A new chapter on LDS gays

[Quetzal]

A new chapter on LDS gays

Like many Mormons, Fred and Marilyn Matis presumed that all homosexuals had abandoned LDS principles for a life of debauchery, selfishness and promiscuity. They were thus stunned by the news that their temple-going, mission-serving, devout, obedient 32-year-old son was gay. How could that be?

It was a secret Stuart Matis had kept for more than 20 years since he first felt the stirring of sexual attraction.

But in months after telling his family in early 1999, Stuart's longtime agony came pouring out - his self-loathing, bargains with God, endless efforts to become perfect so he would miraculously be transformed into a heterosexual as he believed his parents and church would want.

At the time, his home state of California was in the midst of a campaign against same-sex marriage known as Proposition 22 and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was among the ballot's most ardent proponents. In their zeal, some Mormons made hostile and unkind remarks about all gays.

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A new chapter on LDS gays

[BeeBee]

1. I was raised Mormon...

AND I lived in California during the Prop 22 debacle. Fortunately, thanks to Mayor Newsom and Assemblyman Leno, things here are changing. But I felt betrayed by the LDS church when I found out that they spent millions of dollars to support this proposition... Now, since the 2004 election, I am literally afraid to visit my brother and sister in Utah for fear of what might happen. Now that they don't have any protection for Gay and Lesbian people I worry that we might not be safe there.

[LDS Jock]

2. The priorities they have for money

In the 2003 Church Almanac they boast of the $160,000 the church donated to the Red Cross after 9/11. That is a good thing, don't get me wrong. But they also spend several times that amount fighting Prop 22. Which is more important? I think seeing where they spend money shows where their priorities are.

[BeeBee]

3. The Mormon Church

has always been generous and charitable (at least to its own). I just wonder if the church population (my brother included) know where their tithing is going. I also find it ironic that the church has spent all of this money on "marriage" initiatives considering their history.

[FreeState]

4. No I don't think so

Nothing like a faith promoting lie from the church. They give out very little money compared to what they take in. 160,000 to the red cross is nothing - they take in a lot more than that on any given day.

1 ward = 400 people. 200 active. 200 members roughly 50 tithe payers x $208 a month = $10,400 (low low estimate)

How many wards in the US? I'm guessing here (5,503,192 US members / 400) 13757.98
http://www.lds.org/newsroom/page/0,15606,4034-1---10-168,00.html

So that would be = $143,082,992 in tithing revenue a month from US Wards ONLY. Yearly that would be $1,716,995,904 US only (this is a very conservative estimate).

(Note that is using 25,000 as average income).

[LDS Jock]

5. here are some tithing figures

from the book "Mormon America" which also gives reference to figures compiled by the Arizona Republic. By comparing the LDS church to the similarly sized Evanglicial Lutheran Church in America and the church worldwide to the similarly sized Seventh Day Adventists, you get these figures. Worldwide tithing figures are estimated at a whopping $5.3 billion. Total church assets, including real estate and business holdings are estimated at $25-30 billion. And you are right. With this much money, $160,000 to the red cross is nothing.

[BeeBee]

6. I'm finding myself in a situation I don't like....

That of defending the Mormon church. Their charitable contributions go much, much deeper than the $160,000 they gave the Red Cross after September 11. Regardless of how much money they bring in, they give a lot away (especially to members). I heard the same argument when Bill and Melinda Gates gave several million dollars to charity--a lot of people were up in arms about how stingy they were. They felt that the Gates, being worth billions, should have given more. Well, in my book, a million dollars is a million dollars no matter where it came from (or $160,000 is $160,000).

But anyway, the gist of my previous post was not to argue whether or not they are charitable, but that I doubt a lot of members of the church realize that their tithing is going to such causes as prop 22 in CA.

[LDS Jock]

7. I didn't mean to criticize them for the Red Cross donation

but I do criticize them for being more concerned about the evils of homosexuality and giving more money to fight gay rights than to help others. They do help members out, this is true, but there is a price to pay for that help. Members are expected to repay the church so it is available for the next person (not a bad idea, but its not free charity) and also expected to be active in church and life righteously. Again, not a bad thing, but anything you get from them has strings attached.

on edit.. I see you weren't responding to my post. I thought you were since I mentioned similar stuff to. Anyway, I've leaving the post.

[BeeBee]

8. It seems we agree... n/t