highly doubt he gets paid to post online, but if he considers writing for FARMS a apologetic venture, he gets paid for his apologetics.

[_GoodK]

I mean, you are certain that these guys are drawing checks specifically for apologetics, right?

I'm certain at least DCP does. Pretty sure Midgley does. Sorenson probably does, although he is pretty old and I don't know much about his career prior to FARMS.

Is he implying that the church gets the money from book sales? Or that FARMS operates on a not-for-profit basis?

I am equally blown-away that he would deny getting compensated for writing for FARMS.

[_Mister Scratch]

I mean, you are certain that these guys are drawing checks specifically for apologetics, right?

I'm certain at least DCP does. Pretty sure Midgley does. Sorenson probably does, although he is pretty old and I don't know much about his career prior to FARMS.

Is he implying that the church gets the money from book sales? Or that FARMS operates on a not-for-profit basis?

I think that's what's been implied for years. Mopologists such as DCP, John Lynch, Scott Gordon, juliann, and whomever else have always pretty much maintained that they are all "volunteers," keeping the whole enterprise afloat via their own charitable natures. (Granted: FAIR may be more of a "volunteer" organization than FARMS.)

As to your latter remark: Are you saying that FARMS is a money-making venture? Because that's every bit as mindblowing as the revelation that DCP gets paid to engage in apologetics.

I am equally blown-away that he would deny getting compensated for writing for FARMS.

Yes, it seems he's been caught in a rather brazen and spectacular lie....