Additional Scripture - Case for the affirmative

Have you ever heard of someone tell you that the Bible is the "Whole" word of good? They can't even imagine you telling them there might be more or that the Bible is really not complete?

Well I'd like to get the gears in your head moving and help you to consider some aspects that might change your mind.

First off we had better define what the Bible really is.

Full Definition of BIBLE - Merriam Webster Online Dictionary

1

capitalized

a :  the sacred scriptures of Christians comprising the Old Testament and the New Testament

b :  the sacred scriptures of some other religion (as Judaism)

2

obsolete :  book

3

capitalized :  a copy or an edition of the Bible

4

:  a publication that is preeminent especially in authoritativeness or wide readership <the fisherman's bible> <the bible of the entertainment industry>

I really like the 4th definition.  An authoritative book or publication.

So the Bible is really just an authoritative collection of sacred scripture.  The key point is a collection.    That means that it might not include everything on the subject but, it sure has a fair amount and that what it does include is authoritative or for general use and benefit.

Then we also need to declare what is scripture.  Why because the Bible is a collection of said scripture and will help prove my point latter on.

Full Definition of SCRIPTURE -Merriam Webster Online Dictionary

1

a (1) capitalized :  the books of the Bible —often used in plural (2) often capitalized :  a passage from the Bible

b :  a body of writings considered sacred or authoritative

2

:  something written <the primitive man's awe for any scripture — George Santayana>

See scripture defined for English-language learners »

See scripture defined for kids »

Again  there is the mention of authoritative and sacred.  So a guy named Fred that is a 7 times world champion salmon fisher might be asked to include something in the Fisherman's bible.  He would be authoritative because he has won the championship 7 times.  Now he would not be include in the Bible of scripture because he is not authoritative in the matters of doctrine, he is for fishing though.

So we find that the Bible is really just a collection of the sacred writings of holy men/women as determined at some time in the past.  We accept those writing because we believe those writings to be inspired of God.

Take for example the first few books of the Bible - Genesis, Exodus, Numbers etc.  that were written by Moses whom we accept as a prophet of God.
Do you think those books include everything that God communicated to Moses?  And could there have been another prophet at the same time?  Did God communicate with Aaron his brother or any of the 70 men he called to help him sit in judgement?

I submit for your review that he did.  God communicated with other people and we simply don't have their writings.  Some of them we know about and others we do not.  So I propose to list a few to keep the gear turning.

Here is a partial list:
Book of the Wars of the Lord (Num. 21:14); book of Jasher (Josh. 10:13; 2 Sam. 1:18); book of the acts of Solomon (1 Kgs. 11:41); book of Samuel the seer (1 Chr. 29:29); book of Gad the seer (1 Chr. 29:29); book of Nathan the prophet (1 Chr. 29:29; 2 Chr. 9:29); prophecy of Ahijah (2 Chr. 9:29); visions of Iddo the seer (2 Chr. 9:29; 12:15; 13:22); book of Shemaiah (2 Chr. 12:15); book of Jehu (2 Chr. 20:34); sayings of the seers (2 Chr. 33:19); an epistle to the Church at Laodicea (Col. 4:16); and some prophecies of Enoch, known to Jude (Jude 1:14)

These are just a few of the ones listed in the Bible.  The same ones some try to claim is complete, unchangeable, and the final word.
The foregoing items attest to the fact that our present Bible does not contain all of the word of the Lord that He gave to His people in former times and remind us that the Bible, in its present form, is rather incomplete.

Then we have the second issues that arises after we do that little exercise.  At what point did God discontinue to speak to people here on Earth and totally abandon us?  What I mean from that is if we accept the fact there are lost books or scripture then we must accept the fact that God has been communicating with people all along.  Would he stop speaking to people in 65 A.D. completely?
Would he just leave us to our own devices in these current times?  I might seem so since things can appear to be pretty screwed up. 

I propose to you that he did not quit talking as that is not his protocol.  It is not the way he works.
Amos 3:7 Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.

He may have temporarily withdrawn for a while though he never leaves us flapping in the wind for too long.  Have you ever noticed what they have at the end of the old Testament? 
"The End of the Prophets" - Malachi 4

Interesting right.  The end of the prophets some years before the new testament starts.  The new testament which shows right clearly that God started communicating again with man here on Earth.
So the pattern is clear.  He may stop at some point for while but, HE never leaves us alone for too long.  It is kind of like when you put your child in the corner for a time out.  You don't keep talking with him while he is there.  You leave him alone to think things over.  Then after a cooling off, repentance and humbling period you go back and communicate you displeasure and give them a hug or welcome them back to what ever was going on.


Now for the hard to convince they might say - look guy this is all fine and dandy but, the Bible says you can not add on to this right here in revelations.

Revelations 22:18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:

 19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

OK I'll take that.  But does it not say the same right here in Deuteronomy?
Deuteronomy 4:2 Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.

So which one is the added portion?  Are either of them the added portion? Is the stuff coming after the 4th chapter of Deuteronomy?  That would mean most of the Old Testament and all of the New Testament?    I think many of us have been miss interpreting these scriptures for a very very long time.

