The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
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February 12, 2013
Spent more than 25 years as a voluntary member of this organization. After I left (voluntarily), I was shunned by members of this organization. I was told that I was not good enough for them and many of them cut off contact with me due to the teachings of this organization.
This organization also took thousands of dollars from me with the promise of my life getting better, but like many organizations who claim this, it didn't happen. It is also a very homophobic and misogynist organization which routinely gets involved with politics (gay marriage) and I believe that it's tax-exempt status should be revoked because of that.
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Did the organization use your time wisely?
Badly
Would you recommend this group to a friend?
No
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2010
3 people found this review helpful
December 3, 2012
3 people found this review helpful
I have donated thousands of dollars to and spent two years as a volunteer missionary for the Mormon church. Unfortunately, those two years in a third world country were spent almost exclusively recruiting new members for the organization and doing very little substantive service for the poor people around me. I loved the experiences I had there, but I very much wish the Church would train its missionaries to be less like salesmen. The Church is guarded about its financial practices. It is estimated that it has a net worth of at least $40 billion, with annual revenue of $8 billion (http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-07-10/how-the-mormons-make-money#p1). Members of the church are told that payment of tithing (10% of income) is a requirement for admission to heaven, and they will be denied access to Mormon temples if they fail to pay. Growing up I was led to believe that the Church spends millions of dollars each year on humanitarian aid projects around the globe, but these figures are never made public, a fact I now find disturbing. This is especially troubling because the Church recently funded the building of an enormous shopping mall in Salt Lake City (at least $2 billion). The Church owns 928,000 acres of land in North America, is the largest ranch land owner in Wyoming, is the 2nd largest land owner in Nebraska, has the largest cattle ranch in 48 states (adjacent to Disneyworld in Florida), is the largest foreign landowner in UK. The LDS Church owns several businesses, numerous radio and television stations, its own insurance company, and is rumored to be the largest single producer of commercial beef in the USA . They own enormous properties in Hawaii including a Marriott hotel franchise and the Polynesian Cultural Center, which is the most visited tourist attraction in Hawaii (http://mormonthink.com/tithing.htm). As an organization claiming it is God's "one true church," these business enterprises and lack of financial transparency are disconcerting to say the least. This is all important information people should consider before donating their, time, money, or any other resources to this organization.
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Would you volunteer for this group again?
Unlikely
For the time you spent, how much of an impact did you feel your work or activity had?
Some
Did the organization use your time wisely?
Somewhat badly
Would you recommend this group to a friend?
No
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
November 9, 2012
I think it's so wonderful that the LDS Church is usually the first organization to arrive at the scene of a disaster, sometimes even before the Red Cross gets there. We learn to "serve one another" from the scriptures and so volunteering is serving. Members can either volunteer and help at disasters or can help by donating to the Humanitarian aid on an Offerings slip at church. I haven't been able to volunteer at a disaster, but have helped by donating. The church helps people throughout the world, not just the U.S.
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Would you volunteer for this group again?
Definitely
Would you recommend this group to a friend?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
2 people found this review helpful
October 31, 2012
2 people found this review helpful
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or "LDS" or "Mormon" for short, is run completely by non-paid clergy, including those at the highest point of leadership (They are compensated for travel and other church related expenses if they are unable to pay with their own funds). ALL the non-paid clergy to the highest level continue paying tithing voluntarily as well. The biggest expenses of the Church are building chapels and temples world-wide including upkeep and maintenance, and maintaining missions throughout the world. Members when paying tithing, which money is used for these and related eccesiastical matters, also have options to donate additional moneys for disasters, humanitarian aid, education scholarships for less developed countries, etc., and contrary to the norm, all the money goes to help since church volunteers are paid nothing to do so. It is due to lack of understanding that some write negatively about the money controlled by the church, since they do not know the facts - that help given to disasters, etc. is directly donated by members voluntarily for that express purpose, and is distributed by the church free of overhead. I prefer donating this way since I know that every penny I give will go to help those in need.
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Was your donation impactful?
Definitely
How likely is it that you would recommend that a friend donate to this group?
Definitely
How likely are you to donate to this group again?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
1 person found this review helpful
September 14, 2012
1 person found this review helpful
It is reassuring that the church gives out 100% of its humanitarian aid contributions, which is very uncommon in so many charities today. The church often stays for extended periods helping in areas that have had natural disasters, long after other relief agencies have left the scene. The Church specializes in small items that are often overlooked by larger agencies such as hygiene kits. The LDS Church also has an extensive welfare system which is separate from its humanitarian aid program. This program is primarily for the relief of its members and is administered on a local level. Members of the church fast each month and donate the money they would have used on meals to assist the poor. This program should not be confused with humanitarian aid. To learn more about the LDS Church's humanitarian aid program visit www.mormon.org/humanitarian-aid
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
None
More feedback...
Was your donation impactful?
Definitely
How likely is it that you would recommend that a friend donate to this group?
