$120k stipend for apostles/GAs
 

There was an article in SLtrib about this yesterday, regarding report from Mormonleaks website.

If I understood the statement correctly, there is a uniform stipend for all full-time GAs, and it's not step-based on "rank".

Of course, some are indignant. Primarily those who were already indignant prior to knowing anything about the topic.

I wonder what number might be the "just right" number that is enough money but gives people satisfaction that they are living in a sufficiently humble manner.

Jan Shipps points out that the average Methodist minister in the midwest makes $138k per year. That surprises me somewhat as I think of the Methodists as progressing rapidly to being out of business.

There is the issue of transparency, and to what degree should the finances of the church be transparent to its members.

The church says that the stipends/salaries don't come from tithing, but rather from the church's investments. That's a distinction that seems to matter very little to me.

And we know that the church has moved away from having their GAs on corporate boards. Good idea, as I think this sends the wrong message. That money and hobnobbing is more important than religious work.

120k stipend for GAs per se is not surprising nor, per se, is it very interesting. It's only a story because of (1) the church's pathological secrecy about finances, which connotes something to hide, and (2) the "lay clergy" canard. The problem is the persistent, relentless dissembling, if not lying, which seems to be very ingrained. LDS culture has values and some virtues, not among them is a high regard for truth for truth's sake. It's all about end justifies the means when it comes to truth telling or reckoning.

Is it a big secret that full-time general authorities get paid? Is that something that is hidden? I don't think so. At least not to anyone that pays attention.

Yes, we do have a lot of lay clergy putting in countless hours.

Now if only we could have paid custodians. That would be nice.

What's important is that Kalani makes more.

The biggest problem with lack of transparency is corruption. Fortunately, the Church has averted any major financial disaster. It's possible, as the cleanest government, Singapore, has no media accountability.

By the way, you didn't really think the President was making $1.5 million, did you? You was just trolling, right?

This is the most important aspect. Pay raises for coaches at BYU is what matters.

I don't think BYU coaches should make market rates.

So I for one am not going to cry about Kalani or Rose being underpaid.

Why not? We should always be on the cheap?

Because I think sports are not that important. And will decrease in importance over the years.

They are only slightly less important to me now than when I was your age.

Trying to be excellent at whatever the university does is important, and paying a fair and competitive wage is required. Being cheap in the payment of all of your employees makes no sense.