I love this comment from a site giving additional insights to this train of thought

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
2. Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you—by the introduction of any heathen superstition or forms of worship different from those which I have appointed (De 12:32; Nu 15:39; Mt 15:9).
neither shall ye diminish aught from it—by the neglect or omission of any of the observances, however trivial or irksome, which I have prescribed. The character and provisions of the ancient dispensation were adapted with divine wisdom to the instruction of that infant state of the church. But it was only a temporary economy; and although God here authorizes Moses to command that all its institutions should be honored with unfailing observance, this did not prevent Him from commissioning other prophets to alter or abrogate them when the end of that dispensation was attained.


biblehub.com deuteronomy 4-2 (emphasis added)


I propose that there was a time when darkness fell over the land.  That the Lord and God withdrew themselves from communication with man on Earth.  A time we call the great apostasy and readily prophesied of by the Apostle Paul in various places in the bible.
This forced upon us the grand confusion that has over time been present within the Christian religion.
For as you see no one was directly communicating with God and thus they were left to their own devices.  Frankly things got really confusing quickly.  Also since the Bible as we know it today was not in it's present form this created added confusion.  You might have people using various "scriptures" that other do not accept.  Or the translation one has compared to another might give to very different meanings.   Confusion at the extreme.

I testify that God did once again call a prophet in modern times.  That He has as his pattern can attest communicated with Man again in modern time to give us guidance and direction.
And I testify that Man is the one Joseph Smith Jr.

A wonderful video clip, mainly audio of a profile of a prophet, a modern day Prophet.
A profile, a legal brief that by legal standards proves he was a modern day prophet.


I also testify that through the prophet Joseph we received additional scripture.  Additional ancient scripture, and modern revelation provided to him to reestablish the Lord's church in this Dispensation.
And that through the continuation of the Authoritative power of the Priesthood a living modern day prophet is on the Earth today.  That prophet being Thomas S Monson.
That he regularly & authoritatively provides us with modern scripture - modern communication between God and Man.

Possibly still a little sceptical?  Still have some doubts?

I have the answers - You simply need to ask GOD if these things are true.
He has answers people in the past and he will answers people in the future.  Why would he not want you to know the truth?

Don't take my word for the truthfulness of these things, nor Hugh B. Brown.  Find out for yourself.

Interested in getting a free copy of additional scripture?

Go to this website - http://www.mormon.org/free-book-of-mormon

Buiadh - NO - Bas

Standing in Holy Places

What or where is the most holy place on earth?  [pause] NO one would argue against anywhere that Heavenly Father or Jesus Christ is currently at.  However, we know they are not present on earth very frequently.  There are few recorded instances in the scriptures; Mount Sinai, Sacred Grove to mention a few.  Beyond that most would say the Temples of the Church, then maybe meeting houses and other church dedicated buildings.   I ask of you today – Are the 19 inches of bench you are currently sitting on holy? 

Or more importantly are the 19 inches of sofa you will occupy later today holy?  I’ll tell you why as we consider how where we are currently standing can be a holy place.

The Bible Dictionary specifies:

Holiness. According to the O.T. things or places were holy that were set apart for a sacred purpose; the opposite of holy is therefore common or profane…. Similarly a holy person meant one who held a sacred office.  …  The word holy therefore came to refer to moral character.

“What you see and hear depends a good deal on where you are standing; it also depends on what sort of person you are. -C. S. Lewis.”

http://www.worldofquotes.com/author/C.+S.+Lewis/4/index.html

Locations and places do not necessarily define who we are but, they can have an influence on what we will become.  Just because you are at a bar does not mean you’re an alcoholic.    Hanging around the Temple grounds all day does not therefore make us Celestial Kingdom material.  It sure can help in comparison to an establishment that serves alcoholic beverages or promotes something against the commandments.

“We unavoidably stand in so many unholy places and are subjected to so much that is vulgar, profane, and destructive of the Spirit of the Lord that I encourage our Saints all over the world, wherever possible, to strive to stand more often in holy places. Our most holy places are our sacred temples. Within them is a feeling of sacred comfort. We should seek to be worthy to take our families to the temple to be sealed together for eternity”

Standing in Holy Places James E. Faust

Second Counselor in the First Presidency

April 2005 http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2005/04/standing-in-holy-places

Also think of your home computer or Television.  At one moment you can be watching the Prophet at a session of General Conference.  A few clicks later you can be viewing images or video that do not invite the spirit.

“Standing in holy places is all about being in good company, whether you are alone or with others. It's being where the Holy Ghost is our companion—alone or in a crowd. When we determine within ourselves that we will control our thoughts and our actions and be the best we can possibly be, the best of life will come to us.”

Standing in holy places

Sister Sharon G. Larsen Second counselor, Young Women General Presidency

Published: Saturday, March 30, 2002

http://www.ldschurchnews.com/articles/41554/Standing-in-holy-places.html

Further more, Sister Larsen mentions the following:

“It is possible the loneliest times are when we are surrounded by people, even friends, who are making wrong choices, and we have to stand alone. There are some places it would not be safe for you to go even to help someone in need. The Lord said to stand in holy places. There are places where the Spirit would never be. You know where those places are. Stay away from them. Do not encourage a curiosity that ought to be stopped. Pay attention to what you are feeling so you will know when you are feeling unsure or uneasy.”

Standing in holy places

Sister Sharon G. Larsen
Second counselor, Young Women General Presidency

Published: Saturday, March 30, 2002

http://www.ldschurchnews.com/articles/41554/Standing-in-holy-places.html

We agreed to come to this earth and gain a body.  We knew there would be challenges.  A plan was detailed for us that we readily accepted.  NO one said it would be easy.   Therefore, there will be times when we have to make choices.  Sometimes really hard choices.

Doctrine & Covenants 87:8

Wherefore, stand ye in holy places, and be not moved, until the day of the Lord come; for behold, it cometh ^bquickly, saith the Lord. Amen.

Bishop Stevenson Presiding Bishop relates the following story from the Priesthood Session of October 2012 Conference:

“Each of you will also have defining moments in your life requiring courage. A friend of mine, John, shared with me one of those moments in his life.

