Metis_LDS Posted December 24, 2019 Author Posted December 24, 2019 23 minutes ago, bsjkki said: It is amazing how misinformation these days is spread far and wide with such ease or so little accountability. I hold no malice towards the two brothers. Whistle blowing in the US seems to be part of a legal process by the government. So the one brother who worked at the Church agency and filed the complaint so be it, let it be properly looked at by I believe the Internal Revenue Service in the USA. The second brother who piggybacked on his brothers complaint I do feel we all could have really done without that. Some go out of the Church, lose faith etc... but some having lost faith cannot leave the Church in peace. I have seen it time and time again at the local level. It is all the same spirit, be it local or all over the internet.
Calm Posted December 24, 2019 Posted December 24, 2019 46 minutes ago, Metis_LDS said: I do want any child or any adult anywhere on earth to be hungry. Where I grew up in Canada there was poverty like you would not believe. No one in that part of Canada survived the winter without heat and shelter. At my age I can no longer believe that money can change the world so that hunger is wiped out. The countries in your video have had or are having serious problems. My son served a mission in Cambodia. What I know is that charities can feed people for a time period, then the charities burn out. Emergency aid is one thing, trying to run and change a country is completely different. I do not write this to discourage charity. We need to accept the limits of outside help while still helping. I love the way the Church approaches help for this reason. Many of their projects involve the local community in development. https://www.latterdaysaintcharities.org/what-we-do/benson-food Quote We identify and leverage local resources to meet challenges in food security. Our projects often target families, but we also partner with organizations to help communities as a whole. The objective of these projects is to help beneficiaries increase their food security through sustainable and economical practices. https://www.latterdaysaintcharities.org/what-we-do/other-efforts Quote We work with local partner organizations, use their solutions and resources, and involve the beneficiaries as we plan and implement projects to meet needs that are specific to their community. https://www.latterdaysaintcharities.org/what-we-do/clean-water Quote Our clean water program uses community participation—donations of time and skills—to organize an intricate network of volunteers and temporary staff. We use equipment and materials that are easy to repair and can be acquired locally to create fresh water systems and latrines for communities around the world. 4
Calm Posted December 24, 2019 Posted December 24, 2019 2 hours ago, Tacenda said: Calm, I hadn't finished my post. There is a foundation called https://bountifulchildren.org/who-we-are/our-mission. Everything is in place to help them. Why can't the church just send them money. As I menitoned already, they mentioned some of their donors are a few LDS stakes. Why can't the church do that? Why must it always come from the members? Why not from the interest earned in the EPA account? I can't judge the operations of that particular charity, but good intentions are not enough. Charity has apparently pretty much destroyed Kenya's clothing industry: https://thinkprogress.org/kenya-might-ban-donated-clothing-from-overseas-with-good-reason-17ef301d6823/ Quote Kamau has studied the impact of secondhand goods on the Kenyan economy and he believes that secondhand goods are taxed far below their actual worth. “The economy at large loses in revenue because the taxation that is imposed on these bales is very minimal,” he says. “The industry which would have produced the [clothing Kenyans purchase] is also losing out because the demand [for their goods] decreases.” Kenya’s textile and garment industries have employed roughly the same amount of people for decades, Kamau says as he flips through a government economic survey. Joseph Nyagari of the African Cotton & Textiles Industries Federation says that’s because secondhand clothing have killed local industry. “The average cost of a secondhand garment is between five and 10 percent of a new garment [made in Kenya], so [local industries] can’t compete,” he says. With such little profit, local industries have had to make do with less — and so their products have suffered. “We have compelled the industry to concentrate on very low-quality products and very basic products because they’re struggling and that’s the only way that they’ll remain in business,” Nyagari adds. That’s made locally-made clothing even less appealing to most Kenyans. In order to resuscitate local industries, several East African countries including Kenya proposed an all out ban on the import of secondhand clothing earlier this year. That’s not something that even Nyagari would like to see go through. “With a total ban, where would people get their clothing?” he asked. “The industry has already collapsed.” 2
