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Latest from Mormon Land: Only one U.S. state saw its LDS membership decline

Also: Notable quotes from legal battles over tithing; how the church can help root out racism; remembering President Nelson’s visit with Pope Francis; and ties to the U.N.

(The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) Latter-day Saints gather to attend the dedication of the Casper Wyoming Temple in November 2024. Wyoming saw its Latter-day Saint membership dip last year.

By David Noyce

| April 24, 2025, 5:00 a.m.

| Updated: 9:58 a.m.

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Tithing talk

(Illustration by Christopher Cherrington | The Salt Lake Tribune)

The church is two for two in high-stakes courtroom showdowns over its handling of tithes.

Last week, a federal judge tossed out a proposed class-action lawsuit that had accused the global faith of fraud involving members’ religious donations. And earlier this year, an appellate court rejected a similar suit brought by wealthy Utahn James Huntsman.

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Here are some notable quotes from this long and winding legal road:

• “[T]his is not a case about faith. It is a case about fraud and corporate greed.”

— James Huntsman’s original 2021 lawsuit.

• “There is nothing in the tax law that prevents churches from accumulating wealth.”

— Peter J. Reilly, Forbes contributor.

• “Tithing funds have not and will not be used to acquire this property [for City Creek Center in downtown Salt Lake City]. Nor will they be used in developing it for commercial purposes. Funds for this have come and will come from the commercial entities owned by the church. These resources, together with the earnings of invested reserve funds, will accommodate this program.”

— President Gordon B. Hinckley in a 2003 General Conference address seen as pivotal in these cases.

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• “The church had long explained that the sources of the reserve funds included tithing funds, and Huntsman had not presented evidence that the church did anything other than what it said it would do. … Although the church stated that no tithing funds would be used to fund City Creek, it also clarified that earnings on invested reserve funds would be used.”

— 9th Circuit, in throwing out Huntsman’s case.

• “You don’t escape fraud liability just by creating a church.”

— Robert Shelby, federal judge, during oral arguments in the would-be class-action case.