Some years ago, John was accepted at a prestigious Japanese university. He would be part of the international student program with many other top students from around the world. Some enrolled with a hope to deepen their understanding of the culture and language, others viewed it as a stepping-stone to an eventual profession and employment in Japan, but all had left home to study in a foreign country.

Soon after John’s arrival, word of a party to be held on the rooftop of a private residence spread among the foreign student population. That evening, John and two friends made their way to the advertised address.

Following an elevator ride to the top floor of the building, John and his friends navigated the single narrow stairway leading to the rooftop and began mingling with the others. As the night wore on, the atmosphere changed. The noise, music volume, and alcohol amplified, as did John’s uneasiness. Then suddenly someone began organizing the students into a large circle with the intent of sharing marijuana cigarettes. John grimaced and quickly informed his two friends that it was time to leave. Almost in ridicule, one of them replied, “John, this is easy—we’ll just stand in the circle, and when it is our turn, we’ll just pass it along rather than smoke it. That way we won’t have to embarrass ourselves in front of everyone by leaving.” This sounded easy to John, but it did not sound right. He knew he had to announce his intention and act. In a moment he mustered his courage and told them that they could do as they wished, but he was leaving. One friend decided to stay and joined the circle; the other reluctantly followed John down the stairs to board the elevator. Much to their surprise, when the elevator doors opened, Japanese police officers poured out and hurried to ascend the stairs to the rooftop. John and his friend boarded the elevator and departed.

When the police appeared at the top of the stairs, the students quickly threw the illegal drugs off the roof so they wouldn’t be caught. After securing the stairway, however, the officers lined up everyone on the roof and asked each student to extend both hands. The officers then walked down the line, carefully smelling each student’s thumbs and index fingers. All who had held the marijuana, whether they had smoked it or not, were presumed guilty, and there were huge consequences. Almost without exception, the students who had remained on the rooftop were expelled from their respective universities, and those convicted of a crime were likely deported from Japan. Dreams of an education, years of preparation, and the possibility of future employment in Japan were dashed in a moment.

Now let me tell you what happened to these three friends. The friend who stayed on the roof was expelled from the university in Japan to which he had worked so hard to be accepted and was required to return home. The friend who left the party that night with John finished school in Japan and went on to earn degrees from two top-tier universities in the United States. His career took him back to Asia, where he has enjoyed immense professional success. He remains grateful to this day for John’s courageous example. As for John, the consequences in his life have been immeasurable. His time in Japan that year led him to a happy marriage and the subsequent birth of two sons. He has been a very successful businessman and recently became a professor at a Japanese university. Imagine how different his life would have been had he not had the courage to leave the party on that important evening in Japan.³”

Be Valiant in Courage, Strength, and Activity

By Bishop Gary E. Stevenson Presiding Bishop October 2012 General Conference

Doctrine & Covenants 115:5

Verily I say unto you all: ^aArise and shine forth, that thy ^blight may be a ^cstandard for the ^dnations;

Joshua 24:15

And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, ^achoose you ^bthis day whom ye will ^cserve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my ^dhouse, we will ^eserve the Lord.

“Our Heavenly Father did not launch us on our eternal journey without providing the means whereby we could receive from Him God-given guidance to assist in our safe return at the end of mortal life. I speak of prayer. I speak too of the whisperings from that still, small voice within each of us, and I do not overlook the Holy Scriptures, written by mariners who successfully sailed the seas we too must cross.”

Thomas S. Monson, “The Three Rs of Choice,” Ensign, Nov. 2010,

Truly we do not have to be like unto Lewis Carroll’s Alice in the Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass.   You may remember that at one point she was what some would say lost in the forest.  The Cheshire Cat was asked by Alice which path she should use as she lamented on the confusion of the signs and directions available.  The Cheshire Cat who gave some sage advice told her any path would do since she had not particular goal in mind.  The worm in the Movie Labyrinth also gave some great advice to Sarah as she began to navigate the maze in search of her baby brother.   However, since she did not listen long enough she wasted much more time getting to her final destination and goal.  We don’t have to be the wandering soul with no goal in mind.  We have that goal.  And we also are constantly given the directions we need as long as we will listen and head the advice and promptings of the spirit.

“Every time you make a choice, you are turning the central part of you, the part of you that chooses, into something a little different from what it was before. And, taking your life as a whole, with all your innumerable choices, all your life long you are slowly turning this central thing either into a Heaven creature or into a hellish creature -- either into a creature that is in harmony with God, and with other creatures, and with itself, or else into one that is in a state of war and hatred with God, and with its fellow creatures and with itself. To be the one kind of creature is Heaven: that is, it is joy, and peace, and knowledge, and power. To be the other means madness, horror, idiocy, rage, impotence, and eternal loneliness. Each of us at each moment is progressing to the one state or the other.”
Christianity Quotes – CS Lewis

http://www.worldofquotes.com/author/C.+S.+Lewis/1/index.html

Technically speaking we can not be fence sitters or non-progressing.  We are either moving forward in our progression to eternal life or we are slipping back thus losing ground.  There is no such thing as autopilot when it comes to eternal progression.  Unfortunately, it is a constant battle, one we wage each day.

“But remember that the Savior himself was tormented, ridiculed, spat upon, and finally crucified because he would not waver in his conviction. Have you ever stopped to think what would have happened had he weakened and said, “Oh, what’s the use?” and abandoned his mission? Do we want to be quitters, or do we want to be valiant servants in spite of all the opposition and evil in the world? Let us have the courage to stand up and be counted as true, devoted followers of Christ.”

