Deseret News | Sorenson left all to charity

Reader comments
Sorenson left all to charity

R | 12:54 a.m. Feb. 5, 2008

How can D-news say he "left all to charity" and then mention in the article that his family ended up with some of the estate and was well taken care of? No doubt he was an extremely generous man who probably left 99% of it to charity, but no need to overexaggerate what occured. 1% of $4 billion is $40 million and certainly not all.

Tom | 1:44 a.m. Feb. 5, 2008

It might be that his family was well cared for DURING his life (and will continue thus through investments and interest) but that he LEFT all to charity.

Lori | 2:18 a.m. Feb. 5, 2008

Thank you, Tom. Why is there always someone who just can't accept charity at face value? I am sure a man of Sorenson's business sense had helped his children learn to earn their own with his help. I am sure those that have been and will be helped by this man are very grateful, whatever the amount. Wish I could have been adopted by him though!!!

Comments continue below

Pollyanna | 5:59 a.m. Feb. 5, 2008

Good Grief "R", get a life!! How nit picky can you be? James Sorenson gave millions of dollars to charity's that would have had to do without were it not for this brilliant and generous man, and of course he made sure his family was taken care of!! AND THEN, IN HIS WILL he left EVERYTHING else to charity. Work on your math skills.

to "R" | 7:19 a.m. Feb. 5, 2008

And your point is???

R Lrnzo | 7:23 a.m. Feb. 5, 2008

This seems to be a common theme amongst those well-to-do that they want to leave MOST, if not all, their wealth to society--to give back. We see this same attitude with Bill Gates and Warren Buffet. Also, they realize, it is wise to leave their children with enough so they can do anything yet not enough that they will do nothing!

Anonymous | 7:59 a.m. Feb. 5, 2008

Boy, I'll tell ya what, that guy has a heart of gold!

Catherine | 9:33 a.m. Feb. 5, 2008

What a nice story. The world needs more people like Mr. Sorenson. Think of all the good that will come/has come from what he has contributed.

Raymond Takashi Swenson | 9:35 a.m. Feb. 5, 2008

Utah is blessed to have had such a citizen, whose legacy--his inventions, his companies and his foundation, and the organizations he supported with his previous gifts--will continue to help Utahns and others around the world for many years to come.

Callie | 10:03 a.m. Feb. 5, 2008

More proof that a person cannot be labeled in their youth -------the power of one! Next time we are impatient with a child we think is less than intelligent we should remind ourselves of this man. No one's story is fully written or over until they have lived their lives and we have felt the effects of their presence and the mark they have left on the earth that says 'I was here'.

Leon Crowley | 10:28 a.m. Feb. 5, 2008

Mr. Sorensen has done much good in his journey through this life. The inventions that he made and the effect that it has had to prolong life I'm sure has touched millions of lives. He accumulated a lot of money while here but still tried to do good with it while he was a live. In passing of course he would want to take care of his beloved wife and family, but he still gave away the rest to charity. I try to be a good Christian and do the good that I can, but I don't think that I am as generous with what little I have as he is and was. May his family be blessed in these days of grief knowing that people are praying for them to be comforted.

Mark | 10:56 a.m. Feb. 5, 2008

Great man and a great story. Nice to call him a Utahn.

Truth Seeker | 12:09 p.m. Feb. 5, 2008

You should not believe everything you read.

H Ray | 2:33 p.m. Feb. 5, 2008

"R" is way jealous

Greg Smith | 7:00 p.m. Feb. 5, 2008

The story couldn't be more misleading than any out there. Mr. Sorenson is a generous man, but he's not a fool. A man with over 30 different companies employing thousands of people, owning thousands of acres of land, do you think he would give all of that away? Do you think all the companies and land would be sold to pay out those contributions? C'mon people. Are we really that unintelligent to think it would be handed over so easily? Read the fine print - 'personal estate'. Someone with his knowledge and understanding of money would be smart enough to do proper estate planning to ensure the companies he created continue and the family legacy he left behind (not to mention family members), continue to prosper. What are you going to tell me next, that the tooth fairy is going to leave me a $100 dollar bill under my pillow??!!

DVCONN | 8:18 p.m. Feb. 5, 2008

It amazes me that people can not accept it for what it is. He made millions, no, make that "BILLIONS", and wanted to make sure it did some good. Of course he made sure his family was taken care of. Wouldn't you???!!! For all those nay sayers, get a life! Quit worrying about what other people have and what you don't. Welcome to the free enterprise system of the American way. Good for him!! He dreamed the American dream and went out and got it.

Bill from South Dakota | 8:38 p.m. Feb. 5, 2008

Mr. Sorenson sounds like a wonderful man.

Mahershalalhashbaz | 11:58 p.m. Feb. 5, 2008

It's obvious he knows what's most important for his family. Eternal life. He knows if he makes life too easy for his family, there's a good chance they will end up like Paris Hilton. He wants them to be good. Why do people think money is so great. In the next life, everyone will be rich like that, and we'll think how ridiculous we all were for wanting it so bad. We'll see there is no such thing as an end to wealth. Smart guy.

Add your comment

Comments are monitored. Any comments found to be abusive, offensive, off-topic, misrepresentative, more than 200 words or containing URLs will not be posted.

Words Remaining

E-mail address: For internal use only. We may want to contact you to publish your comment (not your e-mail address) in the newspaper or for a separate story idea.