Concern Number Two: The Resources

The announcement states, “Acclaimed performers and distinguished guests will provide musical performances, personal tributes and tender insights into the life, ministry and service of President Nelson,” and the celebration will take place at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City. That sounds like one hell of a party!

I couldn’t help but wonder how much it would cost to put on such an event and where the funds would come from. Tickets are free, so the cost isn’t covered by ticket sales.

I don’t know how much it costs to staff and open the Conference Center for such an event, but the building is huge so I would imagine there is some overhead there.

I think it’s safe to assume ushers and other staff will be zealously-willing volunteers, and that should help cut costs, but I’d be surprised if all staff for the event was unpaid. How many of these “acclaimed-performers” will be paid?

I’m not an expert in cost analysis, but I’m sure we are barely scratching the surface regarding the cost of an event of this magnitude. I’d be interested in reading a cost analysis if someone more skilled than I was willing to put one together.

Why does any of this matter? The Church can spend its money on whatever it pleases, right?

Well, yes, but I still have family members dedicating 10% of their hard earned cash to the “building up of the kingdom of God”, and I’m not sure even they would classify this celebration as such. Some people might say that making blessings from heaven dependent upon 10% of your income is coercion, and using said coerced funds for self-aggrandizement is a despicable and immoral way to use peoples’ donations. Some people!

Maybe, and I hope this is the case, the funds for the celebration will not come from tithing funds. Please, let it come from anywhere else. I mean, we’ll never know for sure where the money comes from though because the Church’s books are just as sealed as the better part of the gold plates.

I won’t tell the church how to spend their money, but I bet if we really put our minds to it we could think of several more charitable ways to spend church funds.