Where does Gordon live?

[_GoodK]

I read somewhere it was a multi-million dollar mansion, anyone know anyother details??
I also want to know about salary/stipend pay for General Authorities and any other indicators that the executives of the church have a compelling interest to keep attendance high.

Thanks!

GoodK

[_Mister Scratch]

I read somewhere it was a multi-million dollar mansion, anyone know anyother details??

GBH occupies the top floor of an apartment building in downtown SLC. (I believe this is correct. I recall seeing a photo of the building at Infymus's website.)

I also want to know about salary/stipend pay for General Authorities and any other indicators that the executives of the church have a compelling interest to keep attendance high.

Thanks!

GoodK

This is a tough question since the books have been sealed since around the late 1950s. During Spencer Kimball's administration, GAs were urged to let go of their secular positions, since those positions made it seems as if the Church were more interested in secular accomplishment than spirituality. (Many GAs at the time were heads of big corporations and so forth.) As to how much they make.... Again, all we can go by is estimates, and anecdotal accounts from both believing and lapsed LDS. The range appears to span from about $75,000 (on the low end) to over $500,000 on the high end. And again: I'm not sure if there is variance based on seniority---i.e., if, say, Oaks gets more money than somebody lower down on the totem pole.

Something which shouldn't be overlooked is the rather large sums commanded by the GAs for their publications. I think it's fair to assume that they pull in beaucoup profits from their books, which have a built-in readership. (Just ask Paul Dunn.) The real issue at stake beneath all of this, I think, is the tendency among TBMs to want to insist---strenuously---that the GAs don't "profit" from their high position in the Church. I think that is a falsehood. It seems transparently obvious that the GAs profit enormously from the positions. The fact that Church mythology tries to pooh-pooh away GA financial profit in the midst of so much financial secrecy cannot help but raise more than a few eyebrows.

[_rcrocket]

This is a tough question since the books have been sealed since around the late 1950s. During Spencer Kimball's administration, GAs were urged to let go of their secular positions, since those positions made it seems as if the Church were more interested in secular accomplishment than spirituality. (Many GAs at the time were heads of big corporations and so forth.) As to how much they make.... Again, all we can go by is estimates, and anecdotal accounts from both believing and lapsed LDS. The range appears to span from about $75,000 (on the low end) to over $500,000 on the high end. And again: I'm not sure if there is variance based on seniority---I.e., if, say, Oaks gets more money than somebody lower down on the totem pole.

Something which shouldn't be overlooked is the rather large sums commanded by the GAs for their publications. I think it's fair to assume that they pull in beaucoup profits from their books, which have a built-in readership. (Just ask Paul Dunn.) The real issue at stake beneath all of this, I think, is the tendency among TBMs to want to insist---strenuously---that the GAs don't "profit" from their high position in the Church. I think that is a falsehood. It seems transparently obvious that the GAs profit enormously from the positions. The fact that Church mythology tries to pooh-pooh away GA financial profit in the midst of so much financial secrecy cannot help but raise more than a few eyebrows.

You have no proof. It just isn't true, based upon the general authorities I know. Although some were wealthy men before they were called to church service, my grandfather who was a wealthy man would support financially the families of one or two apostles at a time. Things have changed since then, but their stipends are most modest. At one time, a close of friend of mine who worked for the Church said that he had the highest salary in the Church, and it wasn't that high.

The fact that records are closed to the public is not proof that stipends and benefits are high. Your evidence is evidence of nothing that records are closed.

rcrocket

[_GoodK]

GBH occupies the top floor of an apartment building in downtown SLC. (I believe this is correct. I recall seeing a photo of the building at Infymus's website.)

Any other details? What's Infumus's website? I want to find him and see if I'll let me interview him.

This is a tough question since the books have been sealed since around the late 1950s. During Spencer Kimball's administration, GAs were urged to let go of their secular positions, since those positions made it seems as if the Church were more interested in secular accomplishment than spirituality. (Many GAs at the time were heads of big corporations and so forth.) As to how much they make.... Again, all we can go by is estimates, and anecdotal accounts from both believing and lapsed LDS. The range appears to span from about $75,000 (on the low end) to over $500,000 on the high end. And again: I'm not sure if there is variance based on seniority---I.e., if, say, Oaks gets more money than somebody lower down on the totem pole.

Don't they have to disclose how money is spent, since they are a non-profit charity? Couldn't some prying and the Freedom of Information Act help shed some light on it.

Something which shouldn't be overlooked is the rather large sums commanded by the GAs for their publications. I think it's fair to assume that they pull in beaucoup profits from their books, which have a built-in readership. (Just ask Paul Dunn.) The real issue at stake beneath all of this, I think, is the tendency among TBMs to want to insist---strenuously---that the GAs don't "profit" from their high position in the Church. I think that is a falsehood. It seems transparently obvious that the GAs profit enormously from the positions. The fact that Church mythology tries to pooh-pooh away GA financial profit in the midst of so much financial secrecy cannot help but raise more than a few eyebrows.

