Mormon whistleblower: Church’s investment firm masquerades as charity | 60 Minutes

Mormon whistleblower: Church’s investment firm masquerades as charity | 60 Minutes

Mormon David Nielsen left his job at Ensign Peak Advisors, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ investment firm, and filed an IRS whistleblower complaint. He speaks with Sharyn Alfonsi.

#news #60minutes #religion

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40 Comments

  1. @gunnerhaynes7166 on June 1, 2025 at 9:33 pm

    People hate taxes until they want to impose them on churches.

  2. @anti-validation on June 1, 2025 at 9:36 pm

    Tithing is a scam. Jesus asks us to make sacrifices to help the needy. Paying for buildings where people gather to sing praises to God is not worship. Worship is missionary work. Charity without sacrifice is not charity. Charity that is not done in secret, receives no rewards in heaven.

  3. @leventeczutor8239 on June 1, 2025 at 9:36 pm

    The Church was established by God, the government wasn’t. Corrupt politicians should not tell us what to do with the Lord’s money.
    The Church should be fully independent from the government.

  4. @allengreg5447 on June 1, 2025 at 9:36 pm

    Spring rain drifts down in soft hushes, soaking earth and leaf with quiet grace. The world glistens, paused and breathing, wrapped in the calm of renewal.

  5. @DavidAllanBRZ on June 1, 2025 at 9:37 pm

    I believe it would be a problem if some of the church leaders were putting the money in their own pockets. But I don’t see an issue with saving money and making it grow for difficult times. It’s like Pharaoh’s dream, seven years of prosperity and seven years of famine.

  6. @60minutes on June 1, 2025 at 9:40 pm

    Click here for more: https://youtu.be/VJtE7WiuhDg

  7. @american236 on June 1, 2025 at 9:42 pm

    The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints built City Creek Center in Salt Lake City through its real estate arm, Property Reserve, Inc., for several key reasons:

    1. Revitalize Downtown Salt Lake City

    The Church wanted to help revitalize and preserve the economic health of downtown Salt Lake City, especially around Temple Square. In the early 2000s, downtown was declining with vacant storefronts and deteriorating infrastructure. The Church saw investment in the area as a way to protect and enhance the area surrounding its headquarters.

    2. Preserve the Area Near Temple Square

    City Creek Center is located right next to Temple Square, which is a spiritual and historical center for the Church and a major tourist attraction. By developing a high-end, clean, and well-managed space, the Church ensured that the environment surrounding Temple Square remained attractive, safe, and vibrant.

    3. Long-Term Investment

    The Church treats some of its real estate holdings as long-term financial investments. City Creek Center is a for-profit project intended to produce returns that can help support the Church’s operations, humanitarian efforts, and other projects without relying solely on tithing funds.

    4. Use of Commercial (Not Tithing) Funds

    Church leaders clarified that tithing funds were not used for the mall. Instead, the project was funded through the Church’s commercial real estate arm, which is separate from sacred funds used for religious purposes.

    5. Promote Self-Reliance and Responsible Development

    By managing its own commercial development, the Church promotes self-reliance and responsible urban development. The project included office space, condos, restaurants, and green space—intended to bring people to live and work downtown again.

    Summary

    In short, the Church built City Creek Center to:
    • Revitalize downtown Salt Lake City
    • Protect the Temple Square environment
    • Create a sustainable financial investment
    • Promote community development
    • Do it all without using tithing funds

  8. @layahails9655 on June 1, 2025 at 9:43 pm

    Bla Bla Bla ……

  9. @johndavalito9027 on June 1, 2025 at 9:43 pm

    How much the IRS gonna pay him??

  10. @stevenpape7667 on June 1, 2025 at 9:45 pm

    As a member we know what happens when your church is poor and powerless . The tithing is one thing, but investments are another . Its called savings. i have no problem with it at all and no ones business that not a member and if a member thinks they know the full story, they dont .

  11. @PrincessEms-rm1yt on June 1, 2025 at 9:45 pm

    Tithing is non – negotiable I’m not even a Mormon… the church should be prosperous not borrowing but lending to others. And maybe your alittle right sounds like pedaling with money… apostle Paul said, “ not to pedel the word of God for profit, 2 Corinthians 2v17… Paul was about integrity in minstry, emphasis on there minstry charaterised by sincerity and not for self gain… so if the investors are doing stuff for the church to gain and give to needs why not invest I think it’s onto it. As long as the ones dealing with believers tithe and offerings are not pocketing or have self interest then go for it! The Bible also talks about increase… I’m not to sold on your whistle blowing …

  12. @turdferguson8716 on June 1, 2025 at 9:46 pm

    Who is this smug loser to try and tell the church how HE thinks the church should spend money? Does he think they should just blow all of it and function with no reserves? There are rainy days…

  13. @tinafansavga on June 1, 2025 at 9:46 pm

    Don’t understand why the government won’t shut them down as they are nothing but a CULT and they are just using religion as a loophole.I applaud the ones who get out for good and don’t allow the church leaders to control their lives

  14. @lloydmaliakal6256 on June 1, 2025 at 9:47 pm

    Omg. I had a weird feeling about it. I never parted money with them

  15. @Gguy061 on June 1, 2025 at 9:48 pm

    "What’s the difference between confidential and secret?"
    I’m surprised the LDS didn’t come up with mental gymnastics to justify that, just like everything else. "We don’t believe in communicating with the dead, but we do offer dead people the choice of being baptized as a mormon."

  16. @allengreg5447 on June 1, 2025 at 9:49 pm

    They saved jobs at Beneficial Life and created jobs at the City Creek Mall.

