Tithes going to fund BYU

[Duncan]

For what its worth, I can't understand why anyone would complain about funding higher education. As I personally struggle with the idea of 10 percent of my money going to the church, I can't say that this sort of use of my money would prevent me from joining at all. In fact, it could have the opposite effect.

I think in her thinking poor people sacrifice to pay tithing for people to attend university when the money should be better spent elsewhere.

[Ivan the Magnificent!]

It could be argued that a lot of students going to BYU would have to join the army or strip to afford tuition(like other youth today do in the USA to afford college who are not minorities or whose parents make just over the cut-off for federal aid). Many youth at BYU come from large families and their parents have paid tithing for years. So I have no problem with the subsidy. When they graduate they will likely have better jobs than otehrwise and be able to pay back the subsidy in their tithing in a short time.

[Brenda]

So this friend of mine recently quit the Church, she has issues.. but one of them is that she found out that the Church is funding BYU with tithing. Her thinking is that kids who go there should pay for it themselves or get student loans like everyone else everywhere else and build the kingdom whereever they are To me its hardly startly that it does that but what percentage of tithes go to fund it? What do you think of that? I get blessings from tithing so I could not care less what the Church spends it on is my point of view.

Since 5 of my family of 6 has attended BYU, I am grateful that the Church subsidizes the tuition.

The Church encourages education, and this is one way it puts its money where its mouth is. The more educated the LDS are, the more likely they are able to contribute to the kingdom later on. A good investment, IMO.

I can't imagine leaving the Church over this. This is one of the things I LIKE about the Church. When you are disgruntled with the Church, you look for faults. Some people find them in the oddest places.

[frankenstein]

If I may throw a wrench into the system, does it bother anyone that not all active TBM's whose parents have been lifelong tithe payers are accepted to the Y when they apply?

nope, but it does bother me that so many people are disobeying the Prophet by going to byu.

President Hinkley said in the late 1990's

stay near your homes (attend a non-byu school), build up the institute program at that school, then if after two years byu is the best place for your field of study, then apply.

so freshman classes should almost be zero if people were following the Prophet.

[Storm Rider]

For what its worth, I can't understand why anyone would complain about funding higher education. As I personally struggle with the idea of 10 percent of my money going to the church, I can't say that this sort of use of my money would prevent me from joining at all. In fact, it could have the opposite effect.

I agree with you. I would feel even better if they raised tithing to 12% if the extra 2% was devoted to buidling universities throughout the world. The more we become a world-wide church the more there is a need to decentralize schools, cultural norms, etc.

[Traela]

I agree with you. I would feel even better if they raised tithing to 12% if the extra 2% was devoted to buidling universities throughout the world. The more we become a world-wide church the more there is a need to decentralize schools, cultural norms, etc.

You can always donate 2% of your income to the Perpetual Education Fund.

[oats]

I think in her thinking poor people sacrifice to pay tithing for people to attend university when the money should be better spent elsewhere.

She needs to be reminded that in order for the North American membership to continue to, essentially, provide the luxuries the poorer church members outside the US enjoy they need to have a vehicle that leads to gainful employment. Providing reachable higher education, ie BYU, is a sure way to keep the funds flowing from the rich areas of the church to the poor areas.

If the NA membership is the economic workhorse of the church you can't expect 'er to keep ploughing if you don't get it the power, or the food, it needs to work.

Good luck helping her to understand these things. I hope she isn't burning too many hard-to-repair bridges as she impulsively reacts to the anti-mormon garbage she finds on the internet.

[cinepro]

Another idea would be to not worry about it. If you start worrying about where the money goes, even as a service for someone else, you may just find yourself getting frustrated. A good friend of mine once said, "Hey, it's just money." He, of course finds issues like this troubling but pays tithing anyway.

I think the first principle of tithing is to not care where the money goes. They won't tell you anyway, and you couldn't do anything about it even if they did.

So you can either have faith and pay, or not pay and forfeit your temple recommend and any of the vague and ill-defined blessings that are promised to you.

