1. The LDS (Latter-day Saints) Church has been engaged in a legal battle to keep its financial records and operations private, arguing that disclosing this information would violate the church's constitutional rights. The church has filed numerous lawsuits and lobbied state legislatures to pass laws that would shield its financial data from public scrutiny.

2. Critics of the church's secrecy argue that as a tax-exempt organization, the LDS Church should be subject to the same financial transparency requirements as other non-profit entities. They contend that the public has a right to know how the church is using its substantial resources, which are estimated to be worth hundreds of billions of dollars.

3. The article suggests that the church's efforts to maintain financial privacy are part of a broader strategy to assert its autonomy and limit external oversight. This approach has been criticized by some members and former members, who believe the church should be more accountable to its followers and the public.