Sources of financial and other data used to create our project models. If you know of a relevant public source which is not listed here, please send us an email.
Church Sources
LDS Church Facts & Statistics: 2018-2024, 2011-2017, 2004-2011, 1999-2004
Welfare & Humanitarian Report, “Caring for those in need”: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021
Archive: LDS Charities annual reports: 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2011 tearsheet
Welfare & Humanitarian (Fact Sheets and Other Updates): 2015, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2000-2009 Total Assistance Summary
General Authorities & General Officers: 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021
Commentary on Church Finances: 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000
Publicized Humanitarian Donations (Cash Aid):
2024 ($2.2M, $2M, $7.4M, $1.5M, $6M, $1.5M, $3.4M, $55.8M, $2M, $5M, $1.6M, $8M, $1.3M, $0.3M, $1M, $0.8M, $0.3M)
2023 ($11.5M, $8.7M, $0.8M, $0.4M, $44M, $3M, $1-5M-est, $3.5M, $10M, $1M, $8.3M, $0.5M, $0.1M, $1M, $1M, $0.4M, $0.1M, $8M, ~$6M-Salt Lake water rights)
2022 ($4M, $5.1M, $4M, $1M, $32M, $5M, $10M)
2021 ($3.3M, $20M, $4M, $5M)
2020 ($5.5M, $2M, $1M)
Missionaries worldwide (Elder, Sister, Couples): 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and annual totals at the Newsroom (pre-2018, post-2018)
Approved LDS chapel floorplans (2024)
Church Q&A on financial administration (May 2025): https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics/church-financial-administration?lang=eng
Church comments on Huntsman tithing lawsuit dismissal (Feb. 2025): https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/stewardship-tithing-funds-court-ruling-acknowledges-church-integrity
Global efforts to Light the World in 2024 (Dec. 2024): https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/global-efforts-continue-to-light-the-world-in-2024?filter=popular-topic
Perpetual Education Fund expands (Nov. 2024): https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/perpetual-education-fund-expands-opportunities
200 million copies of the Book of Mormon printed (Apr. 2024): https://news-europe.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/publication-of-the-book-of-mormon-has-topped-200-million-copies
Caring for Those in Need in 2023 (Mar. 2024): https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/church-jesus-christ-caring-summary-2023
Church statement on drop in utilization of LDSCA (July 2023): https://news-pacific.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/church-issues-statement-on-reports-about-lds-charities-australia
Church statement on the settlement of charges with the SEC (2023): https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/church-issues-statement-on-sec-settlement
Church newsroom review of major events in 2022. Large (>$1M) humanitarian donations. Church welfare statistics. https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/year-in-review-2022
President Oaks GC address on helping the poor & needy (2022): https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2022/10/18oaks?lang=eng
Church newsroom coverage of Elder Bednar’s NPC address and Q&A: https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/elder-bednar-national-press-club-summary
Elder Bednar comments at National Press Club (2022): https://youtu.be/drsaphYuQ04?t=225
Church comments on origin and activities of LDS Charities Australia, in response to Sydney Morning Herald coverage of questionable tax structure & practices (2022): https://news-nz.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/how-charitable-donations-in-australiaare-helping-people-around-the-world
Presiding Bishop Causse on Church finances, responding to WSJ coverage in Feb. 2020. Humanitarian & Church welfare data. Reporting & policy structure of Ensign Peak’s investment committees. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/church/news/the-churchs-sacred-funds-support-its-priorities-and-mission-to-do-good-says-presiding-bishopric
2019 statement on Church finances, issued in response to the IRS whistleblower report: https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/first-presidency-statement-church-finances
Monthly missionary contribution to be raised from $400 to $500 (deferred indefinitely due to the global pandemic): https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/church/news/first-presidency-announces-increase-in-monthly-missionary-contribution
Presiding Bishop Causse on Church finances & financial policy (2018): https://web.archive.org/web/20190530161434/https://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/bishop-causse-church-finance-church-history-symposium-transcript-2018
