Report Concludes Church Funds Well Managed

The Arizona Republic published in June and July 1991 a four-part series profiling the financial aspects of the Church. Among other observations, the Republic concluded that there was no evidence of “financial fraud or personal wealth-building among top officials” and that “there is no question that nearly all of the Church’s resources go into what it sees as its religious priorities: worshiping, missions, and education.”

The Church cooperated with the investigation for more than a year, according to Don LeFevre, director of media relations for the Church. “We provided a number of interviews and considerable information, but we never validated their estimates of the Church’s total income.

“While there were a few deficiencies in the series, it was generally positive in its treatment of the Church. I believe our open and cooperative attitude was instrumental in achieving those positive results. The conclusion of the reporters, after an extensive in-depth investigation of the financial side of the Church, was that the tithes and offerings and other income are well managed without even a hint of impropriety. This, of course, is not surprising to us, but it may have been to some of the more cynical readers of the series.”