TAKING THE GUTTER OUT OF THE PERSON

 One of the latest DoC talking points is that they try to drive a wedge into those who are suffering financially (which is most of us, as inflation bites into earning power and buying power and threatens even the robust double income household budget), in order to get them to lash out against the Church for sending funds to Africa to push the schitt schatt, or by building ever-increasing numbers of temples - while having a cool $110billion in a kitty, while many members are on the edge financially.

Many will appeal to the Church to solve the homeless problems with the windfall.  I happen to feel this way.  With just a few billion, nationwide homelessness could be stamped out and even the issue of clean drinking water in Africa could be brought to an end.  What a lofty and amazing goal that would be.

Of course, the Church could just simply give all of the kitty away until the balance sheet showed zero dollars.  This would be utter foolishness - given what has happened historically to the Church when she was allowed to be put between a rock and a financial hard spot at the turn of the last century.

So, the critics just love to rail on the Church in how moneys are spent.  All I care, is that they are being used wisely and fairly and according to the law of the land so they are not seized.  I also feel that there will be enough backlash at some point in the future, that they (the wicked) will come and attempt to clean out the kitty just as the Romans did with the Jewish kitty, etc.  Same analgous concept.

So when it comes to this, instead of attempting to fling the poo and accusing or railing on a Law of God, why not just confess that you are not able to live the Law of Tithing?  You are too weak with a feeble testimony, that you are waiting for better times, that you are____________ (fill in excuse blank).  Same thing with the Law of Chastity, Consecration, the Law of the Lord, etc etc.  It is not hard to do - and it removes the need to lie to yourself.  The more we create a delusion around ourselves by self-lying and performing mental and spiritual gymnastics, the harder it is to be in a humble or "raw" state.

Here is something I had to say to a FB peep who is falling for the lies of the DoC:

I maintain that you cannot take the gutter out of the homeless guy until he learns to overcome addiction and anti-social behavior. The best tool for overcoming addiction is a hope in Christ. That comes through preaching of the word. The only way you would know that is by the preaching of the Word as a missionary or as a vocal member sharing what you feel. Same thing applies to our temples. You could take the same dollars used to build temples, and build very large "projects" to house the people. However, chances are VERY good (just as with the "projects" in NYC), you would have a run down, rat-infested hell hole just a decade later. However, if all of those occupants were able to embrace the Gospel and attend the temple and continue to make higher and higher covenants, you would find a similar place 10 years older, but in impeccable shape with peace and harmony abounding. No midnight outbursts of gunfire, bronze plaques or copper wire missing, no graphiti tagged on every wall? Why? Because the gospel elevates and ennobles a person. The opposite (vacuum formed by the withdrawal of the Spirit) leaves a trail of infidelity, drug and alcohol abuse, and despair which leads to suicide and dysfunction.