Document and Entity Information - shares	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	May 11, 2017
Entity Registrant Name	SECURITY NATIONAL FINANCIAL CORP
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2017
Trading Symbol	snfca
Amendment Flag	true
Amendment Description	1
Entity Central Index Key	0000318673
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Smaller Reporting Company
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2017
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Class A Common Stock
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		13,820,079
Class C Common Stock
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		2,005,026