This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Leaders at LDS Church headquarters have salaries close to $120,000 per year (The Tribune, Jan. 10). As a former Mormon, I do not think the salaries are unreasonable. What is unreasonable is the secrecy that these leaders have exhibited over the last many decades. Beginning in 1959, they have not published the data on their assets or tithing receipts. And they have refused to reveal the data to members who query them about it.

Perhaps the leaders have felt guilty about charging members 10 percent of their incomes. Most churches and other charitable institutions receive only about 2 percent of their members' incomes. The LDS Church bases its greedy high rate on the questionable claim of the prophet Malachi, but his claim is no more believable than the claims made by other supposed prophets such as Noah and Moses.

Also, if the LDS leaders were fair minded, they would pay salaries to their bishops (congregation ministers), who work, without pay, for as many hours per week as they do at their secular jobs.

Since the LDS Church is actually a business, shouldn't it pay wages or salaries to every person who does religious or secular work for it?

Stephen R. Clark

Salt Lake City