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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001096906-08-002174.txt : 20081205
<SEC-HEADER>0001096906-08-002174.hdr.sgml : 20081205
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20081205112819
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001096906-08-002174
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080825
FILED AS OF DATE:		20081205
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20081205

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Quist George R.
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001298092

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-09341
		FILM NUMBER:		081231640

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		801-278-1072

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4491 WANDER LANE
		CITY:			SALT LAKE CITY
		STATE:			UT
		ZIP:			84117

	FORMER NAME:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	Quist George Robert
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20040722

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SECURITY NATIONAL FINANCIAL CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000318673
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	FINANCE SERVICES [6199]
		IRS NUMBER:				870345941
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			UT
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PO BOX 57220
		CITY:			SALT LAKE CITY
		STATE:			UT
		ZIP:			84157
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8012641060

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PO BOX 57220
		CITY:			SALT LAKE CITY
		STATE:			UT
		ZIP:			84157

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	SNL FINANCIAL CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19910401
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
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<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-08-25</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000318673</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SECURITY NATIONAL FINANCIAL CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SNFCA</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001298092</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Quist George R.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>4491 WANDER LANE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SALT LAKE CITY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>UT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>84106</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chairman and C.E.O.</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
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                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
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            <transactionAmounts>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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            <transactionDate>
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            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2300</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>2.38</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
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            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>847917</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
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            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
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            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-09-09</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>300</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>2.35</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-09-11</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>229</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>2.35</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
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            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
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            <ownershipNature>
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                    <value>D</value>
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        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
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            <transactionDate>
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            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>2.15</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
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    <derivativeTable>
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            <transactionDate>
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                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
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            <transactionAmounts>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>3.26</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-07-16</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2009-07-16</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
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                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <exerciseDate>
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            <expirationDate>
                <value>2009-12-10</value>
            </expirationDate>
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                    <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
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                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
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                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
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                <value></value>
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                <transactionShares>
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                    <value>3.33</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
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            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-03-25</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2010-03-25</value>
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            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
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                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>81034</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
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                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
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            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>4.235</value>
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            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-03-31</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>50000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>4.235</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2008-06-30</value>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-03-31</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
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                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>50000</value>
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                    <value>50000</value>
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            <ownershipNature>
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    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Includes 552,325 shares of Class A Common Stock owned by George R. and Shirley C. Quist Family Partnership, Ltd. Does not include 81,468 shares of Class A Common Stock and 544,757 shares of Class C Common Stock owned indirectly by the reporting person in the 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan, Associated Investors, the Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), and the Deferred Compensation Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">This option was originally reported as covering 50,000 shares of Class A Common Stock at an exercise price of $3.96 per share, but adjusted to reflect 5% stock dividends on January 22, 2005, January 20, 2006, January 19, 2007, and January 18, 2008.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">This option was originally reported as covering 50,000 shares of Class A Common Stock at an exercise price of $3.55 per share, but adjusted to reflect 5% stock dividends on January 22, 2005, January 20, 2006, January 19, 2007, and January 18, 2008.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">This option was originally reported as covering 70,000 shares of Class A Common Stock at an exercise price of $3.86 per share, but adjusted to reflect 5% stock dividends on January 20, 2006, January 19, 2007, and January 18, 2008.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">This option vests in four equal quarterly installments of 12,500 shares of Class A Common Stock, beginning on June 30, 2008, until such shares are fully vested.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ George R. Quist</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-12-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
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</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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