For They Loved the Praise of Men More Than the Praise of God

President N. Eldon Tanner First Counselor in the First Presidency Ensign November 1975

Elder Whiting in the most recent conference talks of a time when he inspected a mostly finished temple in Hawaii and the imperfections that were found.  He was also surprised at the fixes actually being made to these seemingly insignificant parts of the temple.

“Why would walls with a little grit and a window with a little asymmetry require additional work and even replacement when few human hands or eyes would ever know? Why was a contractor held to such high standards?

As I exited the temple deep in thought, I found my answer as I looked up at the refinished exterior and saw these words: “Holiness to the Lord, the House of the Lord.”

The temples of this Church are precisely as proclaimed. These sacred buildings are built for our use, and within their walls sacred and saving ordinances are performed. But there should be no doubt as to whose house it really is. By requiring exacting standards of construction down to the smallest of details, we not only show our love and respect for the Lord Jesus Christ, but we also hold out to all observers that we honor and worship Him whose house it is.”

Temple Standard by Elder Scott D. Whiting of the Seventy  October 2012 General Conference

It is clear we are always refining ourselves.  We need to hold ourselves to a higher standard.  The Lord knows we can do it, we know we can do it.  The helps are there.  We can succeed.

Let me summarize briefly a few of the helps the Lord has provided for our use that will help us to stand in Holy Places.

• Holy Ghost and his promptings
• Scriptures and other church literature like the Ensign
• Prayer
• Sunday Meetings and the Sacrament
• Temple Attendance
• Church Music

With this plethora of helps it is obvious the Lord wants us to succeed.  We simple need to reach out and take it.  He’s stand at the door with no handle on his side.  We have to take the initiative and open the door so he can come more fully into our lives.

In Conclusion I’d like to quote from our dear Prophet Thomas S Monson.

“If any of you has stumbled in your journey, I want you to understand without any question whatsoever that there is a way back. The process is called repentance. Our Savior gave His life to provide you and me that blessed gift. Despite the fact that the repentance path is not easy, the promises are real. We have been told: “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.”⁶ “And I will remember [them] no more.”⁷ What a statement. What a blessing. What a promise.”

Dare to Stand Alone Thomas S. Monson  President of the Church General Conference October 2011

{End}

Buaidh - NO - Bas

Finances of the Mormon Church

I only use that title due to the fact that it is so well known and what was used in the recent Bloomberg BusinessWeek article that has caused such a stir.  You can read the article in full at the following link - How the Mormons Make Money.


I guess one of the reason there is such a stir is the fact that they continually try and highlight the for-profit businesses that are owned by the Mormon Church (Official name - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints)


As is pointed out in the article and other commentary about the article is that it is very, very hard to talk about and quantify the finances of a religious organization.  In the United States and many other countries around the world a religious organization is tax exempt and the contributions make to said organization are also usable as tax deductions depending on how you figure out your taxes.  Now there are the typical Religious organization we all know like the Southern Baptists, Roman Catholics, etc.  Then you get into the slew of smaller lesser know church and group that in some cases end up in court because they are not deemed to be religious or one reason or another.  The majority if not almost all of these entities live off of donations.  These can be physical donations of clothing and the like to group like Salvation Army, and monetary donations in the form of Tithing to the more traditional.  In some cases you may have a combination of the two which can be fairly standard for those in the LDS Church.

One would assume that most religious groups are not in the business of making money and thus should be given the above mentioned tax break.  However, there are some that do appear to be in it for the money or do have some for-profit enterprises and that brings up a whole new animal.  Should the for-profit business be taxed and the other parts be exempt?  I'd imagine that many would think so until they find out that their church has a for-profit business.


Most churches are a money consuming affair when you look at the face of it.  They have a meeting house and need to pay the electrical and water etc to keep things running.  They will also eventually replace the roof or other parts of the building.  Then you have things like office supplies and church material (Scriptures, manuals, hymnals, publications, etc) that have to be covered as well.  You may also have a paid clergy.  All this takes money.   The property and building don't just magically appear.  Nor do the books, and other items that are put into use.  This is where tithing comes into play.   The members of a religion or church will offer up monies for the sustaining of the church.  In a smaller group everything is handled locally.  In larger organizations like the LDS Church or Roman Catholics there is a very prominent central church headquarters.

So for the smaller groups you can easily see where the tithing might be utilized - salary, utilities, building maintenance, etc.   It is not so easy to see this when dealing with larger religions.  Since you also find that many of them run addiction recover and other social outreach programs, seminaries or various schools, as well as having meeting houses spread all over the place and the associated infrastructure to handle these things.  It can get quite large depending on the scope and size the church.

Let me mention just a few of the ways that the LDS Church receives funds from local members.   Tithing by faithful members, Fast Offerings, and other monetary donations to specific purposes like Temple, Missionary, and/or Perpetual Education Fund.

Now what do I know these funds are being used for?
Tithing the backbone of funds is used mainly for buildings (maintenance, construction, etc) and the running of the unit (i.e manuals, sacrament materials, auxiliary reimbursements, etc.).

Fast offerings are used to handle welfare cases.  These funds may be directly allocated to help pay the rent, or utilities for someone that has lost a job.  It can also be used as part of the Bishop's Store House which provides food stuff and other basics again to people in need.

If you donate to the missionary fund you be either helping to pay the way for a missionary in the field, printing of Book of Mormons or other literature the church gives away.  It might also help to maintain the Missionary training centers around the world as well.


Things like the Perpetual Education fund are special in that they to have a very specific purpose.  In this case it is to help make small loans for those in underprivileged areas so they can go to school.  Under normal circumstances they would not normally qualify to get a loan for school, or none are available like the system that exists in the US.