Elder Andersen states “we are not a wealthy people” (2018). https://news-zw.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/elder-andersen-meets-with-zimbabwes-vice-president-mohadi-pledges-support
Church financial policy described (2018). Expenditures will not be more than income; a portion of tithing will be saved every year: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/2018/07/the-spiritual-foundations-of-church-financial-self-reliance
Data on Church ranches in Florida (2016): https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/church-ranch-balances-agriculture-conservation-central-florida
Tithing slips introduced “Humanitarian Aid” in 1996, in the same year LDS Charities was formed. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/church/news/viewpoint-1985-fast-marked-beginning-of-lds-charities
Church finishes first solar-powered chapel (2010): https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/blog/virtual-tour-of-the-church-s-first-solar-fueled-meetinghouse
Over 17,000 chapels worldwide (2009): https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/what-you-will-find-when-you-step-inside-a-mormon-chapel
Data on 2008 hurricane relief efforts: https://web.archive.org/web/20081201005311/http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/news-releases-stories/church-releases-report-on-2008-hurricane-relief
Church membership data around the world in 1996, the year non-US membership surpassed US membership: https://www.thechurchnews.com/archives/1996-03-02/over-half-lds-now-outside-u-s-134449
Boyd K. Packer on evolving Church financial policies (1990): https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1990/04/teach-them-correct-principles?lang=eng
Story of the beginning of LDS Charities in 1985: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/church/news/viewpoint-1985-fast-marked-beginning-of-lds-charities?lang=eng
Church land ownership in Florida (1975): https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1975/06/the-saints-in-florida?lang=eng
Boyd K. Packer on Church financial policy, self-reliance, humanitarian & welfare. (1975, republished 2005) https://web.archive.org/web/20210731154455/https://www.ldsliving.com/Thoughts-on-Lesson-Thirty-Eight/s/5388
Joseph F. Smith predicts a day when the Church will not have to ask for “one dollar of donation for any purpose,” except that which members volunteer to give. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/teachings-joseph-f-smith/chapter-31?lang=eng. Source reference is Conference Report, Apr. 1907, 7.
What is a Bishop’s Storehouse? https://web.archive.org/web/20220512013502/https://providentliving.churchofjesuschrist.org/bishops-storehouse?lang=eng
LDS Charities (site history through 2022): http://web.archive.org/web/20220908211856/https://www.latterdaysaintcharities.org/
Church Leadership Handbook: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/general-handbook/22-providing-for-temporal-needs?lang=eng (specifically, section 22.5.1.4, “Assistance to Persons Who Are Not Members of the Church”)
Meetinghouse locator: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/maps/meetinghouses/
LDS family services rates (in AUD): https://pacific.churchofjesuschrist.org/lds-family-services/aus/referrals
Regulated Filings
Canada Revenue Agency: LDS Church
Australian Charity Register: LDS Charitable Trust, LDS Charities Australia, LDS Church in Australia (pays Church operating expenses), Fast Offering Fund Trustee, Building Fund Trustee, LDS Church (holds Church ecclesiastical assets, no financials provided)
New Zealand Register of Charities: LDS Church
UK Charity Register: LDS Church (2024 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017), Farmland Reserve
Netherlands ANBI financial filings: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018 (not found), 2017, 2016
Federal Audit Clearinghouse: Audited college & university financials. Search results for “Brigham Young” and “Ensign College” in the “auditee” field. | BYU Provo 2024 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015 | BYU Hawaii 2024 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015 | BYU Idaho 2024 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015 | Ensign College/LDSBC 2024 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015
SEC Forms 13F: Ensign Peak (since 12/31/19) | Shell companies used from 2003-2019 (with effective dates at first filing): Whitney (12/31/02), Argyll (12/31/06), Clifton Park (12/31/12), Ashmore (12/31/12), Cortland (12/31/12), Green Valley (12/31/12), Riverhead (12/31/12), Tiverton (12/31/12), Elkfork (12/31/16), Flinton (12/31/16), Glen Harbor (12/31/16), Meadow Creek (12/31/16), Neuburgh (12/31/16), Tyers (12/31/16) | Forms 13F filed by DMBA (since 12/31/19)
