Big Money in More Good Foundation

[Lem]

I don't know why Dehlin is concentrating on the apologists. I think the More Good Foundation details are far more meaningful. I found it interesting that in 2019, for example, the administrative expenses to run the charity were a little over 2 million, with about 1.2 million of that going to compensation and benefits for 2 or 3 directors), while their distributions to charitable concerns amounted to 300,000. That all went to the three websites mentioned. In that year, contributions were about a million, which put them about 1.4 million in the hole for the year.

[Doctor Scratch]

The funding for Mopologetics has always been remarkably shady. It comes as no surprise at all that the More Good Foundation has been funneling money back into Interpreter--that's why I've always found it laughable when claims are made about Interpreter's finances being "entirely above board." For example, maybe Interpreter doesn't compensate people such as DCP. But what about The More Good Foundation? The whole thing feels like a shell game.

[Kishkumen]

The whole thing feels like a shell game.

Oh, I think it is a kind of shell game. The game is to allow the LDS Church to hold its association with FAIRMormon at arm's length. As long as they feel they can convince others that they do not pay for apologetics, then they think this is a big success. I think Dehlin did something to challenge that claim, even though I think he was a little sloppy in the way he did it. Still, you can't come away from this discussion, even after needed corrections, with any kind of confidence that the Church is not facilitating the T.I.T.S. videos, whether the apostles know the details or not.

[Dr Moore]

The funding for Mopologetics has always been remarkably shady. It comes as no surprise at all that the More Good Foundation has been funneling money back into Interpreter--that's why I've always found it laughable when claims are made about Interpreter's finances being "entirely above board." For example, maybe Interpreter doesn't compensate people such as DCP. But what about The More Good Foundation? The whole thing feels like a shell game.

A shell game both on what-funds-what, as well as who pays whose salaries for what work.

[dastardly stem]

Creating space for plausible deniability has got to be one of the Church's favorite corporate games.

[Dr Moore]

“Tithing laundering”

Whoever came up with that one, bravo.

[Philo Sofee]

When you actually think about it, there is a most bitter irony here. You would think that 15 apostles, Prophets, Seers, and Revelators who receive revelation from God the Father, that is, actual information on how to run the church and what is needed for the church, would simply have revelation to solve all the problems instead of having to make sure millions of dollars are funneled to non-Prophets, non-Apostles, and lesser spiritual men in order to defend God's church! That is amazing! Think on it, God can't think of what to do and tell his Prophet how to handle the problems of the church's doctrine, so the Prophet makes sure millions are spent to those who cannot receive revelation for the church in order to defend it?! That is wild man...... pure w.i.l.d.

If there actually was Godly revelation, there would be fundamentally no need for apologetics. It was the Early Christian apologists who changed the foundation of Early Christianity and helped usher in the apostasy... Talk about perfect historic parallels!

[mentalgymnast]

The funding for Mopologetics has always been remarkably shady.

Whatever the source of funding, it’s got to come from somewhere, right?

As long as it doesn’t come directly from my tithing donations.

Regards,
MG

[Bought Yahoo]

I just don't think or expect the LDS Church will be perfectly honest about its relationship with its own apologists.

The LDS Foundation, in my experience, conducts fundraising activities for entities owned by the Church, such as BYU. But not for other entities.

I am hit up every year to support various apologetic efforts, but I am not aware that Church funds are used to fund apologetic efforts other than that which might fall under BYU. Is there direct proof?

By the way, I have personally heard Elder Oaks castigate apologists. "Don't presume to speak for us."

Think on it, God can't think of what to do and tell his Prophet how to handle the problems of the church's doctrine, so the Prophet makes sure millions are spent to those who cannot receive revelation for the church in order to defend it?! That is wild man...... pure w.i.l.d.

I'd say St. Paul was a church apologist. He horned his way into being called an "apostle" and I'm unaware that he was ever admitted to the Quorum if such a thing existed. He in fact hijacked Christianity with his writings.

[Kishkumen]

The LDS Foundation, in my experience, conducts fundraising activities for entities owned by the Church, such as BYU. But not for other entities.

I am hit up every year to support various apologetic efforts, but I am not aware that Church funds are used to fund apologetic efforts other than that which might fall under BYU. Is there direct proof?

Dehlin published video images of tax forms that show the LDS Foundation sending money to the More Good Foundation. Another form showed the MGF’s contributions to Interpreter, Book of Mormon Central, and FAIR.