DiscussMormonism.com

This post from MG 2.0 caught my eye: viewtopic.php?p=2840428#p2840428, Not because of his attack on the motives of another poster (which is an interest of mine), but because of the claims it makes about an organization called "Faith Matters."

MG 2.0 wrote:The ‘fluff’ is not connected with the church. It’s an independent group of like minded people. A support group of sorts.

Having gone through the exercise of trying to figure out what is "connected with" what in both the private sector and the world of non-profits, MG 2.0's led me to ask a question that I suspected he doesn't know the answer to: Who controls "Faith Matters?" After all, to know whether one organization is connected with another, one has to know who actually controls both.

With the LDS church, we know that the ultimate control is vested in a corporation sole, wholly controlled by the prophet. But just what does that man own and exercise ultimate control over?

Well, quite a lot of stuff, including non-profit organizations that don't exactly advertise the connection they have with the COJCOLDS. Take a look at this web page for the Radiant Foundation: https://www.radiant.org Read the entire site -- all the pages. Click on the "about the foundation" link.

Then, answer the following questions:

What is the Radiant Foundation?
Where is the Radiant Foundation located?
In what state is the Radiant Foundation organized?
Who are the directors or trustees of the Radiant Foundation?
Who are the 350+ advocates/journalists who have been trained by the Radiant Foundation?
What does the advocate/journalist training consist of?
Is the Radiant Foundation "connected with" the church?

Now, let's zoom in on who actually controls "Faith Matters."
Look at the faith matters website and see if you can figure out who actually controls the organization. https://faithmatters.org Pro-tip: be on the lookout for what the site doesn't tell you.

Deseret Management is the owner of “Radiant Foundation”

https://www.deseretmanagement.com/

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deseret ... orporation

drumdude wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 26, 2023 10:00 pm

Deseret Management is the owner of “Radiant Foundation”

https://www.deseretmanagement.com/

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deseret ... orporation

Probably, but it's a little murky. Were you able to make that connection from information on the Radiant Foundation webpage? Were you able to figure out what the Radiant Foundation is?

More in regards to the mission of Faith Matters:
https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2022/10 ... vers-that/

Regards,
MG

Res Ipsa wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 26, 2023 6:52 pm

Now, let's zoom in on who actually controls "Faith Matters."
Look at the faith matters website and see if you can figure out who actually controls the organization. https://faithmatters.org

Help us out.

There are a lot of members listed. I’ll hand you that.

Regards,
MG

As I’ve mentioned, I think this is the direction that questioning folks are taking on the whole nowadays. Hardline apologetics don’t seem to be a place where many want to go.

But it’s not like they’re sheltered. I’m sure many of the Faith Matters folks have been around the block at least few times. And for those that haven’t, Faith Matters and the information, etc., available there help inoculate against some of the hardline apologetics and critics that are out on the net.

I can see why some critics would not have much good to say about an organization that at the end of the day promotes belief in God and religious worship.

Regards,
MG

MG 2.0 wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 26, 2023 10:27 pm

More in regards to the mission of Faith Matters:
https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2022/10 ... vers-that/

Regards,
MG

I didn't ask about the mission. I asked who controls the organization. Do you know?

MG 2.0 wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 26, 2023 10:39 pm

Res Ipsa wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 26, 2023 6:52 pm

Now, let's zoom in on who actually controls "Faith Matters."
Look at the faith matters website and see if you can figure out who actually controls the organization. https://faithmatters.org

Help us out.

There are a lot of members listed. I’ll hand you that.

Regards,
MG

Why do you need my help? You claimed that there was no connection between Faith Matters and "the church." How could you know this without knowing who controls Faith Matters?

Who are the "members?"

Res Ipsa wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 26, 2023 11:11 pm

MG 2.0 wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 26, 2023 10:39 pm

Help us out.

There are a lot of members listed. I’ll hand you that.

Regards,
MG

Why do you need my help? You claimed that there was no connection between Faith Matters and "the church." How could you know this without knowing who controls Faith Matters?

Who are the "members?"

I’m asking for your help because I’m not able to find a connection between the official church and the organization called Faith Matters. As I’ve said, there are many members who belong to Faith Matters. That doesn’t make it church controlled or financed.

So does the church control the comings and goings of Faith Matters? If so, can you stop beating around the bush? Like show the money trail for instance?

The organization evolved out of what was originally the Big Questions project.

https://faithmatters.org/the-big-questions-project/

I’m honestly not seeing any direct connection with the church. As in, i.e. the church pulling the strings, telling FM’s what they can and cannot do, etc.

By the way, what are your thoughts about the mission and purpose of Faith Matters? Good? Bad?

Regards,
MG

MG 2.0 wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 26, 2023 11:38 pm

Res Ipsa wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 26, 2023 11:11 pm

Why do you need my help? You claimed that there was no connection between Faith Matters and "the church." How could you know this without knowing who controls Faith Matters?

Who are the "members?"

I’m asking for your help because I’m not able to find a connection between the official church and the organization called Faith Matters. As I’ve said, there are many members who belong to Faith Matters. That doesn’t make it church controlled or financed.

So does the church control the comings and goings of Faith Matters? If so, can you stop beating around the bush? Like show the money trail for instance?

If you don't know, then what was the basis for your assertions about this group?

MG 2.0 wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 26, 2023 5:31 am

...The ‘fluff’ is not connected with the church. It’s an independent group of like minded people. A support group of sorts.

Faith Matters is not an authoritarian structure...