Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net earnings	$ 68,405	$ 67,309
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash from operating activities:
Universal life and annuity contract interest	299,224	216,933
Surrender charges and other policy revenues	(10,450)	(10,854)
Realized (gains) losses on investments	(7,199)	(8,112)
Accrual and amortization of investment income	(2,040)	(1,740)
Depreciation and amortization	3,742	4,246
(Increase) decrease in value of index options	(126,739)	(42,328)
(Increase) decrease in deferred policy acquisition and sales inducement costs	(15,433)	(3,604)
(Increase) decrease in accrued investment income	(3,792)	(5,852)
(Increase) decrease in other assets	(20,271)	(6,088)
Increase (decrease) in liabilities for future policy benefits	8,960	8,335
Increase (decrease) in other policyholder liabilities	11,261	1,417
Increase (decrease) in Federal income taxes	(14,151)	(14,391)
Increase (decrease) in other liabilities	2,390	18,416
Other, net	0	0
Net cash provided by operating activities	193,907	223,687
Proceeds from sales of:
Securities held to maturity	1,980	0
Securities available for sale	10,246	7,539
Other investments	10,520	8,646
Proceeds from maturities and redemptions of:
Securities held to maturity	1,028,476	1,021,666
Securities available for sale	191,833	252,464
Index options	109,816	25,225
Purchases of:
Securities held to maturity	(1,380,732)	(1,208,044)
Securities available for sale	(247,375)	(388,228)
Index options	(45,629)	(42,184)
Other investments	(15)	(5,036)
Principal payments on mortgage loans	30,649	38,783
Cost of mortgage loans acquired	(5,271)	(16,728)
Decrease (increase) in policy loans	3,242	829
Other, net	(2)	(2)
Net cash used in investing activities	(292,262)	(305,070)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Deposits to account balances for universal life and annuity contracts	732,745	715,037
Return of account balances on universal life and annuity contracts	(665,048)	(625,306)
Issuance of common stock under stock option plan	0	0
Net cash provided by financing activities	67,697	89,731
Effect of foreign exchange	555	307
Net increase (decrease) in cash and short-term investments	(30,103)	8,655
Cash and short-term investments at beginning of period	124,561	119,290
Cash and short-term investments at end of period	94,458	127,945
Cash paid during the period for:
Interest	40	30
Income taxes	48,658	49,540
Noncash operating activities:
Deferral of sales inducements	$ 1,261	$ 2,965