Rayzor pointed out that some of the general authorities receive a living stipend, which is true. For those who happen to worry about tithing being used for this, President Hinckley also stated in the same talk, “I should like to add, parenthetically for your information, that the living allowances given the General Authorities, which are very modest in comparison with executive compensation in industry and the professions, come from this business income and not from the tithing of the people.” (emphases mine)

That is still true. All general authorities who receive a stipend worked in honorable professions aside from the ministry for most of their lives. As a rule, they enter this arena after they have retired. They did not seek a position among the presiding Church leaders and they were all called to serve in lower Church positions without pay for most of their lives. I would be very surprised to discover a seventy who had ambitions to climb the “ecclesiastical ladder” from elders quorum president, bishop, high counselor, stake president, area authority (all unpaid) in order finally (at age 60 or so) to get a minimal stipend. There are quicker ways to make a buck.

President Monson isn’t paid for being a prophet, either. It’s for being a president; an administrator of the business arm of the Church. As a leader of this global organization, he has a full-time job to perform and can’t be expected to run a side business, but the brethren do sometimes write books to help support themselves (suggesting their pay is not extravagant).

Thanks for bringing this up, Rayzor!

It certainly is NOT true that we are not encouraged (or even discouraged) from giving generously outside the church. We are encouraged to help our neighbor and be generous with what we have. As for Ezra Taft Benson’s grandson, he is entitled to have his own opinion on the matter.