Robert F. Smith Posted January 5, 2017 Posted January 5, 2017 5 minutes ago, rockpond said: Thanks! And... Sounds like tithing and fast offering funds are fungible. Except that they are not.
rockpond Posted January 5, 2017 Posted January 5, 2017 1 hour ago, Robert F. Smith said: It is a fact based on direct observation and historical fact: 19th century birth rates among Americans in the rural West were all pretty much the same, varying only on the basis of the socio-economic status of families, be they Methodist or Mormon. Once birth-control came to the fore, and due to the industrial revolution and the consequent formation of an upwardly mobile middle class, family size began to fall rapidly. Farm life needed many hands, but urban life did not. Genealogists all notice the rapid diminution in size of families over time (I have been doing genealogy for over half a century and have observed that phenomenon consistently). Currently the average birthrate in America is 1.8, which is not even replacement of the mother and father in each family. All groups have had declining birthrates, but some more than others. Mormons and Orthodox Jews, for example, maintain higher than replacement rates (which I have provided already). It is no mystery that a more traditional lifestyle is more likely to continue larger families. It is a difference in traditional values and mores. Does that make any sense to you? I get (and agree with) the logic behind your statement. And my personal observations are consistent with what you are saying. I was just curious if you had a link to the data that showed it. 1
rockpond Posted January 5, 2017 Posted January 5, 2017 1 hour ago, Robert F. Smith said: The two categories of money are held by SLC, but are not mixed or fungible in nature. One category (fast offerings) can be spent immediately by the bishop without authorization from anyone else, the other (tithing, etc.) requires tight budgetary control. A bishop will sometimes put out the word that he needs more fast offerings because that fund is too small, and the response is always gratifying. When I was financial clerk, my bishop could ask for a check at any time, and I would prepare it for him (often being the delivery boy as well), he and I being the only ones knowing about the charitable expenditure. Bishops have similar and unquestioned power to grant a food order to the needy, even if they are not LDS members. Having served as a bishop's counselor, I understand how the process works (and have written fast offering to checks as well as filled in for the transient bishop responsibilities). None of that changes the fact that tithes and fast offerings are fungible. Rongo and others have verified that. The tithing slip verifies it as well.
rockpond Posted January 5, 2017 Posted January 5, 2017 9 minutes ago, Robert F. Smith said: Except that they are not. Funny... we deposit them into the same account each week AND the Church even states that they are fungible and you still don't agree.
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