How much salary do apostles receive?

[MikeWaters]

Originally Posted by All-American

One other one. A november 1983 Wall Street Journal stated that a seventy earned $40,000. No comment on what that means for an apostle, whether it be more or less.

Well the article says that there was no pay scale difference between apostles and seventies during David O. McKay's tenure.

[MikeWaters]

Originally Posted by Archaea

Given the qualifications of the GAs and their past earnings, they are sacrificing much and what is paid to them pails in comparison to what they would be paid and were paid on the open market.

The only apostles that Christianity accept are the ones that cast down their fishing nets to follow Jesus. The ones that went without purse and scrip.

One does not get the impression that the ancient apostles had incomes that put them in the top 1% of their society. Or even top 5%.

That's why I don't understand the comparison between GAs and CEOs.

What does it say about GAs if not one of them actually makes MORE from their stipend than their previous job. It fits into the stereotype of only well-off Mormons are called to ecclesiastical hierarchy, the so-called wallet biopsy.

[Sleeping in EQ]

The passage below from 1 Corinthians 9 might help us think about compensation for those who work "full time" in the Church. Paul draws on the OT practice of the Levitical priests living off the sacrifices brought to the temple. I don't think I've ever heard a fellow Mormon quote this passage, but if the Church is compelled to make such things public because of the lawsuit, it may become an instant favorite.

1 Cor. 9: 1-14 (NRSV)

1 Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord?

2 If I am not an apostle to others, at least I am to you; for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.

3 This is my defense to those who would examine me.

4 Do we not have the right to our food and drink?

5 Do we not have the right to be accompanied by a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas?

6 Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living?

7 Who at any time pays the expenses for doing military service? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat any of its fruit? Or who tends a flock and does not get any of its milk?

8 Do I say this on human authority? Does not the law also say the same?

9 For it is written in the law of Moses, "You shall not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain." Is it for oxen that God is concerned?

10 Or does he not speak entirely for our sake? It was indeed written for our sake, for whoever plows should plow in hope and whoever threshes should thresh in hope of a share in the crop.

11 If we have sown spiritual good among you, is it too much if we reap your material benefits?

12 If others share this rightful claim on you, do not we still more? Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ.

13 Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in what is sacrificed on the altar?

14 In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.

I'll add that one of the benefits of compensating GAs (and possibly, Mission Presidents) is that one should not have to be rich to be a GA. The fact that most of the GAs seem to be rather well off sends a message that riches = righteousness, and that's not consistent with the scriptures (and I'm not meaning to bash on the wealthy, they can be righteous too).

[BigFatMeanie]

I've found an inaccuracy in the article:

It says that until 1908 Mormons were allowed to pay tithing in-kind (paraphrasing here). Actually, the church still accepts in-kind tithing. The church has an entire department set up for handling in-kind donations:

Donations-in-Kind
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
50 E North Temple
Salt Lake City, UT 84150-3600

North American members are encouraged to pay in cash; however, many members in 3rd-world countries still pay in-kind.

[Tex]

Originally Posted by BigFatMeanie

I've found an inaccuracy in the article:

It says that until 1908 Mormons were allowed to pay tithing in-kind (paraphrasing here). Actually, the church still accepts in-kind tithing. The church has an entire department set up for handling in-kind donations:

Donations-in-Kind
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
50 E North Temple
Salt Lake City, UT 84150-3600

North American members are encouraged to pay in cash; however, many members in 3rd-world countries still pay in-kind.

You can pay in-kind using securities as well.

[MikeWaters]

Originally Posted by Sleeping in EQ

I'll add that one of the benefits of compensating GAs (and possibly, Mission Presidents) is that one should not have to be rich to be a GA. The fact that most of the GAs seem to be rather well off sends a message that riches = righteousness, and that's not consistent with the scriptures (and I'm not meaning to bash on the wealthy, they can be righteous too).

That's why I am sitting here wondering why Archaea considers 250k/yr a big hit on their income.

That would put them in the top 1% of Americans. THey have to sacrifice to come down to the top 1%?

What about the saints that make less than 250k? Will they all be hometeachers?

(BTW, some of the apostles were not well off when called, many died relatively poor, and I don't know that the 250k figure is accurate).

[MikeWaters]

Along these same lines, there is a guy in my ward who is really, really strong in the church, is the right age to be a Bishop.

I wonder if his being down on his luck for a long time (delivering papers and pizzas), despite really being quite intelligent and gifted, hurt him in terms of consideration for callings.

There is the tendency, which I think is naturual (or maybe to some degree the natural man), to push these men out of your mind as "less able."

Maybe it was my imagination, but he really seemed to perk up when he was called to be on the high council. More recently he was called to be a counselor in the Bishopric (replacing a young lawyer who moved).

I will say, in an urban ward with a dearth of able leadership, even someone like me can be called to something responsible. Which is scary.

So in a way, his experience goes against the stereotype (at least his recent past) to some degree. Before he was called to be a counselor, he got a job as a schoolteacher. Which is great for his family.

[jay santos]

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

That's why I am sitting here wondering why Archaea considers 250k/yr a big hit on their income.

That would put them in the top 1% of Americans. THey have to sacrifice to come down to the top 1%?

What about the saints that make less than 250k? Will they all be hometeachers?

(BTW, some of the apostles were not well off when called, many died relatively poor, and I don't know that the 250k figure is accurate).

Most of them making big money are because they are business owners or independently wealthy and are right around the age they would normally retire anyway when they are called. I doubt any of them made major financial sacrifices to become GA. Their money will continue to earn them an income whether they retire or become GA.

[scottie]

Originally Posted by All-American

...Grant was the most candid about his apostolic indebtedness: "A president of the stake begged and pleaded with me to quit paying tithing. He said I did not owe any tithing until I got out of debt. Would not that have been a fine record for a man who now stands as president of the Church, not to have paid tithing for thirty-two years?"95...

Now I don't feel so bad about always being a net-income tithe payer (not that I ever felt bad about it).

[ChinoCoug]

Originally Posted by All-American

General Authorities living expenses are not paid by tithing dollars. They receive some income from investments and businesses managed by the church-- I don't know the numbers, but I'd be willing to bet it is signicantly less than 500k, and likely not even 6 digits. Most general authorities were well established businessmen before receiving their calls.

Church humanitarian workers are paid the same way.