Oh, the good the church is capable of!

[_zeezrom]

Why doesn't God know that his greatest resource is the HUMAN resource?

[_The Nehor]

Yeah, preach it!

I believe that $25 can provide clean water for life to one person in a third world country.

It boggles my mind to imagine how many people my tithing could have saved, literally.

So, only $25 huh? Wow. That is pretty cheap. So how many people are you saving every month now then?

[_Joseph]

l-dsinc puts its moneywhere it believes is most important and worthwhile.
The choice is clear as you can see the results of this policy.

These third world types are obviously not worth it to them.

Now if they were Lamanites...

[_1 Iron]

In John, chapter 6, we read the account of Christ's miracle in feeding the 5,000. After this miracle, Christ hid himself in the mountains to avoid being taken by the people and called a King. His apostles, it tells us, left by boat across the sea to Capernaum where Christ then performed the miracle of walking on the water to get to them.

The scripture then tells us that the people, on finding Christ gone and his apostles left by boat, travelled around the sea to find him. I think what Christ says here is interesting -

26 - Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.

After teaching them truths that they found difficult to hear, the account tells us that many of these same disciples who were ready to crown him King the day before "walked no longer with him."

I find it sad when critics complain about how “uncharitable” they feel the church is, using its funds to do things that don’t somehow meet their own standard of charitable giving. Yet, like those who only sought Christ because they had eaten of the loaves and were filled, you no longer walk with him.

As members, it is our privilege to love as Christ loved and give as we can to help our fellow men. The church does much to facilitate this, but it also is not the main purpose of the church as a functional body. As a body of believers in Christ, I think any call to do as much as we can to help others is welcome – and hope you join us. Vainly calling from the sidelines that we should be doing more while keeping out of the game yourselves may get you on sportscenter. But it will never get you in any sports hall of fame.

I think the purpose, for those who are pursuing to emulate Christ, is to get to where we can answer Christ’s later question to Peter in John 21 – “Lovest thou me more than these?” – meaning the fishes that were waiting the apostles on the fire when they approached the resurrected Lord after having a rough night fishing without luck, only to then have the Lord perform a miracle in giving them fish. Do we love Christ, rather than love having eaten of the fishes? And then, we are to feed His sheep.

Honestly? If you want to shame me as a member into feeling I need to do more, show me your own example. It would probably work. OTOH, If you want to shame the church into giving more while you sit on the sidelines joking about how glad you are to no longer be giving 10% to the church – you’re missing the point and I feel sad for you.

[_just me]

Yeah, preach it!

I believe that $25 can provide clean water for life to one person in a third world country.

It boggles my mind to imagine how many people my tithing could have saved, literally.

So, only $25 huh? Wow. That is pretty cheap. So how many people are you saving every month now then?

Actually, I am currently not even able to support my own family. I believe that my first responsibility is to that of the children I chose to bring in to this world. I do hope to be able to provide for more than my own children some day sooner rather than later. It does excite me to think how $25 can change a life.

[_malkie]

Um, not to rain on the parade but could you provide some proof that the church is able to do MORE financial humanitarian good due to its real estate investments?

Let us say, for the moment, that the church did not invest in any real estate. At all.

Assuming it survived, it would today be a small frontier-style church with no money and no resources.

How much could it possibly give to the needy of the world?

Simple logic, really.

I don't suppose it would be possible to imagine something in between these two extremes, would it?

Let's say, for the moment, that it didn't tie up so much of its wealth in real estate, but invested it, Grameen-style, in helping people now.

[_Simon Belmont]

How much does "the church" give now, Simon? How much?

A lot more than they could have given had they not expanded since 1830.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is widely known for its worldwide humanitarian services. The church's extensive welfare system, LDS Philanthropies, is a branch of the Presiding Bishopric. Initiated during the Great Depression, it provides aid for the poor, financed by monthly donations in the form of tithes from church members. It is responsible for philanthropic donations to the LDS Church and other affiliated charities, such as the Church History Library, Brigham Young University and the Church Educational System, the Polynesian Cultural Center, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, and efforts dedicated to providing funds for LDS missionaries and temple construction.[116] Money from the program is also used to operate bishop's storehouses, which package and store food for the poor at low cost. Distribution of funds and food is administered by local bishops. These local storehouses distribute commodities to the needy as requested by local bishops on a "Bishop's Order for Commodities" form (referred to as a bishop's order). Bishop's storehouses also provide service opportunities for those receiving assistance and for those desiring to serve missions or to volunteer in the church's welfare program. The day-to-day operations of the storehouses are run by elder missionaries as store managers.[117]
The church also distributes money through its Humanitarian Services division to natural disaster victims worldwide. The church's Humanitarian Center, established in 1991, prepares emergency relief supplies for shipment worldwide to disaster victims, and offers service opportunities to church members. The emergency relief supplies that the church donates typically include clothing, personal care kits, and medical supplies. According to the LDS Humanitarian Center website, it ships about 12 million pounds of shoes and clothing, 1 million hygiene kits, and 1 million pounds of medical supplies per year, to relieve suffering in more than 100 countries.[118] The church has been involved in providing relief aid for victims of disasters such as Hurricane Katrina,[119][120][121] the 2010 Haiti earthquake,[122] and the 2011 Sendai earthquake and tsunami.[123]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Church_of_Jesus_Christ_of_Latter-day_Saints#Humanitarian_services

[_Simon Belmont]

Let's say, for the moment, that it didn't tie up so much of its wealth in real estate, but invested it, Grameen-style, in helping people now.

Then it would run out of resources eventually. In this way they can perpetually help those in need around the world.

[_1 Iron]

Actually, I am currently not even able to support my own family. I believe that my first responsibility is to that of the children I chose to bring in to this world. I do hope to be able to provide for more than my own children some day sooner rather than later. It does excite me to think how $25 can change a life.

Just me,

If this is true, can you PM me and let me know if there is anything that can be done to help?

My father was laid off and between employment for a while and went through a tough time. I know how hard it can be, and would be only too glad to offer what I can to help. I know that anonymity is an issue on boards (I know I am cautious about putting information out on the net), so maybe in some way the board admin could do something to help maintain this buffer? Like a paypal account link or something through the board?

[_just me]

1 Iron, you are too sweet. I am lucky to have parents who are able to help us. Very lucky. If not for them we'd be in much worse condition. My H and I have both found employment and are working to get back on our feet. I'm touched by your concern.