SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, March 23, 2021 (Gephardt Daily) — James Huntsman, brother of former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, Jr., on Monday filed a fraud lawsuit against The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, alleging that the Church spends tithing money from its members on commercial ventures rather than charity.
On Tuesday, LDS Church spokesman Eric Hawkins shared his response with Gephardt Daily. It reads, in full:
“Mr. James Huntsman resigned his Church membership last year. Now, he is demanding through his lawyers that tithing he paid to the Church as charitable contributions be returned to him. He claims that, contrary to assurances made by past Church President Gordon B. Hinckley, the Church used tithing to build City Creek, a mixed use commercial development across the street from Church headquarters in Salt Lake City.
“In fact, tithing was not used on the City Creek project. As President Hinckley said in the April 2003 General Conference of the Church, the funds came from ‘commercial entities owned by the Church’ and the ‘earnings of invested reserve funds.’ A similar statement was made by President Hinckley in the October 2004 General Conference. Mr. James Huntsman’s claim is baseless.
“Tithing funds are voluntary contributions by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as an expression of their faith in God. They are used for a broad array of religious purposes, including missionary work, education, humanitarian causes and the construction of meetinghouses, temples and other buildings important to the work of the Church, as reflected in scripture and determined by Church leaders.”
James Huntsman, son of the late billionaire philanthropist Jon Huntsman, Sr., filed the suit in federal court. James Huntsman v. Corporation of the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints says the Church’s alleged commercial use of tithing funds amounts to fraud.
The lawsuit
The lawsuit reads, in part, “While the Church is obviously entitled to its religious beliefs (which Mr. Huntsman is not challenging through this lawsuit), the LDS Corporation is not entitled to defraud the Church’s congregation,” the lawsuit says, in part. “Consequently, this is not a case about faith; it is a case about fraud and corporate greed.
“For decades, in a fraudulent effort to elicit the donation of tithing funds from Mr. Huntsman and other devout Church members, the LDS Corporation repeatedly and
publicly lied about the intended use of those funds, promising that they would be used for
purely non-commercial purposes consistent with the Church’s stated priorities – namely,
to fund missionary work, member indoctrination, temple work, and other educational and
charitable activities.
“Behind the scenes, however, rather than using tithing funds for the promised purposes, the LDS Corporation secretly lined its own pockets by using the funds to develop a multi-billion dollar commercial real estate and insurance empire that had nothing to do with charity.
“The LDS Corporation’s misrepresentations to Mr. Huntsman and the Church’s other members concerning the intended use of tithing funds were numerous and
well-documented. Indeed, the LDS Corporation repeatedly and specifically
misrepresented that tithing funds would not be used for the commercial development of
the City Creek Mall, a for-profit shopping center in downtown Salt Lake City Utah, or for
the bailout of a failing private insurance company, Beneficial Life Insurance.
“These misrepresentations, repeated publicly by the LDS Corporation and its
agents, over and over again for a period of nearly two decades, were outright lies.”
As damages for himself, Huntsman’s lawsuit seeks damages including the $5 million for general and special damages, costs of the suit incurred, interest, and “for such other and further relief as the Court deems just and proper.”
Sad Sad Sad. The Church went in business ventures over 100 years with requested funds, for that purpose, from members to start them which put members to work. So much more behind the Church’s business dealings other than what its detractors would lead you to belive
I am a excommunicated non member. Almost 30 years now. I love the church. I love what it does for so so many people. Me and my family has been so blessed by our relationship to the church and most of it’s members. What ever the church does with our Tithing money to build the fund is expected and factored in to our family giving. Sounds like a lot of splitting hairs here and sour grapes
I’m a member in this church and have served in many callings. I am a full tithe payer and as instructed in the Bible and other scriptures members are to pay a full tithing as instructed by the Lord. When paid those proceeds belong to the church. I never expect any of those funds back. Many blessing come to those who pay tithing and many families and many non members are helped through the many programs of the church. Those funds are to be used as directed by the Lord in any way he see’s fit. The Prophets are charged with accounting of those sacred funds and determine how they will be used. Anyone expecting to withdraw those funds after he leaves the church cannot be trusted with anything important and needs to repent and move on in his chosen direction. He will stand one day before the Lord and answer to him and him alone.
Mr James Huntsman needs to look at all the billions spent on charity all over the world. We pay tithing on faith and know that it is for the good of this church and members and non-members alike. Sounds like James has a financial problem and telling lies to get money. It’s too bad he has such animosity towards the church.
We are current, active members of the church.
We are eternally grateful to John Huntsman, Senior for his deeply loving and fulfilling works to defeat cancer. We have been helped by “The Huntsman Cancer for 20+ years.
We owe Mr Huntsman gratitude for thee fact I still have a loving and caring husband. We are so appreciative of the excellent doctors in whose care his life continues with remission and quality of life. He has received care from many, but Dr Dineninger and Dr Lee stand out!
John Huntsman is a hero to us. He lived his life and demonstrated how to follow output Savior! He was a beacon to all Latter-day Saints—definitely someone to try to emulate. He is a stalwart to members of our church.
As far as tithes are concerned: tithes exist in most churches we know about, whether it be a plate passed among the congregation or a set percentage. Tithing is an offering.
When we GIVE an offering, it is just that. We
are astounded to hear that anyone would ask for their donations/gift be returned (with interest). When you gift a grandchild money for a birthday, do you direct how that child uses your gift?????
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has declared, through it’s prophets, how tithes are used. To determine, on your own, how tithes are used is wrong! Thank goodness for repentance.