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What can members do in their charitable contributions that would help the Church be more consistent in the proper use of its funds. (This is not to say that the Church is not currently consistent. No.)

A lot of people though, in and out of the church, were surprised by the new Mall built by the Church in SLC for purposes of revitalizing SLC neighborhood area. Some thought it was misuse of Church funds. Some think it was for a good purpose.

I myself was surprised that the supposed purpose to contribute to the revitalization of SLC neighborhood, when I see that my own neighborhood needed more revitalization than SLC. :) I'm curious what criteria the Church used to decide which neighborhood to help revitalize.

I propose Conditional Donations. Missionary Fund is a type of conditional donations where the funds are restricted solely for that purpose (missionary expenditures) and for no other purpose. So instead of filling out the Tithing box of the Contribution Slips, there's a blank box that is provided where a written purpose can be noted on the contribution. For example, members have used that blank box to pay for "Food Storage" items it purchased through the Church. Something specific can be written that will restrict that funds to a specific purpose, such as "Print Book of Mormons, or "Upkeep and Maintenance of Church Buildings", etc, instead of giving a sorta "blank check" to the Church.

This also allows for a right to refund if the specific purpose was not met by the Church.

What's your take??

I'm pretty sure that the church has made a recent change to the tithing slip. They reserve the right to use all funds however they deem appropriate.

How would you ever know if the funds go where you would specify?

What can members do? you ask...


How about stop paying unless and until the Church publishes exactly where the money goes. This is what I have done.

SteelHead wrote:How would you ever know if the funds go where you would specify?

They would account for it and report. For example, we assume that when we pay FAST OFFERING that it would go to the poor and needy. Sure enough we have Bishop storehouse and farms and food factories that produces stuff to go to the poor and needy. So that's a no brainer there.
If you specify for example "Build temple", we can be assured that these specific funds go to temple buildings because we see temples dotted all over the land.
It had be something specific, other than the one umbrellla "Tithing". Because when you put it under tithing, it has multiple uses and so the disclaimer at the bottom of the contribution slip stating that use of this funds is at the discretion of the Church.
But if you put it say 10% of your income all to FAST OFFERING, this conditional donations, is specific and will be used for that sole purpose of helping the needy, instead of building a MALL, thus helping the church on its proper use of church funds.

Well, you can't do anything about it. You can dream about it, and wish for it, but the reality is the church is doing whatever it wants with your money. Your only choice is whether to continue paying it or not. That's really the no-joke reality of the situation.

Or, you can get all righteous and try "running" for Apostle, and if you make it, maybe someday you'll have a say, and can try to change things. Other than that, good luck.

Sethbag wrote:Well, you can't do anything about it.
Or, you can get all righteous and try "running" for Apostle, and if you make it, maybe someday you'll have a say, and can try to change things. Other than that, good luck.

Or another way is for EVERYONE to participate in a CONDITIONAL DONATION day the week after Conference on October 14, 2012. When everyone pays a donation that day, write in some purpose on the tithing slip, instead of putting it all under "Tithing". Write any purpose other than Tithing. You can write:
FOR Book of Mormon PRINTING
FOR TEMPLE BLDG
FOR WARD MISSIONARY
FOR FAST OFFERING
FOR WARD BLDG
FOR STAKE BLDG
FOR YM/YW CAMP
FOR THE UNEMPLOYED IN THE WARD

SteelHead wrote:How would you ever know if the funds go where you would specify?

there is no reason to consider that they would not.

Drifting wrote:What can members do? you ask...


How about stop paying unless and until the Church publishes exactly where the money goes. This is what I have done.

yes, but you it for less nobler reasons.

Sub,
Do you actually think before you post?

No reason...... hmmm

Let's see:

A. No accounting given of where the funds go.
B. “Though reasonable efforts will be made globally 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" is printed on the tithing slip. Indicating that the church currently does not guarantee that your donation is used as you direct on the tithing slip.

The thrust of my previous post was with no accounting, and no accountability even if you wrote what the OP put on your donation you would have no mechanism for ensuring it is used as such, which in light of A&B seems a safe conclusion.