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We don’t have a professional clergy. We don’t have a seminary in the traditional sense. Our leaders don’t have divinity degrees. They all support themselves with their own careers separate from the Church. They serve typically for three to seven years before somebody else is rotated into leadership. Here are some of my local leaders. They are not paid by the Church. A lot of them seem to be lawyers or dentists.The tithes with which they are entrusted go straight into a central account in the Church offices in Salt Lake City, where it is managed professionally as well as according to principles written out by inspiration from God. All tithing money is only spent or invested for building and sustaining His kingdom on earth, present and future. The examples below will show you that God has given the Church an extensive — and expensive — mandate.You can go to Salt Lake City and see the offices. You can also go to museums, libraries, and visitors’ centers, all welcoming the public for free.There is no admission fee or donation box.Most of the Church’s funds go toward building meetinghouses in more than 100 countries, at the rate of more than one per day. All projects are paid in full before groundbreaking, so you won’t ever see any sign at a constuction site painted look like a big thermometer. You also won’t see a meetinghouse with a leaky roof or unkempt lawn.You’re welcome to drop in anytime you see one and visit our meetings and inspect the grounds and buildings, which are built to exceed the commercial standard. One thing you will never see inside is a collection plate.You’re probably familiar with some of our 70,000 young missionaries. Although they are largely supported by their families and whatever money they could save from jobs during high school, the Church pays their airfare. There are also a dozen missionary training centers on five continents.This adds up to a lot of airline tickets. There is also the expense or running over 300 mission offices and motor pools worldwide.The Church’s senior leaders also rack up quite a few frequent flyer miles. These 12 here have a calling to testify of Christ to the whole world, and by the looks of their schedules, they are serious about it.Beyond travel expenses, they and about 100 other General Authorities are offered a parsonage that is more than I earn, but less than my supervisor makes - the point being that these men are way underpaid, given their role as being part of a council responsible for leading millions of people and overseeing billions of dollars. And even then, not all of them accept the money. Money simply can’t be said to be their motivation. It’s important to consider that the 12 apostles you see here work six days a week, 11 months a year for the rest of their lives. They never retire.So this is about 100 paid men leading a 16 million-member growing global organization. Among these hundred-or-so, there is a council of 18 who are responsible for the management of several billion dollars worth of annual donations. The money the General Authorities receive is not paid out of tithes, but rather from church-owned business interests. Given their general level of success as professionals prior to assuming these leadership responsibilities (surgeons, judges, CEOs, university presidents) I’m sure most of them took a serious pay cut to serve.These inspired female leaders are also jetting around the world at Church expense almost as much, teaching, providing guidance, and sharing the gospel.There is a headquarters staff that includes clerical, IT, financial management, media, engineering, custodial, groundskeeping, travel, security, and cafeteria personnel. They are paid market-rate salaries out of Church funds. Their salaries and benefits do come from tithes.The single most expensive item the Church owns is Brigham Young University, with its flagship campus in Provo, Utah, and others in Idaho and Hawaii, as well as the Jerusalem Center for Near Eastern Studies and a superbly-directed London Centre. If you’re not one of the 28,000 students at BYU, you can still take the same religion classes weekdays at one of the LDS Institutes of Religion next to college campuses all over. Free. There’s also a high school version to increase scriptural literacy. Again, free.With the Church subsidizing BYU by 70%, it is an excellent value in education, a private school with tuition comparable to a state school’s. In addition to over 100 major fields of study, every student must take four semesters of religion classes to graduate. There is no undergraduate theology major. (Where would they find jobs?)The Church is working to maximize digital resources, posting its whole curriculum and news releases on the official Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints web site, providing uplifting programming on YouTube as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and outreach at ComeUntoChrist.org, including live chat with these guys. (Knocking on doors is so 20th century.)Nevertheless, printing costs still exist. Like many other organizations, we are sharing the The Holy Bible. We also want to flood the earth