The Latter-day Saints church responds to Victorian government inquiry submission
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has responded to criticism submitted to a government inquiry. Here are their answers to questions about their faith and rules for members.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has responded to criticism submitted to a government inquiry.
Here’s their full statement.
Is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints a cult?
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a global Christian faith with over 17 million members, including nearly 160,000 in Australia. Leaders and members are guided by the two great commandments to love God and love their neighbour. Church services each week include the sacred sacrament ordinance where bread and water are blessed and passed to all participants in remembrance of the life and sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
The Church’s worldwide missionary force of 84,000 can be found in communities across the country. These enthusiastic volunteers are happy to answer any questions people have about the Church. Additionally, visitors and members of the public are welcome to attend weekly worship services or social activities at any one of our meeting houses.
Did the church use LDS Charities Australia to funnel through $750 million of donations, which resulted in it being registered as a charity and allows members to claim their tithes as a tax deduction?
Since it was established in 2014, LDS Charities Australia has partnered with charities around the globe to provide hundreds of millions of dollars in funding to relieve poverty, suffering and distress. Throughout that time, LDS Charities Australia has been registered with the ACNC, and its financial records are publicly available on the ACNC website. In the ACNC’s most recent Australian Charities Report, LDS Charites Australia was listed as the third largest charity in Australia by donations and bequests.
Caring for those in need is one of the core responsibilities of the Church. Funding for the Church’s charitable and humanitarian work comes from its members’ donations. In 2024 alone, LDS Charities Australia sponsored 146 projects in 55 developing countries.
Church members who make voluntary tithing contributions can choose to direct their donations to LDS Charities Australia. As with all other donations made by Australian taxpayers to registered charities, these contributions are tax deductible.
Does the global church control Ensign Peak, which has more than $200 billion US ($300 billion AUD) in funds? Given that wealth, does the church give enough to charity?
Ensign Peak Advisors is the affiliated investment manager for the Church. Funds generated and managed by Ensign Peak Advisors exist to support not only the Church’s day-to-day operations, but also its mission to care for all of God’s children.
In 2024, the Church provided US$1.45 billion in humanitarian aid, including food security, clean water, emergency relief and education projects worldwide. This amount has grown significantly in recent years and is now one of the largest faith-based humanitarian contributions in the world.
Does the church refuse to marry members in the Temple if they have not paid their tithes?
Tithing is a commandment first taught in the Bible and continues to be an act of faith and devotion for adherents of many faiths around the world. It is not and has never been a fee for temple access. For members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, ordinances performed in temples, including marriages, are sacred and eternal. To enter a temple, members need a temple recommend, which confirms their commitment to live various gospel principles, including honesty, chastity and paying a full tithe.
Are members, including those on limited incomes such as pensions, told to give their tithes before tax?
Tithing, as taught and explained in the Bible, is a personal, voluntary offering between the donor and God. Those who choose to tithe do so based on their own interpretation of the principle as an act of faith, not as a mandatory tax or fee. One’s decision to include or exclude certain income streams, such as pensions, is a personal one.
Does the church encourage members to disown their family members if they leave the church?
No. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints counsels its members to follow Jesus Christ’s example of love, kindness, and respect toward everyone — regardless of belief or affiliation. Faithful Church members enjoy positive relationships with friends, colleagues and family members of all faiths or no faith at all.
Do church elders, usually men, ask teenagers, including young girls, about their sex lives and whether they masturbate? If so, do these private conversations raise the risk of the children being groomed for sexual abuse?
Ecclesiastical leaders of all faiths have a sacred responsibility to support, teach and inspire the youth they are entrusted to lead. Interviews between leaders and young people provide important opportunities to help youth navigate an increasingly complex world. These interviews are uplifting and edifying for both parties.
The Church has well-established policies for interactions between youth and leaders, including the requirement for a parent or other adult to be in the room during interviews. Members of all ages can also request that another adult be present for interviews.
Is the church a model litigant when it has been sued for sexual abuse?
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints condemns abuse in all forms. It strives to respond with empathy for survivors and accountability for perpetrators. When lawsuits arise, the Church seeks to resolve them ethically, honestly and with compassion, balancing its responsibility to protect individuals, honour confidentiality and uphold its legal obligations.
Does the church have rules about what underwear members wear?
As with devout followers of other faith traditions, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints wear symbolic clothing as a reminder of their commitment to follow God. In order to maintain the sacred nature of these garments, and to allow for individual expression, this clothing is designed to be worn under normal clothing and to encourage modesty.
Are there also rules for missionaries about how to wear their hair and whether to cover their shoulders?
Missionaries are full-time representatives of the Church and modern-day disciples of Jesus Christ, who they strive to represent in appearance and conduct. Their dress and grooming standards reflect modesty, cleanliness, and professionalism.
Does the church discriminate against people who are gay?
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints teaches that all of God’s children should be treated with love, respect, and compassion. All are therefore welcome to worship and participate in Church services, regardless of race, sex, background, gender identity or sexual orientation.
The Church’s position on relationships applies equally to everyone: that is, sexual relations outside of marriage are inconsistent with God’s commandments as outlined in scripture and are reserved only for a man and a woman legally wedded to one another.
Note: The Church’s Gospel Library is a comprehensive collection of Church materials including scriptures, handbooks, essays, life help materials and audiovisual resources.
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Originally published as The Latter-day Saints church responds to Victorian government inquiry submission
