rockpond Posted April 20, 2019 Author Share Posted April 20, 2019 25 minutes ago, Tacenda said: I wonder what you and others would say if the numbers were hidden one day like the churche's finances. I can see it now...the excuses. From the Wikipedia page on Church finances: “During the late 1950s and early 1960s, the church greatly increased spending on buildings under the leadership of Henry Moyle. Moyle's reasoning was that by building larger meetinghouses the church would attract more converts. The accelerated building program led to a $32 million deficit in 1962. It was Moyle who convinced David O. McKay to discontinue publishing an annual financial statement in order to hide the extent of the spending.[15]Eventually, McKay relieved Moyle from his administrative responsibilities and spending was reined in.[16]” I haven’t read Quinn’s article (reference 15) so I can’t speak to how accurately that Wikipedia statement is. But I think the evidence points to disclosure of finances becoming unfavorable, so the practice stopped. Many members defend that ongoing decision. 2 Link to comment
Popular Post Calm Posted April 20, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted April 20, 2019 36 minutes ago, Tacenda said: I wonder what you and others would say if the numbers were hidden one day like the churche's finances. I can see it now...the excuses. Love the implied dishonesty 8 Link to comment
Popular Post MiserereNobis Posted April 20, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted April 20, 2019 5 hours ago, bluebell said: It was Scott, not the church leadership, that made the difference I've always suspected that @Scott Lloyd was the equivalent of the Deep State in the LDS church... 5 Link to comment
Tacenda Posted April 20, 2019 Share Posted April 20, 2019 26 minutes ago, Calm said: Love the implied dishonesty Not dishonesty. Just the belief in the church's motives as being open and transparent. Link to comment
Calm Posted April 20, 2019 Share Posted April 20, 2019 3 minutes ago, Tacenda said: Not dishonesty. Just the belief in the church's motives as being open and transparent. You said "excuses". Not the same thing. 3 Link to comment
Maureen Posted April 20, 2019 Share Posted April 20, 2019 30 minutes ago, rockpond said: From the Wikipedia page on Church finances: “During the late 1950s and early 1960s, the church greatly increased spending on buildings under the leadership of Henry Moyle. Moyle's reasoning was that by building larger meetinghouses the church would attract more converts. The accelerated building program led to a $32 million deficit in 1962. It was Moyle who convinced David O. McKay to discontinue publishing an annual financial statement in order to hide the extent of the spending.[15]Eventually, McKay relieved Moyle from his administrative responsibilities and spending was reined in.[16]” I haven’t read Quinn’s article (reference 15) so I can’t speak to how accurately that Wikipedia statement is. But I think the evidence points to disclosure of finances becoming unfavorable, so the practice stopped. Many members defend that ongoing decision. It appears that the Baseball Baptism program was also Henry Moyles idea. Stands to reason that if Moyles realized he needed converts to fill those meetinghouses, he needed a way to create converts. M. Link to comment
Calm Posted April 20, 2019 Share Posted April 20, 2019 (edited) 2 minutes ago, Maureen said: It appears that the Baseball Baptism program was also Henry Moyles idea. Stands to reason that if Moyles realized he needed converts to fill those meetinghouses, he needed a way to create converts. M. Baseball baptisms wouldn't fill meetinghouses, just ward membership lists. Nor would they bring in tithing. Brother Moyle was not so naive surely that he would think baptism without conversion would result in anything but paperwork. Edited April 20, 2019 by Calm 4 Link to comment
Tacenda Posted April 20, 2019 Share Posted April 20, 2019 9 minutes ago, Calm said: You said "excuses". Not the same thing. ex·cuse verb 3rd person present: excuses /ikˈskyo͞oz/ 1. attempt to lessen the blame attaching to (a fault or offense); seek to defend or justify. "he did nothing to hide or excuse Jacob's cruelty" synonyms:justify, defend, make excuses for, make a case for, explain (away), rationalize, condone, vindicate, warrant; More Link to comment
Scott Lloyd Posted April 20, 2019 Share Posted April 20, 2019 2 hours ago, Calm said: Love the implied dishonesty It’s the old wouldn’t-put-it-past-‘em innuendo. A handy way to cast a cloud over one’s character without just cause. 4 Link to comment
Popular Post Scott Lloyd Posted April 20, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted April 20, 2019 (edited) 1 hour ago, MiserereNobis said: I've always suspected that @Scott Lloyd was the equivalent of the Deep State in the LDS church... The very thought of wielding such clandestine power is making me intoxicated. Edited April 20, 2019 by Scott Lloyd 10 Link to comment
Tacenda Posted April 20, 2019 Share Posted April 20, 2019 5 minutes ago, Scott Lloyd said: It’s the old wouldn’t-put-it-past-‘em innuendo. A handy way to cast a cloud over one’s character without just cause. You and others have impeccable character, I have full trust in that. It's some things in the church that I don't have trust in. Link to comment