with the Book of Mormon. This is what I saw last week when I opened the nightstand at a hotel in Minneapolis.The bling-iest expense for tithing is the temples. These are special buildings, distinct from the ordinary meetinghouses in form and purpose. They are not open to the public, but are reserved as sacred, quiet spaces for spiritual instruction, rituals, and covenant making. Here is the one just outside Washington, DC. You’re welcome to visit the grounds and the adjacent visitors’ center, which hosts free lectures and concerts.There are 155 of these temples, with several more under construction or recently dedicated in the Philippines, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Haiti, Brazil, and the United States. More are in planning stages. They are paid for before ground is broken.If you get a chance to go on one of the public tours (free, of course) before a new temple is dedicated, you will see where a lot of this money goes. Take a look at this video from the new one in Rome. Temples are so ornate because building them is an act of high worship. Solomon spared no expense. The modern temples are no less sacred.The Church also sponsors the world’s most extensive archive of genealogical records in the world, Free Family History and Genealogy Records called FamilySearch. The searchable database is growing at more than a million names per week. My late uncle (not a member of the Church) used his local Family History Library to map out our pedigree.You probably have a local Family History Center you can visit to find your ancestors. (Of course it’s free.)One place you can’t visit is the Granite Mountain Records Vault, where these records are permanently safeguarded from humidity, civil disturbances, natural disasters, and even nuclear war. #extremepreppersSince it is privately owned, we don’t have to depend on the government or invite anybody in.All this microfilm is being digitized for free public use on the Internet.One of the purposes of the Church is to help the poor.This warehouse is the center of an international system of storehouses of food and emergency supplies.The government has no involvement in any of it. This funding comes from the donations we make as Church members when we skip two meals a month and contribute the cost of the meals to a local fund to feed the hungry within our local congregation. The money left over from that goes to fund this larger program to feed our own as well as disaster victims of any faith.There are over 100 smaller storehouses that help the needy. They often share space with LDS Employment Resource Services & Work Agency and with LDS Family Services. Although primarily to benefit Church members in distress, the Church also operates Humanitarian Service to help with disaster relief. Here’s a report on some recent efforts to help in Floridaand in Texas.The annual budgets for local congregations, which pay for refreshments, youth activities and camps, office supplies, party decorations, photocopies, etc., come from tithing funds. As top writer Adam Helps notes, “The congregations run a pretty lean budget but it’s still a lot of money.”So when we pay tithes and other offerings, we are supporting the Lord’s work, not a professional clergy.We live by this biblical law of the tithe, whereby members of the Church have the privilege to contribute 10% of their income voluntarily. For this reason, we don’t have rummage sales, bingo, pledges, or any other kind of fundraiser.There has not been a major financial scandal since the nationwide wave of bank failures in 1837.The Church does own some profit-making businesses and real estate, including much of Hawaii, Missouri, and Florida. These pay taxes the same as any other commercial enterprise.The Church has not incurred any debt for over 100 years, and will never borrow again. A small portion of the tithes received go into a rainy day fund for the Church’s operations in case there is an economic downturn.So come on by and meet us sometime. Find us with the Meetinghouse Locator. You’ll probably hear sermons or lessons about things like faith and repentance, service, forgiveness, Jesus Christ, His Atonement, the Restoration of the fullness of His Gospel, priesthood authority, family life, being a good neighbor, studying the scriptures, overcoming personal challenges, and living a clean life in a dirty world. There will also be a few opportunities to get out and serve your neighbors. But one thing you will never hear is an appeal for money.Ask any Church member about this. These are sacred funds that are donated by the faithful, many of whom live in very meager circumstances. Church leaders handle this money as if it were the widow’s mite in Mark 12:41–44. It is amazing to watch what happens with all this, and even more amazing to be part of it.I hope this is helpful.Related contentWhat would it be like if Jesus was active today instead of two thousand years ago?Should a jobless person tithe?Does the LDS president get paid?How do Mormons justify spending two billion dollars on a mall, instead of feeding the poor?The LDS Church has brilliantly amassed billions in their rainy day fund. What could they do with that kind