Church comments on SEC settlement

[Abaddon]

Good news everyone! This just in:

By Tony Semerad
| Feb. 22, 2023, 6:00 a.m.

<snip>


Other big holdings include Exxon Mobil Corp.; Johnson & Johnson; Amazon; Mastercard; JPMorgan Chase; Walmart; and Merck & Co. — all with stakes of at least $500 million or more.

The church has said Ensign Peak’s managers avoid investments in industries that faithful Latter-day Saints consider objectionable, including alcohol, tobacco, coffee and gambling. Otherwise, its quarterly reports to federal regulators suggest it operates much like other broadly based, professionally managed portfolios of stocks and mutual funds.

tsemerad@sltrib.com
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https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2023/02 ... unce-back/

So good to know that Walmart no longer sells alcohol, tobacco, coffee or lottery tickets.

[Doctor Steuss]

I trip up here and there. So far I've managed to not lie about my wealth, or intentionally dishonestly filled out legal forms. So, I guess there's that.

Lemme guess, you probably haven't protected any sexual predators either, have you??

Now that you mention it, I also haven't lied about my knowledge of a program that had minors watch pornography while their genitals were shocked, without parental consent, at the university I oversaw.

A lesser man might succumb to feelings of moral superiority.

[Dr Exiled]

Smac spends A LOT of time over there, hours per day. He's a smart guy. Too bad he's stuck on the the presumption that the FUND masquerading as a church is the truth that must be defended at all costs.

[sock puppet]

No matter the spin attempted to be put on this episode of As the Church Turns, this is for the LDS church an unsalvageable stinky turd.

[Moksha]

Wonder if the Church will remove mention of the word honesty in both lessons and publications.

[IHAQ]

Complete honesty is necessary for our salvation. President Brigham Young said, “If we accept salvation on the terms it is offered to us, we have got to be honest in every thought, in our reflections, in our meditations, in our private circles, in our deals, in our declarations, and in every act of our lives” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young [1997], 293).

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/stu ... y?lang=eng

Lying is intentionally deceiving others. Bearing false witness is one form of lying. The Lord gave this commandment to the children of Israel: “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour” (Exodus 20:16). Jesus also taught this when He was on earth (see Matthew 19:18). There are many other forms of lying. When we speak untruths, we are guilty of lying. We can also intentionally deceive others by a gesture or a look, by silence, or by telling only part of the truth. Whenever we lead people in any way to believe something that is not true, we are not being honest.

The Lord is not pleased with such dishonesty, and we will have to account for our lies. Satan would have us believe it is all right to lie. He says, “Yea, lie a little; … there is no harm in this” (2 Nephi 28:8). Satan encourages us to justify our lies to ourselves. Honest people will recognize Satan’s temptations and will speak the whole truth, even if it seems to be to their disadvantage.

In light of the SEC findings, how do Nelson, Oaks, Eyring, the Presiding Bishopric, Ensign Peak Advisors and Kirton McConkie stack up against that criteria?

[Dr Moore]

Good news everyone! This just in:


https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2023/02 ... unce-back/

So good to know that Walmart no longer sells alcohol, tobacco, coffee or lottery tickets.

The interesting question here is where does the church / Ensign Peak draw a line?

Is it that they won't own a stock if the company earns a majority (50%+) of profits selling "sin?"
What about 40%?
30%?
It seems like Ensign Peak and the church are going to have to endure some interrogation now.

One question I have is, why is the "Church of Jesus Christ" negotiating how much sin is acceptable to invest billions in "sacred funds?"

[The Stig]

Intentionally creating 13 substance-free LLCs to conceal money? Check.

Creating false addresses for the 13 substance free LLCs? Check.

Intentionally finding 13 employees with common names to avoid fruitful social media searches to be 'managers' of the LLCs? Check.

Making those employees commit perjury by signing documents they didn't understand for years? Check.

The First Presidency and Presiding Bishopric reviewing and approving each step in the scheme? Check.

Blaming the lawyers who advised you when you got caught? Check.

Legal or not, ill-intentioned or not, these actions are unethical and indisputably dishonest. Church leadership ignored their own teachings and moral duties. End of story.

[Marcus]

So good to know that Walmart no longer sells alcohol, tobacco, coffee or lottery tickets.

The interesting question here is where does the church / Ensign Peak draw a line?

Is it that they won't own a stock if the company earns a majority (50%+) of profits selling "sin?"
What about 40%?
30%?
It seems like Ensign Peak and the church are going to have to endure some interrogation now.

One question I have is, why is the "Church of Jesus Christ" negotiating how much sin is acceptable to invest billions in "sacred funds?"

Good questions. Recently, I saw a post justifying Smith's adultery by saying it's only been documented that he had sex with about half his "wives." So, not really a problem. The LDS church seems pushed in every direction into arguing that any percentage below 100 means the sin didn't really occur. Or count. Or whatever.

[Doctor CamNC4Me]

Intentionally creating 13 substance-free LLCs to conceal money? Check.

Creating false addresses for the 13 substance free LLCs? Check.

Intentionally finding 13 employees with common names to avoid fruitful social media searches to be 'managers' of the LLCs? Check.

Making those employees commit perjury by signing documents they didn't understand for years? Check.

The First Presidency and Presiding Bishopric reviewing and approving each step in the scheme? Check.

Blaming the lawyers who advised you when you got caught? Check.

Legal or not, ill-intentioned or not, these actions are unethical and indisputably dishonest. Church leadership ignored their own teachings and moral duties. End of story.

Perfect summary.

- Doc