Shulem, in what way is the SLC LDS temple programme “successful”?
I really don't understand the question.
Well, let’s have a look at it. What are the key objectives of building temples? From the Church’s public perspective (they may be achieving hidden objectives, like tax evasion, money laundering etc but we’d never know).
One of the objectives might be to have a bigger proration of endowed members. Or to accelerate the number of dead people for whom ordinances are being done each week.
Premise 1. Eyewitness testimony is notoriously unreliable.
Premise 2. The best evidence for the Book of Mormon is eyewitness testimony.
Conclusion. Therefore, the best evidence for the Book of Mormon is notoriously unreliable.
Well, let’s have a look at it. What are the key objectives of building temples?
The Mormons build their temples in order to expand their movement, maintain order, and blackmail the members of the church into paying 1/10 of their income or they won't live with Heavenly Father in the hereafter. I think that's the gist of it.
Well, let’s have a look at it. What are the key objectives of building temples?
The Mormons build their temples in order to expand their movement, maintain order, and blackmail the members of the church into paying 1/10 of their income or they won't live with Heavenly Father in the hereafter. I think that's the gist of it.
What would MG say the key objectives were?
Premise 1. Eyewitness testimony is notoriously unreliable.
Premise 2. The best evidence for the Book of Mormon is eyewitness testimony.
Conclusion. Therefore, the best evidence for the Book of Mormon is notoriously unreliable.
The Mormons build their temples in order to expand their movement, maintain order, and blackmail the members of the church into paying 1/10 of their income or they won't live with Heavenly Father in the hereafter. I think that's the gist of it.
What would MG say the key objectives were?
MG would double down on how everything about Mormonism is designed to bring people to Christ which in turn brings people to the Father which then turns them into gods when they get into the celestial kingdom where they can have a party and say, "look at me, I'm a god now."
MG would double down on how everything about Mormonism is designed to bring people to Christ which in turn brings people to the Father which then turns them into gods when they get into the celestial kingdom where they can have a party and say, "look at me, I'm a god now."
Yes he would. So has the temple building programme resulted in a pro rata increase in active members? Do the areas where they build temples notice a significant uplift in convert baptisms? Let’s take Utah, Utah’s LDS membership is not shrinking, but the pace of membership growth is far slower than the pace of temple construction, so the two trends do not align.
The Church has made it more convenient for members in Utah to have a choice of temple. But it hasn’t delivered any bump in membership increase rates.
Premise 1. Eyewitness testimony is notoriously unreliable.
Premise 2. The best evidence for the Book of Mormon is eyewitness testimony.
Conclusion. Therefore, the best evidence for the Book of Mormon is notoriously unreliable.
"To meet increasing worldwide demand for Scientology services and community initiatives, the Church of Scientology launched a program to transform all Scientology Churches into what Founder L. Ron Hubbard termed “Ideal Organizations.” An Ideal Org is configured to provide the full services of the Scientology religion to its parishioners, while also serving the community with social betterment and outreach programs.
To date, dozens of Ideal Orgs have opened their doors in major cities across four continents, and new ones are dedicated each month."
So, MG2.0 is essentially just telling us that he thinks the LDS church has a lot in common with the Scientologists.
Finally, something we can all agree on!
"Praise be to Allah"--President Donald J. Trump
"I love the inflation"--President Donald J. Trump
