Working With a Mean Red Headed Dwarf
In a ditch...covered in dirt...I looked up to the top of the trench at my foreman. Though technically a man he looked to me like the dwarf warrior Gimli from Lord of the rings...only wearing orange street construction clothes. He would stand above me on top of the large hole dug by a backhoe so he could swear and say foul things because he knew I found it offensive and it made me uncomfortable. He knew I actually possessed standards of morality driven by my religious views and he saw it as his mission in life to bring me down into the mud with his pigs. He told me "we're going to have you swearing, drinking, and be just like us!!"
On this day he interrupted my shoveling to ask me about how much money I give to the church. I told him about how I gave 10% of my check as tithing and he shook his head in shock and disgust as if I told him I burn a portion of my money I earn. I told him how the money I give goes to church buildings...temples...and caring for the poor. He continued to shake his head and responded "those people are getting rich off you!" I told him "we have no paid clergy. The prophet, the apostles, no one gets paid". It's like I had just handed his debased mind a piece of comedy gold when he heard me say "prophet"...as he smiled really big and made sure everyone on the crew heard him say "Prophet! Prophet!! Yeah...he's profit-ting off of you!" He laughed and looked around for others who might give him a high five for his wit. After the moment passed he yelled for us to get back to work "in the hole maggots!"
Every good Latter-day Saint knows that there is "no paid clergy"! I mean...missionaries all over the world tout this as a sign of the true church. It's been told to us from our pulpits for decades! Letting others know we have "no paid clergy" lets others know that the motives of our leaders must be to serve purely for the love of God and couldn't possibly be driven by any financial gain.
The High Horse of "No Paid Clergy"
LDS culture has long lorded the "no paid clergy" over our catholic and protestant brothers and sisters. Saying something like...
LDS - "Your pastor gets paid to preach but we have no paid clergy"
Protestant - "But I heard you have religious seminary and institute teachers who get paid...how is that any different? They're being paid to preach."
LDS - "Yes...but it's like being a schoolteacher so it's different."
Protestant - "So if the label of their job is changed it makes it OK? Gotcha!"
LDS - "I mean...but also they don't do it for the money...their hearts are pure".
Protestant - "Sounds like you're judging my pastor that his heart isn't pure!"
Awkward silence...and you can almost hear the doors of further opportunities to share restored truths shutting! In the end one might concede
LDS - "OK OK...yes they are paid...but what I really mean is like any of the called church leaders".
Is that true? If a person sets aside that seminary and institute teachers are paid for their services and serve in preaching functions that other churches would classify as "clergy". Also set aside mission presidents. Ever noticed that mission presidents aren't asked to "save up for their missions" for a number of years before they can go? Their benefit packages keep them afloat during that time. Also set aside any who "work" for the church in positions whose services could be construed as ministerial in nature.
Setting all that aside...if one instead is talking about all of the people with ward or stake level callings as "called church leaders"...then yes! No one there is getting paid! You can say that with confidence. "No one with a ward or stake level calling is paid clergy!" Just doesn't have the same ring that we're used to...does it?!
If one is talking about those who are called "General Authorities" which make up just over 100 plus people...that is definitely not true. They can't be included in the "no paid clergy" message.
Everything's so Leaky
Even if you think those documents are absolutely bogus...this was the response from a church spokesman.
LDS church spokesman Eric Hawkins did not confirm the authenticity of the leaks but did comment generally in a statement on church officials being supported by funds from the church.
General Authorities leave their careers when they are called into full time Church service. When they do so, they focus all of their time on serving the Church, and are given a living allowance. The living allowance is uniform for all General Authorities. None of the funds for this living allowance come from the tithing of Church members, but instead from proceeds of the Church's financial investments.
"I should like to add, parenthetically for your information, that the living allowances given the General Authorities, which are very modest in comparison with executive compensation in industry and the professions, come from this business income and not from the tithing of the people."
From the churches website...