Same with Humanitarian donations.  These are bundled together and help send aid to those areas that have been hit by natural disaster or other unrest.  Per the article the amount of monetary funds just for this area since the mid 1980's is well over 1 billion.   That fails to include to amount of human service hours that are provided in many of these areas by local members in places like Joplin Missouri.  Great article on this In the Aftermath of the Tornado

Now I know that the LDS Church handles finances a little differently then many others.  We do not pass around a plate or collection basket during services.  We also don't have a donation box located near the front doors.  Our donations are placed in an envelop and include a slip that designated what we are donating to and how much.  We retain a carbon copy of the receipt for our records.   These envelops can only be handed to 3 individuals in a unit;  The Bishop or one of his two counselors.  Not even a Stake President can take these monies.  The monies are entered into the system (Recorded) by a specially called finance clerk together with a member of the Bishopric.  Again, controls are in place with regards to the finances.  Both these individuals will take the money down for deposit at the bank.  Warning messages are provided when no deposit(s) have been made for over a week.  Go to many and you'll get a special visit from Church headquarters.
On a quarterly basis a person comes to audit the finances.  This checks to make sure outstanding checks have been resolved and that expenditures and donations have been recorded properly.
Quickest way to get thrown out of the church is to miss appropriate funds.

At the end of the year each family will meet with the Bishop in what is called  Tithing Settlement.  Here you have the the chance to declare if you are a full tithe payer and also to review the records of what you donated.  At that time you can bring up any errors.  Once again a checks and balances system.  For those of the church you might wonder how someone would know if you really did give 10% of your income.  They don't.  They take your word for it as you never supply pay stubs or financial reports.

The church works off the principle of the widows mite.  It's a huge sacrifice to donate and thus the money must be used wisely.

Also I've heard that if they are going to build a new meeting house they will have all the money lined up upfront before construction.  Can confirm or deny this but, it makes sense.  This can help keep cost over runs and other issues to a minimum.  They also use standardized designs that require only slight modifications to better bit a site.  In the past the local unit was required to raise a portion of the funds to build the new meeting house.  That was the case of the one where I currently meet.  Also back then each family had to pay a portion of the unit's budget.  Back in the mid 90's they moved to a standardized budgeting system.  No longer would there be an assessment to each family.  It is mentioned either in the article or other commentary from desert news (church owned) that they are dedicating a new meeting house some where in the world weekly.

Let's just use a simple example and show how much of the monies received in tithing might be expended on a building.

Let us say we have a typical ward meeting house that will house 2 units.  Let us also say for argument sake that the building will run 3 million dollars to build.  The property is say going to be 1.5 million since it is expensive here in California.  So a rough estimate will be in the neighborhood of 5 million dollars to build and outfit a new meeting house.  Think of how much tithing you have to collect just to be able to build that building.
If a typical unit has 400-500 members or about 150 families and a portion of those will be inactive.  You say drawing on tithing from about 100 people.  If on average these individuals are giving $4,000 annually you come up with in the neighborhood of $800,000 in annual tithing.  If that unit or units were in need of that building and you wanted to wait till they had all the money in place you be looking at a good 6-7 years time.  Thus the up front costs of building is far greater then the monies being received in a given area.  However, with the funds being pooled on a worldwide basis you can then construct new buildings and relive the burden from the local members.
I served in Brazil on my mission and in many areas they had buildings and very few members since was very new there.  They would have had to wait years if not decades to get a building if it had to come solely from local funds.  They had buildings albeit smaller with new ones or expansions being built as circumstances changed.  Also the overall income is far different for members living in Mozambique or Fiji compared to Los Angeles, or a well developed country in Europe.  Yes, the cost of living in those areas are also going to be different.  You'll spend less on utilities, and other things but, overall things end up being similar.

And that does not include all the buildings being used for religious instruction, or the Temples, and welfare related offices.

So you see there are load of expenses that the church has.    There is a large amount of outlay just to keep things functioning.
Let alone the need to building new meeting houses and the continued construction of Temples world wide.  Check out the churches list of statistics.


But, outside the use of tithing the bone of contention seems to be with the for-profit businesses the church runs. This was highlighted with the recent completion of the City Creek Shopping Complex in March of 2012.   The estimated price tag for this redevelopment was 2 billion.  That would be a ton of tithing money to spend if that is what they had done.  They say all the money for the project came from non-tithing funds.  And the article points out why they even decided to do a project like this.  They mention urban blight as the main purpose.  The number of jobs created were/are 1,700 for construction and 2,000 permanent per city creek's web site.
Take a week economy and the area around the famed Salt Lake Temple Square going to pot and you see why they would do a project like this.  It might make some money but, mainly it was kind of a grand welfare project.  They pumped 2 billion into the Utah economy.  Sure beats having to fill food orders down the road.  Win win in my opinion.

And think why would the church not want to run it own insurance company?  There could be many advantages.  Any profit would be rolled back into the operation and they could even offer it to other entities.

You have to see the reasoning behind some of the ventures.  You have to see the logic, the need, and then you can see why they are in some businesses and not others.

Take the Polynesia Culture Center in Hawaii also mentioned in the article.  It is run in conjunction with BYU Hawaii and the students that attend there.  Many of the people employed at the center are student from the various areas of Polynesia.  They work there to help pay for their schooling.  Yes they charge for admission but, if there is any kind of profit it just allows them to improve things at the center or employ more people in the over all operation.  Thus more members and in some cases non-members can gain employment and allow them to attend school and become able to be productive in their home cultures/countries when they return home.  Another win win over all.