I'd love to write about this topic.

Any names of books/articles on the subject would be greatly appreciated.

[_Jason Bourne]

Something which shouldn't be overlooked is the rather large sums commanded by the GAs for their publications. I think it's fair to assume that they pull in beaucoup profits from their books, which have a built-in readership. (Just ask Paul Dunn.) The real issue at stake beneath all of this, I think, is the tendency among TBMs to want to insist---strenuously---that the GAs don't "profit" from their high position in the Church. I think that is a falsehood. It seems transparently obvious that the GAs profit enormously from the positions. The fact that Church mythology tries to pooh-pooh away GA financial profit in the midst of so much financial secrecy cannot help but raise more than a few eyebrows.

I am not sure they make as much from books as one might think. I know a publisher of LDS books. He said that a good delling LDS book is about 3000 copies. really good about 20,000. Course I do not think he was publishing many GAs. I woudl guess Neil Maxwells books sold more then that. Some other ones are big sellers. Some GAs donate the royalties they get. Some may not. Some GAs, my bet is most. don't even write all that many books if any at all.

So other then book sales how do you think they enormously profit from their positions?

[_Jason Bourne]

I read somewhere it was a multi-million dollar mansion, anyone know anyother details??
I also want to know about salary/stipend pay for General Authorities and any other indicators that the executives of the church have a compelling interest to keep attendance high.

Thanks!

GoodK

Pres Hinckley lives in a church owned condo in downtown SLC. It is estimates to be worth about 1.5 million but probably has dropped since then as realestate is Utah is on the decline. The Church bought this condo years ago for their church president and he lives there primarily for security reasons and also for assistance with living and health issues as he ages. His home before that was in the Millcreek area, a modest home that he bought many years ago himself and bilt on to it himself as he needed to. Neither of these is anywhere near mansion status. All other GAs live in their own homes that most bought before they were ever called to be GAs.

[_rcrocket]

Don't they have to disclose how money is spent, since they are a non-profit charity? Couldn't some prying and the Freedom of Information Act help shed some light on it.

No, "they" don't. There is something called the First Amendment which protects Churches from laws requiring financial disclosure. Some churches voluntarily disclose their finances; there is a compact of Evangelical Churches that if one signs, one must disclose to stay in the compact But many don't. In the United States there is no force of law requiring disclosure.

One may disagree with that concept, but from a policy reason it makes sense. The Church's Doctrine & Covenants provide that once a consecretion of property is made to the Church, the consecrator has no further claim against it. If one doesn't like what the Church is doing with one's money, then quit.

rcrocket

[_GoodK]

You have no proof. It just isn't true, based upon the general authorities I know. Although some were wealthy men before they were called to church service, my grandfather who was a wealthy man would support financially the families of one or two apostles at a time. Things have changed since then, but their stipends are most modest. At one time, a close of friend of mine who worked for the Church said that he had the highest salary in the Church, and it wasn't that high.

The fact that records are closed to the public is not proof that stipends and benefits are high. Your evidence is evidence of nothing that records are closed.

rcrocket

A lot of calling for evidence here, and to my dismay nothing you have said seems verifiable in the slightest bit. I would love to believe you, please convince me !

How many GA's do you know, how much do they make, and how do you know they make this amount? Surely you don't think these vague assurances are acceptable. The fact that you won't even give us a number makes me think you are intentionally dishonest about this.

Scratch at least mentioned a website. You mentioned your grandpa and your "friend". Forgive me if I'm not compelled in the slightest by your "evidence", and please tell me where I can find my own.

What does most modest mean? And how would you know if the records are sealed? What kind of proof can you offer to support your claims (remember, Scratch was mostly speculating, you seem quite certain)

[_Jason Bourne]

]

Don't they have to disclose how money is spent, since they are a non-profit charity? Couldn't some prying and the Freedom of Information Act help shed some light on it.

Churches are not required to disclose financial information under the Freedom of information Act. That law applies to government entities. Churches are specifically excluded from having to provide financial information under the Internal revenue Code.

[Guest]

]

Don't they have to disclose how money is spent, since they are a non-profit charity? Couldn't some prying and the Freedom of Information Act help shed some light on it.

Churches are not required to disclose financial information under the Freedom of information Act. That law applies to government entities. Churches are specifically excluded from having to provide financial information under the Internal revenue Code.

The LDS Church is found across the globe. There are other countries where they do have to disclose finances. The UK is one such country and if I recall correctly so is Canada.