Church member sues over $5 million tithe, refund request raises questions about all religious giving
Says church's commercial investments were not 'the work of the Lord'
By Mark A. Kellner
The Washington Times
April 24, 2024
A brother of former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. is suing the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for a $5 million “refund,” accusing the church of misusing his mandatory tithing donations.
James Huntsman, who grew up in a prominent LDS family before leaving the church in 2020, says his donations were used to help finance commercial ventures, not “the work of the Lord,” as a church teaching document stated.
Mr. Huntsman claims the church invested his donations to construct City Creek Mall in Salt Lake City — adjacent to LDS headquarters — and support church-owned Beneficial Life Insurance, which was ailing financially.
The church denies the allegation and says the commercial investments were made using interest earned on tithes held in reserve for future needs.
Other religious groups that filed a brief supporting the 17 million-member church’s position say having a court mandate refunds would insert the legal process into ecclesiastical issues, violating the First Amendment’s guarantee of religious free exercise.
A federal judge in California, where Mr. Huntsman now resides, ....
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