Education and Temple Funds are Flush

[Bernard Gui]

Apologies if someone already brought this up.

Two of the best things the LDS Church has done recently are the Perpetual Education and Temple Patron Assistance Funds. I just saw this notice on the Church’s online donation page....

Quote

Important Message

 

• The generosity of Church members and others has led to sufficient levels of donated funds to the Perpetual Education Fund and the Temple Patron Assistance Fund. 
  
  As a result, members are encouraged to select other categories for their ongoing donations. Because many members donate online, the Perpetual Education Fund and Temple Patron Assistance Fund categories have been removed from the online donation form. These categories will remain available for donations processed in wards and branches.

What a wonderful testament to the generosity of the members and the wisdom of Church leaders. Have you ever heard of anyone saying, “Stop giving. We have enough?”

A close friend has been in the managerial apparatus of the PEF and micro-loans for small business start-ups from the beginning. His experiences have been miraculous and rewarding.

Kudos to the Church. Keep up the good work!

Edited May 25, 2018 by Bernard Gui

[JAHS]

This was already discussed in the News section. But then there's usually not a lot of people who bother to look there. 

 

[Bernard Gui]

6 minutes ago, JAHS said:

This was already discussed in the News section. But then there's usually not a lot of people who bother to look there. 

 

Thanks. I check it out once in while. It’s not clear to me how to distinguish between news and general discussion.

[CA Steve]

Maybe I misunderstand something. I was under the impression that regardless of what box is checked where for donations, the church has the option to use the money as it sees fit.

 

If that is correct, I do not understand the necessity of such an announcement.

 

Or are there still ways to donate which allow the donor to control where the donation is used by the church?

[JAHS]

22 minutes ago, Bernard Gui said:

Thanks. I check it out once in while. It’s not clear to me how to distinguish between news and general discussion.

I know. Sometimes I will put a news item in the news section (where it belongs, otherwise why have a News section?) and the same day someone will start a general discussion on the same thing.
 

[JAHS]

11 minutes ago, CA Steve said:

Maybe I misunderstand something. I was under the impression that regardless of what box is checked where for donations, the church has the option to use the money as it sees fit.

 

If that is correct, I do not understand the necessity of such an announcement.

 

Or are there still ways to donate which allow the donor to control where the donation is used by the church?

On the tithing slip:
"Though reasonable efforts will be made to use donations as designated, all donations become the Church's property and will be used at the Church's sole discretion to further the Church's overall mission."

Church spokesman Scott Trotter said:
"The reason for the change? We feel a sacred obligation to make sure that tithing and other donations made to the church are used prudently and wisely. The new language on the donation slips simply gives some flexibility to meet the changing needs of a growing, global faith as circumstances require." 

So normally the funds go where you designate them to go, but may be used in other areas as needed. 

[Amulek]

26 minutes ago, CA Steve said:

If that is correct, I do not understand the necessity of such an announcement.

If you remove a feature that is being used and don't tell anyone about it, you are going to get a ton of calls / questions about it.

If you put a big, huge message explaining why the feature was removed, then you won't get nearly as many calls / questions...though you'll still get some. 

[Danzo]

33 minutes ago, CA Steve said:

Maybe I misunderstand something. I was under the impression that regardless of what box is checked where for donations, the church has the option to use the money as it sees fit.

 

If that is correct, I do not understand the necessity of such an announcement.

 

Or are there still ways to donate which allow the donor to control where the donation is used by the church?

I know that this might sound shocking, but maybe the church really does try to use the funds as intended.

[Bernard Gui]

47 minutes ago, CA Steve said:

Maybe I misunderstand something. I was under the impression that regardless of what box is checked where for donations, the church has the option to use the money as it sees fit.

If that is correct, I do not understand the necessity of such an announcement.

Or are there still ways to donate which allow the donor to control where the donation is used by the church?

Donations to specific Missionary funds.

Do you have any evidence the PEF and Temple Patron Funds have been misused or misdirected? Do you believe they are beneficial or is there something suspect about them?

Edited May 25, 2018 by Bernard Gui

[RevTestament]

I've always thought the PEF was one of the best ideas the Church has come up with recently, and as a result I've contributed to it. Hopefully, it continues to give people in disadvantaged places in the world opportunities to help themselves(and others when they pay back the loan) they otherwise would not have. I'm glad to hear the Church agrees, and that this fund is doing well. I would like to know how much this fund is utilized in various parts of the world. Anyone have such statistics? It seems it makes about 5000 loans per year, and that it has a fairly high rate of program completion. 

[Jeanne]

Excuse me if I am dense...it has been a long time..but what is the Temple Patron Fund?  Thanks...!

[Bernard Gui]

16 minutes ago, Jeanne said:

Excuse me if I am dense...it has been a long time..but what is the Temple Patron Fund?  Thanks...!

It helps people who cannot afford to travel to the temple to receive their temple blessings for the first time.

https://www.lds.org/ensign/2012/01/news-of-the-church/fund-helps-members-worldwide-receive-temple-blessings?lang=eng

Edited May 25, 2018 by Bernard Gui

[RevTestament]

11 minutes ago, Jeanne said:

Excuse me if I am dense...it has been a long time..but what is the Temple Patron Fund?  Thanks...!

It helps people go to the temple who have never been, and have difficulty in affording the trip. I believe it is only a one time deal.

[Scott Lloyd]

On 5/25/2018 at 11:21 AM, JAHS said:

I know. Sometimes I will put a news item in the news section (where it belongs, otherwise why have a News section?) and the same day someone will start a general discussion on the same thing.
 

Call me a maverick, but if I want a thread I start to have optimum visibility (which is pretty much all of the time), I’ll put in the general forum, regardless of what it is. If the moderators elect to move it to the news forum, at least there is a placeholder left in “general.”

[Scott Lloyd]

I’m wondering if PEF is approaching the end of its useful life. 

The Church now has a thing called BYU Pathway International. It’s largely based on distance learning. 

Just a hunch, but I’m thinking Pathway might one day absorb the role that PEF fills. 

[Calm]

If they offer scholarships for Pathways, sounds sensible because even as cheap as it is, there will be those who can't afford it.  There also may be areas that aren't large in numbers of enough clientele for group meetings, which iirc how Pathways starts out, so local education is the only option.

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In addition to taking academic and religion courses, PathwayConnect students also gather every Thursday eveningat a local institute or church meetinghouse where they participate in educational and leadership activities related to their courses, build lifelong friendships, and deepen testimonies of Jesus Christ.

https://byupathway.lds.org/pathwayconnect

Edited May 27, 2018 by Calm

[Scott Lloyd]

2 hours ago, Calm said:

If they offer scholarships for Pathways, sounds sensible because even as cheap as it is, there will be those who can't afford it.  There also may be areas that aren't large in numbers of enough clientele for group meetings, which iirc how Pathways starts out, so local education is the only option.

https://byupathway.lds.org/pathwayconnect

I know very little about it. But I’m guessing the flow of donations now going to PEF could someday be channeled to the more comprehensive Pathway, thereby accommodating those who lack means. 

And it’s my understanding that the group meetings, while important for support, are not the core of the program, which is the online learning. So I’m guessing there could be adaptations made where necessary. Perhaps participation via Skype in the group meeetings?

[Calm]

More than likely.