So glad the LDS Church doesn't do paid clergy.

[Beantown]

There are some things financially about the LDS church that bug me but if this kind of crap was going on this would put me over the edge. So sad that these people send these TV preachers money. This type of ministry should be illegal.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJ9oBCLwwL0

 

[TroutBum]

They provide a service and ask people to pay for it. I think it's a farce, but stupid people and their money will be parted somehow and someway. If it makes them feel better to send it to these fools, then so be it. I think there's a reason that all of these preachers are still in business and that the senate never did a darn thing about them; it's not illegal to be dumb with your money.

I've been living with my grandfather for the last few months while I transition my family to STG and I took a peek at some of his taxes, bills, etc. one day. I was flabbergasted at how much he donates to things just like this. He's a devout catholic (the only one I've ever met, coincidentally) and most of the money goes to catholic churches, charities, etc. I'm talking over five digits just last year to one single charity.

 

[Qman]

They provide a service and ask people to pay for it. I think it's a farce, but stupid people and their money will be parted somehow and someway. If it makes them feel better to send it to these fools, then so be it. I think there's a reason that all of these preachers are still in business and that the senate never did a darn thing about them; it's not illegal to be dumb with your money.

I've been living with my grandfather for the last few months while I transition my family to STG and I took a peek at some of his taxes, bills, etc. one day. I was flabbergasted at how much he donates to things just like this. He's a devout catholic (the only one I've ever met, coincidentally) and most of the money goes to catholic churches, charities, etc. I'm talking over five digits just last year to one single charity.

I guess whatever makes him happy.

 

[TroutBum]

I guess whatever makes him happy.

Precisely.

 

[TroutBum]

Caveat: This is different than other scams that take advantage of seniors and/or people in general. These preachers aren't promising return on investment or anything other than blessings, which of course, aren't quantifiable. That being said, there are probably millions of followers that will testify to the blessings they've received, so while it may look like a farce to most of us, it sure doesn't to those that donate.

Ponzi Schemes = Illegal

Televangelists = Legal

 

[Duck Rodgers]

Go to any Christian bookstore section and you'll see that a lot of them put out books by the boatload and own publishing companies, so it's a bit more complicated than the implication from that clip that they were essentially taking money from a virtual donation hat and buying huge mansions and planes with it.

But yes, since their business is Jesus, the opulence should be questioned regardless, but that's not really the angle they were taking in that clip.

 

[LogGrad98]

A televangelist ponzi scheme eh? Hmmmmm.

 

[infection]

In b4 sirkickyass GA salaries and perks.

 

[babe]

In b4 sirkickyass GA salaries and perks.

rumor had it, years ago, that some GAs had issues about their perks. I think it was B.R. McConkie who had a Ford Pinto that didn't fit in with all the caddies and beamers in the GA "reserved" line in the underground parking of the COB. Some felt that McConkie was casting aspersions on his brethren and playing some kind of self-righteous finger-pointing game against his brethren.

You folks can all think what you want, but I considered this a proof of McConkies' good standing with God, because he did not die as a "flash in the pan" victim of the Ford Roadbomb.

 

[babe]

There are some things financially about the LDS church that bug me but if this kind of crap was going on this would put me over the edge. So sad that these people send these TV preachers money. This type of ministry should be illegal.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJ9oBCLwwL0

Nothing proves God's caring better than success.



Read the Book of Job, and you will see what I mean. If you are not blessed with success, you are a zero in God's eyes.

Or read the bios of our LDS leaders. There's no reason to believe a bum sitting up in the middle of the night when there are successful people to listen to.


uhhhhmmmmm..........

vows of poverty and ascetic lifestyles don't prove anything, either. . . . .

 

[The Thriller]

People in the south are so stupid. No wonder why they still think blacks should still be picking cotton for them.

 

[8]

LDS doesn't pay clergy? Weird

Don't see any problem with this stuff. If you really want to curb these money-suckers you should probably focus on the consumer. Making it illegal doesn't change them, which really seems to be where your frustration's lie.

 

[Dr. Jones]

Solo much to add and respond to hear... maybe one day.

