More information about this topic can be found at http://www.allaboutmormons.com/money_mormon_humanitarian_work.php . The money is used to build and maintain chapels and temples around the globe and to fund the church's massive humanitarian and missionary programs.

It is God's money ,to be used for kingdom work.whatever that might be.You would never understand it if you don't have a relationship with God,or money is your God.But I can tell you that I live better on 90% better than I ever did on 100%

It's actually estimated that they collect only 4%, even though the tithe is supposed to be mandatory. I'm not a Mormon and have no reason to defend them, BUT why should it be taxed if it's not increased wealth to some person or put into business for commercial profit? The policy of the U.S. Government is that money given to charity is like money you never had in the first place, and therefore doesn't need to be taxed. And there is a good reason for this policy--the government is extremely inefficient at doing any kind of charitable work, and churches are extremely efficient at it. For the government to give your poor neighbor a dollar's worth of help, it has to take four bucks out of your pocket. But for a church to give your poor neighbor a dollar's worth of help, it only has to get $1.05 out of yours.

Why single out the Mormons? Many other religions require tithing as well.

Into lavish living.. of course!

It goes to building the temples, where they do Masonry like rituals there. It’s also spend on their so called scriptures that Joseph Smith wrote. Also it’s spent on fighting the truths of the church, and campaigning against their past history. Trying to justify their past and debate against people that challenge their faith. The Cult is very strong financially.

Unfortunately one can't provide answers to this question with any kind of authority, because the church does not (and HAS not for over 40 years) provide this information. They do not publish any information on their finances to either outside investigators or to their members. Only a church financial authority could answer this question properly, and you would basically have to take his or her word for it.

It is naive to assume that the church spends ALL of its money building and maintaining its facilities, or giving to charity. But if you doubt it still, I'll let the words of their recently deceased prophet, Gordon B. Hinckley, show you. (It is important to note here that YES I am using church info. I have not alleged that the church has lied about its current financial status, but simply omitted information - still deceitful, but slightly less so. I therefore feel fairly confident in presenting Gordo's quotes to this end; due to the severe legal implications to be had if it were to be found that he had been lying, I think it likely that he would speak truthfully on this matter in this instance.) From: Gordon B. Hinckley, “The State of the Church,” Ensign, May 1991 "As you know, we have followed for a year a program under which all operating costs of stakes and wards in the United States and Canada, including construction and maintenance of buildings, as well as the expenses of activity programs, are now met from the tithing funds of the Church... "As you can realize, this has involved a very substantial outlay from the tithing resources... “As we concluded the year 1990, as a presidency, as bishops, and as high councilors, we recognized the prophetic nature of the new budget program. A review of our statistics indicated that at year-end, we had only expended approximately 70 percent of the funds budgeted to us." That is seventy percent of what was budgeted FOR THAT PRUPOSE alone. That accounts for construction, AND maintenance, AND activity programs (although many activities are paid for by fund raisers ALSO). That leaves some 30% unaccounted for from that fund. Remeber, Momons are ALSO asked to give money once a month on "fast Sunday" and may make donations to the missionary fund or the "church fund" seperately from tithing. Other funds are likely also running underbudget, as Gordo says that "In the financial operations of the Church, we have observed two basic and fixed principles: One, the Church will live within its means. It will not spend more than it receives. Two, a fixed percentage of the income will be set aside to build reserves against what might be called a possible “rainy day.” What exactly is meant by "rainy day" is anyone's guess. Aside from tithing, the church has also possessed majority shares in Zions Bank, First Security Bank, 3 BYU campuses, and "some commercial farm properties," all FOR-profit businesses, and those are just a few. Further, according to the Salt Lake City Weekly, there was a report in the 1980's in which the Salt Lake Tribune broke the story that the LDS church owned stock in alcohol and tobacco companies as well. None of this implies impropriety (other than owning stock in companies that produce substances which the church teaches "destroy families"), per se, but what guidelines does the church set for responsible spending of the money? They do not publish the information, so there is no apparent checks and balances system in place. What does Gordo have to say about the limitations set upon him as to HOW he may or may not spend church money? He quotes scripture: “Verily, thus saith the Lord, … it shall be disposed of by a council, composed of the First Presidency of my Church [Gordo and friends], and [at lower levels] of the bishop and his council, and by my high council; and by mine own voice unto them, saith the Lord.” (D&C 120.) Seems to me that that translates into, "Gordo will do whatever Gordo wants to do with it." After all, what is it that Mormons say...Ah yes, "When the prophet speaks, the debate is over."

The Internal Revenue Service knows how much the LDS Church makes. Charitable contributions to the LDS church, which includes tithing among other things, still has to be reported to the IRS. As every member is reporting charitable contributions on his/her own tax forms these contributions have to be accounted for on the other end. The LDS church also has businesses and financial holdings, which are taxed at business rates and schedules. The particulars of the LDS businesses and financial holdings are a matter of public record as is the total amount of charitable contributions. Hence, the origin of TIME magazine's estimates of how much the LDS Church made. As has been stated above tithing and other charitable contributions are used for several purposes: 1-finance the mission of the church, build chapels, temples, pay for educational material, fund missionary service, pay for the majority operating costs of three BYU universities and a business college, fund humanitarian efforts around the world, etc; 2- a matter of personal sacrifice and consecration. John 15:13 says "Greater love hath no man than this, a man lay down is life for his friends". LDS members believe that sacrificing for others teaches unselfishness and a greater responsibility for those less fortunate; 3- A personal test of righteousness. Malachi 3:8-11 lays out the test and blessing, including a promise, "...prove me herewith sayeth the Lord of Host, if I will not open you the windows of Heaven and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive...". Many LDS have personal stories that attest to the principle of tithing and it's manifestation in their lives. These reason may seem naive or even simplistic by today's standards, but they are a part of the basic tenents of the LDS faith followed by a majority of its members.