So in the end I'll stay pay my tithing as I need the spiritual blessing and other things that come from being obedient.  Also I will not sweat the little things and what is exactly being done in the for-profit businesses of the Church.  They provide way more things then one can imagine.

Because they are being wise stewards of the monies received we do the major portion of cleaning a building.  However, we learn more respect for said building when we have to clean up that spill we just made.




Buaidh - NO - Bas

The Scoop in Graphical form

Mormonism 101 FAQ

 http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/mormonism-101#C12

Buaidh - NO - Bas

General Conference

This Saturday March 31th and Sunday the 1st of April is the semi-annual general conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

This annual meeting consists of various sessions with 3 on Saturday (one being the priesthood session broadcast only via satellite to local meeting houses) and two more on Sunday.  The general authorities and other leaders of the church are chosen to speak.  You get to hear from each of the apostles and many member of one of the quorums of seventies, along with an occasional member of the presidency of the Primary, Young Women's or Relief Society.   The First presidency generally each speak more then once.

This is a great time to get an idea of what the leaders are concerned about for the whole church.  In as much as no one is given a topic to speak on you will find a general theme that develops.  It moves from year to year but, it is interesting to see what things the leaders are wanting to focus on.  And the music is an added plus - Who can beat the Mormon Tabernacle Choir singing some of the most beautiful religious hymns available.

Another thing that is quite amazing is the number of languages that conference is translated into.  There are a good 80+ languages including all the major ones like Portuguese, German, Russian, Italian, French, Spanish, and the like.   And some rather obscure ones as well.  There are members there so they translate to those languages.  Every month the church's magazine is published in these same languages.  It's just amazing.  Really amazing.

Sometimes you will get some type of announcement from the Prophet regarding a new Temple or other special item such as when they announced the conference center back in the day.
October 2009 was a wonderful time for my family as that was when they announced the Fortaleza, Brazil temple.  They have now broken ground and begun construction of this most recent House of the Lord in Brazil.  (See the whole announcement here)

Or you might just get a most powerful of testimonies and witnesses from one of the apostles.  Just before he died Elder Bruce R McConkie gave this most stir of statements at the end of his April 1985 conference.

"I am one of his witnesses, and in a coming day I shall feel the nail marks in his hands and in his feet and shall wet his feet with my tears.

But I shall not know any better then than I know now that he is God’s Almighty Son, that he is our Savior and Redeemer, and that salvation comes in and through his atoning blood and in no other way."

April 1985 conference talk "The Purifying Power of Gethsemane"

So come with your questions in mind and find answers to all your daily struggles.  For conference is a truly eye opening experience.

when-conference-materials-will-be-available

Buaidh - NO - Bas

I'm posting this article on Suicide by Apostle M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles.  In light of a recent death in our area it is worth putting out there to get some understanding.


Link to original article on LDS.ORG

Suicide: Some Things We Know, and Some We Do Not

By Elder M. Russell Ballard

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

---

I recall attending the funeral of an older man who had taken his life. His wife had died years earlier, and as his health declined, he felt he had less and less of a reason to live. Gradually he found himself confined to the four walls of his home. A semi-invalid, he was unable to visit friends or go grocery shopping. His food was delivered to his door. He missed going to church, missed regular fellowship with other members of his priesthood quorum.

Although he wasn’t able to get about, the doctor assured him he could live many more years. “You neither smoke nor drink,” the doctor said. “You’ve taken good care of yourself. Other than the fact that you’re confined to your house and wheelchair, I give you a clean bill of health.”

While the doctor was trying to be encouraging, the man felt discouraged. This good brother felt his earthly life no longer had any value, and he wanted to join his beloved wife in the spirit world. The more he thought about death, the more appealing it became to him. He had been a faithful member of the Church all his life; he had served two missions and had been diligent in several leadership positions at different times in his life. But as he thought about the release he would find through death, his mind became confused. He obviously concluded that taking his own life would solve his problems.

I visited with the family after the funeral. As you might expect, they were greatly disturbed by what their father and grandfather had done. Their feelings ranged from grief to anger to guilt. “I should have noticed how depressed he was,” one daughter said. “Then I could have helped him and prevented this.”

One son spoke rather harshly. “I never thought my father was a stupid man. But what can you say about this? If he loved us, he would never have done such a thing!”

The Anguish and Uncertainty

A comment by the youngest son captured the despair they all felt: “There is no hope for dad now, is there,” he said. It was more a statement than a question. “All the good things he did throughout his life don’t matter anymore. Now that he’s taken his life, he will be in the telestial kingdom throughout eternity.” Then he wept.

The feelings expressed then by those family members are commonly felt by Latter-day Saints trying to cope with the suicide of a loved one or friend. The anguish and uncertainty they experience are extremely painful and difficult.

Sadly, the problem touches many lives. Unfortunately, the problem also exists among members of the Church as well as non-members.

The act of taking one’s life is truly a tragedy because this single act leaves so many victims: first the one who dies, then the dozens of others—family and friends—who are left behind, some to face years of deep pain and confusion. The living victims struggle, often desperately, with difficult emotions. In addition to the feelings of grief, anger, guilt, and rejection which the victims of such a family feel, Latter-day Saints carry an additional burden. The purpose of our mortal lives, we know, is to prove ourselves, to eventually return to live in the celestial kingdom. One who commits suicide closes the door on all that, some have thought, consigning himself to the telestial kingdom.

Or does he? What is the truth regarding suicide?

What Have the Prophets Said?

The prophets have taught us some important principles about suicide, but it is possible that many of us have misunderstood. Let’s review some of the fundamental teachings of the prophets on this matter.