Meadowchik Posted December 24, 2019 Posted December 24, 2019 (edited) 8 hours ago, let’s roll said: One example is the building of temples. Temples further the work of both redeeming the dead and perfecting the saints through facilitating saving ordinances for both the living and the dead. Those spiritual gifts have eternal benefits not available through temporal gifts. If the Church viewed temples as furthering only efforts to redeem the dead, the spike in the number of “smaller” temples would not likely have occurred. Those temples have limited hours and on any metric chosen, don’t provide nearly the ROI for ordinances for the dead as do larger temples (i.e. cost to build/maintain a temple divided by the number of proxy ordinances performed in the temple). Smaller temples give members in locations without large numbers of saints the opportunity to receive and perform saving ordinances as well as serve Deity and their brothers and sisters as temple workers (millions of volunteer hours a year are donated by those serving in temples throughout the world). Again, if one looked only at the ROI, I believe the Church would expend fewer dollars if it paid travel expenses for Saints in areas with smaller populations of Saints to travel to the nearest temple. Yet, I believe both the Church and Deity see the wisdom in building smaller temples in greater numbers. Any land where a temple stands garners benefits from that temple, which stands as a beacon to those who understand its significance and an invitation to those who don’t yet understand that significance. In that way, temples also further the work of proclaiming the gospel. Yes, temples are part of that stated fourfold mission. 5 hours ago, bsjkki said: I see them being expended as I live the gospel each day. The church website, newsroom, church buildings, temples, the new Come Follow Me program and new youth initiative, Christmas devotionals, visits by leaders, Satellite broadcasts, new abuse guidelines, youth protection training, welfare square and the missionaries in my ward who are subsidized. The list goes on and on... I see my tithing dollars being spent exactly as I have been taught. I also live in a ward that needed no fast offering expenditures to needy members for over 6 months. I know that money will be spent elsewhere in the world to help the poor and needy. Those do sound like parts of that fourfold mission. Of course, what you both describe is generally what the church makes it possible for you to see. It's an interesting paradox. You cannot know completely how tithing (including its gains) is being spent, and presumably you are supposed to accept not being able to know. Yet, naturally you still think of where it goes and the church releases some information at its own discretion. There is the illusion of knowing where tithing goes without knowing where it goes. There is the illusion of access to information and the simultaneous understanding that you have no rights to that information. Yet still you and the church sense at some level that that is lacking and that releasing information is important. Edited December 24, 2019 by Meadowchik
california boy Posted December 24, 2019 Posted December 24, 2019 8 hours ago, bsjkki said: It's not surprising. This is the type of story the press loves to run with. The original WP story gets spread to smaller papers. Newsweek chimes in with their biased spin. The AP and Reuters run with what the WP wrote and don't really add or fact check and the headlines are all negative. Most people don't read the full articles and realize these brothers have a huge credibility problem and that the facts are not really clear and much is based on hearsay from two people with very questionable motives. The faithful members and church spokesman phrases are 'in' the story but overall, the story seems to imply the church did something illegal/unethical without any substantive facts. The brothers numbers are mostly unproven but even here, we debate them like they are facts. It is amazing how misinformation these days is spread far and wide with such ease or so little accountability. They just report quotes from others, don't really care if they are true or not and let the flashing headline rule the day. You ae You are kinda spinning what is happening in the best possible light for the Church. Which is understandable. But most articles I have read reported the news which was what the whistle blower claimed. They also posted the Church’s response. You have made your own judgements about the brothers and the Church’s actions just like every other reader of the article. Not everyone comes to the same judgements probably based largely based on their experience with the Church.
