[boeingUH60]

Here's a related random fact: Fidelity, the well-known investment firm, runs donor-advised charitable funds for rich clients that in aggregate constitute America's charity [1]. The three largest recipients from those funds? Harvard University, Stanford University, and the Mormon Church...organizations that aren't in any way hurting for money. I guess people fund what they are familiar with and for prestige.

1- https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2022-11-21/how-fidel...

[habosa]

I get what you're trying to say but this comment made it seem like Fidelity (or Fidelity Charitable) was somehow funneling money to those organizations. To clarify for others reading: that's not the case. Fidelity's customers are using Donor Advised Funds because they're an efficient way to tax plan around charitable donations and those same customers are choosing where the funds go (hence: Donor Advised) and they're choosing Harvard, Stanford, and LDS.

[open-paren]

It's not that mysterious. The Church has "paying a full tithe" as a basic practice of "full membership". Members can use a DAF to pay tithes in stock and save on taxes by not incurring a sale. I know this because I'm an active, tithe-paying member and this was advice that I received from other members. Anyone can set up their own DAF and donate money or securities to it then have the DAF submit the donation to the Church.

[boeingUH60]

Sure, never said it was mysterious, was just giving an interesting observation. As an aside, the first time I heard much about Mormons was reading the biography of Jon Huntsman, the late billionaire industrialist, whom I really liked. After that, I checked up on some other well-known Mormon entrepreneurs, luminaries, et al., and had some interesting observations.

1) You guys do have a lot of kids. One founder of a well-known fintech startup has 10 kids! Josh James of Domo fame got over 7 if I remember...seems to be common.

2) Ensign Peak has $100 billion+ from member contributions...what do they even use it for because as far as I'm aware, the fund just keeps accumulating?

3) I'm no fan of organized religion (I grew up attending a silly megachurch). But then, I think you guys have your things in order for a large religious organization...most people I know would get corrupt and power-drunk if they were in the position of Russell Nelson and the other leaders.

4) Utah has a problem with MLM schemes, which I assume is because of strong familial ties that preys seek to exploit...anything being done about this?

I hope I'm not intrusive with my questions. Just trying to understand how you guys run despite being a diehard atheist.

[open-paren]

2) The common opinion is that it's a rainy day fund. The church has a lot of expenses, including lots of real estate and fancy buildings worldwide. If there was a drop in tithing or a major economic recession, they want to be able to weather it for an indefinite period.

4) Nothing major has been done. Last year, there was a church policy update that states

> ...using friendship or a position of trust to take financial advantage of another is “a shameful betrayal of trust and confidence. Its perpetrators may be subject to criminal prosecution. Church members who commit affinity fraud may also face membership restrictions or withdrawal. … Members may not state or imply that their business dealings are sponsored by, endorsed by, or represent the Church or its leaders.”

(https://www.thechurchnews.com/2021/3/31/23216752/updates-gen...)

But that's the whole of it. No recent major sermons call out MLMs and their ilk.

[pchristensen]

1. Large families definitely are common, although getting smaller. Decreasing family size is trailing the general populace by a couple generations. In my experience 3-4 kids is probably the modal family size now.

2. The church was in a very bad financial position until the early 1900s because of persecution by several states and the federal government. There's a strong, strong cultural sense of preparedness and self determination to make sure that we're never in that position again. Apple in the modern era is a good comparison - better to save and have the resources on hand rather than need them and not have them.

3. Thank you, we work hard at it :)

4. There's also a strong entrepreneurial culture, both out of necessity from starting new settlements several times in the early church history, and intentionally cultivated starting after the relocation to Utah, so that the community would be more independent (see also #2).

[loeg]

The organization running the DAFs is Fidelity Charitable, which is not quite the same organization as the well-known investment firm. They are related, but distinct.

[mulmen]

I’m confused. Does this mean my retirement savings somehow benefits or is related to the LDS?

[loeg]

GP is talking about Fidelity Charitable, a somewhat distinct organization from Fidelity (which administers your 401(k)).

https://www.fidelity.com/building-savings/charitable-giving#....

[boeingUH60]

No, these are Fidelity clients that specifically direct sums from their investment accounts to be donated to charity. The donations come from clients that choose to, not Fidelity itself.

[irrational]

Only if you choose to do so, otherwise, no.

[metadat]

JS-free archive link for the Bloomberg reference:

https://archive.today/sRAox