First, President George Q. Cannon of the First Presidency made a clear statement about the seriousness of suicide when he said: “Man did not create himself. He did not furnish his spirit with a human dwelling place. It is God who created man, both body and spirit. Man has no right, therefore, to destroy that which he had no agency in creating. They who do so are guilty of murder, self-murder it is true; but they are no more justified in killing themselves than they are in killing others. What difference of punishment there is for the two crimes, I do not know; but it is clear that no one can destroy so precious a gift as that of life without incurring a severe penalty.” (Gospel Truth, 2 vols., Salt Lake City: Zion’s Book Store, 1957, 1:30; italics added.)

President Spencer W. Kimball made an equally strong statement in 1976. “It is a terrible criminal act for a person to go out and shorten his life by suicide,” he said. (Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, edited by Edward L. Kimball, Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1982, p. 187.)

Those statements on their own might seem to leave no room for hope. However, although they stress the seriousness of suicide, the statements do not mention the final destination of those who take their own lives.

The late Elder Bruce R. McConkie, formerly of the Quorum of the Twelve, expressed what many Church leaders have taught: “ Suicide consists in the voluntary and intentional taking of one’s own life, particularly where the person involved is accountable and has a sound mind. … Persons subject to great stresses may lose control of themselves and become mentally clouded to the point that they are no longer accountable for their acts. Such are not to be condemned for taking their own lives. It should also be remembered that judgment is the Lord’s; he knows the thoughts, intents, and abilities of men; and he in his infinite wisdom will make all things right in due course.” (Mormon Doctrine, Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1966, p. 771; some italics added.)

Only the Lord Has All the Facts

Not long ago I was asked to speak at the funeral of a dear friend who had committed suicide. Knowing the person and the circumstances as I did, and researching the doctrine on the subject, I had some difficult moments in preparing for my remarks. Peace came to me only when I recognized that only the Lord could administer fair judgment. He alone had all the facts, and only He would know the intent of the heart of my friend. I was reconciled with the idea that a lifetime of goodness and service to others must surely be considered by the Lord in judging the life of a person. In the Lord’s mercy, perhaps the words of Alma will apply:

“The plan of restoration is requisite with the justice of God; for it is requisite that all things should be restored to their proper order. Behold, it is requisite and just, according to the power and resurrection of Christ, that the soul of man should be restored to its body, and that every part of the body should be restored to itself.

“And it is requisite with the justice of God that men should be judged according to their works; and if their works were good in this life, and the desires of their hearts were good, that they should also, at the last day, be restored unto that which is good.” (Alma 41:2–3.)

I feel that judgement for sin is not always as cut-and-dried as some of us seem to think. The Lord said, “Thou shalt not kill.” Does that mean that every person who kills will be condemned, no matter the circumstances? I feel the Lord recognized differences in intent and circumstances: Was the person who took his life mentally ill? Was he or she so deeply depressed as to be unbalanced or otherwise emotionally disturbed? Was the suicide a tragic, pitiful call for help that went unheeded too long or progressed faster than the victim intended? Did he or she somehow not understand the seriousness of the act? Was he or she suffering from a chemical imbalance in their system that led to despair and a loss of self-control?

Obviously, we do not know the full circumstances surrounding every suicide. Only the Lord knows all the details, and he it is who will judge our actions here on earth.

When he does judge us, I feel he will take all things into consideration: our genetic and chemical makeup, our mental state, our intellectual capacity, the teachings we have received, the traditions of our fathers, our health, and so forth.

We learn in the scriptures that the blood of Christ will atone for the sins of men “who have died not knowing the will of God concerning them, or who have ignorantly sinned.” (Mosiah 3:11.)

Thus, a person who has never heard of the Word of Wisdom, for example, and who becomes an alcoholic will be judged differently from one who knows the Word of Wisdom, and understands it, and then chooses the course that leads to alcoholism.

President Kimball’s The Miracle of Forgiveness gives us insight into the accountability of some who commit suicide. “A minister acquaintance of mine, whom I knew rather well, was found by his wife to have hung himself,” President Kimball wrote. “His thoughts had taken his life. He had become morose and despondent for two or more years. Certainly he had not come to suicide in a moment, for he had been a happy, pleasant person as I had known him. It must have been a long decline, ever steeper, controllable by him at first and perhaps out of hand as he neared the end of the trail. No one in his ‘right mind,’ and especially if he has an understanding of the gospel, will permit himself to arrive at this ‘point of no return.’” (The Miracle of Forgiveness, Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1969, p. 106; italics added.)

“According to the Deeds Done”

Thankfully, the Prophet Joseph Smith taught this enlightening doctrine:

“While one portion of the human race is judging and condemning the other without mercy, the Great Parent of the universe looks upon the whole of the human family with a fatherly care and paternal regard. … He is a wise Lawgiver, and will judge all men, not according to the narrow, contracted notions of men, but, ‘according to the deeds done in the body whether they be good or evil,’ or whether these deeds were done in England, America, Spain, Turkey, or India. … We need not doubt the wisdom and intelligence of the Great Jehovah; He will award judgement or mercy to all nations according to their several deserts, their means of obtaining intelligence, the laws by which they are governed, the facilities afforded them of obtaining correct information, and His inscrutable designs in relation to the human family; and when the designs of God shall be made manifest, and the curtain of futurity be withdrawn, we shall all of us eventually have to confess that the Judge of all the earth has done right.” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, edited by Joseph Fielding Smith, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1938, p. 218.)