bsjkki Posted December 24, 2019 Posted December 24, 2019 7 hours ago, Meadowchik said: Yet still you and the church sense at some level that that is lacking and that releasing information is important. In both of us who you responded too, I don’t find this ‘sense’ you are speaking about. I pay tithing because I want to. It is an exercise in faith. Once, it’s gone, its no longer mine to worry about. I actually don’t believe releasing more info is important. If I didn’t trust the brethren with the money, I wouldn’t pay it. I have no issue with those who don’t pay. Tithing is very personal so, I don’t believe it’s right to assume ‘senses’ that do not exist. I think it is testimony building that we spend so much on temples. It takes a lot of money to build and maintain temples. I see no reason Temple building would be such a priority if those at the top were trying to ‘get gain.’ 2
Tacenda Posted December 24, 2019 Posted December 24, 2019 8 hours ago, Calm said: I can't judge the operations of that particular charity, but good intentions are not enough. Charity has apparently pretty much destroyed Kenya's clothing industry: https://thinkprogress.org/kenya-might-ban-donated-clothing-from-overseas-with-good-reason-17ef301d6823/ If this is true, what about the Deseret Industries that send clothing to third world countries. Of which I've always felt was awesome.
Meadowchik Posted December 24, 2019 Posted December 24, 2019 36 minutes ago, bsjkki said: In both of us who you responded too, I don’t find this ‘sense’ you are speaking about. I pay tithing because I want to. It is an exercise in faith. Once, it’s gone, its no longer mine to worry about. I actually don’t believe releasing more info is important. If I didn’t trust the brethren with the money, I wouldn’t pay it. I have no issue with those who don’t pay. Tithing is very personal so, I don’t believe it’s right to assume ‘senses’ that do not exist. I think it is testimony building that we spend so much on temples. It takes a lot of money to build and maintain temples. I see no reason Temple building would be such a priority if those at the top were trying to ‘get gain.’ Um, nowhere did I attribute a motive to get gain. I think much of this might be attributed to neglect and embarrassment. However, transparency is more important to me, because even the purest of motives can be harmful.
Calm Posted December 24, 2019 Posted December 24, 2019 (edited) 1 hour ago, Tacenda said: If this is true, what about the Deseret Industries that send clothing to third world countries. Of which I've always felt was awesome. If they do that still, I suspect they are careful in where they choose to send it and how much. The Church has made mistakes in how they have tried to help, but from what I have seen and been told it generally learns from its mistakes...thus now they tend to go into communities and ask the locals what is needed rather than assume they know best. I hope the newer “other efforts” (I am assuming it is new because I don’t remember it being there last I looked) keeps growing as does the Benson Food Initiative. It makes much more sense to take people who want to provide for their families and communities and give them a chance to do that for the rest of their lives by take by what they know and adding to it with skills and needed tools and such to make food production work in their home environment, rather than make them dependent on receiving food where the supply chain might get interrupted due to disaster or corruption. Once they know how, they can rebuild whether or not help can get to them even in an emergency...and others can learn by watching them as well. They can also take excess produce and legitimately use it to earn money rather than take donations and turn them around into their business. Edited December 24, 2019 by Calm 1
bsjkki Posted December 24, 2019 Posted December 24, 2019 (edited) 1 hour ago, Meadowchik said: Um, nowhere did I attribute a motive to get gain I didn't say you did...did I? I expressed my opinion about temple building and how the endeavor, for me, shows a pure motive for the work. Why else do it? Speaking of motives, I found this from the whistleblower's brother Lar's interesting. https://www.newsweek.com/mormons-heres-why-we-published-our-revelations-about-lds-churchs-100-billion-stockpile-1478084 "I know many LDS church members, both faithful or questioning, are hurt by what we've revealed. I get that; I can take what you dish out. When you are done, let's "act" together "and not be acted upon." As someone who left the church almost a decade ago, I have not been in stage 2 of grieving—anger—for many years, but I guessed that most fence-sitting Mormons would go straight through "denial" to "anger" when exposed to comprehensive, vetted information. The seven-minute video I made about the church's finances is intentionally void of emotional adjectives. When I went through my faith crisis in 2010, I desperately needed some of those emotional adjectives mingled with facts to help me feel validated while processing worldview-destroying information. I wrote "Letter to an IRS Director" in the style (and in admiration) of "Letter to a CES Director" because isolated, questioning Mormons need hours of immersive, binge-worthy, relatable, and rich content when their "shelves begins to break." "...Am I greedy and financially motivated? It would have been unwise to move forward disregarding the protections afforded by the federal government through the IRS Whistleblower Program. But since I'm unnamed in Form 211, I have no such protection and no such remuneration. I wrote "Letter to an IRS Director," submitted the package to the IRS on David's behalf, and started work on the video narrative without even talking once about the percentages between the two of us. I feel confident in assuring the hundreds of people who have asked already: you will be honored by how Dave would choose to spend any reward granted by the IRS." The brothers did think about the 'reward' and they were so kind to help those in a faith crisis validate their worldview destroying information. So kind. Edited December 24, 2019 by bsjkki 1
