Bottom Line
The land exists — but not to hoard. It’s to serve. You can criticize religious real estate strategy, but there’s no scandal in feeding the poor and preparing for the future. The Church’s land isn’t secret. It’s sacred.
| Podcast | YouTube – Mormon Stories |
|---|---|
| Episode | “How the Mormon Church Secretly Built a $293 Billion Fortune” |
| Category | Real Estate, Land Use & Framing |
| Quote | “The Mormon Church owns an estimated 1.7 million acres of land across the United States — making it the fifth largest private landowner in the country.” — Narrator, 00:05:33 |
| Core Claim | The LDS Church owns a massive amount of land and hides it from members and the public. |
| Conclusion | True (Factually Accurate) / Framed to Mislead |
| Logical Questions |
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🔍 Core Finding
Yes, the Church owns 1.7 million acres — and that land feeds the hungry, houses the saints, teaches the gospel, and preserves sacred ground. That’s not secrecy — it’s scale with a spiritual purpose.
📊 What the Land Is Used For
- Temples and meetinghouses
- Welfare farms and cattle operations (e.g. Deseret Ranches)
- Campgrounds, pioneer sites, and historical preservation
- Future expansion in growing population centers
📖 Global Context
- The Catholic Church owns tens of thousands of properties globally.
- The Church of England owns 200,000+ acres in the UK.
- LDS land holdings are big — but they’re not abnormal for a worldwide faith.