Statement of Cash Flows - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net earnings	$ 14,279,504	$ 13,478,857	$ 8,024,233
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Realized losses (gains) on investments and other assets	176,387	(2,401,359)	(1,918,176)
Other than temporary impairments	270,358	605,430	164,240
Depreciation	5,579,259	5,023,985	4,389,472
Provision for loan losses and doubtful accounts	1,188,599	524,237	743,386
Amortization of premiums and discounts	653,761	269,681	238,687
Provision for deferred and other income taxes	5,076,899	4,909,927	3,245,004
Policy and pre-need acquisition costs deferred	(16,943,538)	(13,061,573)	(10,159,895)
Policy and pre-need acquisition costs amortized	6,829,702	4,364,167	5,590,332
Value of business acquired amortized	1,173,473	1,277,126	1,302,646
Servicing asset at amortized cost, additions	(8,603,154)	(6,217,551)	(3,741,381)
Amortization of mortgage servicing rights	2,410,547	1,372,543	750,735
Stock based compensation expense	343,577	387,608	391,220
Benefit plans funded with treasury stock	1,429,962	1,197,236	899,850
Change in assets and liabilities:
Land and improvements held for sale	108,160	67,089	(216,512)
Future life and other benefits	18,143,832	15,232,634	14,084,894
Receivables for mortgage loans sold	20,216,621	(47,752,055)	7,362,353
Other operating assets and liabilities	(8,473,503)	4,890,770	(135,279)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	43,860,446	(15,831,248)	31,015,809
Securities held to maturity:
Purchase - fixed maturity securities	(11,386,383)	(22,604,453)	(3,449,187)
Calls and maturities - fixed maturity securities	15,343,488	11,952,402	11,850,864
Securities available for sale:
Purchase - equity securities	(4,980,320)	(9,336,175)	(5,996,993)
Sales - equity securities	4,523,034	6,559,555	3,851,664
Purchases of short-term investments	(18,228,912)	(47,160,050)	(18,587,022)
Sales of short-term investments	12,943,083	57,188,522	3,663,246
Sales (purchases) of restricted assets	(981,433)	(40,763)	(2,628,764)
Change in assets for perpetual care trusts	(1,215,778)	(267,717)	(230,921)
Amount received for perpetual care trusts	132,809	59,053	140,587
Mortgage, policy, and other loans made	(469,593,661)	(372,334,883)	(286,974,069)
Payments received for mortgage, policy, and other loans	446,242,429	371,254,833	267,763,998
Purchases of property and equipment	(3,566,511)	(3,632,690)	(1,520,443)
Disposal of property and equipment	47,293	2,899,322	894,805
Purchases of real estate held for investment	(26,634,840)	(16,725,475)	(19,317,567)
Sale of real estate held for investment	6,093,308	13,540,913	7,269,475
Cash received from reinsurance		24,020,215	13,553,864
Cash paid for purchase of subsidiaries, net of cash acquired	(4,328,520)		(15,011,193)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(55,590,914)	15,372,609	(44,727,656)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Annuity contract receipts	11,349,276	10,172,170	10,051,662
Annuity contract withdrawals	(13,620,998)	(12,273,707)	(14,519,563)
Proceeds from stock options exercised	116,106	33,677	74,024
Purchase of treasury stock		(181,539)
Repayment of bank and other loans payable	(1,680,678)	(1,967,197)	(2,357,468)
Proceeds from bank borrowings	14,500,950	13,873,157	13,115,348
Net cash provided by financing activities	10,664,656	9,656,561	6,364,003
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	(1,065,812)	9,197,922	(7,347,844)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	40,053,242	30,855,320	38,203,164
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	38,987,430	40,053,242	30,855,320
Cash paid during the year for:
Interest (net of amount capitalized)	5,119,459	4,347,062	2,901,492
Income taxes	2,667,918	2,716,161	408,939
Non Cash Investing and Financing Activities:
Mortgage loans foreclosed into real estate	$ 2,075,714	$ 3,246,712	$ 981,820