Steve Benson's thread on RfM

[_Kishkumen]

Wouldn't worry to much about the Democrats, BC. From what I can see, most are either on their way out or already gone.

Unless they are really conservative.

[_Kishkumen]

Excommunicating all the Democrats would make for some fun times.

When the Democrats are gone watching the remaining Republicans thin the herd of liberal and moderate Republicans would be even funnier. Is a 5% capital gains tax low enough or should it be 3%?

BC will say 0% is the right figure. He, like many conservatives, wants to revisit the premodern era.

[_Bond James Bond]

When the Democrats are gone watching the remaining Republicans thin the herd of liberal and moderate Republicans would be even funnier. Is a 5% capital gains tax low enough or should it be 3%?

BC will say 0% is the right figure. He, like many conservatives, wants to revisit the premodern era.

BC might be a proponent of Mitt Romney's wet dream...a -15% capital gains tax; he needs to get back all those pesky taxes he paid over the years.

[_Kishkumen]

BC might be a proponent of Mitt Romney's wet dream...a -15% capital gains tax; he needs to get back all those pesky taxes he paid over the years.

BC is not a bad guy, he just acts like one on this board most of the time.

[_Lucretia MacEvil]

Wouldn't worry to much about the Democrats, BC. From what I can see, most are either on their way out or already gone.

Maybe it will come to a showdown when the Democrat kids say to the frail kids, "get on the cart, we'll carry you, and you will contribute in other ways." The Republican kids will say, "hell, no, leave their lazy asses behind. We only look out for #1." Democrat kids say, "it can only work if we all work together." Republican kids say: "We will fight you every inch of the way on this one." Democrat kids decide to go occupy some other organization.

[_Chap]

There is obviously an outflow.

Yes. There always has been. Just not near the extent you guys are claiming.

Here we go again.

It is not disputed (is it?) that the Pew survey was a reliable indication that the percentage of the population self-identifying as LDS/Mormon has remained fixed for a decade.

Nor it is not disputed that Mormons have larger families than average, and that they try hard to convert people.

It therefore follows that there is an outflow sufficient to balance the joint effects of large family size and conversion that would otherwise increase the proportion of self-identifying LDS/Mormons in the US population.

That is the extent of outflow that this guy is claiming. No more, but certainly no less, since less would be a mathematical impossibility.

(It also follows that if Mormons ceased to have larger families than average, and also ceased to convert a significant number of people and retain them as members, while maintaining the same outflow rate, they would steadily become a smaller and smaller proportion of the US population.)

[_Eyepatch]

I love these type of threads because, in my humble opinion, the church is in DESPERATE NEED OF REFORM. Here is where I would start:

1. All missions become SERVICE-ONLY missions. I predict that convert baptisms would skyrocket.
2. End the failed "home teaching" program. replace it with "as need arises" e-mail contact buddy.
3. End the god-damned block!! 1.5 hours at most.
4. End the shake-down known as "tithing settlement." Simply send each giver a paper statement/receipt through the mail.
5. Preach from the pulpit that ALL DRESS is OK...please end the cultural preference for IBM-business attire.

There are at LEAST 10 more...but this would be a good start.

[_Yoda]

I love these type of threads because, in my humble opinion, the church is in DESPERATE NEED OF REFORM. Here is where I would start:

1. All missions become SERVICE-ONLY missions. I predict that convert baptisms would skyrocket.
2. End the failed "home teaching" program. replace it with "as need arises" e-mail contact buddy.
3. End the god-damned block!! 1.5 hours at most.
4. End the shake-down known as "tithing settlement." Simply send each giver a paper statement/receipt through the mail.
5. Preach from the pulpit that ALL DRESS is OK...please end the cultural preference for IBM-business attire.

There are at LEAST 10 more...but this would be a good start.

I LOVE all of these ideas!!!

Eyepatch for prophet!!!

:-)

I especially love the idea about dress.

I have Lupus and Fibromyalgia. I have a terrible time with nylons and heels. I have some beautiful pant suits that I wear to work all the time since we require business dress. Any of these outfits, I feel, would be very appropriate for Church, but they still require dresses be worn in the chapel on Sundays.

I have been tempted to go to my bishop about this, because there are several of us who have Fibromyalgia in our Ward.

[_DarkHelmet]

4. End the shake-down known as "tithing settlement." Simply send each giver a paper statement/receipt through the mail.

Most charities just give me a receipt that I can use to figure out taxes. I am not required to meet with them at the end of the year. I chuckle when I see TBMs actually signing up for tithing settlement. Do they not realize that they can claim their tithing contributions on their taxes without attending tithing settlement, and that the Lord knows how much they gave? The tithing still counts.

5. Preach from the pulpit that ALL DRESS is OK...please end the cultural preference for IBM-business attire.

When I was in the YM presidency we had a couple semi-active kids that we would talk about during our presidency meetings. One of the kids would come to church in colored shirts, no tie, whatever he felt like wearing. We were concerned and wanted to help him. So it was suggested that we buy him a white shirt and tie to wear to church. We meant well, but thinking back on it we not only made that kid feel unwelcomed unless he conformed to the white shirt and tie standard, we further insulted him and his parents by offering to buy him a shirt, as if he couldn't afford it.

[_harmony]

4. End the shake-down known as "tithing settlement." Simply send each giver a paper statement/receipt through the mail.

Most charities just give me a receipt that I can use to figure out taxes. I am not required to meet with them at the end of the year. I chuckle when I see TBMs actually signing up for tithing settlement. Do they not realize that they can claim their tithing contributions on their taxes without attending tithing settlement, and that the Lord knows how much they gave? The tithing still counts.

The Lord knows, but the church wants the members to remember who's in charge: the church, not God. So requiring tithing settlement is just one more of a long line of power plays to keep the members under the bishop's... and by extrapolation, the church's... thumb.

The best thing about tithing settlement is that whatever you say is what there is.

5. Preach from the pulpit that ALL DRESS is OK...please end the cultural preference for IBM-business attire.

When I was in the YM presidency we had a couple semi-active kids that we would talk about during our presidency meetings. One of the kids would come to church in colored shirts, no tie, whatever he felt like wearing. We were concerned and wanted to help him. So it was suggested that we buy him a white shirt and tie to wear to church. We meant well, but thinking back on it we not only made that kid feel unwelcomed unless he conformed to the white shirt and tie standard, we further insulted him and his parents by offering to buy him a shirt, as if he couldn't afford it.

Several years ago, we attended a sacrament meeting in Seattle. Back then, all the youth in the stake were put together into that ward. One of the youth who passed the sacrament had hair down to his waist. No one said a word to him. They were just glad he came. What a refreshing idea! (no doubt his bishop was released and reprimanded... )