 

[UGLI baby]

Solo
Polo
Yolo

 

[7StraightIsGreat]

I think the issue of paid clergy is a slippery slope. Obviously, you have your scammers, but you also have very devout people that put a lot of time and study into becoming paid clergy of some type. A good friend of mine is a Lutheran pastor and the amount of schooling and religious study it took for him to get there was mind boggling to me.

I get why the LDS faith is proud of their non paid clergy but I also see the flip side of that coin. You have men out there who are school teachers and furniture salesman by day and religious clergyman by night. IMO I have a hard time seeing where they are as well prepared to give council on marital, moral, and religious issues compared to somebody who has devoted their entire lives to the study of just that. I think too much is put on the plate of people like LDS bishops. They are expected to make a living, raise a family, maintain a marriage, and tend to their flock all at the same time. Sounds like a rough gig.

 

[Beantown]

In b4 sirkickyass GA salaries and perks.

This though isn't an issue to me. Most of these guys are smart and made really good money. Some are even doctors. So when they are called to serve they are basically giving up any opportunity to keep making money from their careers. And from what I understand their salaries are based on what they made during their careers and its usually around 80% of that from what I have heard.

So the point is there is no financial gain from their new called service. They probably have perks of having a car provided for travel and things like that but its nothing to write home about.

 

[Beantown]

I think the issue of paid clergy is a slippery slope. Obviously, you have your scammers, but you also have very devout people that put a lot of time and study into becoming paid clergy of some type. A good friend of mine is a Lutheran pastor and the amount of schooling and religious study it took for him to get there was mind boggling to me.

I get why the LDS faith is proud of their non paid clergy but I also see the flip side of that coin. You have men out there who are school teachers and furniture salesman by day and religious clergyman by night. IMO I have a hard time seeing where they are as well prepared to give council on marital, moral, and religious issues compared to somebody who has devoted their entire lives to the study of just that. I think too much is put on the plate of people like LDS bishops. They are expected to make a living, raise a family, maintain a marriage, and tend to their flock all at the same time. Sounds like a rough gig.

But I think it would be hard to be in that type of a setting to pay tithing. Tithing is a commandment, and if the Bishop is telling lower income families to pay tithing and he got a percentage of that tithe that would drive me nuts.

Also when it comes to paid clergy the more people in the seats that are paying a tithe the more money this guy gets. Thats why you see these giant churches all their pastors are swimming in money.

So if the Bishop was really pushing missionary work and baptisms....my thought would go directly to his pocket book.

This would be one of the reasons if I ever left the LDS church I could never go to another denomination.

 

[Beantown]

Also it pisses me off because these guys are going against the Bible. The Bible specificlly talks about giving 10% to your LOCAL church. Not to a guy you have never met before on TV.


Also if these guys are promising the curing of cancer or anything on those lines it needs to be done away with. I am for equal rights of all citizens and that includes protecting dumb people, senior citizens and just desperate people that are on their death beds.

 

[7StraightIsGreat]

But I think it would be hard to be in that type of a setting to pay tithing. Tithing is a commandment, and if the Bishop is telling lower income families to pay tithing and he got a percentage of that tithe that would drive me nuts.

Also when it comes to paid clergy the more people in the seats that are paying a tithe the more money this guy gets. Thats why you see these giant churches all their pastors are swimming in money.

So if the Bishop was really pushing missionary work and baptisms....my thought would go directly to his pocket book.

This would be one of the reasons if I ever left the LDS church I could never go to another denomination.

Here's my analogy on the whole thing:

If I need a surgery, I'm going with the guy who has devoted his life and profession to the study of just that. Not the guy who does it after work because he feels compelled to do so.

 

[colton]

This though isn't an issue to me. Most of these guys are smart and made really good money. Some are even doctors. So when they are called to serve they are basically giving up any opportunity to keep making money from their careers. And from what I understand their salaries are based on what they made during their careers and its usually around 80% of that from what I have heard.

So the point is there is no financial gain from their new called service. They probably have perks of having a car provided for travel and things like that but its nothing to write home about.

That's interesting, I haven't heard that before. Could be true. Where did you hear that?

What I do believe is the case, is that the GAs are paid from profits from church-owned businesses (such as Deseret Book), rather than from tithing/fast offering donations from members.