Federal Form 5500: Federal filings related to employee benefits plans, such as 401k, pension, annuities, healthcare. Search results for “Brigham Young University,” “Latter-day Saints,” and “Deseret Mutual.” | Deseret Mutual Master Retirement (Pension) 2024 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009 | Deseret Mutual 401k 2024 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016 | Deseret Mutual Healthcare 2024 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019 | Deseret Mutual Flexible Benefits 2021, 2020, 2019 | BYU Annuity Plan 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019 | BYU-Idaho Annuity Plan 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019 | BYU-Hawaii Annuity Plan 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019
LDS Charities U.S. consolidated (does not consolidate with LDS Charities Australia) financial statements: 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006
Ensign Peak Advisors IRS Form 990-T: 2007 onward
Ensign Peak Foundation IRS Form 990: 2001 onward
Property Reserve IRS Form 990-T: 2009 onward
Farmland Reserve IRS Form 990-T: 2009 onward
Farmland Reserve International IRS Form 990-T: 2011 onward
BYU System IRS Form 990-T: BYU (2007 onward), BYUH (2009 onward), BYUI (2008-onward), Ensign College (2014 onward)
Deseret Trust Company IRS Form 990-T: 2018 onward
For-profit insurance businesses: Deseret Mutual Insurance Co. (2017 Financial Audit, NAIC report) | Beneficial Life Insurance Co. (NAIC report) | Past 10 Years of Statutory Financial Filings at NAIC (Note: Full NAIC data submissions for both Church-owned insurers for years 1996-present are available on S&P Capital IQ Pro with subscription)
Lobbying Disclosures: Church, BYU
Submission regarding charitable fundraising reform in Australia, arguing the Church should not be subject to charitable registration or reporting laws (2012): https://treasury.gov.au/sites/default/files/2019-03/ChurchofLatterdaySaints.pdf
IRS note on for-profit subsidiaries of non-profit organizations (1986): https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-tege/eotopice86.pdf
News Media Coverage
(Descending chronological order)
Salt Lake Tribune – Church releases Q&A on finances: https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2025/05/29/lds-news-church-releases-qa-its/
Salt Lake Tribune – Utah senator says LDS Church can fill U.S. foreign assistance void: https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2025/05/21/taxpayers-tithe-payers-lds-church/
The Independent – Huntsman case dismissal: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/utah-mormon-church-of-jesus-christ-of-latterday-saints-president-california-b2735496.html
Salt Lake Tribune – what would Jesus do with all that money?: https://www.sltrib.com/opinion/letters/2024/10/02/letter-lds-church-should-ask/
Salt Lake Tribune – Having billions is not fraud, Church argues: https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2024/09/12/lds-church-ensign-peak-ask-federal/
Salt Lake Tribune – Huntsman case update: https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2024/09/26/lds-tithing-lawsuit-9th-circuit/
WSJ on Idaho temple cost: https://www.wsj.com/story/from-idaho-to-guam-photos-show-the-mormon-churchs-global-building-spree-e77c07c7
WSJ on Church temples, real estate and investments: https://www.wsj.com/articles/mormon-church-temple-spending-spree-utah-e167977f
Fox 13 – LDS Church buys $174M industrial property near Miami: https://www.fox13now.com/the-mormon-church-bought-a-174m-industrial-property-near-miami-why
60 Minutes, The Church’s Firm (2023), with extended interview cuts: Nielsen 1, Nielsen 2, Nielsen 3, Waddell 1
Bloomberg on $5 million settlement of SEC charges: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-02-21/lds-church-investment-arm-pay-5-million-to-settle-sec-probe
WSJ on SEC investigation: https://www.wsj.com/articles/mormon-churchs-investment-arm-under-investigation-by-sec-dca77f9
20,000 acre feet water rights donated to Great Salt Lake: https://www.upr.org/environment/2023-03-15/lds-church-permanently-donates-5-7k-water-shares-to-great-salt-lake
Deseret News on temples announced under President Nelson, 2018-2022: https://www.deseret.com/faith/2022/11/6/23411363/how-many-lds-mormon-church-temples-announced-by-president-nelson-open
CBC reports Church sent $1b tithing from Canada to BYU (2022): https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/mormon-church-jesus-christ-latter-day-saints-funds-charity-1.6630190 (Note: our analysis of the data here)
Sydney Morning Herald claims LDS Charities exaggerated its charitable giving (2022): https://www.smh.com.au/national/mormon-church-invests-billions-of-dollars-while-grossly-overstating-its-charitable-giving-20220927-p5blbc.html (Note: article is factually in error — see here)
$250M settlement of Boy Scouts litigation is withdrawn, remains pending (2022): https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/boy-scouts-walk-back-250-mln-abuse-settlement-with-mormon-church-2022-08-15/
