The Law of Consecration Keeps the GA's in Check

[Guest]

When was the last time anyone ever saw one of the 12 apostles or a member of the First Presidency defect from the church? It happened all the time in the early days.

Now if you believe the church is true, the answer is easy: The GA's don't defect because they have a true witness that the church is true and have communed with Jesus. They have a sure witness and would not defect.

Now if you are an Ex-Mo you might ask the question: Do the GA's know its fake? If so, how can they live a lie? How come they don't leave? The answers usually revolve around societal pressure, or the perks and adulation are too good, and etc.

However, I think the Law of Consecration is at play here, and it's an ingenious way of keeping high level church Authorities from bailing. I have a friend who is related to a GA, and she said the higher ups practice the law of consecration when they are called. They are told they must live a higher law. In essence they sign over all their property and assets to the church and allow the church to take care of them as dictated by the Law of Consecration. At the GA level all things are in common. They are well taken care of and provided with some nice perks. I think this is also a means to squelch defection at the highest level. If I were a GA and wanted to shout to the world that it was a lie, what would I have left? I signed all my assets over to the church. If I leave the church, I literally have nothing. They have me by the balls, so I suck it up and enjoy the perks and try not to cause too much damage and expectations when dealing with the members. What are your thoughts on this theory?

[_sock puppet]

I do think that the law of consecration, like the rest of Mormonism, is emasculating.

[_kairos]

This can easily be checked- public records on GA/apostles who have died,like their wills would indictate if apostle x passed his home to a wife, son or daughter or if there were resources in the family that ,if living the consecration law, would simply not be there.

did david mckay personnaly own that cadillac he drove around or did it belong to the church in some trust. do ut property records show apostles owning their own homes.

i do not know the answer but if total consecration was required we know why stephen covey never became an apostle RIP stephen1

i am convinced that some apostles know the truth and it is killing them inside and in their relationship with God-these GA's if they are truly Christian must be asking God for forgiveness every night for the scam/sham they are living. deep down there canbe no peace for them as it is for Mormons in the pews who know and can't get out.

just sayin

k

[_Racer]

I am not sure if the assets would remain with the church or revert back to the family upon death. I seem to remember reading some "inside information" that the church bailed out Howard W. Hunters wife on some credit card debts after he died. If this is true, it makes me wonder if the church still supports the GA's widow, but I can't really vouch for the information's accuracy.

[_Equality]

Any one of the top 15 who left could get a killer book deal. They'd do just fine financially. But they'd be hated by all the sycophantic groupie Mormons who idolize them now. I don't think consecration alone keeps them in if they don't really believe. It's the just that the benefits of being an upper level GA outweigh the costs of leaving and being a hated apostate and having your name be mud among Mormons for centuries (think William Law).

[_Bob Loblaw]

I call BS. They sit on the boards of church-owned businesses, sell books like crazy, and get a "living allowance," free transportation, free food, and the entire month of July off. Whoever says they live the law of consecration is full of crap.

[_harmony]

Packer's estate, currently valued at a million, purchased with the tithes of widows and orphans.

'Nuff said.

(and please don't start with the ... but that was 50 years ago and land appreciates and all that crap. Because when push comes to shove, and at the very bottom of the pile... it was paid for with tithes)

[_son of Ishmael]

Packer's estate, currently valued at a million, purchased with the tithes of widows and orphans.

'Nuff said.

(and please don't start with the ... but that was 50 years ago and land appreciates and all that crap. Because when push comes to shove, and at the very bottom of the pile... it was paid for with tithes)

Please elaborate about Packer's estate

[_Drifting]

When was the last time anyone ever saw one of the 12 apostles or a member of the First Presidency defect from the church? It happened all the time in the early days.

Now if you believe the church is true, the answer is easy: The GA's don't defect because they have a true witness that the church is true and have communed with Jesus. They have a sure witness and would not defect.

Now if you are an Ex-Mo you might ask the question: Do the GA's know its fake? If so, how can they live a lie? How come they don't leave? The answers usually revolve around societal pressure, or the perks and adulation are too good, and etc.

However, I think the Law of Consecration is at play here, and it's an ingenious way of keeping high level church Authorities from bailing. I have a friend who is related to a GA, and she said the higher ups practice the law of consecration when they are called. They are told they must live a higher law. In essence they sign over all their property and assets to the church and allow the church to take care of them as dictated by the Law of Consecration. At the GA level all things are in common. They are well taken care of and provided with some nice perks. I think this is also a means to squelch defection at the highest level. If I were a GA and wanted to shout to the world that it was a lie, what would I have left? I signed all my assets over to the church. If I leave the church, I literally have nothing. They have me by the balls, so I suck it up and enjoy the perks and try not to cause too much damage and expectations when dealing with the members. What are your thoughts on this theory?

I agree with the premise of the OP that the paid clergy (General Authorities) live the law of consecration in that they hand ownership of everything over to the Church and then Church funds take care of them and their family for life. Even if they are put out to pasture at age 70.

Its worth noting that some don't. Some retain their real world jobs etc.
I guess it's a choice.

However, I think a pertinent question to ask is what do the General Authorities actually do to receive their stipend?

[_kairos]

when ETB was sec of agriculture did he have his paychk go to cojcolds ?

just sayin

k