[elguanteloko]

So this friend of mine recently quit the Church, she has issues.. but one of them is that she found out that the Church is funding BYU with tithing. Her thinking is that kids who go there should pay for it themselves or get student loans like everyone else everywhere else and build the kingdom whereever they are To me its hardly startly that it does that but what percentage of tithes go to fund it? What do you think of that? I get blessings from tithing so I could not care less what the Church spends it on is my point of view.

At least with BYU you can say it is for education but there are much worst problems with how the Church's resources are spent. I don't consider it good at all to spent money that could be used to feed some mouths or to cure the blind cheaply in "beautifying" temples for a God that taught us to do very differently when He was here.

[chileanseabass]

I come from where Dale Hawerchuk once reigned supreme! No, I don't know if she knows about the Fed. and Prov. Gov't and how much they take for loans. She is a teacher so education degree, I am thinking she was on some anti-mormon website or something and I doubt they would have told her that!

my all-time hockey hero!

[MormonDude]

So this friend of mine recently quit the Church, she has issues.. but one of them is that she found out that the Church is funding BYU with tithing. Her thinking is that kids who go there should pay for it themselves or get student loans like everyone else everywhere else and build the kingdom whereever they are To me its hardly startly that it does that but what percentage of tithes go to fund it? What do you think of that? I get blessings from tithing so I could not care less what the Church spends it on is my point of view.

... Why would that put anybody off the Church itself? I agree with you.. " I get blessings from tithing so I could not care less what the Church spends it on is" not really my concern...

[Duncan]

... Why would that put anybody off the Church itself? I agree with you.. " I get blessings from tithing so I could not care less what the Church spends it on is" not really my concern...

She has other stuff going on and heaping all this new stuff onto it and left the Church as a result of the drama and this new stuff.

[Storm Rider]

At least with BYU you can say it is for education but there are much worst problems with how the Church's resources are spent. I don't consider it good at all to spent money that could be used to feed some mouths or to cure the blind cheaply in "beautifying" temples for a God that taught us to do very differently when He was here.

The early Apostles thought likewise when his head was annointed with oil in Matt 26: 6-13:

6 Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, 7 There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ^aointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat. 8 But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this ^awaste? 9 For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor. 10 When Jesus understood it, he said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath ^a a good work upon me. 11 For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always. <A name=12> 12 For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it ^afor my burial. 13 Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.

We often think that all funds should go to the poor until there is no poor. Sometimes it is good to keep the House of the Lord in order and befitting of a home of holiness.

[BCSpace]

Perhaps she should quit paying state taxes also as state universities are subsidized by the state and anybody who attends one of these universities have their education subsidized to the tune of about 70%.

Perhaps she should. With my tithing money going to BYU, I have a reasonable expectation of what kind of education the kids are getting and what kind people they are likely going to be. With my tax dollars on the other hand, I do not have even a reasonable hope that they will be spent the way I want them to be so my position is to starve the government of funding to keep them under control.

[USU78]

We often think that all funds should go to the poor until there is no poor. Sometimes it is good to keep the House of the Lord in order and befitting of a home of holiness.

Love the scripture and all . . . but what does the House of the Lord have to do with yBu?

[thesometimesaint]

No man can be saved in ignorance.

[Brenda]

Love the scripture and all . . . but what does the House of the Lord have to do with yBu?

D&C 93:36 "The glory of God is intelligence."

I see this as a well-rounded religion. We are taught in all things, namely provident living that includes money management, physical health, skills, education, etc. What other church walks the walk as far as actually investing and aiding in what they teach, instead of just talking the talk?

[USU78]

D&C 93:36 "The glory of God is intelligence."

I see this as a well-rounded religion. We are taught in all things, namely provident living that includes money management, physical health, skills, education, etc. What other church walks the walk as far as actually investing and aiding in what they teach, instead of just talking the talk?

The RCC.

[Brenda]

The RCC.