Sydney Morning Herald reports questionable Church tax structure and practices in Australia (2022): https://www.smh.com.au/national/mormons-inc-church-accused-of-multinational-tax-rort-20220330-p5a98p.html
Church settlement of Boy Scouts litigation for $250 million in 2021 (note: this settlement was withdrawn in 2022 and remains pending): https://www.deseret.com/utah/2021/9/15/22675720/mormon-church-pay-250-million-dollars-settlement-boy-scouts-sexual-abuse-insurance
SL Tribune on Huntsman lawsuit dismissed (2021): https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2021/09/14/judge-tosses-out-james/
WSJ coverage of James Huntsman tithing fraud lawsuit (2021): https://www.wsj.com/articles/mormon-church-accused-of-financial-fraud-in-lawsuit-11616610194
Jana Reiss on reasons for decision to tithe outside the Church: https://religionnews.com/2020/12/23/why-i-stopped-tithing-to-the-lds-church/
Wall Street Journal coverage of >$100 billion Church investments. Quotes from Church leaders on financial policy, reasons for secrecy and intended uses for the vast investments (2020): https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-mormon-church-amassed-100-billion-it-was-the-best-kept-secret-in-the-investment-world-11581138011
SL Tribune coverage of >$100 billion Church investments (2020): https://www.sltrib.com/news/2020/02/08/lds-church-kept-lid-its-b/
Deseret News coverage of >$100 billion Church investments and Presiding Bishop comments (2020): https://www.deseret.com/faith/2020/2/14/21133740/mormon-church-finances-billions-presiding-bishopric-ensign-peak-tithing-donations-byu-real-estate
Deseret News coverage of the 2019 LDS Charities global report (2020): https://www.deseret.com/faith/2020/2/24/21151386/latter-day-saint-charities-mormon-church-lds-tithing-donations-finances-humanitarian-aid-2019
Church ends relationship with Boy Scouts (2018): https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/09/us/boy-scouts-mormon-church.html
Master plan for long-term residential development of a large section of Deseret Ranch in Florida: https://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/2019/11/27/future-highway-just-west-of-brevard-may-link-u-s-192-with-sr-50-spurring-development/2270375001/
Nelson teaches tithing in Africa in 2018, “That same poverty continues from one generation to another, until people pay their tithing.” https://www.deseret.com/2018/4/16/20643748/dowry-is-not-the-lord-s-way-in-kenya-lds-president-nelson-says-tithing-breaks-poverty-cycle
Cash portion of humanitarian aid averaged $40 million/year leading up to 2016: https://www.deseret.com/2016/7/12/20591934/lds-church-welfare-humanitarian-efforts-average-40-million-per-year-apostle-says
Details on City Creek Center (2016): https://www.waterproofmag.com/2016/06/city-creek-center/
Data on Church farms (2015): https://civileats.com/2015/01/20/as-you-sow-so-shall-you-reap-mormons-and-the-land/
Reuters & Univ. of Tampa sociologist Ryan Cragun estimate Church tithing revenue at $7b/year (2012): https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSBRE87B05X/ (Note: article fails to account for household size due to lower Canadian fertility rates & high % of US membership in Utah. With those adjustments, the article’s $7b estimate should have been closer to our estimation range of $4.2-4.8 billion)
Beneficial Life to exit the market (2009): https://www.ksl.com/article/6836506/beneficial-life-to-shut-down-eventually
Fourth mission of the Church added, “caring for the poor & needy” (2009): https://www.ksl.com/article/8984614/mormon-church-to-emphasize-care-for-poor-and-needy
TIME Magazine estimated 1996 tithing at $5.2 billion (1997): https://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,986794-3,00.html. (Note: Church response was “not nearly correct.” Our tithing estimation methodologies put 1996 tithing at $2.0-2.4 billion)
LDS General Authorities to exit corporate boards (1996): https://www.deseret.com/1996/1/18/19219912/lds-general-authorities-to-withdraw-from-boards
Beneficial Life sells insurance subsidiary, Continental Western Life (1994): https://www.deseret.com/1994/5/20/19110209/beneficial-life-plans-to-sell-subsidiary
Deseret News with some data on Church assets & investments (1991): https://www.deseret.com/1991/7/2/18928879/lds-church-real-estate-holdings-include-farms-ranches-buildings
Arizona Republic estimates Church tithing income at $4.3b/year (1991): Arizona Republic, “Mormon Inc.,” four-day feature, June 30, 1991 to July 3, 1991. (Note: the Church responded that this estimate was “grossly overstated.” Quinn’s estimate for 1991 was $3.4 billion, using a constant 12.9% tithing growth since 1960. Our tithing estimation methodologies put 1991 tithing in the range of $1.5-1.9 billion.)
