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The original was posted on /r/exmormon by /u/Diligent_Mix_4086 on 2025-08-02 20:59:06+00:00.
I studied with missionaries for 5+ years and did a ton of personal research before betting baptized. Because of this, I didn’t experience the same feelings of betrayal that many members (especially those born in the church) go through when they learn difficult truths.
However, one slipped through the cracks…
As an investigator, I was told by countless missionaries and members that 100% of tithes go to building temples, keeping up church buildings, and giving to charity. Zero paid positions in the entire church. All volunteer work. Church money goes to feeding the hungry and giving wheelchairs to disabled kids.
And then I find out there are HUNDREDS of paid positions.
So now, whenever I’m in a conversation with a member or missionary who makes such a claim, I just list paid positions until they get uncomfortable and cut me off. I’ve never made it through the full list without being interrupted 😂
“Yes, no paid positions in the Church… Except the First Presidency. And the Quorum of the Twelve. And the first quorum of Seventy. And the presiding Bishopric. And anyone with “General” rather than “Area” in their title. And Church security detail. And some mission presidents. And Church accountants. And Church historians. And Church archivists. And Church magazine editors. And really just anyone at Church headquarters in SLC. And CES administrators. And CES teachers. And BYU staff. And Ensign college staff. And Family Search employees. And some temple presidents. And some temple office staff. And some temple custodian staff. And some engineers. And some groundskeepers. And technically anything involving Deseret and Bonneville, since they are Church owned.”
To be fair, I think these are all generally valid paid positions, and I’d even argue the Church would benefit from training and paying local clergy. But I was very surprised based on the narrative I’d been told as an investigator.