DiscussMormonism.com

President Nelson promises East Africans paying tithe will free them from poverty

Because that is the "Lord's way," he assures the poor, meek, and mild who traveled by dusty busloads to come listen to him speak.

"President Nelson also said tithing can break cycles of poverty in poor nations and families.

"We preach tithing to the poor people of the world because the poor people of the world have had cycles of poverty, generation after generation," he said. "That same poverty continues from one generation to another, until people pay their tithing."

The law of the tithe was followed by ancient peoples as taught by Old Testament prophets. LDS faithful believe God restored the law and its blessings for those who follow it by giving one-tenth of their income to the church."

Creating more generational poverty in my opinion is not the way to cure it.

https://www.deseretnews.com/article/900 ... cycle.html

The church doesn't need the money. Those people do.

I don't think the Church is in Africa for the money.

ajax18 wrote:I don't think the Church is in Africa for the money.

The Mormon church has always been about money, no matter where it is. That's why they hide their data whenever they can. Money is the other side of power and a doctrine that promises people Godhood ain't about humility and service. But some folks buy the talk and open their wallets. They will pay a great deal for their fix of unreality, willingly and righteously.

Mormonism has to pretend that it's growing and that it's inclusive. That's good business and that's behind the PR of the African push. It's a long game that they're playing. They aren't stupid about that.

Maksutov wrote:The Mormon church has always been about money, no matter where it is. That's why they hide their data whenever they can. Money is the other side of power and a doctrine that promises people Godhood ain't about humility and service. But some folks buy the talk and open their wallets. They will pay a great deal for their fix of unreality, willingly and righteously.

Mormonism has to pretend that it's growing and that it's inclusive. That's good business and that's behind the PR of the African push. It's a long game that they're playing. They aren't stupid about that.

I think there is also the strong element that very poor areas such as Africa have very little internet connection at the moment and may still buy their sales pitch.

The down side to their long game is that as more African countries' economies improve, the less accepting of LDS proselytizing the people will be. I think that's what happened in Europe. It's a losing game.

Quasimodo wrote:

Maksutov wrote:The Mormon church has always been about money, no matter where it is. That's why they hide their data whenever they can. Money is the other side of power and a doctrine that promises people Godhood ain't about humility and service. But some folks buy the talk and open their wallets. They will pay a great deal for their fix of unreality, willingly and righteously.

Mormonism has to pretend that it's growing and that it's inclusive. That's good business and that's behind the PR of the African push. It's a long game that they're playing. They aren't stupid about that.

I think there is also the strong element that very poor areas such as Africa have very little internet connection at the moment and may still buy their sales pitch.

The down side to their long game is that as more African countries' economies improve, the less accepting of LDS proselytizing the people will be. I think that's what happened in Europe. It's a losing game.

Demographically the majority of Christians will be living below the equator by 2050. The more educated people become, the more secular. The poor, the desperate, the lost have always been the best prospects for religion because such people often lack adequate social networks. They have no advocates and can be overwhelmed through love bombing and sophisticated reality distortion.

Nelson is preaching false principles. Paying tithing has nothing to do with whether a nation prospers or lives in poverty. Those things are determined by other factors not whether the people of that nation pay homage to a church by rendering 10% to an American based religion. Many countries around the world prosper and have very few tithe paying Mormons that dwell therein.

It is a complete ruse on Nelson's part in placing blame and guilt on a people he doesn't even know. In my view, Nelson is practicing wickedness in making Africans think they have to yield and pay homage to an American church in order to prosper. It's sheer and utter wickedness on Nelson's part. The people of Africa will either prosper or live in poverty because of factors totally unrelated to the LDS church. With that said, those Africans that fall for this nonsense that Nelson is peddling are probably looking for a silver lining and are going to look to the church for assistance when things go bad. Nelson better be prepared to open his wallet in a big way because the Africans will not be forgiving when they find out that they were duped by an American cult.

Shulem wrote:Nelson is preaching false principles. Paying tithing has nothing to do with whether a nation prospers or lives in poverty. Those things are determined by other factors not whether the people of that nation pay homage to a church by rendering 10% to an American based religion. Many countries around the world prosper and have very few tithe paying Mormons that dwell therein.

It is a complete ruse on Nelson's part in placing blame and guilt on a people he doesn't even know. In my view, Nelson is practicing wickedness in making Africans think they have to yield and pay homage to an American church in order to prosper. It's sheer and utter wickedness on Nelson's part. The people of Africa will either prosper or live in poverty because of factors totally unrelated to the LDS church. With that said, those Africans that fall for this nonsense that Nelson is peddling are probably looking for a silver lining and are going to look to the church for assistance when things go bad. Nelson better be prepared to open his wallet in a big way because the Africans will not be forgiving when they find out that they were duped by an American cult.

But it's a very respectable and powerful cult. C'mon, America's been a nonstop cult parade since the Puritans landed. It's what we do. We hand over our money and chicks to gibbering god men, because we're too arrogant to absorb the Enlightenment.

Money is the other side of power

Agreed. But how much money is the Church really collecting from 3rd world countries versus how much is it paying out for buildings etc? If it were about making money, it wouldn't make any sense for the Church to be in Africa. In fact, wouldn't some speculate that this may be why the Church wasn't proselyting in these nations during its infancy? And if it were a PR campaign, why publicly tell African saints they need to pay tithing to the uber wealthy LDS church?

and a doctrine that promises people Godhood ain't about humility and service.

Why isn't this possible? How do you explain Jesus washing the feet of his disciples?

ajax18 wrote:

Money is the other side of power

Agreed. But how much money is the Church really collecting from 3rd world countries versus how much is it paying out for buildings etc? If it were about making money, it wouldn't make any sense for the Church to be in Africa. In fact, wouldn't some speculate that this may be why the Church wasn't proselyting in these nations during its infancy? And if it were a PR campaign, why publicly tell African saints they need to pay tithing to the uber wealthy LDS church?

and a doctrine that promises people Godhood ain't about humility and service.

Why isn't this possible? How do you explain Jesus washing the feet of his disciples?

It's a ritual. Follow the money. That's where the values are.