Information Aggregation Websites
CCES survey Dataverse: https://cces.gov.harvard.edu/data (those interested in exploring the data as related to LDS member affiliation and activity can use or download our Google Sheets workbook, which contains 9 related fields on all 500k+ survey responses for years 2010-2024)
Wikipedia: LDS Church Finances, LDS Church Membership, Church Presidents, BYU Campus, Gordon B. Hinckley
US Census: Household Income, Utah
Fuller Consideration: Units, Membership
LDS Meetinghouses (periodic samples from the Church’s Meetinghouse Locator Map): LDSMeetinghouses.com
LDS Mission Prep: Number of LDS Missionaries
Mormon Wiki: Main, Bishop’s Storehouses,
Church wealth visualized with comparisons: https://mormonbillions.com/
Food prices & other data: http://www.producepriceindex.com/
Food prices & other data: https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/fruit-and-vegetable-prices/documentation/
Food prices & other data: https://www.nass.usda.gov/Data_Visualization/Commodity/index.php
Known Church farms (2014): https://moneyinzion.wordpress.com/2014/06/18/commerical-farms/
Known Church business holdings & other assets (2005): https://www.exmormon.org/mormon/mormon410.htm
Household sizes worldwide: https://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/publications/pdf/ageing/household_size_and_composition_technical_report.pdf
Inflation data: https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/FP.CPI.TOTL.ZG
Self-insured employer cost data: https://www.healthaffairs.org/do/10.1377/forefront.20191003.778513/full/
Leaked documents (old): Handbook (1999), Handbook (2006), MormonLeaks, TTF
Commercial construction & renovation cost breakdown: https://www.invoiceowl.com/estimating-guide/commercial-renovation-cost/
Commercial construction cost breakdown: https://proest.com/construction/cost-estimates/commercial-costs-per-square-foot/
Facility maintenance cost breakdown: https://www.upkeep.com/learning/how-much-should-i-be-budgeting-on-maintenance-at-my-facility
National census related to LDS affiliation: Mexico, Canada, Australia, Philippines. See also https://ldschurchgrowth.blogspot.com.
Pew on Latter-day Saints: https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/religious-landscape-study/religious-denomination/church-of-jesus-christ-of-latter-day-saints/
Missionaries worldwide: https://latterdaysaintmissionprep.com/news/number-of-mormon-missionaries/
Investments
Ensign Peak 13F filings, 12/31/2019 to present: https://sec.report/CIK/0001454984
Memorandum of David A. Nielsen (Ensign Peak whistleblower) to the U.S. Senate Finance Committee, Jan. 31, 2023. https://www.scribd.com/document/624920351/David-Nielsen-Memo-to-US-Senate-Finance-Committee-01-31-23
Whistleblower report to IRS: http://openargs.com/wp-content/uploads/IRS-Letter-Final.pdf
Whistleblower video walkthrough: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDlFZF3RyhE
MormonLeaks reports on discovery of shell LLCs concealing $32 billion in US equity holdings in 2018: https://mormonleaks.io/newsroom/2018/05/30/mormonleaks-compiles-information-connecting-mormon-church-to-32-billion-of-investments/
SEC order (2023): https://www.sec.gov/litigation/admin/2023/34-96951.pdf
SEC press release (2023): https://www.sec.gov/news/press-release/2023-35
SEC and Section 13(f) information: Form 13F, Interpretive Guidance on 13F (1978), Interpretive Guidance on Shared Investment Discretion (1978), Securities Exchange Act of 1934 with Amendments
Other SEC fines/penalties directly related to violations of Section 13(f): Cabot (1996), Mogy (2001), Quattro (2007)
Sovereign wealth funds: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_sovereign_wealth_funds
Farm & other land value trends, nationwide (2007-2021): https://www.nass.usda.gov/Publications/Todays_Reports/reports/land0821.pdf
Farmland value trends (2008-2022): https://www.nass.usda.gov/Charts_and_Maps/graphics/farm_value_hist_chart_lv.pdf
A Beneficial Century – Centennial History of Beneficial Life Insurance (2005): https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/135209257-a-beneficial-century
Beneficial Life Insurance historic data: 1906, 1908, 1915, 1921, 1926, 1942, 1944, 1946, 1956, 1965, 1973, 1985, 1991
McKinsey on private equity returns: https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/private-equity-and-principal-investors/our-insights/mckinseys-private-markets-annual-review
Deseret Management companies: https://www.deseretmanagement.com/#our-companies
MSCI world ex USA returns (international stocks proxy): https://www.msci.com/documents/10199/99459e68-5e21-4888-ace6-72a3ffe9b1ab
