Temple Cafeterias to close permanently

[MG 2.0]

By the way, you wouldn't care to share with other posters your reasons for disagreeing with Gadianton's claim that the actions of the CoJCoLDS suggest that its main focus is on getting income from its members?

Why would they do that?

Make it good.

Regards,
MG

[MG 2.0]

On another thread I brought up ‘moral high ground’ as being something that is VERY difficult to measure on a public discussion board.
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=154304&start=30

it is. And yet, you try so very, very hard!

Either on this thread or another today I said that we ALL would like to think we are taking the moral high ground.

Regards,
MG

[Chap]

By the way, you wouldn't care to share with other posters your reasons for disagreeing with Gadianton's claim that the actions of the CoJCoLDS suggest that its main focus is on getting income from its members?

Why would they do that?

So OK. When Gadianton said:

All church activities, including temple worship and priesthood meeting are peripheral to the central mission of the Church, tithing.

Tithing first. Jesus second; maybe.

All you did by way of reply was to complain about his 'moral superiority'. And that's as far as you are going to go.

[MG 2.0]

Did the peripheral activities of the church bring you to Christ? Temple cafeterias?

Regards,
MG

I can see where this point of view could lead someone to assume that the gift-giving and the general celebratory activities surrounding Christmas are detrimental to one’s faith, instead of enhancing it.

I don’t understand why expressions of faith must be limited to the entirely dour or serious side of things. We’re human, and have an ability to experience joy and celebration in ways unknown by nearly all other creatures on earth. If one believes in a Creator, why would one believe that this human quality, bestowed by that Creator, was meant to be suppressed whenever honoring that Creator?

Hi canpakes,
I suppose it’s a question of whether or not the LDS Church should be in the business of providing that which members are free and able to do on their own. As I said earlier, the church has been making a gradual and conscious move to steer away from providing peripheral activities and enhancements and preaching/emphasizing Christ and living His simple gospel.

Streamlining, if you will, and getting down to the brass tacks.

Regards,
MG

[MG 2.0]

Why would they do that?

So OK. When Gadianton said:

All church activities, including temple worship and priesthood meeting are peripheral to the central mission of the Church, tithing.

Tithing first. Jesus second; maybe.

All you did by way of reply was to complain about his 'moral superiority'. And that's as far as you are going to go.

I believe his judgment was incorrect. I don’t think he has the moral authority to pronounce that judgement.

And that’s my moral judgement based upon my own lived experiences. His are different than mine.

For one thing, all the conference talks preaching Jesus Christ as being the reason behind all we do would be a lie. And I really don’t think those that are speaking to the world during conference have any ulterior motives. They are preaching Christ.

From what I’ve read on this board over time, it seems as though one of the primary factors that may have driven some to leave the church or become critics was/is tithing.

Regards,
MG

[sock puppet]

So OK. When Gadianton said:



All you did by way of reply was to complain about his 'moral superiority'. And that's as far as you are going to go.

I believe his judgment was incorrect. I don’t think he has the moral authority to pronounce that judgement.

And that’s my moral judgement based upon my own lived experiences. His are different than mine.

For one thing, all the conference talks preaching Jesus Christ as being the reason behind all we do would be a lie. And I really don’t think those that are speaking to the world during conference have any ulterior motives. They are preaching Christ.

From what I’ve read on this board over time, it seems as though one of the primary factors that may have driven some to leave the church or become critics was/is tithing.

Regards,
MG

Funny. I thought there were already about 250 billion ulterior motives.

[MG 2.0]

I believe his judgment was incorrect. I don’t think he has the moral authority to pronounce that judgement.

And that’s my moral judgement based upon my own lived experiences. His are different than mine.

For one thing, all the conference talks preaching Jesus Christ as being the reason behind all we do would be a lie. And I really don’t think those that are speaking to the world during conference have any ulterior motives. They are preaching Christ.

From what I’ve read on this board over time, it seems as though one of the primary factors that may have driven some to leave the church or become critics was/is tithing.

Regards,
MG

Funny. I thought there were already about 250 billion ulterior motives.

I’ve commented on that over on another thread:

60% of church membership is outside of the United States. Hypothetically speaking, if one was to determine whether or not the majority of the church, which exists outside of the U.S., could maintain themselves financially over the long haul without significant financial reserves is literally the billion(s) dollar question.

Europe, including the UK is 3% of church membership. South and Central America are over 30%. So you would have an interesting mix of economic structures holding up the church. As it is, what happens within the 40% of the church that consists of members in the U.S. matters. The financial reserves then become of grater importance. At some point we may see those reserves becoming integral to the overall temporal health of the church.

We tend to focus on the 40% rather than the 60%. Personally, I’m comfortable with more financial reserves than less in an international church which sees the U.S. as less than half of its membership. And that trend is more than likely to continue.

Regards,
MG

But you’ll hear what you want to hear and disregard the rest.

Regards,
MG

[Marcus]

I can see where this point of view could lead someone to assume that the gift-giving and the general celebratory activities surrounding Christmas are detrimental to one’s faith, instead of enhancing it.

I don’t understand why expressions of faith must be limited to the entirely dour or serious side of things. We’re human, and have an ability to experience joy and celebration in ways unknown by nearly all other creatures on earth. If one believes in a Creator, why would one believe that this human quality, bestowed by that Creator, was meant to be suppressed whenever honoring that Creator?

It does seem very odd to not include the joyous and the celebratory in one’s religious experience. If you’re a believer, it seems those experiences would be as much a part of your religious beliefs as the serious stuff. Leaving all that out would seem to exclude much of the community and group benefits people mention as part of the reason they participate.

I’m thinking the real reason here is trying to cut back on expenses. It seems a petty, nickel and dime approach, but then, didn’t the lds fire all their church janitors some years back? They saved pennies, compared to their hoarding, and also took away jobs. ‘Focusing on solemn religious experience’ seems like a dodge.

[MG 2.0]

I can see where this point of view could lead someone to assume that the gift-giving and the general celebratory activities surrounding Christmas are detrimental to one’s faith, instead of enhancing it.

I don’t understand why expressions of faith must be limited to the entirely dour or serious side of things. We’re human, and have an ability to experience joy and celebration in ways unknown by nearly all other creatures on earth. If one believes in a Creator, why would one believe that this human quality, bestowed by that Creator, was meant to be suppressed whenever honoring that Creator?

It does seem very odd to not include the joyous and the celebratory in one’s religious experience. If you’re a believer, it seems those experiences would be as much a part of your religious beliefs as the serious stuff. Leaving all that out would seem to exclude much of the community and group benefits people mention as part of the reason they participate.

I’m thinking the real reason here is trying to cut back on expenses. It seems a petty, nickel and dime approach, but then, didn’t the lds fire all their church janitors some years back? They saved pennies, compared to their hoarding, and also took away jobs. ‘Focusing on solemn religious experience’ seems like a dodge.

Well, sounds like you’re a critic. What’s your Mormon story?

Regards,
MG

[Marcus]

Well, sounds like you’re a critic. What’s your Mormon story?

Regards,
MG

I’d answer if I thought you were sincerely asking, but I’ve seen how you post here.