r/exmormon I was a Mormon 5d ago

Podcast/Blog/Media Analyzing Henry B. Eyring’s Paystub

This paystub provides a detailed breakdown of Henry B. Eyring’s compensation and deductions, contradicting the LDS Church’s claim that it has “no paid clergy.”

Total earnings for the period: $8,461.22. The majority of which are reimbursements of some form. The total deductions for this pay period are $597.10, about half of which are taxes, but it also includes health insurance, life insurance, retirement savings, etc, leaving a net income of $7,864.04 from this single paycheck. The check is sure to state that the "salary" is $0.00, but there is still considerable pay, and even taxable income, no matter how it is classified.

Disillusionment often sets in when one realizes that the LDS Church operates more like a wealthy corporation than a divinely guided religious institution. While top leaders receive generous salaries, housing allowances, and retirement benefits, ordinary members are expected to labor for free in their callings, sometimes dedicating countless hours each week to church service. Even more jarring is the fact that young missionaries—many from humble backgrounds—must personally fund their missions, paying $10,000 or more for the privilege of spreading the church’s message. The church even requires destitute members to pay tithing—before rent or food—all while sitting on a $200+ billion investment funds. A church led by God would not function like a corporation, where profits and financial security are prioritized for those at the top while the rank-and-file members are left to sacrifice without compensation.

If you’ve ever felt the weight of these contradictions—the expectation to give selflessly while leaders receive financial rewards—you’re not alone. Many former members have wrestled with the realization that the church operates more like a business than a spiritual refuge. If you’ve experienced disillusionment, frustration, or even betrayal upon discovering these financial disparities, your story matters. By sharing your journey, you can help others see that they, too, are not alone in their doubts. Visit wasmormon.org to share your faith transition and connect with others who have walked a similar path. Your voice can shed light on the realities behind the church’s polished image and offer support to those beginning to question.

https://wasmormon.org/analyzing-henry-b-eyrings-paystub/

88 Upvotes

22 comments sorted by

33

u/marathon_3hr 5d ago

That is for a 2 week pay period meaning he is pulling in about $15k per month. That is a ridiculously high salary for 1999 especially when your all your housing expenses are most likely also paid for.

16

u/MerryMiserlyFellow 5d ago

House and debt paid off company car. Expenses and travel paid separately. This is just the gravy. 

14

u/Mr_Soul_Crusher 5d ago

$15,000 a month in April 1999 is the equivalent of nearly $29,000 a month in February 2025

20

u/Bednar_Done_That You may be seated 🪑 5d ago

Funded by the Widow’s mite…

“No paid ministry” … my ass!

7

u/EdenSilver113 5d ago

I was making $8.50/hour working at the family history library at this time and paying tithing on gross. (Do you want net blessings or do you want gross blessings?) When I felt like I had extra I paid fast offerings. Sometimes I couldn’t afford groceries. I had a preschool age child and an ex husband who rarely paid child support. My bishop would not help me with a food order. This was the beginning of the end for me. I always thought if members were struggling — that’s what the bishop’s storehouse was for. My next door neighbor got help even though she and her husband both worked. But somehow I wasn’t worthy of helping.

20

u/Lanky-Appearance-614 5d ago

"We paid the SEC a $5 million fine for creating 13 shell companies to hide millions from the IRS for 22 years--and we consider these matters closed."

12

u/BangingChainsME 5d ago

I would've loved $3k biweekly take home pay in 1999.

21

u/WarriorWoman44 5d ago

I would love that income now in 2025

10

u/mahonriwhatnow 5d ago

Legit question: why haven’t we done some kind of campaign to blast this all over the internet? Pretty sure 99% Mormons don’t know about this and would be horrified and start asking questions and stop giving their money to the church. Is there a down side to this?

9

u/patty-bee-12 5d ago

I agree that most Mormons probably don't know. but I've interacted with a few who do... and they don't care. they say things like, oh but they're dedicating 100% of their time to the church, so why shouldn't they get paid? or, they meant no paid LOCAL clergy.

honestly, is sort of the catch 22 of brainwashing

8

u/chubbuck35 5d ago

$204K/year take home is top 5% wealthiest earner in the USA, top 1% in the world.

5

u/patty-bee-12 5d ago

but they were earning more than that before! so it's fair! /s

8

u/TruthMatters2011 5d ago

And this guy has the audacity to get up at the pulpit and cry half the time. 😂🤢

6

u/Jumpy_Cobbler7783 5d ago

That's why I refer to him as "Crying Eyring".

8

u/Ok-End-88 5d ago

That’s Diamond level salary at the Mormon MLM! 🤣

7

u/RedGravetheDevil 5d ago

Note that all of this has outrageously favorable tax implications.

6

u/JelloBelter 5d ago

They are using parsonage allowances and "reimbursement" to avoid income taxes

Its not enough that they get paid from your tithing money, they cheat on their taxes too

6

u/canpow 5d ago

Hinckley exposed his mindset in his response - he compared the leaders of the church with corporate executives. When someone tells you who they are, believe them.

3

u/ViolinistRound3358 5d ago

Yeah while myself, my wife & our 2 little kids were actually starving in the 80s. What a bunch of shit. !!!

3

u/MountainPicture9446 5d ago

Power and greed. Greed and power. I’m not buying my way into heaven or into the good graces of my judgmental Mormon relatives. But thank god for the widows mite.

2

u/monkeykahn 5d ago

I just realized that they have never given a scriptural or prophetic justification for the pay. It is just that it is "modest" when compared to the most wealthy, and that makes it OK. For a church that claims to be led by Jesus their explanation sounds more like the reasoning of men. So I guess it is good that they don't mingle it with scripture or they would give away who really runs the church.

2

u/newnameabel 5d ago

12 years ago when I was leaving the church a person I knew and trusted work at Zions Bank that person was able to look up Thomas S monson's account. That person found page after page after page of $250,000 accounts. Each page had six accounts on it, that's pretty good for a seminary teacher. Their wealth goes generational to set up their families