Jeff Bezos on the challenges with giving billions to charity effectively: https://www.barrons.com/articles/jeff-bezos-says-hell-give-away-the-majority-of-his-wealth-but-will-he-sign-the-giving-pledge-01668465584
Vanguard paper on long-term cyclicality of style factors: https://corporate.vanguard.com/content/dam/corp/research/pdf/patience_with_active_performance_cyclicality.pdf
General Authority Compensation
https://faq.churchofjesuschrist.org/do-general-authorities-get-paid
https://mormonleaks.io/wiki/index.php?title=File:Joseph_B_Wirthlin_Pay_Advice-2002-05-03.pdf
https://www.clergyfinancial.com/the-parsonage-allowance
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/learn/global-leadership-of-the-church
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkQYp7OJwUs&t=690s
https://journeyofloyaldissent.wordpress.com/2013/04/06/6/
https://hrs.byu.edu/benefits-for-those-hired-between-april-1-2010-and-december-31-2020
Temples
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple_architecture_(LDS_Church)
https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/temples/chronology/
https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/statistics/dimensions/
1,000 Temples? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwq7xoakgKw
Independent Studies
Heinerman, J., & Shupe, A. (1985). The Mormon Corporate Empire. Beacon Press.
Quinn, D. Michael. (2017). The Mormon Hierarchy: Wealth and Corporate Power (Volume 3). Signature Books.
http://bycommonconsent.com/2019/12/17/options-for-financial-transparency/
http://ldschurchgrowth.blogspot.com/2017/05/temple-construction-costs.html
https://www.dialoguejournal.com/wp-content/uploads/sbi/articles/4804_taxdaysb.pdf
http://www.theunconventionalreliefsociety.com/
https://www.shields-research.org/Reviews/MCE_Rvw.htm
https://themormonworker.wordpress.com/2010/12/21/wikileak-mormon-sponsored-agricultural-imperialism/
http://www.bidstrup.com/ldsfinances.htm (Site is offline as of 3/2023. Many properties listed but we disagree with the final amounts which are not sourced or analyzed in any detail. Archive snapshot here: https://web.archive.org/web/20220414050602/http://www.bidstrup.com/ldsfinances.htm)
https://bit.io/egd/lds-landholdings (Database description here)
Charity & Humanitarian
Australian Federal Court case regarding The Hunger Project. The court’s interpretation led to the establishment of LDS Charities Australia in 2014, which provides a structure allowing Australian members to claim a tax deduction on tithing (tithing is not normally tax deductible in Australia). https://www.acnc.gov.au/tools/guidance/commissioners-interpretation-statements/commissioners-interpretation-statement-hunger-project-case
https://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=topten.detail&listid=24
https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/242451
https://www.feedingamerica.org/
https://www.wateraid.org/uk/publications/uk-annual-report-2020-21
https://www.unicef.org/executiveboard/documents/unicef-financial-report-unboa-2019-frs-2021
https://convoyofhope.org/about/financials/
https://lutheranservices.org/annual-financial-reports/
https://www.catholiccharitiesusa.org/about-us/2021-annual-report/
https://www.givewell.org/international/technical/programs/immunization
https://www.oecd.org/els/mig/migration-policy-debates-13.pdf
https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/chart-gallery/gallery/chart-detail/?chartId=98569
https://www.forbes.com/lists/top-charities/?sh=6f36539b5f50
https://pfs-llc.net/resource/the-5-rule-explained/
Professional Data Sources (subscription required)
Bloomberg Terminal Software (used to analyze various attributes and performance of Ensign Peak’s investment portfolio)
LandVision, Reonomy, Dodge (real estate databases, used to identify ~1,500 holding entity names, >10,000 properties, renovation & construction cost estimates, finished value estimates)
S&P Capital IQ Pro (used to retrieve NAIC financials and other statutory filings for Church-owned insurance companies, Beneficial Life & Deseret Mutual Insurance)
LinkedIn Premium & Sales Navigator Professional (used to count Church & auxiliary employees by role and function, in connection with analysis of Form 5500 employee data)
Main Page: thewidowsmite.org
Feedback, including critical analysis, questions and links to overlooked sources, may be sent to the.widows.mite.report at gmail dot com
List of Sources
(Links to all known sources related to Church finances)
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