of money? Could it even put a dent in US poverty or public health or is it better to keep that money out of circulation?What is a typical occupation for a Mormon?What was President Gordon B. Hinckley's greatest contribution as president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?If the LDS leaders are truly fallible men that can be tempted, why don’t Mormon members demand transparency in the church’s finances, if not for anything other than keeping them honest?What is the cost for renovating the LDS Temple in Salt Lake?Are most students at BYU Mormons?How do you feel about reports that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS, Mormon) has misled members on investing $100,000,000,000 that was donated by members for charitable causes?Why do Mormons call themselves Christians?What (chapter and verse) in the Bible or Book of Mormon does it show that the LDS priesthood is the only authority God recognizes and is necessary for salvation?How does one achieve the first presidency for the LDS Church?What are the LDS temple questions?Does the LDS Church believe in separation of church and state?What are Mormon mission trips like?What was President Gordon B. 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I can give you advice for California. Fine tune this for other states of provinces.I’m a twice over fire evacuee. We 4,000 + evacuees are still “homeless” ( not in permanent housing) due to fire.Please read “Health Warning” and about hospitals at the end.Extra notes for Seniors and disabled are below, as well.Winter warming shelters - if you are concerned about safety - not a good choice usually. And often there is no parking. You have to go by their bus to the shelter. If you are normally a functioning working person, this can be a hand “down” not up. Poor sleep, wake too early, too cold etc. Usually in bad areas.Program and Safe Houses: If you by chance had an addiction issue in the past or are willing to follow a 12-step program, or you are a domestic violence survivor - you may want to look into living in a Program house or safe house. The rent is usually substantially cheaper because rooms are shared. For wxample, in Los Angeles rather than pay $1500 for a studio and up to an average of $2100 for a one bedroom monthly, with deposit up to a month’s rent+ utilities, WIFI, cable, trash and water - you may pay $450–600/ month and have no deposit coming in, including all utilities, cable and WIFI. And you may be allowed to pay like $20/ night.Parking - it may cost you about $10/ night to heat your vehicle. Less if you get a generator. But you’ll need to anchor it to your vehicle so it’s not stolen. Underground parking is warmer by about 20 degrees.One step up is Air Bnb. You may find these as low as $30/ night.Motels - you can pay by the day, week, bimonthly or monthly. After 30 days they don’t charge tax. Some work out to as low as $65/ night.Before you “roll your eyes” there are rental assistance and deposit assistance programs. Red Cross, Salvation Army and Tzu Chi for example. See below.Salvation Army and some other charities also may issue hotel vouchers.Government help:Call 211 in your area and get registered for help. It’s free to register. Have a pen ready for notes and it also emails info.Try getting on Section 8. It’s a housing voucher if you qualify. You will get a subsidy credit for utilities and pay no more than 30% of income for rent. Be aware rent cap may not match area market rate. Example, in LA county the cap is about $1550 for a one bedroom. Yet market rate is about $2100 for a one bedroom. You can’t oay the difference apparently. We keep getting rumors we can now, but to date we have nothing in writing saying we can. If you have a disability you can go up to a two bedroom and pay mid $1800’s. But a two bedroom her is about $2500–2800 or more. So the program needs “adjusting.”You can get a room in a multi household house where each room is rented and locked independently.Lots of paperwork. All units are HUD inspected. Ongoing inspections of building and your unit or room.With this said normally this Section 8 waiting list to get a voucher is over ten years. Disaster relief evacuees get out at the head of the list.FEMA - if you are homeless due to a disaster and can prove residency in disaster area, once FEMA completes investigation and property walk, which may be awhile til area is safe, FEMA has hotel vouchers and will pay up to $34,000 to home owners.If you are a home owner reading this, make sure you update home insurance annually to include fire, flood and earthquake. Make sure it pays for hotels immediately and directly for evacuation. What we learned going through fires is many homeowners had to live in vehicles because policies coverage didn’t fund up front, or didn’t pay out enough to cover until FEMA kicks in.Renters can’t even get coverage except through a homeowner. Renters can get FEMA. Charities might help renters. We were lucky that they helped a little here.If you are underemployed or out of work, apply for UI. ( unemployment). It looks at your highest earning in a quarter in last year and a half. Figure it can take 3–6 weeks to see first check. You can file