"General Authorities leave their careers when they are called into full time Church service. When they do so, they are given a living allowance which enables them to focus all of their time on serving in the Church. This practice allows for far more church members on a worldwide basis to be considered for a calling to serve as a General Authority, rather than limiting considerations to only those who may be financially independent. The living allowance is uniform for all General Authorities. None of the funds for this living allowance come from the tithing of Church members, but instead from proceeds of the Church's financial investments."(Do General Authorities get paid?)
Kind of interesting that all 3 statements want to distance that the living allowance would come from "tithing" but is instead funded from "investments". One might ask..."what funded the investments in the first place?" Tithing is what funds the investments silly billy.
The Power of Repetition
Why then do so many say that we have "No paid clergy?"
Why have I always heart that!? Why did I tell so many people that when I was a missionary!!? Well, a big part of it is because our culture has repeated it until it has been tattooed on our brains. But...where did we hear it originally? Well...from our pulpits and publications.
(Quotes lifted from this article that covers the same topic)
“I answered that the Church is not wealthy but that we follow the ancient biblical principle of tithing, which principle is reemphasized in our modern scripture. I explained also that our Church has no paid ministry.” President Thomas S. Monson, 2006 Ensign.
“In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints there is no paid ministry, no professional clergy, as is common in other churches.” Elder Boyd K. Packer, 1979 Liahona.
“Because there is no paid ministry, almost every churchgoer has a responsibility.” Elder Larry Y. Wilson, 2012.
“Why does the Church have unpaid clergy? From the beginning, the Lord has called His disciples from among ordinary people with diverse backgrounds. They served out of love for the Lord and for others. In the Book of Mormon, for instance, the prophet Alma chose priesthood leaders and “commanded them … [to] labor with their own hands for their support.” Ensign Article, 2013.
“Members volunteer their time to serve in various positions in tens of thousands of congregations throughout the world. Their service is critical at the local level because the Church has no full-time paid clergy.” Doug Andersen, 2009 Mormon Newsroom.
“Over the years of my membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I have greatly appreciated the opportunities for service, for there is no paid ministry.” Elder Derek A. Cuthbert, 1985 October General Conference.
“I am persuaded that one of the reasons our Church is designed differently from others, without a paid clergy, is that the Lord knows that only through service can we learn the most important virtues.” Carlfred B. Broderick, 1979 Ensign.
“Learning that the Church has an unpaid ministry or that living oracles guide the members is often surprising to investigators.” Dale M. Valentine, 2008 Ensign.
“Soon after baptism new members receive from priesthood leaders the blessing of a responsibility to help in the Church. This is referred to as a calling. All of the work in the Church is voluntary. No one is paid for such service.” Preach My Gospel, 2004 Official LDS Church Manual.
“One of the important and distinguishing features of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is that its affairs are administered by the lay members of the Church rather than by paid clergy.” Franklin Richards, 1968 October General Conference
"Active members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints tend toward a very high degree of personal participation in the affairs of the Church, including its local administration. The absence of a paid, professional clergy means that leadership is heavily decentralized throughout the world, and most members contribute through voluntary efforts such as teaching or other service of various kinds." (Newsroom link)
The Questions
Do you feel that general authorities "should" get paid? The reasoning given is that they give up their careers to serve full time. Do their ecclesiastical positions actually demand that they have no career? Is this what the Lord wants? Many people think that the US government needs to be HUGE to work. Could it be the church is following suit and could be scaled back in different ways to allow for an entirely unpaid ministry?
Do you feel that there's anything misleading about a general authority standing up in General Conference and telling us that there is an absolute there is "no paid ministry" while also accepting payments? Could you deliver such a message from a pulpit and then feel fine about heading to the bank to make a deposit of a check given to you because of your ecclesiastical position?
