The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is one of the largest employers in Utah, but not under one name. Its jobs are spread across a university (BYU), a job-training thrift chain (Deseret Industries), a missionary training center in Provo, its Salt Lake headquarters, and other departments and affiliates. Each hires on its own system, and the religious conditions attached to a job vary by employer and role.
This guide sets out what each employer says in its own published policies and pages. Where the Church or an affiliate has not published something we could read, we say so rather than fill the gap with hearsay.
The size of it, by the state's count
The Utah Department of Workforce Services ranks employers by 2024 annual average employment, in size ranges:
- Brigham Young University: 5th in Utah, 15,000 to 19,999 employees.
- Deseret Industries: 61st, 2,000 to 2,999.
The DWS list, updated November 2025, does not show a separate line for the Church's headquarters departments, so we cannot give you a reliable total for "Church employment" in Utah. BYU alone is larger than any tech company in Utah County on that list. For the rest of the county's large employers, see the biggest employers in Utah Valley.
BYU: the employer with a published rulebook
BYU publishes its Ecclesiastical Conditions of Employment and University Standards Policy, which applies to all candidates for and holders of nonstudent positions. It is the clearest official statement of what a Church-affiliated job can require, so here is what it says.
Background. In October 2021 and January 2022, the Church Board of Education approved ecclesiastical requirements for employment at Church Educational System institutions, including BYU. BYU's board adopted them, and they were announced on January 27, 2022.
For Church members hired on or after January 27, 2022: accepting the job means accepting, as a condition of employment, that you will hold and be worthy to hold a current temple recommend.
For members hired before that date: they were invited to accept the same condition voluntarily. Those who did not continue under the earlier standard, conduct consistent with qualifying for temple privileges.
For key leadership and administrative positions: members must hold and be worthy to hold a current temple recommend regardless of when they were hired.
For everyone: all employees agree to refrain from behavior or expression that seriously and adversely affects the university's mission or the Church, and to follow the Church Educational System Honor Code and Dress and Grooming Principles and Expectations.
For candidates who are not Church members: BYU verifies compliance with university standards instead of ecclesiastical clearance. Non-members are hired; the policy describes their process.
How clearance works
- Church members who meet the academic and professional requirements must be cleared by the Ecclesiastical Clearance Office (ECO) before they can be considered for a nonstudent job. That includes current BYU employees applying for a new position.
- The policy says the ECO is approved by the First Presidency. It contacts current and former ecclesiastical leaders, asks them questions published on the Church's website, and reviews the candidate's Church activity, public positions or statements about Church leaders, doctrine and policies, and support for Church teachings.
- The university only learns "cleared" or "not cleared."
- Final candidates for continuing-faculty-status track positions and certain administrative roles also interview with a general authority.
- The ECO confirms at least annually that continuing employees still meet the conditions, which include keeping Church membership with no formal membership restrictions, withdrawal or resignation.
If an employee stops meeting the conditions
The policy says such an employee is subject to termination. BYU may grant a temporary probation, usually no more than three months, or a temporary exception of up to one year for a compelling reason. BYU says it will not review or second-guess an ecclesiastical leader's worthiness determination. A former employee separated for these reasons may later reapply once they meet the conditions again.
Short-term and seasonal BYU work
Adjunct, evening, study-abroad and Education Week instructors and athletic and music camp instructors go through clearance or standards verification before each new contract period, and at least annually. BYU's job-seeker page lists seasonal and part-time categories such as youth programs and Continuing Education events, and says applicants must be at least 16.
For how BYU and UVU staff hiring works step by step, see our guide to working at BYU or UVU as staff. For student jobs, see student jobs in Provo.
Deseret Industries: a job-training program, not a church calling
Deseret Industries (DI) describes itself as a thrift store and donation center that is also an employment training facility. Its "Work at Deseret Industries" page says:
- Qualifications: at least 16 and eligible to work in the United States; no experience needed. The page does not list Church membership as a requirement.
- The work: donations (the drive-through, lifting and moving items), processing (sorting, sizing and pricing in the back), and retail (registers, merchandising, helping customers).
- Hours: associates are part-time, typically 28 hours a week. Most stores open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday and 9 to 7 Tuesday through Saturday; shifts can start at 7 a.m. and end by 8 p.m.
- Support: a supervisor acts as a job coach, and a development counselor helps build a career plan. DI says it can help with schooling costs and enrollment, including English classes, and certifications such as forklift and cashiering.
- Pay and benefits: at or above minimum wage, with raises based on skill and effort; a 20 percent store discount. Because associate jobs are part-time, health benefits and paid time off are not provided.
- How to apply: call the store or speak to an employee at your nearest DI. The Provo store is at 1415 North State Street.
DI is designed as a stepping stone: it says many associates have gone on to work in retail, medical, dental, trucking, warehousing and other fields.
Latter-day Saint Employment Services
Separate from hiring, the Church runs free job-search help. Google listed Latter-day Saint Employment Services offices at 702 West Columbia Lane, Provo (Monday to Thursday 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.) and 1672 West 700 South, Springville, in October 2026. Our free job help register covers it alongside Workforce Services and the university career centers.
The Missionary Training Center
The Provo MTC is at 2005 North 900 East in Provo. We could not reach an official page describing how MTC jobs are posted or what conditions apply to them, so we are not repeating what is commonly said. If you are interested, look for MTC openings on the Church's careers site and read each posting's requirements.
Church headquarters and departments
The Church's headquarters is the Church Office Building at 50 East North Temple in Salt Lake City, about 40 miles north of Provo's FrontRunner station in a straight line. Openings in Church departments (technology, finance, family history, facilities, communications and many others) are posted on careers.churchofjesuschrist.org. That site loads its listings dynamically and we could not read its general eligibility or FAQ text, so check each posting for its own requirements, including any membership or worthiness condition.
If you would commute from Utah County, FrontRunner runs from Provo to Salt Lake Central (no Sunday service). See our FrontRunner commuting guide and where to live if you work in Salt Lake.
What to ask before you apply
- Which employer is this, legally? BYU, DI and Church departments each set their own terms.
- Is it a student, nonstudent or contract position? At BYU, that decides which standards apply.
- What clearance happens, and when? At BYU, clearance comes before you can be considered; for some roles, an interview with a general authority follows.
For visitors curious about the faith itself, our guide to visiting a church in Provo is a gentler starting point.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have to hold a temple recommend to work at BYU?
Can non-members work at BYU?
What is the Ecclesiastical Clearance Office?
Do you have to be a Church member to work at Deseret Industries?
Do BYU student employees need a temple recommend?
Where are Church jobs posted?
Is the Church one of Utah's largest employers?
How old do you have to be to work at BYU?
Sources
The facts in this guide were checked against these sources. Hours, fees and rules change, so confirm anything time-sensitive with the source before you go. How we make Provo.com.
- Utah's Largest Employers 2024, Utah Department of Workforce Services. Checked October 20, 2026.
- Ecclesiastical Conditions of Employment and University Standards Policy, Brigham Young University. Checked October 20, 2026.
- BYU Human Resource Services: Job Seekers, BYU Human Resource Services. Checked October 20, 2026.
- Work at Deseret Industries, Deseret Industries. Checked October 20, 2026.
- Church Careers, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Checked October 20, 2026.
- Google Places business listings (addresses and hours), Google. Checked October 20, 2026.
