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To: RnMomof7
The ONLY people who are paid in the LDS church are the First Presidency, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, the Area presidents (who oversee the mission presidents, etc), some of the seventies (I think the First Quorum, I will have to find out to be factual.) That is probably 100- people (the figure may be low), who run a church of 11 million. The bishops, stake presidents, regional presidents, and ALL callings in the church are not paid, we are volunteers. That includes cleaning the churches weekly (no janitors), cleaning the temples (pretty much volunteer, except for the yearly cleaning when the temple is closed and repairs are made, carpets cleaned, etc.) I know for a fact that those who are called to the general presidencies (such as Primary, Young Women, and Relief Society) are not paid. As to the reason the few leaders are paid, is because they devote their time to the Lord and to running a worldwide church. Like Illbay said a few posts ago, there is no extra frippery for these men. They are very aware that they will be held accountable on how they have spent their money.

One personal note. When my father was called as a mission president, he had just retired. He was given a certain amount of money for his duties, and there was a home provided for he and my mother to live in (known as the mission president's home.) My dad had a budget for gasoline when he went on the mission's business to visit the missionaries he was in charge of to see how they were doing. When we went down to visit my parents in Chile, any family or sightseeing trips he and my mom took were paid for out of their own pockets. Oh, and a car was provided for the mission president. My father was very aware of the money angle, as were the other mission presidents, and are very careful to spend the money appropriately that is provided by the church.

And believe you me, most of us LDS people do not aspire to become an apostle or whatever. There might be a few, but there isn't a system where one works his way up the hierarchy of the church. We are called of the Lord to serve him and to serve others in our wards, stakes, etc.

And you are comparing apples to oranges. A pastor in your church is comparable to a bishop in my ward (oversees about 400 people, depending on the location.) The bishop is not paid in our church. You are comparing your pastor who has one congregation to a prophet, or apostles, or an area president who are over many wards and stakes.

I know that President Hinckley came from very humble circumstances. President Monson was raised by a widowed mother. Elder Russell Nelson was a heart surgeon. Elder Dallin H Oaks was a lawyer. Elder Boyd K Packer worked for the Church Educational System (like my dad did,the salary was nothing to shout about at all.) Men and women are called from all walks of life, it is their worthiness and willingness to serve the Lord with all their hearts, might, mind, and souls that determines their callings in the LDS church. Not their social status or how much money they are worth.

444 posted on 01/30/2003 4:15:51 PM PST by Utah Girl (Here I come to save the day, Mighty Mouse is on his way!!!)
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To: Utah Girl; Illbay; White Mountain; CubicleGuy; rising tide; Grig; Rad_J
Each LDS should file this, for future Reference! For offensive souls keep bring up the same questions everytime a new book rearranges the truth to spin it in a new mode to see if it will fly! and when *BD sets in, they repeating themselves!

*bashing dementia

446 posted on 01/30/2003 5:02:45 PM PST by restornu (Clones are homeless!)
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To: Utah Girl
UC ..Please do not misread me..I have no problem with Church leaders being paid. I do have a problem with condeming others for giving a salary to their Pastors ..and calling their leaders salary an "allowance"..I do have a problem with the lack of accountability..but it is your dime and if you guys do not care that is your business ..but to PRETEND that somehow you are 'holier" or more righteous because you do not use the word 'salary' is hypocricy

BTW most Christian missionaries do NOT get a salary..they come back to the states to raise money by visiting churches and finding sponsers..so your dad did well...

I compared your prophet to the pope and that stands..he lives very well with no numbers being given to the people that pay the bills...

What is it to you if people like a full time 24/7 Pastor and are willing to give him a living allowance so he can be there for them?

When my grandson died the pastor spent 5 days with us.,other than to sleep he was never away..he even drove the body south in the church van..

I think the fact that your President came from "humble" beginings makes it more suspicious looking at his suits and travel..he certainly is not spending "old family money" (except YOUR family money) .

Again I think that is fine but a bit of hyprocicy on bills part not to see the log in the Mormon$ eye on this one

487 posted on 01/31/2003 7:56:33 AM PST by RnMomof7
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