Understanding the Mormon Church's Stock Holdings: Debunking the Coca-Cola Rumors and More

Since this rumor won’t die, let’s look at the annual stockholder report of Coca-Cola. For the life of me, I don’t understand the origin of this urban legend nor do I understand why it persists. PS. The answer is NO. But even if The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints did own stock in Coke, what difference does it make and why the fascination?

Investment Policy and Practices

Probably, I like the rest of the answers—their investment policies are part of a well-thought-out portfolio. My guess is how can they own stock in a company that sells a product containing caffeine? The Church’s “Word of Wisdom” addresses the consumption of coffee and tea but there is no prohibition against caffeine. This quite often puts the Church in a unique position where its religious teachings do not fully prohibit certain commercial interests.

The Church is one of the largest holders of thousands of stocks, with investments worth over 10 billion dollars. This information comes from the latest five million fine from the IRS for the church's deceptive tactics in hiding its money. They are also the largest owner of real estate in Florida. Why should this terrify you? Because it proves their intent to own land, not just in Florida but across virtually every state where they have a significant presence. The Church's investment strategy is clear: it is not just about money but also about control.

Why Did the Rumors Persist?

Why... that’s a great question. As to the “why of intent” and “why of cause,” there are several reasons why the rumor has persisted. One of the primary concerns is the absolute power corrupts absolutely. With such vast wealth, the Church has the potential to influence countless aspects of our society. Despite this, the Church operates on a tithing income, actively avoids debt, and channels its finances into sustaining its vast network of operations. The Church's wealth could theoretically cure global hunger four times over or maintain the Russian military for four years if its assets were fully utilized.

Stock Holdings and Investment Philosophy

I’ve heard rumors that they own stock in Coca-Cola and Pepsi, but I cannot confirm those rumors. Personally, I suspect the rumors are probably true as the Church of Jesus Christ actually has a fairly healthy and diverse portfolio of stocks. The reasons for owning these stocks are to generate an income stream, just like any other rational investor. It’s not cheap to operate an international organization with nearly 17 million members, tens of thousands of full-time missionaries, thousands of buildings, and vast publication efforts. All of these require significant financial resources, and the Church relies on its investment portfolio to meet these needs.

Note: all the church’s commercial investments are taxed according to the laws of whichever country the church or the commercial interests operate in. The “Ensign Peak scandal,” while infamous, wasn’t much of a scandal in the grand scheme of things. The Church remains committed to its principles and operates within the bounds of the law.

Conclusion

So, yeah. The Church's tithing income doesn’t cover the expenses, and they actively avoid debt. Gotta make up the difference somehow. It’s a lot more sensible than how a lot of national governments operate in my opinion. The Mormon Church’s stock holdings are an integral part of its financial strategy, and while rumors persist, the reality is that it’s all part of a larger financial picture.