Lifting The Veil

Tithes, Investments, and Ethical Questions: How Religious Wealth Aligns—or Conflicts—with Biblical Stewardship The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), commonly known as the Mormon Church, claims over 17 million members worldwide. Alongside spiritual instruction, the church manages an enormous financial empire—collecting billions in tithes, holding extensive real estate, and maintaining a portfolio of businesses and investments. While some of this wealth supports humanitarian and missionary work, the majority is retained, raising the question: how much of this wealth is truly advancing God’s mission? Estimates suggest that the LDS Church collects $7–8 billion annually from member tithing. These funds are claimed to support local congregations, temples, missionary efforts, and church operations. In addition, Ensign Peak Advisors, the church’s investment arm, reportedly manages a portfolio exceeding $100 billion, including stocks, bonds, and other securities. Critics...

Tithing is something Latter-day Saints take seriously—and as a Christian, I respect that level of commitment. You're taught to tithe 10% of your income, and many do it faithfully. But here's a question that often goes unasked on both sides of the conversation: Does the Bible actually command Christians to tithe today? Surprisingly, the answer is no. And when we compare what the Bible teaches to what LDS scriptures and prophets say, the contrast is significant—and important to understand. Let’s start with the Bible. In the Old Testament, tithing was part of the Mosaic Law—a system given specifically to the nation of Israel. According to Leviticus 27:30 and Numbers 18:21, the tithe (a tenth of produce or livestock) was given to support the Levites, who had no land inheritance. This was essentially a religious tax tied to the temple system and priesthood in ancient Israel. In fact, there were multiple tithes—including one for the Levites, one for festival celebrations (Deuteronomy...