Search for Estates, Dr. Peterson suggests

[_Paul Osborne]

Jason,

You do realize that talking about religion can stir up a lot of emotion and people can get rather sharp when they argue. I just want you to know that I'm glad you're here and appreciate your point of view even when it doesn't agree with mine. I'm sure Jersey Girl feels the same way but she is a little ticked off right now. Some of us get ticked off from time to time and need to vent while discussing our view of the facts.

You're a swell guy in my book.

Paul O

[_Jason Bourne]

Thanks Paul. I feel the same about you. And about Jersey and Harmony. Thanks to beastie. I think she gave fair summary. I mostly agree. So here is what I think. The church should distinguish between its general lay clergy and top GAs and state who is and is not paid. To not make this distinction is misleading.

I had forgotten the details of how much GAs could earn on boards assignments that only come because of their call. I do and did have concerns about that. I am glad it has stopped.

I have no problem with a GA receiving a salary nor any other minister of any other faith. The LDS Church should drop any moral superiority about this.

I believe GA pay should be disclosed in publisheld financial statements.

[_beastie]

Jason, I agree with your final summary.

I want to emphasize again that I don't think there is anything wrong with people being paid for their labors and time, even if that labor and time is associated with a religious ministry. In fact, I think the LDS church would be better off by biting the bullet and having a paid bishop who treated it as his full time job, AND had training specific to the job.

[_Yong Xi]

Thanks Paul. I feel the same about you. And about Jersey and Harmony. Thanks to beastie. I think she gave fair summary. I mostly agree. So here is what I think. The church should distinguish between its general lay clergy and top GAs and state who is and is not paid. To not make this distinction is misleading.

I had forgotten the details of how much GAs could earn on boards assignments that only come because of their call. I do and did have concerns about that. I am glad it has stopped.

I have no problem with a GA receiving a salary nor any other minister of any other faith. The LDS Church should drop any moral superiority about this.

I believe GA pay should be disclosed in publisheld financial statements.

Jason,

The church's payments to its' leadership is described as a living allowance or stipend, rather than salary. Do you suspect that this income is reported on a W2, 1099 or in some other fashion? My impression of "stipend" or "allowance" suggests a 1099, whereas, a salary would be reported via W2. Is this correct?

[_Gadianton]

Let me make a prediction. Now that Beastie has provided more than a boatload of evidence to support the contention that Packer and others have received substantial compensation as ecclesiastical CEOs, DCP will all of a sudden "not have any time" for the cross-posting debate or it will cease to interest him as all of a sudden, several scholarly papers beckon his attention.

[_twinkie]

I think the LDS church would be better off by biting the bullet and having a paid bishop who treated it as his full time job, AND had training specific to the job.

Yes, thank you! I agree 100%

[_Tchild]

Beastie, as always, is a treasure trove of informative and relevant commentaries on the Mormon experience.

I had known that the General authorities sat the boards of various corporations, but did not know that the practice ended in 1996 or so. It surely was the most lucrative aspect of the benefits of being in the upper hierarchial positions.

For a little perspective, my business partner sits on the board of a local Insurance company of which we own a small minority interest. He was asked to sit on the board for a $1,000 a month compensation. The board meets quarterly, over a nice lunch at the local country club for about two hours. For that "work", my partner will make a $12,000 annual compensation.

You can imagine the compensation of being a board member of a large corporate entity such as Zions bank, Beneficial Life, or a dozen other large LDS owned or LDS member controlled corporations. It could have easily been a six figure gig back in the 80's or 90's considering that these leaders probably were board members for multiple corporate entities.

It must have been a real bummer to get off that gravy train for some of the leaders.

[_harmony]

Let me make a prediction. Now that Beastie has provided more than a boatload of evidence to support the contention that Packer and others have received substantial compensation as ecclesiastical CEOs, DCP will all of a sudden "not have any time" for the cross-posting debate or it will cease to interest him as all of a sudden, several scholarly papers beckon his attention.

Ummm... he's busy. And leaving the country. And.. he's busy.

Geez, Gad. He's busy!

(and he's never once addressed anything Trix has said. Or anything Jason has said. He's more than content to poke at Paul, and occasionally at me.)

[_Tchild]

Let me make a prediction. Now that Beastie has provided more than a boatload of evidence to support the contention that Packer and others have received substantial compensation as ecclesiastical CEOs, DCP will all of a sudden "not have any time" for the cross-posting debate or it will cease to interest him as all of a sudden, several scholarly papers beckon his attention.

Ummm... he's busy. And leaving the country. And.. he's busy.

Geez, Gad. He's busy!

(and he's never once addressed anything Trix has said. Or anything Jason has said. He's more than content to poke at Paul, and occasionally at me.)

A little off topic, but who the hell is the Dr's "maleavolent Stalker", or, is there more than one? He seems rather consumed by this person, or at least very interested in what this person opines about him.

[_Polygamy-Porter]

A little off topic, but who the hell is the Dr's "maleavolent Stalker", or, is there more than one? He seems rather consumed by this person, or at least very interested in what this person opines about him.

The good Mr. Scratch has earn that title.