The Overarching Purpose of Church Finances? To Help People Come unto Christ

All financial resources of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ultimately go toward one purpose: To help people come unto Jesus Christ.

This and several other important messages about Church finances in a growing global faith are shared in a new video from the Presiding Bishopric of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Watch the full 30-minute discussion (video transcript) and 13 shorter segments below:

The video discussion, moderated by Sister Sharon Eubank of the general Relief Society presidency, features each member of the bishopric — Presiding Bishop Gerald Caussé, First Counselor Dean M. Davies and second counselor W. Christopher Waddell — sharing important insight into the why and how of Church finances. For example, Bishop Waddell tells viewers that the Church is just that — a Church, not a profit-seeking business.

“In our [Church] world, the purpose is not financial profits — it's to bless lives spiritually,” Bishop Waddell says. “It's to invite people to come unto Christ. … And so, we're not after financial profits. We want to bless lives.”

In speaking of the Church’s financial reserves, Bishop Waddell says all funds from these reserves are used for that one divine purpose: “to share the gospel of Jesus Christ, to invite all to come unto Christ.”

Bishop Caussé adds that the Church’s current financial strength is an indication of future needs. “We are to take the gospel to the four corners of the earth, and this will take a lot of resources. So, we have to be prepared for this, and the Lord is blessing us because He is expecting us to do a lot.”

Bishop Davies points to the importance of using Church finances to help the poor and needy. This, he says, has been a Church priority even in times of economic hardship.

“In 2009 I was staffed to the [Church’s] Budget and Appropriations Committee,” Bishop Davies says. “You'll remember there was a recession that was taking place worldwide. Every budget in the Church was reduced that year except one — and that was Welfare and Humanitarian [budget]. The Presidency of the Church said we will take care of those in need, even in the times of crisis.”

Bishop Caussé says it is true the Church has spent billions of dollars in the past few years to meet welfare and humanitarian needs around the world. But he says putting a dollar amount on what the Church does to help those in need is difficult. Latter-day Saints spend countless hours in neighbor-to-neighbor ministry, as well as in service after natural disasters. Church members also volunteer at the faith’s welfare farms to harvest food, and they contribute monthly to each congregation’s fast offering fund — a resource local leaders use to help the poorest among them.

Why doesn’t the Church release more details about its finances? Because “it is a church,” Bishop Caussé says. “It's not a financial institution, it's not a business corporation. It is a church. And so the way we like to measure the Church is according to spiritual matters.”

Bishop Davies stresses that “the real wealth of the Church is not in its possessions, it's in the Church members. It's in their faith. It's in their devotion to their Savior and to their Heavenly Father, their faithfulness of paying tithes and offerings. And we're so careful, so very, very careful to make certain that those funds are expended in a way that they would feel good about.”

“This church is all about people,” Bishop Caussé adds. “It's about inviting people to come unto Christ.”

Related resources:

Church Finances and a Growing Global Faith (includes a Q&A about Church finances)

Bishop Caussé Shares Heart of Church Welfare and Humanitarian Efforts