A federal appeals court unanimously ruled in favor of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in a lawsuit challenging how tithing funds are used, according to the Deseret News. The three-judge panel upheld a lower court's dismissal of the case, which alleged the Church misled members about tithing expenditures and commercial investments. The court found the claims failed on both legal and factual grounds, and affirmed that courts cannot second-guess religious organizations' internal financial decisions under the First Amendment.

The lawsuit, filed by a former member, sought to force the Church to disclose detailed financial records and alleged that billions in tithing had been improperly diverted to for-profit subsidiaries. The Church has consistently maintained that tithing funds are used for religious purposes and that investment income from separately managed funds supports the Church's mission.