Church comments on SEC settlement

[MG 2.0]

I think it’s clear that the church worships Mammon, MG.

If I were you and believed in God, I would be trying to find a better religion. Your soul may be at stake.

Money is the means to an end in the church. Not the end. That’s where we differ.

Regards,
MG

[pistolero]

Well this is just absolutely amazing. Well done Russell M. Nelson, you will go down as the dodgiest of Prophets since... Brother Brigham himself. Your legacy is more than tainted.

Do they still do the Church Audit Committee Report at General Conference? Or did that stop? If they still do it, that would be a bit embarrassing, potentially... they'd find a broom and some carpet to hide it with I'm sure.

Ted, you were my favourite part of GC - I bet they are missing you now. RIP Brother: https://www.jenkins-soffe.com/obituaries/edward-davis

[drumdude]

I think it’s clear that the church worships Mammon, MG.

If I were you and believed in God, I would be trying to find a better religion. Your soul may be at stake.

Money is the means to an end in the church. Not the end. That’s where we differ.

Regards,
MG

So why did they hide the money?

[Rivendale]

It is interesting that even the non doctrinal non historical problems with Mormonism cause an onslaught of defensive arguments. It seems that indoctrination is so systemic that even obvious, blatant, illegal actions stimulate the fight mechanism rather than the flight reflex.

It does appear that there may have been a degree of the ‘end justifying the means’ along the way. But again, I would say that the motivations were pure in the sense that the best interests of the members of the church were at the core in the decisions made along the way. Once what may have appeared to be a minor decision meant to use existing frameworks of financial/institutional practice to insulate the wealth of the church snowballed as wealth increased and then diversified it became increasingly difficult to reign things in.

It became an example bureaucratic inertia in the sense that once decisions were made it was difficult to go backwards. Until the SEC forced the issue.

The church admitted as much recognizing that mistakes were made.

As an active believing member of the church, however, I don’t draw a straight line between these financial operations and liabilities and the four fold mission of the church.

For some of the reasons I’ve mentioned earlier.

Regards,
MG

Mistakes were made? What method do you use to decide what area of church leadership or doctrine are not susceptible to the same mistakes?

[MG 2.0]

Money is the means to an end in the church. Not the end. That’s where we differ.

Regards,
MG

So why did they hide the money?

For the reason(s) which have already been given.

Regards,
MG

[Doctor Steuss]

So why did they hide the money?

The money was sacred (not secret).

[MG 2.0]

It does appear that there may have been a degree of the ‘end justifying the means’ along the way. But again, I would say that the motivations were pure in the sense that the best interests of the members of the church were at the core in the decisions made along the way. Once what may have appeared to be a minor decision meant to use existing frameworks of financial/institutional practice to insulate the wealth of the church snowballed as wealth increased and then diversified it became increasingly difficult to reign things in.

It became an example bureaucratic inertia in the sense that once decisions were made it was difficult to go backwards. Until the SEC forced the issue.

The church admitted as much recognizing that mistakes were made.

As an active believing member of the church, however, I don’t draw a straight line between these financial operations and liabilities and the four fold mission of the church.

For some of the reasons I’ve mentioned earlier.

Regards,
MG

Mistakes were made? What method do you use to decide what area of church leadership or doctrine are not susceptible to the same mistakes?

I adhere to the teachings of core doctrines/ordinances/practices as they are implemented in today’s church and the doctrinal pronouncements as they come with the undersigned approval of the First Presidency.

As implementation of certain practices and procedures are outlined in updates of the Church Handbook of Instructions I consider those teachings to be pretty much error free. And if there are mistakes they are the mistakes of men and will be edited out and replaced with correct doctrine/policy/procedure over time.

It comes back to the line upon line precept upon precept model of revelation. It’s easy to get caught in a quagmire in the midst of this process. And then sink.

But there is always a lifeline.

Regards,
MG

[MG 2.0]

So why did they hide the money?

The money was sacred (not secret).

And it still is sacred.

Regards,
MG

[Doctor Steuss]

On a scale of morality, knowing now what we know (and when, and by whom this statement was made), where might one rate this:


“We are not a wealthy people but we are good people, and we share what we have." ~Elder Anderson, 12/9/2018, in response to a request from the Vice President of Zimbabwe, about providing clean water to people.

https://news-zw.churchofjesuschrist.org ... es-support

[Tom]

Several friends have called my attention to Public Square Magazine's tortured defense of the church's actions here. I expect that Mopologists will praise it as "very helpful," "calm," "lucid," "informed."