Calm Posted December 24, 2019 Posted December 24, 2019 8 minutes ago, bsjkki said: without even talking once about the percentages between the two of us. That seems to assume he is going to get a cut. If he had phrased it as without ever talking about whether he would get anything or not, I would see it as less motivated by financial gain. Percentages now....1% of a billion is not pocket change. Neither is 1% of a million.
Calm Posted December 24, 2019 Posted December 24, 2019 (edited) 17 minutes ago, bsjkki said: I wrote "Letter to an IRS Director," submitted the package to the IRS on David's behalf, Did he submit with David’s permission, I wonder, given what David said about not giving his permission for public release. I can think of no reason why Lars would need to submit it for him. “On his behalf” is not “because he asked me to”. David is protected legally in terms of the whistle blowing, so I also don’t see why they would decide Lars needs to use that language if this was a collaboration. That brother interaction is baffling to me at this point. —— My understanding is there may be a statue of limitations for the two alleged violations. If so, there would be no finder’s fee. Maybe David was in the process of finding out his chances of getting money vs risk of not and likely making himself unemployed. Perhaps Lars jumped the gun with filing as well as publishing. Bet Christmas is a bit chilly if the family is gathering at the grandparents, if that is added to the tension between those still members and those not. Maybe Christmas cards are even out this year. Edited December 24, 2019 by Calm 1
The Nehor Posted December 24, 2019 Posted December 24, 2019 On 12/23/2019 at 12:29 AM, lostindc said: It sucks that some TBMs feel stuck or even okay with defending this financial mess. To me (which doesn’t matter), it’s a freeing experience to no longer feel the need to defend the Church. It sucks that you feel the need to assume some kind of guilt. To me it is a freeing experience to no longer feel the need to disparage the Church. 2
bsjkki Posted December 24, 2019 Posted December 24, 2019 2 hours ago, california boy said: You ae You are kinda spinning what is happening in the best possible light for the Church. Which is understandable. But most articles I have read reported the news which was what the whistle blower claimed. They also posted the Church’s response. You have made your own judgements about the brothers and the Church’s actions just like every other reader of the article. Not everyone comes to the same judgements probably based largely based on their experience with the Church. Just scroll the headlines...the only 'positively' spun headline is from the Deseret News with the church's response. The headlines quote the whistleblower (actually his brother) with this accusations. How many will just believe that headline and believe what the brother says. Will equal headlines be given if the tax violation is found not to exist? I doubt it. It's all about the narrative. Trump Russia collusion anyone? How many still believe that happened? How many investigations have found that charge to be inaccurate but yet, I would not be surprised if at least 40 percent of the country still believes Trump colluded with Russia. No matter if an investigation finds the church did not violate any tax provisions, people will still believe these headlines based on an allegation from someone without many facts. It's called the 'smear' and we will probably get a 'wrap up smear' too. Not fact based but effectively used to damage reputations and organizations. 1
The Nehor Posted December 24, 2019 Posted December 24, 2019 17 minutes ago, bsjkki said: Just scroll the headlines...the only 'positively' spun headline is from the Deseret News with the church's response. The headlines quote the whistleblower (actually his brother) with this accusations. How many will just believe that headline and believe what the brother says. Will equal headlines be given if the tax violation is found not to exist? I doubt it. It's all about the narrative. Trump Russia collusion anyone? How many still believe that happened? How many investigations have found that charge to be inaccurate but yet, I would not be surprised if at least 40 percent of the country still believes Trump colluded with Russia. No matter if an investigation finds the church did not violate any tax provisions, people will still believe these headlines based on an allegation from someone without many facts. It's called the 'smear' and we will probably get a 'wrap up smear' too. Not fact based but effectively used to damage reputations and organizations. There is an irony in comparing this to the Russia collusion scandal. I read the whole Mueller report. Trump tried to collude but failed because Russia would not cooperate completely. The situations are not analogous.
