Inside A Multi-Level Marketer

Fortune:

There's an old joke in the direct-selling business: MLM stands for "Mormons losing money." It's no coincidence that Latter-day Saints have a reputation as having a particular affinity for direct selling. Their missionary work, which requires knocking on doors, spreading a message, and recruiting followers, often in foreign countries, offers perfect training.
Nu Skin itself is an insular organization dominated by faith and family, blending the evangelical and the commercial. Top executives hold prominent positions in the Mormon church. Myriad relatives of the company's founders have played key roles. Co-founders Tillotson, Blake Roney, and Steve Lund have each amassed fortunes in excess of $100 million, both from huge holdings in the company's stock and from some advantageous transactions. For years, the three owned Nu Skin's headquarters building and distribution center, receiving lease payments, before selling them to the company last year for $33 million. (A spokesperson says the arrangements were approved by independent board members.)
The company's mission statement speaks of being "a force for good." But Nu Skin also celebrates wealth, a duality seen in Mormon theology. That mix is visible in its philanthropic endeavors. For example, the company's Nourish the Children program pays distributors commissions -- just as it would on orders for hand lotion -- for each bag of porridge mix they order to feed starving children in Malawi. (The company says the program has distributed 277 million meals.) Notes the company's executive chairman, Steve Lund: "This is not a charity. This is social entrepreneurism."

I really like the MLM joke, although I never thought of that as a Mormon thing.  The whole article is entertaining.  It said one of the original founders has been married 13 times.  While she was a Mormon, I assume they mean 13 separate times and not many at the same time.