Does the amount of money they are receiving make any difference to you? Should it? Is some sort of accountability for these financials only of interest to people on the road to apostasy? If the investments do amazingly well...
and they have...is there any issue with them getting fat stacks of cash? Is 100k a year ok? What about 500k a year? 1 million...2 million? What would be excessive? What kind of benefit packages are appropriate? Health, dental, vision, 0 percent home loans, etc?
If the leak was correct the allowance in 2017 was $120k a year. If travel and other expenses are paid for...how far will $120k go? Do they also get paid for sitting on various boards that are available to them by virtue of their callings? Book deals are lucrative...the people line up to buy the new one by Elder __________!! Is that an entirely separate matter from their calling? There are plenty out there working to keep track of what information is publicly available adding up "allowances" to millions paid out to GA's annually...but that isn't my point here to try to ascertain the dollar amount.
For me personally it's not so much about the amount of money...its about the value of being transparent...and what is the doctrine about paying clergy!! What can be looked to as a justification of the practice? Of course understandably...anyone who pays tithing might be a little remiss to write out a check of their hard earned cash if they felt it wasn't being handled as the Lord would have it done.
The Scriptures that SUPPORT Paying Clergy?
Do you remember that scripture that goes "And thou shalt pay the president of the church and apostles enough money to live quite comfortably without having to work". No...I don't know that one either. I'm all about learning something new though!! SHOW ME THE SCRIPTURE!
If a person were to try to make a case FOR the supporting of clergy with church funds...they might turn to scriptures that speak of being "worthy of his hire". Lets look at a couple...
[1] After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.
[2] Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.
[3] Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.
[4] Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way.
[5] And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house.
[6] And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again.
[7] And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house.
[8] And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you:
The expression "The labourer is worthy of his hire" I've read in modern parlance might be something like "A person who works deserves to be compensated". In this context it is about those who are preaching the Word. What was the payment in that scripture for the spiritual laborer? Sounds like temporary shelter and a bite to eat. (
Sounds just like when Alma and Amulek met!)
10 Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.
Again...those preaching the Word are to be compensated...this time with appropriate "meat".
It sure makes it sound like people that serve the Lord should be willing to accept the direct hospitality of people who are willing to give them shelter and food. Again...direct...person to person hospitality.
Sounds like they are to have the lifestyle and financial opulence of a fulltime missionary!
But one says..."Hey...the Levites were supported by the tithes of the people". Yes! Let's look at that in Numbers 18 to learn what that meant.
8 ¶ And the Lord spake unto Aaron, Behold, I also have given thee the charge of mine heave aofferings of all the hallowed things of the children of Israel; unto thee have I bgiven them by reason of the canointing, and to thy sons, by an ordinance for ever.
9 This shall be thine of the most holy things, reserved from the fire: every oblation of theirs, every ameat offering of theirs, and every bsin offering of theirs, and every ctrespass offering of theirs, which they shall render unto me, shall be most holy for thee and for thy sons.
10 In the most aholy place shalt thou beat it; every male shall eat it: it shall be holy unto thee.
11 And this is thine; the aheave offering of their gift, with all the wave offerings of the children of Israel: I have given them unto thee, and to thy sons and to thy daughters with thee, by a statute for ever: every one that is bclean in thy house shall eat of it.
What else is on the menu besides meat?
12 All the best of the oil, and all the best of the wine, and of the wheat, the afirstfruits of them which they shall offer unto the Lord, them have I given thee.
13 And whatsoever is afirst ripe in the land, which they shall bring unto the Lord, shall be thine; every one that is clean in thine house shall eat of it.
The Lord sums up this blessing for their service...
31 And ye ashall eat it in every place, ye and your households: for it is your breward for your service in the tabernacle of the congregation.
I invite you...the reader...to tell me what scripture do you know that supports the idea that clergy should be paid with money. Everything I see is basically saying we should be willing to feed them. Perhaps some would say..."But we don't tithe produce anymore...we tithe in money...which is given to general authorities as money". Ok...I'll go with you on that one...and my follow up question is "If scripturally what is acceptable to the Lord is to give enough to feed clergy...how much money would it take to feed a person for a year?" Can you feed someone for less than $120k a year? Can temporary shelter be obtained for less than 120k a year?