They serve God as they believe they should. Why does your question sound as if you covet that 'untaxed' money?

It helps people who need help. Feeds people who need fed. Builds places of worship. The leadership give FREELY of their time (many times at their own and their families expense). The church preaches of the good of the family, never judges without proof or admittance of wrong doing. Is always organized and ready to help not only its members, but any others in need. And all of the purchasing power instilled by its members is freely given. It may be hard to give freely of yourself. But it is a way to give to others without much further thought. An easy way to be charitable and show your faith in something greater than yourself. I would like to see one bad thing the church does with the money. I have yet to have been shown any such thing. The church is a better steward of my 10 percent than I could ever be. Besides, those evil temples seem to bring the property values of non-members up who are located around them as well.

Elder Dallin H. Oaks explained: “[Tithing] funds are spent to build and maintain temples and houses of worship, to conduct our worldwide missionary work, to translate and publish scriptures, to provide resources to redeem the dead, to fund religious education, and to support other Church purposes selected by the designated servants of the Lord” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1994, 46; or Ensign, May 1994, 35). President Gordon B. Hinckley spoke of the deep respect the Council on the Disposition of the Tithes has for tithing funds: “I keep on the credenza behind my desk a widow’s mite that was given me in Jerusalem many years ago as a reminder, a constant reminder, of the sanctity of the funds with which we have to deal. They come from the widow; they are her offering as well as the tithe of the rich man, and they are to be used with care and discretion for the purposes of the Lord. We treat them carefully and safeguard them and try in every way that we can to see that they are used as we feel the Lord would have them used for the upbuilding of His work and the betterment of people” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1996, 69; or Ensign, Nov. 1996, 50).

In their big fat exempt accounts like all the other religions.

any question you have about what mormons truly believe can be found at lds.org. you can also chat with a mormon missionary online at mormon.org. it's pretty handy!

Unlike the Catholic charities who help everyone- even non-Catholics (and I've seen this first hand with a friend of mine) the mormons only help other mormons (os so I've heard) and even then, they only help those who may have the ability to tithe later so they have a chance to get the money back. There was a famous case of a mormon kid who (it was said) they did not help because "He would never be able to tithe in the future". That's the way I remember reading it.

From heresay totally: They have thier hands in some strange stuff. and some members are in hold of "investments" of all kinds. I'm not suggesting any broad conspiracy theories, but truth is stranger than fiction.

I'm not a mormon, I'm an atheist raised baptist but I do know mormons are not the only denomination that expect 10% tithing. When I was a church member 10% tithe (the table minimum) went to pay for items for the church, the pastor's income. My church's pastor didn't have to work a job, he had a church salary, car, medical, house etc. for himself and his family of 4 paid for by the church through tithing. Tithing also helped pay for the upkeep (and ongoing expansion) of the church itself, as well as paying for church vans, buses, trips, supplies, missionaries needs etc. I can surely understand that a church needs income to exist, things cost money and you can't build an empire on faith alone......but I didn't like how when you could barely afford to pay the bills people looked down their noses at you when you couldn't pay tithe..often someone had something to say like "if you give god his 10% he will pay you back tenfold" or some crap like that....I wasn;t aware god needed financial help and to be honest there were times in those days when I could wait three days without food for god to mail the check. Other times I saw situations where the church could have used the money to reach out and help the outlying community during disasters and such but opted instead to build a new annex....pretty sad. But it is what it is and tithing is not just part of the mormon practice.

towards white t shirts a bike helmets

First of all, what makes you think our Tithing money is not taxed? We pay Tithing on our total Gross income, before anything is taken out. That is the way we figure our total increase of which we pay 10%. Tithing is a principle of the Gospel which the Lord instituted many years ago. Long before the "Mormon" Church came to be. What we do with our money is between us and the Lord. If any of our leaders are not so honest, they will answer to the Lord. However, just so you may know, the Church uses a professional Auditing Firm, employed by the church to do an audit on our books every year. And just so there are no questions, we also submit all of our records to an outside Auditing firm, not affiliated with the Church. Our leaders make sure every dime and every penny is accounted for. Also a financial report is read every year in General Conference. So much for secrecy and fraud...whew4

My understanding is they spend it mostly on building churches, funding missionary work, and charity.

Read a book called "THE MORMON CORPORATE EMPIRE" and you'll get an idea where a lot of it goes.

Since the LDS church has an inappropriate amount of influence in the IRS, we may never, ever know if they are being audited. Since it's been known (by many people) to be "the largest gang in the world", they do as other gangs do- by the gang members covering up the activities of the "gang".

You ask a very good question. The tithing money is used to build chapels and temples. This blesses members of the church all over the world. In this and other ways, it furthers the work of the Lord. In Malachi 3:8 we read "Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings." The Lord created the Earth and everything on it; thus everything we have, including what we own, really belongs to God. Yes, we encourage all members to pay tithing. This may sound very hard for those who are financially struggling. Now think about this, if God is all-powerful does he really need our money? No. Then why does he ask 10%? Believe it or not, it's for our benefit. By paying our tithing, we are exercising faith in God that he will bless us, both physically and spiritually. Tithing is a test of our faith. Malachi 3:10 states: "...prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it."

Real estate investments.