marg wrote:David A. Bednar wrote: To my dear sister, Marg. Stay away from our young ones. With your arguments about Joseph Smith being a nighttime sheep stealer, we wouldn't have any kids, to grow up into tithe-payers, would we? And then how would we continue to buy nice real estate and build beautiful temples?
You don't have to worry David, even if members stopped paying tithes, the church still has billions in assets, in particular investments and businesses bringing in revenues such that it could continue for quite some time, probably centuries without receiving another dime from members. And since you say the world is going to end in the next 400 years, perhaps it's an idea to stop requesting 10 % tithes and give the members a break in their present life. You guys, supposedly take in over 6 billion dollars a year. I don't think you could spend that even it you tried. No wonder you are into buying malls, businesses and real estate. But again what do you need it for, if the world is going to end soon. Unless of course you think you can take money to another world and they will accept the currency. I'm not sure how deluded your thinking is.
Restt assured though, your organization is financially secure,. If you play your cards right you'll have a good paying job for life. You do get paid by the church don't you? I think I read somewhere that businesses as a whole in the U.S. give more money as a percentage of their earnings to charity than the Mormon church does. So you guys must be socking it away, do you think you're going to surpass the Catholic church one day in financail wealth?
by the way, I'm very impressed , you really do read posts on this board and have an excellent grasp of what various posters are saying. So you think the reason the church is losing people is because they've been offended? I was thinking it might be because people are becoming better informed.
My dear sister thorn-in-our-sides, Marg,
I am glad you are impressed. I am trying always to magnify my calling.
Yes, I do get paid by the Church. Is that a surprise to you? It shouldn't be. To tell you the truth, however, I don't even know how much the church has at the present time. But it is not enough to stop calling our dear brothers and sisters to toilet cleaning positions in their respective branches, wards, and stakes.
Isn't it a marvelous thing that our members are willing to serve with all their hearts, minds, and strength to building up the kingdom by taking on such tasks as cleaning toilets? Tell me, can you, what other church has such willing members who without questioning and murmering do what we ask them to do? (Great will be their reward, just as the Lord has promised.)
That's right! You can't.
Even I would be willing to do such callings, if, that is, I had the time. But, alas, I have other important responsibilities to fulfill. Division of labor is a wonderful thing, isn't it. But, be assured, all callings, from toilet cleaning to apostleship, come from the Lord. They are all equally necessary and important in building up the kingdom of God in these, yes, even these latter-days when the Lord is surely to come again in all his glory.
I know these things to be true. Such a witness burns within me. Come back to us, my dear sister. Think how wonderful it would be if you could teach our children and students how to think, the Lord's way. You have special talents, not to be squandered on these discussion boards where your talents are so undervalued.
As always, my door is open.
Your brother in blinders and harness, Elder David A. Bednar.