Definitely
How likely are you to donate to this group again?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
What specific problem, purpose, priority, or project prompted your gift?
Confidence that the money is used where it is needed.
What would you tell others about this organization?
You can have confidence that this organization will be honest, effective, and efficient.
1 person found this review helpful
June 11, 2012
1 person found this review helpful
I've been a donor, volunteer, adviser, and dispenser of both human resources and finances for the LDS Church. I think it deserves high marks, particularly since almost everyone is an untrained volunteer. Collections are done in person, online, or through the mail, and receipts are kept by the donor, local group, and headquarters. Every year the donor confirms their receipts with the organizations to make sure nobody tried to skim anything, and in all my years I've never encountered a problem. The primary donations are tithing, which is taught as a biblical principle and duty, and those funds cover all the operations of the Church, it's facilities, staff, equipment, etc. Other funds, such as the humanitarian relief fund, are 100% load-free-- all the donated money goes directly toward the recipients, because administrative burden is paid for already by tithing. Because of it's size and spread, the LDS Church has people on the ground all over the place, and the local administration of relief funds increases their effectiveness IMO. I have been on both the giving and receiving end, and the human face makes the help more meaningful. The LDS Church also excels at gathering volunteers, has a well-developed transport and distribution network, and even owns farms and food-processing facilities, so each dollar tends to have far more than a typical dollar's impact at another aid organization. Internal audits are conducted by Deloitte, a top accounting firm, and double checked by an independent in-house team. Totals aren't released, which keeps the focus on the goal rather than the money, and local administrators have access to their precincts' funds and records, and it's all very orderly. Overall, it's tough to beat a no-admin-load charity with well-developed networks and reputable history. The religion's adherents' tithing donations provide facilities and staff and keeps the ball rolling, so anyone else's donation goes straight to the particular cause. My favorite funds are the education-loan fund and the disaster relief fund. They are LDS specialties. I expect that LDS philanthropies will continue to improve in coming years, and it's been a joy to be a part of.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
Food aid, disaster relief, and education are probably the top LDS specialties right now. Career centers and community clean up are also strong points. They divested their healthcare system decades ago.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
make it easier for people to understand. There seems to be a large understanding gap between the public and people familiar with of affiliated with the LDS Church. More public outreach, particularly in humanitarian and not-religion-specific projects, would be helpful. Seems to be improving with time.
More feedback...
Would you volunteer for this group again?
Definitely
For the time you spent, how much of an impact did you feel your work or activity had?
Life-changing
Did the organization use your time wisely?
Okay
Would you recommend this group to a friend?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
What one change could this group make that would improve your volunteer experience?
I'm sure there's something, but I can't think of it. Given the conditions and available personnel, I think it went quite well.
Did your volunteer experience have an effect on you? (teaching you a new skill, or introducing new friends, etc.)
Yes, all of the above.
How did this volunteer experience make you feel?
Good
5 people found this review helpful
March 1, 2012
5 people found this review helpful
The Church receives 10% of its members' gross income as tithes as well as other donations. It has various tax-exempt benefits and has large land holdings and property investments in various locations around the globe, it is involved in the running of numerous media and commercial enterprises. It uses donor contributions as it wishes to expand its operations without providing any form of financial accountability statement. Its contributions to humanitarian assistance are absolutely miniscule in relation to its income, mostly in the form of getting its membership to donate their time. So where does all the money go? I will not be contributing another cent.
More feedback...
Was your donation impactful?
Unlikely
How likely is it that you would recommend that a friend donate to this group?
No
How likely are you to donate to this group again?
No
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2010
January 25, 2012
3 people found this review helpful
100% goes to humanitarian, The church picks up the overhead of running the humanitarian efferts. I don't think there is another oraganization that can say that.
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Will you volunteer or donate to this organization?
Definitely
How much of an impact do you think this organization has?
Life-changing
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2011
7 people found this review helpful
September 28, 2011
7 people found this review helpful
This organization supposedly has the worth of billions of dollars yet there is no financial disclosure. I have contributed to this organization in the past but will refrain from doing so due to its secretive financial stance.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
receiving a week's worth of food at a time when we had no work. My husband was embarrassed by the degrading treatment he received from the bishop from whom he had to ask for the help. We decided not to ask for assistance again from this organization due to the way he was treated even though we continued to be contributing members.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
I would allow all to participate in decision-making, women as well as men. Currently only male members are able to hold executive positions.
9 people found this review helpful
September 28, 2011
9 people found this review helpful
I'd like to see some transparency in reporting financial data. I am told that the Mormon church contributes to emergency relief and other causes throughout the world. I have participated in a few of those service projects, as well as contributing years of service to the organization itself. But unlike many other faith-based organizations, the Mormon Church does not share financial information with its members, let alone the public. I'd like to know how much the church contributes and to whom.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
the lives of my parents, myself, my children and extended family members who count themselves as members of the LDS Church.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
encourage greater financial accountability and disclosure.
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