alter idem Posted April 20, 2019 Share Posted April 20, 2019 16 hours ago, rockpond said: The audit report tells members that an internal team has determined the the Church followed its budgets, policies, procedures, and accounting guidelines. That’s roughly analogous to me telling you that my wife has audited my families books and accounts and that we are sticking to budgets and rules we set for ourselves. Without knowing the budgets and rules - What information has the Church actually conveyed with that report? You mention security and that everything is in order. How does the audit report accomplish that? And, if your wife trusts you and doesn't see evidence to contradict what you say, then I'm not sure what the problem is. I'd say a lot of people work that way in their relationships, otherwise, the relationships don't last. In a marriage, there needs to be some kind of level of trust, or it's not going to work out very well for the couple. The same with a religion. If the members don't have some kind of level of trust, I don't think they are going to continue on in their faith. And, I think this is one reason some leave the faith--they have very little trust in the Church and this only gets worse over time. But to say it's the church's fault, is not accurate, since plenty of other members have no trouble with exercising a level of trust--it comes down to individuals, their perceptions, what's important to them, and why they are in the 'relationship', whether in a marriage or a church etc.--and what they get out of it. , 3 Link to comment
alter idem Posted April 20, 2019 Share Posted April 20, 2019 11 hours ago, Tacenda said: You and others have impeccable character, I have full trust in that. It's some things in the church that I don't have trust in. Thanks Tacenda for helping me make my point. You admit you don't offer the same level of trust to the church that I do. Your remark which I interpreted as suggesting that eventually, us 'trusting' members will have to face the reality that the church is dishonest and not make 'excuses' for it, is an attitude which makes it difficult for you to have the same feelings of security and peace which other members enjoy within the church. 4 Link to comment
rockpond Posted April 20, 2019 Author Share Posted April 20, 2019 1 hour ago, alter idem said: And, if your wife trusts you and doesn't see evidence to contradict what you say, then I'm not sure what the problem is. I'd say a lot of people work that way in their relationships, otherwise, the relationships don't last. In a marriage, there needs to be some kind of level of trust, or it's not going to work out very well for the couple. The same with a religion. If the members don't have some kind of level of trust, I don't think they are going to continue on in their faith. , The analogy wasn't about the trust between my wife and I. It was making the point that my wife telling YOU that we follow our budgets doesn't actually tell you anything about how we spend our money. Likewise, when the audit report tells members that the Church is following its own budgets -- it doesn't actually convey any information on how the Church is spending sacred funds. 1 hour ago, alter idem said: And, I think this is one reason some leave the faith--they have very little trust in the Church and this only gets worse over time. But to say it's the church's fault, is not accurate, since plenty of other members have no trouble with exercising a level of trust--it comes down to individuals, their perceptions, what's important to them, and why they are in the 'relationship', whether in a marriage or a church etc.--and what they get out of it. As a tithe-paying member, I place a great deal of trust in our church leadership. But that doesn't mean I can't disagree the decision that was made some 60 years ago and the pattern that it established of not sharing church financial reports with members. Over those decades, the audit report seems to give an illusion of disclosure while not actually communicating any real information on how sacred funds are being used to build the kingdom. Link to comment
Tacenda Posted April 20, 2019 Share Posted April 20, 2019 1 hour ago, alter idem said: Thanks Tacenda for helping me make my point. You admit you don't offer the same level of trust to the church that I do. Your remark which I interpreted as suggesting that eventually, us 'trusting' members will have to face the reality that the church is dishonest and not make 'excuses' for it, is an attitude which makes it difficult for you to have the same feelings of security and peace which other members enjoy within the church. I don't know if I did a good thing or a bad thing there, haha. Link to comment
Bernard Gui Posted April 20, 2019 Share Posted April 20, 2019 (edited) On 4/19/2019 at 7:00 PM, MiserereNobis said: I've always suspected that @Scott Lloyd was the equivalent of the Deep State in the LDS church... Did you mean Deep Throat? Oh wait! We already have some of those types. I always saw Scott as a reliable source who was forthright and never cowered behind anonymity - a straight shooter who was not afraid to share his faithful opinions and first-hand observations on the inner workings of the Church. Over many years I have never had occasion to suspect him of dishonesty. How often does someone that valuable come around? His connections are sorely missed by me, at least. Edited April 22, 2019 by Bernard Gui 1 Link to comment