Which is one reason I have a lot of respect for Catholicism. I wonder how we compare? I don't know that much about them as far as what they teach about practical day-to-day living. I mean, do they offer opportunities to learn how to grow a garden, how to store water, how to eat, how to dance, how to administer first aid, how to change a tire, how to use a computer, etc.?

[handys003]

Which is one reason I have a lot of respect for Catholicism. I wonder how we compare? I don't know that much about them as far as what they teach about practical day-to-day living. I mean, do they offer opportunities to learn how to grow a garden, how to store water, how to eat, how to dance, how to administer first aid, how to change a tire, how to use a computer, etc.?

Difference in the concept of the Godhead/Trinity and PH having celibacy. That's about it. Either we got it or they do.

[Brenda]

Difference in the concept of the Godhead/Trinity and PH having celibacy. That's about it. Either we got it or they do.

Yes, but I meant in ways other than doctrine. Our religions teaches us in so many things helpful in practical living, in addition to theology like I mentioned above.

[blueadept]

Yes, but I meant in ways other than doctrine. Our religions teaches us in so many things helpful in practical living, in addition to theology like I mentioned above.

When it comes down to the little things of life like you have listed, I'll give the LDS practices the edge. I could never do well enough in my wife's eyes for Sunday observance, WoW issues or whatever. If you want to be involved in the RCC you pick and choose what type of ministry that helps others that you want to be involved with. Whether its the St. Vincent de Paul Society that distributes food for the poor, KoC which is the right hand of the priests to help them, bereavement committees, groups that help at funerals, visiting the elderly and sick or the typical bible study and prayer groups.

IMO Brenda, you seem to have the approach on this as what can the church do for me to be a better person. Not that the LDS church doesn't do the things I listed, but IMO, it's more about what I can do for the less fortunate of our community and helping one another as fellow Christians.

My 2 cents

Added.....This thread sort accentuates the point. LDS obviously have no problem with tithing going to fund education to help the individual be a better person. I guarantee that a Catholic could not get the same privelege at Notre Dame which is fine by me.

[handys003]

You know as per my earlier assetion on state Colleges and Community colleges getting money from our taxes. I wonder why they would get bent out of shape for tithes. After all it's the Lords tax and since your federal tax money goes to fund students in college what is the difference? At least you can deduct tithes.

[Storm Rider]

The RCC does not globally teach that we need a food supply and how to use it, but there has never been a bigger force for the education of mankind than the Catholic Church. They are light years ahead of the LDS Church in doing so. As has already been said, they teach that the responsibility of helping the downtrodden is born by each person who is able to help others. We can learn alot from them.

[Brenda]

When it comes down to the little things of life like you have listed, I'll give the LDS practices the edge. I could never do well enough in my wife's eyes for Sunday observance, WoW issues or whatever. If you want to be involved in the RCC you pick and choose what type of ministry that helps others that you want to be involved with. Whether its the St. Vincent de Paul Society that distributes food for the poor, KoC which is the right hand of the priests to help them, bereavement committees, groups that help at funerals, visiting the elderly and sick or the typical bible study and prayer groups.

All good stuff!

IMO Brenda, you seem to have the approach on this as what can the church do for me to be a better person. Not that the LDS church doesn't do the things I listed, but IMO, it's more about what I can do for the less fortunate of our community and helping one another as fellow Christians.

My 2 cents

Point taken. I would say that the LDS Church does it all. We have a vast welfare program, probably unequaled by another church, with unlimited opportunities to serve because that welfare program is run by the members. All those things the "Church" does for me, are actually people serving me. In turn, I serve them too. We all serve each other. We teach, minister, care for each other and for others outside our membership. So when I say the "Church" I'm talking about the people of whom I am a part. But I appreciate your reminding me of the importance of serving others. So true!

Added.....This thread sort accentuates the point. LDS obviously have no problem with tithing going to fund education to help the individual be a better person. I guarantee that a Catholic could not get the same privelege at Notre Dame which is fine by me.

Why does the Catholic church own a university, if it's not to help more people receive an affordable education? Just wondering.