How does the $100B impact upper leadership?

[_Fence Sitter]

I have to wonder if another reason the top leadership has kept the 100B secret from everyone is they were also afraid of how that information would impact the rest of the GA's.
It is no longer feasible for a supervising apostle to tell an underling that his project is being cancelled or scaled back due to lack of funds.

Will previously out-of-the-financial-loop leadership now start requesting more money for their areas of supervision? How can the church justify not building a new temple by denying there are available funds?

The church has been hiding this information from their own leadership because they don't even trust them.

[_Dr Exiled]

My experience playing golf with a few G.A.'s over the years and hearing my father relate what he and his G.A. buddies discussed when they were hanging out playing tennis or whatever they were doing is that they were incredibly cheap as a group. The topic of conversation was always where to save a few pennies on gas or credit cards, or whatever. Like DCP said, they didn't live extravagant lives. The idea was to sacrifice for the collective hive so the savings and investments could grow. They took pride in being cheap, in skimping and saving and driving understated vehicles. It worked. Now, they should give those poor dupe members a break.

[_Dr Moore]

Yeah I don't think that's it. By all accounts, it is a privilege for GA's to live simple, unadorned lives.

I think they were afraid of what the fund size would mean to average members, and unfortunately that they were also afraid to use it productively.

[_Fence Sitter]

You both have misunderstood my point.
Let me clarify.

I am talking about funds GA's might need to carry out whatever assignment is theirs within the church. Not money for their own personal gain. Top leadership is worried that lower GA's might now think it is okay to spend more money on getting a particular project done.

So, for example, a GA who hypothetically has been assigned the responsibility to oversee the distribution of a new Church manual in say South America might have been given a budget of $1 million dollars to carry out this task and a time frame of 6 months may come back and say "Ill need $2 million dollars to carry out my task in that time frame." knowing that the church has abundant $$$$$ at its beck and call.

The point is now that all leadership is aware of the surplus of funds at hand they may be more liberal in how much they think is needed in their own areas of stewardship. Just as the church fears that members will not pay in as much money in tithing, I think there is probably an equal fear of leadership itself not operating as if money were in short supply.

The church has $100B they are sitting on not spending. It got there by hiding that money from members and lower leadership alike and now it is worried about the impact it will have on the bottom line because everyone knows about it.

I'm telling you, knowing that money is there will affect how high level decisions will be made. If a temple can be done 6 months earlier by spending %10 more on the construction, no problem. The church needs money to fight gay marriage in Outer Mongolia. No problem. East Ghana needs a ward house they will never afford - - no problem. Lower level GA's will push for more expenditures knowing SLC can afford it.

Who is going to get up in a budget meeting to replace all the latest racist manuals and say "well we just can't afford that" when everyone knows they can?

[_moksha]

Better not start spending until the Church learns if they need to pay tax penalties.

[_Gadianton]

The brethren already know the Church is cheap and probably have low expectations, but is this massive glob of dough enough to make them reconsider? It's a good question. They should get huffy about it. If they just roll over and accept it, then I think the best explanation is they all realize the Church isn't going anywhere, and as the years go on the hoard potential will decline so get it and keep it while they can.

[Guest]

They took pride in being cheap, in skimping and saving and driving understated vehicles.

President Monson's understated vehicle was a up-armored Audi 8 L "Security" model.



They are only available on special factory order with a build time of several months at a secure top secret plant in Neckarsulm. They are stripped down and re-built with hot forged steel armor plating, bulletproof glass, run-flat tires, armored communication box mounted in the trunk, emergency exit system, fire extinguisher system, and emergency fresh air system. All wheel drive is standard.

Notice the width of the window tracks in the door frame needed to accommodate the multi-layer ballistic glass. Most security packages don't allow the rear windows to roll down. This is both a security and cost saving feature, since the motors to reliably operate such heavy and tightly sealed windows are quite expensive.

Bargain models start around $700K. If you want the W-12 engine and all the options, you are looking at more than a million. The factory requires that the new owners send a representative to their a professional security driving course to teach drivers how to handle the car in emergency situations.

Very few US diplomats rate cars with this level of security. They are reserved for use in the most dangerous postings. If Monson and Church leaders felt that Utah was a dangerous posting for a Mormon President, maybe they knew more about his public image and the general perception of Church leadership than the Church was willing to acknowledge.

The image of Monson flipping the bird to the camera may have been photoshopped. If so, kudos to the artist.

[_moksha]

Has this been photoshopped? Perhaps this was
the preferred turning signal for Provo, Utah.

[_Arc]

Has this been photoshopped? Perhaps this was
the preferred turning signal for Provo, Utah.

Looks as if the offending image, now a classic, was photoshopped. Here is a link to the original image as it appeared in DN in 2011.

https://www.deseret.com/2011/7/25/20386047/days-of-47-parade-presses-forward#lds-church-president-thomas-s-monson-waves-to-the-crowd-while-riding-in-the-days-of-47-ksl-5-parade-in-salt-lake-city-on-monday-july-25-2011.

Somehow, in retrospect and given the recently exposed $100 billion debacle, the image that appears in the two posts above seems more appropriate.

[_Doctor CamNC4Me]

I’ve never understood religious leaders along the lines of a Pope or a prophet caring much if they’re martyred. That’s kind of the best way to go if you’re a true blue believer, no? It’s not like they don’t have a succession plan in place. Kinda makes ya wonder if they believe, like really believe, what they’re sellin’.

- Doc