reports online.Food stamps / SNAP/ EBT: whatever you want to call it, if you qualify, full rates start at $192 / month in CA.Note if you accept this it will affect your SSI.Medicaid / MediCal ( California): be sure to apply for free medical coverage if you are low income.Charities:Red Cross - puts up temporary emergency shelters. You can slip in and have a cot, food and shower facilities in disaster areas and likely qualify for small stipend when shelter closes.Also ask about gift cards and VSP low income vouchers for glasses that need replacing - if you are an evacuee.Salvation Army - not only has some winter shelters but also may, if you qualify, pay for deposit, first months rent and hotel vouchers for usually a day to a week at a time. For rentals you need a W-9 from owner or landlord and money gets paid direct to third party once SA has the owner /person’s Social Security Number or EIN if a corporation.Ask about gift certificates.United Way - does NOT fund to individuals directly.Fireman’s Fund ( National) when there’s a disaster, the office of the president signs for funds to transfer to states. From there, finds can be released through disaster assistance centers. If you qualify the fire department may have funds for you if you are an evacuee.Church Charities:UMCOR (Methodist): Can help with gas cards if you qualify.(Buddhist) Tzu Chi Foundation: Helps with free cozy warm blankets, and if you interview and qualify it will help at some level with housing funds, or other things you might need. They will ask you to collect funds for the program but the funds can go to church or charity or anyone you want to help. It’s a Pay It Forward type program.Note: They will not help with medical or dental bills.Born Again Christian churches and Benevolency Mission churches: food pantries, benevolency founding. Some give out dollar store cards. If you go to store once balance is under $10, usually store manager will cash it out. This is “gas money.”CHABAD (Jewish) and Jewish Fund: gift cards and interest free loans if you have 1–2 co-signers. You have to qualify.Unions:Try asking for help.Overnight Free Creative Options:Sleep by day in a safe large parking lot. Stay up at night and grab coffee and something to do and sit in a not-busy Denny’s or IHOP.Starbucks - many open at 4:30. Clean bathrooms and you can get cleaned up at the sink that is there with you.Be careful about restrooms in any open all night place. In general, Indoor restrooms in gas stations seem very safe because the staff makes sure no one goes in and just “camps.”Homeless with Pets: Easiest place to give a cat in a carrier water and food and let them stretch their legs is in an enclosed bathroom. Try a kind Subway or Starbucks. Ask first.Hotels: You May be able to work on the Internet from lobby overnight and also bring in a pet. Dress like staying there.If you call ahead to a hotel sometimes they will cut the rate in half after like 11pm if you ask.Join hotel loyalty programs. Often you get a free night after staying a few nights.Best place to save money on hotels is Priceline and lot online into website between 2–4am.Health Warning.Never sleep with your legs down!!!!! Your legs must be at heart level when sleeping. Otherwise the back of car seats can cut off lymph drainage in backs of your legs.When your legs and feet swell, eventually blisters form, then burst. Eventually your skin bursts. At this point walking is very difficult.When your skin bursts, you end up with open cracks that don’t heal. These get infected and you can get cellulitis. Once infected, you may find urgent care doctor will send you to hospital for emergency inpatient IV antibiotics as this if life threatening!Likely you will get a drug like Lasix to help drop fluids from your legs and feet. Don’t be surprised if you drop 40 pounds in retained water in several weeks as an inpatient.Hospitals:Something you need to understand about hospitals before you have an emergency.Hospital social workers at least in LA seem to think everyone homeless is exactly the same. They don’t see a difference between a wealthier homeless person with no family to stay with, an educated person, a student, someone just out of a marriage, a US vet who just came back, a fire or flood evacuee, etc.Their answer consistently was to pick up the latest flyer to some skid row housing and think that solution fits everyone. And they showed ZERO (!!) interest in learning about other temp housing options. The excuse is they are too busy to offer customized help.If there are social workers in hospitals interested in learning options - please- I will help you. But consistently all of us have been treated like drug addicts or alcoholics when we were fire evacuees.Seniors and Elderly:If you are over 55, look for lower cost senior housing.If you are older in your sixties and older, consider using your Social Security and applying for SSI and applying for assisted living in an SSA/SSI facility where you have housing and meals included. In California, rates start at $1400/ month. (Average assisted living rates are $3800/ month or more)Choose carefully and check fines against the property before committing.Hope this helps.