I draw an important conclusion from the words of the Prophet: Suicide is a sin—a very grievous one, yet the Lord will not judge the person who commits that sin strictly by the act itself. The Lord will look at that person’s circumstances and the degree of his accountability at the time of the act. Of course, this gives us no reason to excuse ourselves in committing sins, nor will the Lord excuse us, if I understand correctly. We must constantly strive to do our best in following the example of the Savior in every aspect of our lives. At the same time, however, let us remember that spiritual growth comes “line upon line,” that the key—in the spirit world as well as in mortality—is to keep progressing along the right path.

Some Personal Viewpoints

I recently heard some experiences of families of suicide victims that give hope to others who are suffering. I must point out that individual spiritual experiences of Church members do not determine Church doctrine. Still, these experiences are compatible with the ideas we have been discussing. The first experience deals with a young woman whose father took his life when she was five years old. The father was not a member of the Church, nor was the daughter until many years later.

“As I was growing up,” she says, “I had the subtle feeling that there was something my father very much wanted me to do for him. I had been taught in my church that he had murdered himself and was in hell. But it seemed to me that even though he had been wrong to kill himself, he had thought he was doing the family a favor. (He was an alcoholic who couldn’t get rid of the habit.) I began to search the Bible to see what might have happened to him. As time went by, I came to know that he had somehow suffered through his problems—and that now he needed me to do something for him. I kept thinking, ‘But what can you do for someone who is already dead?’ And the answer would come, ‘Someday, if you keep searching, you will know.’

“Eventually I was baptized into the Church. When I first heard of baptism for the dead, I was overwhelmed. Now I knew what my father wanted me to do! I did the necessary work and sent his name to the Idaho Falls Temple, where I had the privilege of seeing a brother baptized by proxy for my father. His endowment work was done the same month. I have a strong feeling that he has accepted both ordinances and is greatly blessed by it.”

This next experience was shared by a member of the Church whose father took his life after an extended period of illness. The references to recent discoveries by medical science are enlightening.

Improved Medical Knowledge

“I will never forget telephoning home that morning in 1977 and having a police lieutenant answer, informing me of my father’s suicide. My father was a sweet, kind man who never intentionally hurt anyone. He always thought his body was a temple. Yet something had become wrong with Dad’s body, and he had been a very sick man.

“Then, in 1980, I experienced a terrible physical change in myself that gave me some insight into my father’s state of mind during the weeks preceding his death. I was diagnosed as having hyperthyroidism. My body went through many of the traumas that Dad experienced. I spent a four-month period without sleep. Sleeping pills gave no relief. If I did fall asleep, I awoke soon after, soaked in perspiration. Many of the symptoms were emotional ones. I was frightened and suffered a deep depression. For eighteen months I received medication, and the disease was finally brought under control. I am thankful that I had a doctor who could help me.

“Living through my experience helped me to understand my father’s death better. I spent hours doing research and found that little information on hyperthyroidism could be found before 1979. Thyroid disease can be hereditary, and since my experience, we have discovered it in two of my cousins on my father’s side. I also found an article by a doctor who wondered how many people have been in mental institutions with chemical imbalances that could have been corrected.

“Maybe Dad had this same disease. With everything I’ve studied, I choose to think he did. It helps me deal with his death. For a man who took such good care of himself to fail so fast and become ill so quickly makes me believe he had an undiscovered disease.

“Dad believed in the Lord with all his heart and had a strong, solid testimony. His cause of death may have spoiled his entrance into the spirit world, but not the beautiful life he had led for fifty years.

“I know my Heavenly Father loves me and watches over me and gives me the peace I now enjoy.”

This last experience testifies of the peace that our Father in Heaven can give to those left behind:

Could Not Cope with the Loss

“At the time of my mother’s suicide, she had lost her earthly companion, was in ill health, and did not accept help freely. She had told my aunt that she could cope with the loss of my father or the difficulties she was having with her health, but that she couldn’t handle both. That was two days before she died. I believe she considered suicide very soon after my father was killed in an automobile accident. I was concerned enough to discuss the possibility with her doctor, but no action was taken. The reason for this, I believe, is the lack of understanding we have as a society in dealing with these types of problems.

“I believe the Lord will consider each case separately and judge the circumstances of each individual. I have sincerely sought direction from our Father in Heaven to help me understand the nature of suicide. And I have come to know, as well as anything else that I know from God, that these people have a place in the kingdom of our Father, and it is not one of darkness or despair, but one where they can receive comfort and experience serenity.”

We cannot measure these particular spiritual experiences, of course. We do not know the extent to which the door is open for these particular people to grow and develop in righteousness until they possibly receive the blessings of exaltation. They committed a very serious sin, and some consequences of it may remain with them throughout eternity. Only our Father in Heaven knows the full answer to the questions our hearts ask regarding those who take their own lives.

But it is clear that hope exists. President Joseph F. Smith learned this important principle near the end of a long life of service to the Church. In vision he saw the work of salvation proceeding among the dead, and wrote:

“I beheld that the faithful elders of this dispensation, when they depart from mortal life, continue their labors in the preaching of the gospel of repentance and redemption, through the sacrifice of the Only Begotten Son of God, among those who are in darkness and under the bondage of sin in the great world of the spirits of the dead.

“The dead who repent will be redeemed, through obedience to the ordinances of the house of God,

“And after they have paid the penalty of their transgressions, and are washed clean, shall receive a reward according to their works, for they are heirs of salvation.” (D&C 138:57–59; italics added.)

I am grateful for the great plan of salvation our Father in Heaven has provided for us. It is a plan of great fairness and a plan of great love.

As I think about the worry and agony of those whose loved one has taken his or her own life, I find deep comfort and faith in the Lord’s promise and blessing to us who remain in mortality: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27.)


Buaidh - NO - Bas