Concerns About People Falling From The Faith

[Scott Lloyd]

Now Scott - don't let facts get in the way of a good jab. Sarcasm is a rare gift and we should encourage Cinepro's favorite hobby.

Yeah, I know what he was going for.

I can appreciate and enjoy sarcasm when it is insightful and illuminating.

But when it is employed to perpetuate falsehood and ignorance, it is merely repugnant and mean-spirited.

Edited November 20, 2011 by Scott Lloyd

[Scott Lloyd]

Another more recent story about the City Creek Project with quotes from President Hinkley about the purpose of the project...

http://www.ldschurch...n-schedule.html

I appreciate your posting this, DaddyG.

Because the falsehood is repeated so incessantly, I wish to copy and paste here the President Hinckley quotes from the article in which he affirms that tithing has not been and will not be used for the City Creek Project:

"I call attention to that which has received much notice in the local press. This is our decision to purchase the shopping mall property immediately to the south of Temple Square.

"We feel we have a compelling responsibility to protect the environment of the Salt Lake Temple. The Church owns most of the ground on which this mall stands. The owners of the buildings have expressed a desire to sell. The property needs very extensive and expensive renovation. We have felt it imperative to do something to revitalize this area. But I wish to give the entire Church the assurance that tithing funds have not and will not be used to acquire this property. Nor will they be used in developing it for commercial purposes.

"Funds for this have come and will come from those commercial entities owned by the Church. These resources, together with the earnings of invested reserve funds, will accommodate this program."

Then in the October 2004 general conference, he said:

"We are now working on a major undertaking in Salt Lake City. It is imperative that we preserve the environment around Temple Square. This makes necessary a very large construction project. Tithing funds will not be used for this construction. The income from Church businesses, rents on the property, and other such sources make this possible."

Henceforth, no one can insist or imply on this thread that tithing is being used to "build a mall," not without, in effect, calling President Hinckley a liar.

[saemo]

The church is made up of imperfect people - so it's not perfect, but is still good in many ways...

Pros:

-It gives many people hope - for life after death

-It teaches personal revelation - after studying it out & praying, we can know for ourselves truth from God

-It gives hope for becoming Godlike someday... & teaches of life before & after this life - eternal progression

-It gets everyone involved & actively applying spirituality (loving others) in callings/"village" helps raise children

-Sense of community/social support

-Powerful & beautiful symbolism in church (sacrament), baptism, & temple & in SCRIPTURES (although some may take it literally)

-Service oriented

-High standards (no smoking, no drinking, dress modestly, be honest etc.)

-Family focus - "eternal families", Family Home Evening

Lists like this hold no meaning for a lot of people. A shrug of the shoulders and a "I'm good thanks".

[Libs]

I didn't take your question as a critique... there isn't a lot of positive information about the project being shared as I found out on the net.

Given the anti-Mormon spin (1 Billion dollar mall) I can see why someone wouldn't understand what the Church is attempting to do.

Contrary to the popular insult, It isn't just a mall. It is an entire four blocks of the city center right accross the street from temple square. It was getting old, not up to code, and no one was stepping up to update it. It will now house up to date buildings, open spaces and fountains, business and residential space, the LDS business college, BYU Salt Lake, Church offices, an expansion of the LDS Geneology library plus the original mall shops and a few new stores.

Here is a link with info. http://www.downtownrising.com/

Having been downtown Salt Lake a few times as a student and visitor I would like to visit again when the project is done. It looks like very good use of an urban space. Few cities will be as nice at their center as SLC will be after the improvements.

The timing is prophetic (if I may use that pun) since construction would otherwise be very dead right now during the recession. I could only dream of the Baptists doing this for Atlanta.

Thanks, DG. I can see, now, that there is a lot more to it. I was thinking that it seemed like it would make more sense to have a BYU campus there, and/or church office buildings, or something like that. I see they have a little bit of everything, including BYU SLC. I was there about three years ago, and it was still a work in progress and I didn't really have time to look around that much. It sounds really nice. Look forward to seeing it, when I get up that way again. I wonder how the new businesses are doing, with this recession going on?