New MormonLeaks documents unveil LDS Church leaders’ salaries, meetings (2024)

As a seasoned expert in the realm of religious organizations and transparency advocacy, I bring forth my extensive knowledge to dissect the intriguing case presented in the article by Jacob Scholl on January 11, 2017. The topic at hand revolves around the disclosure of documents by the organization known as MormonLeaks, shedding light on high-ranking leaders within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). The leaked documents divulge information on salaries of church leaders and provide a glimpse into closed-door meetings of church leadership.

Firstly, the revelation includes pay stubs for Henry B. Eyring, a prominent member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in the year 2000. These documents meticulously detail Eyring's earnings, showcasing a figure exceeding $83,000 for the mentioned year. Such insider financial information is crucial, as it offers a rare glimpse into the financial workings of an influential religious institution.

The leak doesn't stop at individual compensation; it extends to the broader landscape with a 2014 memo directed to Bruce D. Porter, an Elder of the First Quorum of the Seventy. This memo notifies Porter of a salary increase from $116,400 to $120,000 per year. The specificity and precision of these details indicate a level of scrutiny that goes beyond mere speculation, underscoring the legitimacy of the disclosed information.

Furthermore, the leak provides a deeper insight into the inner workings of the LDS Church through leaked minutes and notes from executive meetings held in 2000 and 2003. This aspect of the disclosure not only emphasizes the temporal scope of the leaked information but also underscores the extent to which internal discussions and decisions within the church are being brought to public scrutiny.

In response to the revelations, LDS Church spokesman Eric Hawkins neither confirms nor denies the accuracy of the leaked documents. Notably, he addresses the source of the income, asserting that the "living allowance" mentioned in the documents is derived not from church tithes but from the church's "financial investments." This statement adds a layer of complexity to the narrative, as it prompts questions about the financial mechanisms employed by the church.

The founder of MormonLeaks, Ryan McKnight, a former member of the LDS Church, defends the act of leaking, stating a commitment to transparency. His assertion that the public should be the judge of whether the revelations reflect positively or negatively on the church underscores the broader goal of transparency advocacy and the belief in an informed public.

In conclusion, the article unveils a multifaceted exploration into the financial intricacies and internal operations of the LDS Church. The meticulous documentation, the specificity of figures, and the responses from both the church and the whistleblower collectively contribute to a narrative that invites scrutiny and contemplation from both adherents and the public at large.