Begging for missionaries

[_Jaybear]

LDS people tend to be trusting and even more so of those in their community. Just because a few scum take advantage of this does not make all LDS bad nor the idea of tithing bad either. If crooks tithe the the money to appear righteous that just means they are more scummy than other cons are.

So this taints the LDS Church just how.

I know its a stretch, but perhaps this misplaced trust is in some way related the LDS Church promoting the belief by the members that (1)its leaders have a special powers of discernment, such that people like Bill Hammond, a Las Vegas bishop, and Val Southwick top promoter, are presumed to be honest, credible individuals by virtue of their position; and (2) the holy spirit is a reliable source of information to guide Mormons in their decision making process.

It could also be somehow related to the pervasive belief that God blesses those who are the most righteous.

[_DarkHelmet]

I checked his website but didn't see his tithing advice. Does he suggest that you pay 10% of your income to him, or to any church? Financial advisors may tell you to pay 10% of your income to a charity, but I get suspicious when they tell you to pay 10% to them.

He advises 10% to your church or if not a church then to charity.

http://www.daveramsey.com/etc/cms/giving_5089.htmlc

Then his financial advice is completely different than the LDS church's.

[_Seven]

Many of the ponzi scheme types and con artists in the LDS community pay tithing. It is part of their scam and is very useful in fleecing the greedy members who believe their promises of out of this world returns on their money.
.

I have an LDS friend who was indirectly involved in what was labeled a ponzi scheme started by her family member. (it wasn't a true ponzi scheme , but similar) Thankfully we never invested any money with them but many Ward members and LDS friends of ours did.
When the FBI began investigating (there were millions of dollars involved), it was very shocking to everyone.

This man didn't intend to use the LDS church to scam people. He honestly didn't start out the investment group with bad intentions at all.
But having access to so many people that trust a person because they are Mormon makes it too easy for people like this to fall.


It isn't surprising that LDS are so often involved or victims in many of these schemes because in our culture we trust fellow Ward members that are active and hold temple recommends. We get approached often by Mormons wanting to "meet" with us about the latest one.

When I was a teenager, a friend took me to an Amway convention. I remember feeling very troubled by the similarities in how they market their business and missionaries converting people to the church.

[_ktallamigo]

Dave Ramsey encourages people to pay off their debt and get a better financial foundation before they start giving 10% (at least that is the way I understood it from his book).

When i was very young and very desperate for money I was talked into trying Amway. The LDS people who were my "upline" told us that when we intially contacted people about our great plan we were not to tell them it was Amway. In fact, if they asked us up front if it was Amway, we were to say "no."

So I called all of my best friends and family to find people to listen to the pitch. I lied to most of them, telling them it was not "Amway" it was "networking." Still, the only taker I ever had was my mother, and she did it just to support me.

I still feel uncomfortable when I run into some of those people I lied to.

I suppose it is similar to being a missionary and the investigators ask you questions about "meat" and you give them "milk" instead.


edited to add: I think I would feel uncomfortable running into some of those people I baptized (even though at the time I sincerely believed in what I was teaching them).

[_TAK]

When I was on my mission we tracked out as they say a “golden couple” w/ a small boy who had come to several meetings. We had a Stake Mission president that wanted to befriend them and help us. His idea of help was to have them over to dinner with his wife and kids. We thought great! The next day after the dinner, we checked in with the couple only to find our Book of Mormon and pamphlets on the door step w/ a letter telling us to get lost and never come back.

Seems the couple was invited by the Stake Mission President to join Amway in their group .. Turns out the couple made two great choices that night…

[_cinepro]

I have an LDS friend who was indirectly involved in what was labeled a ponzi scheme started by her family member.

We were in this guy's ward in Los Angeles. What a piece of work. He totally destroyed the lives of some (admittedly greedy and not too bright) ward members. They knew what they were doing was wrong (forging documents and signatures to secure RE loans, falsify appraisal reports, and making illegal political contributions), but it was still sad when whole families were wiped out.

Turns out he had another wife and family living in another town. His (Los Angeles) wife was my wife's VT, until he fled the country with family in tow

Of course, if you read about what he actually did, it turns out he wasn't so much a criminal. He was just before his time.

[_Dr. Shades]

Turns out he had another wife and family living in another town. His (Los Angeles) wife was my wife's VT, until he fled the country with family in tow

Wait. . . so the wife with whom he fled forgave him for having a second wife??

[_Jason Bourne]

Dave Ramsey encourages people to pay off their debt and get a better financial foundation before they start giving 10% (at least that is the way I understood it from his book).

Well then you misunderstood. He counsels tithing while working to get out of debt.

[_The Nehor]

Seems the couple was invited by the Stake Mission President to join Amway in their group .. Turns out the couple made two great choices that night…

All those warnings about priestcraft and some people still don't get it.

[_cinepro]

Turns out he had another wife and family living in another town. His (Los Angeles) wife was my wife's VT, until he fled the country with family in tow

Wait. . . so the wife with whom he fled forgave him for having a second wife??

In the end, she really didn't seem to care that much. Of course, she was the "weekend wife" here in Los Angeles.