  17. @anti-validation on June 1, 2025 at 9:54 pm

    What? They receive $17 billion per year, and use $1 billion on charity? What a scam!!!

  18. @stevenpape7667 on June 1, 2025 at 9:55 pm

    I do my part i pay my tithing that on me whats done with it is on those that are responsible for that job . I will not lose my hope in christ over money

  19. @f.princeE4 on June 1, 2025 at 9:56 pm

    If your religion starts with golden tablets of course you’ll be wanting billions to stockpile.

  20. @NZer-t2i on June 1, 2025 at 9:57 pm

    I’m from NZ and my family (dirt poor) gave our last pennies to the church and generations have gone and we’re still poor. My sister asked to be reimbursed for $50 she spent on cakes for linga longer and was declined.

  21. @ChaseRace13 on June 1, 2025 at 9:59 pm

    If he wants to work for a charitable organization and a billion dollars going to humanitarian aid is not sufficient for him, then I don’t think he has to work for a hedge fund. There are plenty of other charitable organizations.

  22. @jesepholjariol-e1l on June 1, 2025 at 10:04 pm

    MONEY for 2nd coming preparation
    for BUILDING TEMPLE around the world, OPPOSITION like DAVID nielsen is SHAMED. DOES’T HAVE faith to the church, he tempted by Satan use to destroyed god, the same us 18th century. for god knows his hearth he after money not a gospel convert and proud of his success. proudful people even before doesn’t overcome face Jesus Christ at his coming.

  23. @RonZhang on June 1, 2025 at 10:04 pm

    This could explain why Temples have grown at such the rapid rate. To actually spend that fund for the actual purpose.

  24. @QXY01 on June 1, 2025 at 10:05 pm

    They have young men dress up as businessmen, isn’t that enough to suspect something?

  25. @MrOsaft6 on June 1, 2025 at 10:07 pm

    how do you think anything gets done

  26. @christopherdavis6547 on June 1, 2025 at 10:07 pm

    I do not envy this man.

  27. @bm4964 on June 1, 2025 at 10:08 pm

    All it takes is a little twist of the Word.

  28. @SpicyArizonaRooster369 on June 1, 2025 at 10:12 pm

    #gilavalleyaz

  29. @chiefkreesh on June 1, 2025 at 10:15 pm

    Omg

  30. @TonyKingTheSouthAfrican on June 1, 2025 at 10:17 pm

    We don’t care, we love the church.

  31. @Gguy061 on June 1, 2025 at 10:18 pm

    Wow, they’re using their church as a front to launder untaxed money

  32. @layahails9655 on June 1, 2025 at 10:18 pm

    I want a refund and interest from my tithing…….

  33. @aerox45 on June 1, 2025 at 10:19 pm

    in Matthew 25 in the Bible there is a story about a lord and his servants that are given talents. read that. The church and the servants of the church beleives in creating more from what we have, so no doubt the church does its best to invest and grow, if it didn´t it would be against its own beleifs. Also tons of money is spent each year to help families and locations in need, its also in the yearly report.

    Also, start waving red flags when individuals high up in the church lives in mansions paid for by the church and are pocketing the money themselves. That has not happened, that will not happen.

  34. @michaelanthoney5570 on June 1, 2025 at 10:23 pm

    Think of the parable of talents ! Church just does that ! Since the church began is there any bad rapport on the leaders in fraud the church money?

  35. @american236 on June 1, 2025 at 10:26 pm

    Bro is a BAD ACTOR. He’s a poster child of a disgruntled ex member.

  36. @xcx23cwea65 on June 1, 2025 at 10:26 pm

    That was a seak peek on how the kingdom of satan works.

  37. @tommybrice4639 on June 1, 2025 at 10:27 pm

    the media was the wrong place to start, they will gut you on TV for a story.

  38. @kalanipickard3861 on June 1, 2025 at 10:28 pm

    So why does bro get to collet 30% is that like a whistle blower reward?

  39. @Kato414 on June 1, 2025 at 10:28 pm

    I’m a Mormon—this video alone (even without the judge’s recent ruling) does not convince me that there’s anything unlawful or immoral going on here. And if you think you see evil, as far as I’m concerned that’s your bias. Look—the law is the law, and I love this country and its citizens. If my church is breaking the law, then those responsible need to be held fully accountable. But the IRS guy in the video stated clearly that *this case falls in a gray area*. Who else besides him would any of you have me trust on this…? Honestly it seems like a lot of you are not only just angry, but also about as naive as this “whistleblower” (who stood to receive 30% of whatever the IRS could take, btw) about what any actual organization needs in order to successfully operate in a stable way. Do you see bishops using church funds to buy themselves sports cars, mansions, and prostitutes? No, this video says that whatever isn’t used for charity or costs of operation simply “isn’t leaving”. Thats called “savings”, people. I would praise any individual who managed to invest and save so wisely. “A lot of good could be done with all that money.” Maybe you could give away a bunch of money to a bunch of people for like a couple of years? Sheesh. Anybody who’s really interested in helping a person financially knows that flat out giving people money does not solve problems. It’d be a foolish way of using those funds. I’d love to know if there are more details on this case that reveal something more heinous. Because if so, we are honor-bound to uproot it. But this video does not convince me that any evil practices have been found. Federal Judge Robert Shelby just ruled that this whistleblower’s case was incomplete, and proved no fraud. Not much more to say for now.

  40. @lincolnkeller1222 on June 1, 2025 at 10:30 pm

    12:30 explains why he wants the church to pay taxes so bad

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