I received a quote in my inbox today that made me laugh. So I'm going to share it with you. I should preface the quote with the back story.
A couple of days ago there was an article in the Deseret News about a wealthy man, James Huntsman, suing the Church for $5 million in back tithing paid over the last 25 years. James Huntsman is the son of billionaire Jon Huntsman Sr. and brother of former Utah governor Jon Huntsman Jr.
Apparently James Huntsman has gone apostate, and is greedy, therefore the lawsuit. His poor dad, Jon Huntsman Sr. must be rolling over in his grave. He was an Area Seventy, and faithful member of the Church.
James Huntsman's lawsuit alleges that the Church defrauded members by misusing tithing funds. This is a claim that is as old as the Church itself. Mister Huntsman's claims are baseless. The Church takes very seriously the sacred tithing monies and how they are spent.
So, the quote that made me laugh so hard was given by Joseph F. Smith, the prophet at the time, in the April 1907 General Conference of the Church. Here is what he said:
Before I sit down, I would like to make another statement. Our enemies have been publishing to the world that the presidency of the church and the leading officers are consuming the tithes of the people. Now, I am going to tell you a little secret, and it is this: there is not one of the general authorities in the church that draws one dollar from the tithes of the people for his own use. Well, you may say, how do they live? I will give you the key: The church helped to support in its infancy the sugar industry in this country, and it has some means invested in that enterprise. The church helped to establish Z.C.M.I., and it has a little interest in that, and in some other institutions which pay dividends. In other words, tithing funds were invested in these institutions, which give employment to many, for which the Trustee-in-Trust holds stock certificates, which are worth more today than what was given for them; and the dividends from these investments more than pay for the support of the general authorities of the church. So we do not use one dollar of your tithing. I thought I would like to tell you that much, so that when you hear men talking about Joseph F. Smith and his associates consuming the tithes of the people you can throw it back into their teeth that they do not use a dollar of the tithing for their support. I would like our ‘friends,’ if I might be permitted to use a vulgar expression, to ‘put that in their pipe and smoke it.’
President Smith sounds a little peeved, doesn't he? I can't imagine anything like this being said in General Conference nowadays. That's what makes it so funny.
But, the same principle applies today. Tithing funds are carefully allocated and not ever misused.
Here is a modern-day quote from The First Presidency of the Church from 2019:
“We take seriously the responsibility to care for the tithes and donations received from members. The vast majority of these funds are used immediately to meet the needs of the growing church including more meetinghouses, temples, education, humanitarian work and missionary efforts throughout the world. Over many years, a portion is methodically safeguarded through wise financial management and the building of a prudent reserve for the future. This is a sound doctrinal and financial principle taught by the Savior in the Parable of the Talents and lived by the church and its members. All church funds exist for no other reason than to support the church’s divinely appointed mission.
“Claims being currently circulated are based on a narrow perspective and limited information. The church complies with all applicable law governing our donations, investments, taxes and reserves. We continue to welcome the opportunity to work with officials to address questions they may have.”
I never have to worry about how my tithing money is being used, as I know it is being spent wisely to support the Church and it's mission. In fact, any donation to the Church -- whether it be tithing, fast offerings, humanitarian aid, missionary fund, etc. -- always goes to where it's been allocated.
There will always be, as President Joseph F. Smith calls them, "enemies" of the Church. Those who don't know what they're talking about who want to badmouth the Church, such as James Huntsman. As long as there is a church on earth, there will be enemies opposing it. It happened in the early days of the restored church, and it's happening now.
To the enemies of The Church, who try to thwart the work of the Lord and mission of His Church, I will do as President Joseph F. Smith suggested and throw it back into their teeth. And tell them to "put that in their pipe and smoke it." :-)
That's my two cents.