bsjkki Posted December 24, 2019 Posted December 24, 2019 (edited) 17 minutes ago, The Nehor said: There is an irony in comparing this to the Russia collusion scandal. I read the whole Mueller report. Trump tried to collude but failed because Russia would not cooperate completely. The situations are not analogous. I would say you proved my point. 😂 No matter what the multiple reports concluded, people still believe Russia collusion. This will turn into the same type of thing. I read the reports (not just Mueller) and came to a different conclusion. No matter what is found in the future, people will still believe what their particular worldview supports. Edited December 24, 2019 by bsjkki 2
The Nehor Posted December 24, 2019 Posted December 24, 2019 2 hours ago, bsjkki said: I would say you proved my point. 😂 No matter what the multiple reports concluded, people still believe Russia collusion. This will turn into the same type of thing. I read the reports (not just Mueller) and came to a different conclusion. No matter what is found in the future, people will still believe what their particular worldview supports. I don’t believe there was overt collusion. I just believe he would have colluded and would have committed treason in doing so if given the opportunity. This should not be controversial since he has publicly said he would. People who believe there was overt collusion with Russia are going way beyond the facts and are probably fools. Those who think Trump would not break the law if it seems advantageous to him are definitely fools.
california boy Posted December 24, 2019 Posted December 24, 2019 (edited) 5 hours ago, bsjkki said: Just scroll the headlines...the only 'positively' spun headline is from the Deseret News with the church's response. The headlines quote the whistleblower (actually his brother) with this accusations. How many will just believe that headline and believe what the brother says. Will equal headlines be given if the tax violation is found not to exist? I doubt it. It's all about the narrative. Trump Russia collusion anyone? How many still believe that happened? How many investigations have found that charge to be inaccurate but yet, I would not be surprised if at least 40 percent of the country still believes Trump colluded with Russia. No matter if an investigation finds the church did not violate any tax provisions, people will still believe these headlines based on an allegation from someone without many facts. It's called the 'smear' and we will probably get a 'wrap up smear' too. Not fact based but effectively used to damage reputations and organizations. This is what came up on the first Google page search. Every single one of these headlines are factual and every single one has a headline that gives the reader an idea what the article is about. None of them are misleading. Simply put, that is what independent newspapers/magazines do. They report the news. Newspapers are not required to write rebuttal stories. Do you disagree with any of these headlines? Robert Gehrke: $100 billion? Maybe it's time for tax-exempt ... Quote https://www.sltrib.com › religion › 2019/12/18 › robert-gehrke-billion 6 days ago - Maybe it's time for tax-exempt religions, like the LDS Church, to be ... Nielsen alleges that the church maintains a $100 billion reserve fund with ... $100 Billion In Mormon Till Does Not Merit IRS Attention https://www.forbes.com › sites › peterjreilly › 2019/12/17 › 100b-in-mor... 7 days ago - Whistleblower Alleges Mormon Church Misled Members On $100 .... the deduction for charitable contributions and the exemption from tax on ... Mormon Church affiliate got $100 billion tax-free money ... https://www.businessinsider.com › mormon-church-ensign-100-billion-in-t... Dec 17, 2019 - Mormon-church-linked investment fund amassed $100 billion in tax-freemoney and claimed it was being stored in preparation for 'the second ... Mormon Church accused of stockpiling billions, avoiding taxes ... https://www.cnn.com › 2019/12/18 › latter-day-saints-charity-funds-complaint 6 days ago - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, commonly referred to as ... church of stockpiling $100 billion in accounts intended for charitable ... Whistleblower Says Mormon Church Abuses Its Tax Exempt ... https://www.npr.org › 2019/12/18 › whistleblower-says-mormon-church-ab... 7 days ago - Whistleblower Says Mormon Church Abuses Its Tax Exempt Status ... complaint with the IRS, alleging misuse of nearly $100 billion worth of ... Whistleblower accuses Mormon Church of hoarding $100 ... https://theweek.com › speedreads › whistleblower-accuses-mormon-church... Dec 