How Does LDS Church Finance A $70M Temple?

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Philadelphia County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Along the two blocks of North 17th Street on either side of the Vine Street Expressway in Center City, remarkably different financial trajectories of two religious groups are playing out.

At the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia, south of Vine, church leaders are turning property accumulated over generations – such as cemeteries – into cash in a bid to fill huge financial gaps.

About a block north, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced plans this week to build a meetinghouse and a 32-story residential tower next door to its $70 million temple, already under construction. The apartment tower alone could cost $75 million to $90 million, a real estate expert said.

Where do the Mormons get the money?

Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/business/20140214_Two_churches__different_financial_trajectories.html#rE4QE48B2I9s6zuS.99

Lady Gaga Crushes Rivals In 2011 Music Earnings

Lady Gaga towered over other female musicians in 2011, heading a list of top earning women with an estimated $90 million in income, according to a http://www.Forbes.com survey released on Wednesday.

The “Born This Way” singer and performance artist made more than double her nearest rival — country/pop artist Taylor Swift — thanks to multiple endorsement deals and an estimated $1.3 million nightly gross ticket sales from her concert tour.

Read more: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/45674944/?ocid=ansmsnbc11