I know the wording at the bottom of the tithing slips was changed (in 2012, I think) to basically say, "We can use this money for whatever we damn well please, but just keep telling yourself it's going to a good cause."

So - forgive my ignorance - but does this mean that tithing can be used to pay the church's legal expenses? I'm just wondering if my TBM family has helped pay for the legal counsel that Monson & Co. now need...

Since it's the church that will have to defend itself, not one of the many "for profit" arms of the corporation, yes, I would imagine that tithing could directly and openly be used for it's legal expenses.

After all, I was always taught that tithing was meant for the "edification" of the church as a whole, to support the church's direct needs as a whole (not for charity or anything actually positive, that's what fast offerings were supposed to be about). But as you say, it's right there on the tithing slip, they can and will use any money donated to them for any purpose as they see fit regardless of the intent of the donor.

They use tithing for any purpose they want, including malls and illegal activities like buying votes re. Prop. 8.

I don't want to ruin your day but... TSCC has settled abuse cases out of court for millions of dollars

most likely it came from tithing

What else do they have? All their assets originate back from tithing.

That's kinda what I figured... there may be a family member or two who would be bothered by this, so it kinda helps take the church down another peg in an odd way. But 99% of them will just say they are "blessed" to help defend their profit.

It's not like they feel the need to tell anyone where the 'sacred funds' go.

On the flip side, since they don't know where the money goes, members don't get upset about it. EXCEPT when it becomes obvious that the church has spent money on huge land purchases, malls, or Prop 8.