17, 2019 - The Mormon Church may be misleading its congregation when it comes to its tax- exempt investment fund, The Washington Post reports. ... Service in November alleging the Mormon church's leaders stockpiled $100 billion in ... Mormon Church allegedly misled members over $100 billion ... https://www.axios.com › mormon-church-100-billion-donations-whistleblo... Dec 16, 2019 - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints allegedly amassed $100 billion in tax-free funds "intended for charitable purposes," a ... Mormon Church Stockpiled $100 Billion Intended for Charities ... https://www.newsweek.com › U.S. › Religion › Mormons › IRS Dec 17, 2019 - Mormon Church Stockpiled $100 Billion Intended for Charities and Misled LDS.... "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints pays all taxes that are ... the requirements for exemption provided by Section 501(c)3 of the ... I am not going to respond to your political example other than to say IMO how people feel about Trump, just like how people feel about the Church, tends to shade what facts we support and what facts we dismiss, so that both Trump and the Church is presented in the best possible light in their minds. Edited December 24, 2019 by california boy
bsjkki Posted December 25, 2019 Posted December 25, 2019 10 minutes ago, california boy said: This is what came up on the first Google page search. Every single one of these headlines are factual and every single one has a headline that gives the reader an idea what the article is about. None of them are misleading. Simply put, that is what independent newspapers/magazines do. They report the news. Newspapers are not required to write rebuttal stories. Do you disagree with any of these headlines? Robert Gehrke: $100 billion? Maybe it's time for tax-exempt ... I am not going to respond to your political example other than to say IMO how people feel about Trump, just like how people feel about the Church, tends to shade what facts we support and what facts we dismiss, so that both Trump and the Church is presented in the best possible light in their minds. And this is the danger of modern journalism. The accusation or allegation garners immense attention even if it’s not true. This is a sorry state of affairs. The headlines are quoting the brother so factually correct while the truth of the allegation is not the priority hence ‘the smear.’ Journalists should seek to inform and not be a propaganda function of any person or organization. A good journalist would report a full, researched, and represented story. 1
let’s roll Posted December 25, 2019 Posted December 25, 2019 18 hours ago, Meadowchik said: Yes, temples are part of that stated fourfold mission. Those do sound like parts of that fourfold mission. Of course, what you both describe is generally what the church makes it possible for you to see. It's an interesting paradox. You cannot know completely how tithing (including its gains) is being spent, and presumably you are supposed to accept not being able to know. Yet, naturally you still think of where it goes and the church releases some information at its own discretion. There is the illusion of knowing where tithing goes without knowing where it goes. There is the illusion of access to information and the simultaneous understanding that you have no rights to that information. Yet still you and the church sense at some level that that is lacking and that releasing information is important. I accepted your invitation to describe how I see tithing funds being expended in furtherance of the fourfold mission of the Church. I don’t share your opinion of paradoxes and illusions. Nor do I sense, despite your assertion that I do, any “lacking.” 3
Calm Posted December 25, 2019 Posted December 25, 2019 2 minutes ago, let’s roll said: Nor do I sense, despite your assertion that I do, any “lacking.” Mindreading usually reveals more of the thoughts of the mind reader than the one being told what they think/sense. 1
california boy Posted December 25, 2019 Posted December 25, 2019 3 hours ago, bsjkki said: And this is the danger of modern journalism. The accusation or allegation garners immense attention even if it’s not true. This is a sorry state of affairs. The headlines are quoting the brother so factually correct while the truth of the allegation is not the priority hence ‘the smear.’ Journalists should seek to inform and not be a propaganda function of any person or organization. A good journalist would report a full, researched, and represented story. But this headline is what the story is about. What headline for the article would you write?
