My Anecdotal Experience with the $100B Revelation

[_I have a question]

Something worth keeping in mind. The $40 million a year in humanitarian aid (cash + time + material goods) does not come from the cash interest earned on the $100 billion of tithing that's sat there being counted each month. It comes from additional member donations over and above tithing. The only "good" that's been done with the hoarding of the widows mite is to bail out two for-profit enterprises and to build a shopping mall.

I think the next time an impoverished member is faced with the choice between paying tithing or paying their fuel/food bill, the Church might lose the debate.

[_Dr Exiled]

I agree the effect of the hoarding revelation will come in probably less overall contributions from some of the members. The church doesn't need the money so why continue to sacrifice? Also, if I were an Australian member, I'd want to know what the church was going to contribute to the special appeal for the fire victims. The answer is probably nothing, unless it could get a little P.R. in the process. So, the incentive to sacrifice for miser church is further diminished.

Of course we will never know if the hoarding revelation leads to losses in future contributions, unless some future whistle blower spills the beans. However, one day we might see the church suddenly start using the money for actual charitable purposes out of the blue. But of course if that happens, it will be explained away as having nothing to do with the current hoarding revelation.

[_Meadowchik]

At this point, the entirety of the Church membership is oddly in this weird state of overt complicity in letting the leaders get away with a transparent untruth. They are basically saying that they know the leadership is fraudulent but support them anyway. Really weird.

And statements encouraging obedience even when it is wrong and messages like "Wrong Roads" sure seem to encourage such patterns.

[_Gadianton]

And statements encouraging obedience even when it is wrong and messages like "Wrong Roads" sure seem to encourage such patterns.

yeah, not to mention, "Have the faith NOT to be healed".

[_Dr. Shades]

They are basically saying that they know the leadership is fraudulent but support them anyway.

Think about that for a moment: What an utterly FANTASTIC position for any leader, anywhere, to find himself in!!

[_Maksutov]

They are basically saying that they know the leadership is fraudulent but support them anyway.

Think about that for a moment: What an utterly FANTASTIC position for any leader, anywhere, to find himself in!!

Downright Trumpian.

[_fetchface]

I think the $100B reveal is going to be a sleeper issue.

I think this is a good way to put it. As a believer, I was very proud of all of the money that I assumed the church was spending on humanitarian efforts. I assumed it was probably hundreds of millions per year. I assumed it was a very significant percentage of the church's annual income.

Members today don't get to feel that pride. Instead, they get to feel proud that their church is hoarding vast sums of money. Maybe this doesn't cause 20% of the church to walk out in disgust, but it does give them one less reason to believe that the church is a major force for good in the world.

[_lemuel]

At this point, the entirety of the Church membership is oddly in this weird state of overt complicity in letting the leaders get away with a transparent untruth. They are basically saying that they know the leadership is fraudulent but support them anyway. Really weird.

Ultimately, the only argument the LDS have left is the same one Catholics use to explain the Borgia popes: They Have The Keys.

[_lemuel]

I imagine the whole point of the $100B is so that church HQ can run without tithing of the members. And, ironically, the $100B may cause the members to stop paying tithing.

[_fetchface]

I imagine the whole point of the $100B is so that church HQ can run without tithing of the members. And, ironically, the $100B may cause the members to stop paying tithing.

I think that $100B is sufficient to run the church without tithing if the investments are doing well. I imagine that they are trying to save up a sum that will insulate them from the need for tithing and the condition of the markets entirely. How much is that? $500B? $1 trillion? How much does it take to guarantee $6B+ per year at very low risk?