Scriptures That Speak Against Paying Clergy
For me...Alma 1 is the go-to on this topic. I recommend reading the whole chapter...but here's a quick breakdown.
Nehor comes to town to preach. As a part of his message that is defined as "priestcraft" in verse 12 he preaches that clergy should "ought not to labor with their hands, but that they ought to be supported by the people." (vs 3)
He was successful as the people "began to support him and give him money". (vs 5)
Alma lets us know how God feels about this practice when he said...
"What he had taught the people was contrary to the word of God".
Alma reminds us that when it came to the priests (vs 26) they "did all labor".
Gotta mention good ole...
Mosiah 18:26 And the priests were not to depend upon the people for their support; but for their labor they were to receive the grace of God, that they might wax strong in the Spirit, having the knowledge of God, that they might teach with power and authority from God.
There are lots to choose from on this side of the argument.
Answering the Question before there is one
Perhaps you...the reader...may feel that all of this is a matter to be swept under the rug? You might think..."you must be one of those anti-people I've heard about that I'm to watch out for!!" The trouble is...there's no sweeping this under the rug...not anymore.
In true artful dissimulation one can try to twist the words to make it sound like they aren't getting "paid" by calling it an "allowance" or some such thing. It doesn't matter...money is hitting a bank account monthly. Own it. Money is being paid to general authorities by their own obscured admission. (So obscured that most have no idea that its the case!)
The thing is...the cat is out of the bag. Any person with access to the internet in 5 seconds can type out "Do LDS Apostles get paid" and find that...yes...they do.
"Gone are the days when a student asked an honest question and a teacher responded, “Don’t worry about it!” Gone are the days when a student raised a sincere concern and a teacher bore his or her testimony as a response intended to avoid the issue."
"It was only a generation ago that our young people’s access to information about our history, doctrine, and practices was basically limited to materials printed by the Church. Few students came in contact with alternative interpretations. Mostly, our young people lived a sheltered life.
Our curriculum at that time, though well-meaning, did not prepare students for today—a day when students have instant access to virtually everything about the Church from every possible point of view. Today, what they see on their mobile devices is likely to be faith-challenging as much as faith-promoting. Many of our young people are more familiar with Google than they are with the gospel, more attuned to the Internet than to inspiration, and more involved with Facebook than with faith."
Can't we all see! We're in an age where trying to conceal information that is seen as "uncomfortable" will only lead to peoples disaffection when they find out the truth from other sources?! Once on this path...it will lead to more questions to find what is real. It's like pulling on a string of a cable knit sweater and watching it unravel.
In the above talk by M Russell Ballard he spoke about the "Gospel Topics Essays" which were made to be transparent on some church history that may have been skirted around in the past. The intent with those was to "get in front of" it to...in the words of M Russell Ballard...to "Inoculate" the people to be "protected" from harm. The point being...uncomfortable truths cannot be hid without consequence. We need to be willing to be forthright...as the day will come when all hidden things will be known. Let's not have that be a day of embarrassment.
If anything...for the love of Pete...stop saying "We have no paid clergy" in the church.
Nicely done! Much to consider here and repent of as a church.
ReplyDeleteTopic aside, you write very well !
ReplyDeleteAs for the guy at the beginning resembling a dwarf. He, and others like him have a huge need to see those around him involved in the same weaknesses as he has. To know that you resist those things leaves him feeling very uncomfortable indeed.
As for paid clergy, I suppose there has to be an allowance made for working full time for the church. What concerns me more is which investments the money comes from e.g. the church today has large investments in vaccine companies.
Yes...many of the investments are funding companies that are actively destroying America and world freedoms. A hard pill to swallow. But it builds temples!!
DeleteDo the ends justify the means?