hearserve Posted April 20, 2019 Share Posted April 20, 2019 15 hours ago, Tacenda said: I wonder what you and others would say if the numbers were hidden one day like the churche's finances. I can see it now...the excuses. Such a charitable response to our bluebell. 4 Link to comment
Tacenda Posted April 20, 2019 Share Posted April 20, 2019 2 hours ago, hearserve said: Such a charitable response to our bluebell. Always, and I get the most charitable comments to me, lol. Link to comment
Popular Post Kenngo1969 Posted April 20, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted April 20, 2019 1 hour ago, Tacenda said: Always, and I get the most charitable comments to me, lol. Perhaps you might want to consider whether cause and effect might be in play. 5 Link to comment
Popular Post sheilauk Posted April 20, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted April 20, 2019 19 hours ago, Tacenda said: I wonder what you and others would say if the numbers were hidden one day like the churche's finances. I can see it now...the excuses. I for one would say nothing. I don't pay much attention to the figures now, either finances or membership. I never paid any attention to those things in any other church that I have been a member of either. I will keep my promises and do what I can in my small part of the world and let others worry about their part. The Lord led me to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I trust Him to look after it for me if He wants me to remain a member. If we grow larger, so be it. If we shrink in numbers, we can still continue. If the Apostles waste billions of dollars or pay themselves huge sums, the Church can still continue. If the Church is well managed, if we have beautiful temples, if we only feed the poor, it is neither more or less true. The testimony of the Holy Ghost to me about where to worship is what matters to me and I don't think that is based on numbers of members and on finances. 13 Link to comment
SeekingUnderstanding Posted April 22, 2019 Share Posted April 22, 2019 On 4/20/2019 at 10:52 AM, Bernard Gui said: Did you mean Deep Throat? Oh wait! We already have some of those types. I always saw Scott as a reliable source who was forethright and never cowered behind anonymity - a straight shooter who was not afraid to share his faithful opinions and first-hand observations on the inner workings of the Church. Over many years I have never had occasion to suspect him of dishonesty. How often does someone that valuable come around? His connections are sorely missed by me, at least. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deep_state_in_the_United_States 1 Link to comment
Bernard Gui Posted April 22, 2019 Share Posted April 22, 2019 9 minutes ago, SeekingUnderstanding said: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deep_state_in_the_United_States Thanks! I’ve been a student of these things for a while. Neither Deep State nor Deep Throat are accurate descriptions of Scott. 2 Link to comment
SeekingUnderstanding Posted April 22, 2019 Share Posted April 22, 2019 3 minutes ago, Bernard Gui said: Thanks! I’ve been a student of these things for a while. Neither Deep State nor Deep Throat are accurate descriptions of Scott. Very true, and I am pretty sure the comment was made tongue-in-cheek by Miserere 2 Link to comment
Scott Lloyd Posted April 22, 2019 Share Posted April 22, 2019 (edited) On 4/20/2019 at 10:52 AM, Bernard Gui said: Did you mean Deep Throat? Oh wait! We already have some of those types. I always saw Scott as a reliable source who was forthright and never cowered behind anonymity - a straight shooter who was not afraid to share his faithful opinions and first-hand observations on the inner workings of the Church. Over many years I have never had occasion to suspect him of dishonesty. How often does someone that valuable come around? His connections are sorely missed by me, at least. Aw shucks, now I <am> embarrassed. You probably already recognize this, but for those who might not, MiserereNobis is making jocular allusion to types such as the Peter Strzok/Lisa Page cabal and other anonymous figures who occupy positions of trust in the executive branch of government but who secretly strive to undermine the chief executive. Edited April 22, 2019 by Scott Lloyd 3 Link to comment
MiserereNobis Posted April 23, 2019 Share Posted April 23, 2019 On 4/22/2019 at 9:50 AM, SeekingUnderstanding said: Very true, and I am pretty sure the comment was made tongue-in-cheek by Miserere 19 hours ago, Scott Lloyd said: Aw shucks, now I <am> embarrassed. You probably already recognize this, but for those who might not, MiserereNobis is making jocular allusion to types such as the Peter Strzok/Lisa Page cabal and other anonymous figures who occupy positions of trust in the executive branch of government but who secretly strive to undermine the chief executive. Yes, I was just joking around But if I were to write an LDS version of the Da Vinci Code, I'd probably put Scott in there somewhere (no doubt in the highly secure translation room in the SLC temple...) 1 Link to comment
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