The Nehor Posted December 25, 2019 Posted December 25, 2019 4 hours ago, bsjkki said: And this is the danger of modern journalism. The accusation or allegation garners immense attention even if it’s not true. This is a sorry state of affairs. The headlines are quoting the brother so factually correct while the truth of the allegation is not the priority hence ‘the smear.’ Journalists should seek to inform and not be a propaganda function of any person or organization. A good journalist would report a full, researched, and represented story. How has modern journalism changed the equation? That just sounds like journalism. 2
Tacenda Posted December 28, 2019 Posted December 28, 2019 On 12/22/2019 at 9:36 PM, JLHPROF said: Not from tithing funds. From offerings. Tithing doesn't go to that. D&C 42 which pre-1838 did allow tithing funds to be used for humanitarian aid also specifically restricted it to needy Church members. The Church has NEVER had any policy to use a dime of tithing money outside of building up the Church and its members. Tithing money is not to be given away. It belongs to God. We are to provide offerings for that purpose. For years my husband didn't approve when I'd like to donate to well researched charities, but said he donated enough through paying tithing. I know you say how the church doesn't contribute to the poor/needy through tithing, but again, it is laid out below that the church says it does. This is very irritating to me because the church misleads people to believe their tithing does go to the poor and needy. So it's either you're right or this link below is, who is it? https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/tithing Here is a c/p of a portion of the link. For Latter-day Saints, tithing is a natural and integrated aspect of their religious belief and practice. By the biblical definition, tithing is one-tenth, and Church members interpret this as a tenth of their “increase,” or income, annually. It is paid on the honor system. No one asks to see income statements or pay slips. Tithes and other charitable donations help the Church carry out its mission of spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, caring for the poor, and strengthening members’ faith and commitment to Jesus Christ. Tithing donations are most usually remitted through the local congregational leader, or bishop, and from there to Church headquarters, where they are allocated and disbursed directly to the Church’s many worldwide programs, including its educational, missionary, building, humanitarian and welfare efforts. Additionally, tithing funds the construction and maintenance of Church facilities. These buildings provide the infrastructure for delivering both physical and spiritual relief to community members. In addition to helping the Church care for the well-being of the less fortunate, Latter-day Saints make charitable donations because they believe in fulfilling God’s commandment to tithe and give to the poor.
Calm Posted December 28, 2019 Posted December 28, 2019 (edited) 6 hours ago, Tacenda said: is laid out below that the church says it does. This is very irritating to me because the church misleads people to believe their tithing does go to the poor and needy. So it's either you're right or this link below is, who is it? Does “tithing and other donations” only mean “tithing” in your view? If I said “Tacenda and other people are teachers at the local elementary school, whose work includes teaching music, PE, Math and Science, and English”, would you assume that what I really mean is “Tacenda is a teacher at the local elementary school, whose work is teaching music, PE, Math and Science, and English”? And the tithing donations that go to pay the overhead expenses*** for the humanitarian projects, do you see that as something separate to helping the poor and needy or is that part of it? ****https://www.latterdaysaintcharities.org/ This may come from for profit business, it would make sense I am guessing as a tax deduction. I need to see if I can find something more specific. Edited December 28, 2019 by Calm 1
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