Notes on References and Authority Appendix 5applications were part of one great work.” (“New Handbooks Introduced during Worldwide
Training,” Church News and Events, 12 Nov. 2010, Intellectual Reserve, Inc., 19 Jul. 2011
http://lds.org/church/news/new-handbooks-introduced-during-worldwide-training?lang=eng.)
See also Dallin H. Oaks, “Overview of the New Handbooks,” LDS.org, 2010, Intellectual Reserve,
Inc., 20 Jul. 2011 http://lds.org/broadcasts/article/print/worldwide-leadership-
training/2010/11/overview-of-the-new-handbooks?lang=eng.)
Introducing the new handbooks in a worldwide leadership broadcast, Elder Dallin H. Oaks
of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the LDS Church quoted from section 2.2 of Handbook 2, as
follows (referring to section 2.2 as “the Church’s new statement of purpose”):
“The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was organized by God to assist in His work to
bring to pass the salvation and exaltation of His children. ...In fulfilling its purpose to help individuals
and families qualify for exaltation, the Church focuses on divinely appointed responsibilities. These
include helping members live the gospel of Jesus Christ, gathering Israel through missionary work,
caring for the poor and needy, and enabling the salvation of the dead by building temples and
performing vicarious ordinances.” (Dallin H. Oaks, “Introductory Message,” LDS.org, 2011, Intellectual
Reserve, Inc., 23 Jul. 2011 http://lds.org/broadcasts/article/print/worldwide-leadership-
training/2010/11/overview-of-the-new-handbooks?lang=eng.)
The Church’s new statement of purpose appears to focus on helping the poor and needy
among its own members, which has been true historically as well. (Nonmembers cannot qualify
for “exaltation,” according to LDS doctrine.) The LDS Church’s official disclosure of humanitarian
aid, from 1985–2007 is reported as $1.01 billion (“Humanitarian Efforts,” Church News, 2010,
Deseret News, 4 Dec. 2010 http://www.ldschurchnews.com/humanitarian/, emphasis added).
Assuming this figure is correct, this averages to be $45.9 million per year ($1.01 billion divided by
22 years, 1985 to 2007). To further gain perspective on this figure, this works out to be
approximately $5 per member, per year, that is used for humanitarian aid! This figure is based on
a membership average between the years 1985 (end of year statistics state 5,919,483) and 2007 (end
of year statistics state 13,193,999), which works out to be 9,556,741; $45.9 million divided by
9,556,741 = 4.80, or approximately $5. Membership statistics can be found online at “The Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints membership history—Table for LDS Church Membership
Numbers,” Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, 6 Oct. 2010, Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., 4 Dec. 2010
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Church_of_Jesus_Christ_of_Latter-
day_Saints_membership_history.
Compare the above information with how much money the church spends on real estate.
Three examples include:
- the LDS Church-funded downtown Salt Lake City “City Creek Center,” which is estimated at
costing $1.5-6 billion. See Carole Mikita, “A look inside as City Creek Center’s completion nears,” KSL.com,
3 Mar. 2012, KSL Broadcasting, 19 Mar. 2012 http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=19428181&title=a-
look-inside-as-city-creek-centers-completion-nears&s_cid=featured-1; and
Laura Hancock, “Salt Lake City High Rise is ready for Occupancy on Main,” Deseret News,
2010, Deseret Media Companies, 4 Nov. 2009,
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705341784/Salt-Lake-City-high-rise-is-ready-for-occupancy-
on-Main.html; and
“Building (Development, really) 8: City Creek Center – Salt Lake City, Utah,” Truth Hurts, 25
Oct. 2010, 19 Mar. 2012 http://truthmarche.wordpress.com/2010/10/25/church-finance-part-iv/:
“Total (estimated) cost: $6.0 billion...~$,3000 per square foot. ...Even if we’re overly conservative
this figure would be well north of $2,000/ft...figures that are hard to find anywhere).” - the LDS Church-funded La’ie, Hawaii “La’ie Inn” renovation, which, as of December 10,
2007 was estimated as costing $30 million (“Hawaii Reserves Plans 220-room Laie Hotel,”
eTurboNews, 10 Dec. 2007, eTurboNews, Inc., 4 Dec. 2010
http://www.eturbonews.com/255/hawaii-reserves-plans-220room-laie-hotel); and