Tchild wrote:I can't decide if I have evolved so much out of Mormonism, that Mormonism seems so different to me...or, if the church itself has evolved and changed that accounts for how different it appears to me now?
Either way, I am glad the church spent a lot of money on a big downtown mall...a "City Center". I hope it contributes to the overall prosperity and dynamism of Salt Lake City and Utah.
As Utah goes, so goes the church, so investing in yourself is probably the best investment. Is a flashy mall worse than "prudent" investments...whatever those may be? Who knows?
I personally like the energy and vibrancy of big cities. I love the history and culture they have accumulated. I hope Salt Lake keeps striving for that big city feel.
What I find disconcerting is that the Church is spending ("investing") millions of dollars on this mall while at the same time, we, as tithe payers, are being told to tighten our belts. A current example is the decision to have the members clean their own buildings. Another example is those who are receiving help from the Bishops Storehouse being counseled to accept less food so that more families can be supported. Don't get me wrong. I don't mind helping clean our building. And, my father, who is disabled and in his 70's, receives help from the Bishop Storehouse. I am grateful for the help. However, I am sure you can see the incongruence here for those of us who faithfully pay our tithing.