How is the LDS a cult?

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Marie5890 said:
I have to admit I am not sure what you mean, either.

Do they have a side of them that is a business? Sure.
But they also do have a belief system that is spiritual in nature. To suggest otherwise is unjust and unfair, in all honesty.

My foundational formation of praying and love of scripture comes from my having been LDS. And it was very much apart of the lives of my friends, roomates and others of my acquaintance when I was LDS.
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J said we shouldn’t call the a cult, or a business.

I merely pointed out the fact that they are in fact a business, and what some of their holdings are.

Their “spiritual belief system” is very financially related.
  1. Tithing. Mandatory 10%, or you can’t get all of your blessings.
  2. Malls, farms, ranches, etc. Secular profits.
It really isn’t a hard connection to make.

I’m happy they helped you with your spiritual foundation, everyone needs a beginning.

However, that does not diminish the fact that they are very much money based.
 
J_the_Centrist said:
The missionaries I met were also nice and we always parted ways happily agreeing to differ. Usually my encounters with them are on the subway. It’s not so common to have them come to your door here, but it happened twice. Once my stepfather answered the door and when when he told them that he was Muslim, they still tried convincing him and then I revealed my Catholicism and than they were really confused. LOL a moment to remember! I have a question, what is it like being a non-Mormon living in Utah? Here in NYC we have everybody, but when one thinks of Utah, Mormons immediately come to mind. I don’t mean to be sterotypical, I’m just saying!
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Recently, I had two missionaries come to my door in the freezing rain/ snow… They were baffled when I didn’t immediately let them in… But I was getting ready or work. I think they have a more pushier attitude seeing as they are in the “Mormon Mecca” and are expected to get higher rates of concerts.

My parents/ entire family are LDS with the exception of a few. I was baptized LDS at ge 10, but left when I was 13. I just didn’t believe in it and knew I belonged somewhere else. My parents were open to me, encouraging me to find my own way and truths. Same with my siblings. The people in general, when they find out that I’m in the process to become Catholic, are pretty judgmental. They dot understand it. Girls in high school were brutal. I played on a hockey team where I was the only non Mormon. I respected them but I was left out of alot of team building exercises.

I went to NYC a year ago and was amaZed of the diversity there! I really miss the people I met!
 
twopekinguys said:
J said we shouldn’t call the a cult, or a business.

I merely pointed out the fact that they are in fact a business, and what some of their holdings are.

Their “spiritual belief system” is very financially related.
  1. Tithing. Mandatory 10%, or you can’t get all of your blessings.
  2. Malls, farms, ranches, etc. Secular profits.
It really isn’t a hard connection to make.

I’m happy they helped you with your spiritual foundation, everyone needs a beginning.

However, that does not diminish the fact that they are very much money based.
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1. Tithing. Mandatory 10%, or you can’t get all of your blessings.
I would also add that they will not get to the highest level(s) of heaven too!!
 
Luckycross…

Sorry for your experiences…welcome into the universal Church founded by Jesus Christ.

My daughter attended a very affluent Catholic high school for two years before transferring. There were some kids who came in from public schools, and mingling with those from the surrounding Catholic junior high schools…most likely due to the times teens have been living in, they had to all re learn what it meant to be a Christian and be kind to one another.

The best we can do for the Mormon people is to keep them constantly in our prayers and to instruct them the best we can, and if we know of any personally, I have known very few…to always be ready to serve them in need.
 
KathleenGee said:
Luckycross…

Sorry for your experiences…welcome into the universal Church founded by Jesus Christ.

My daughter attended a very affluent Catholic high school for two years before transferring. There were some kids who came in from public schools, and mingling with those from the surrounding Catholic junior high schools…most likely due to the times teens have been living in, they had to all re learn what it meant to be a Christian and be kind to one another.

The best we can do for the Mormon people is to keep them constantly in our prayers and to instruct them the best we can, and if we know of any personally, I have known very few…to always be ready to serve them in need.
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Thank You! Sorry for my post above, there were alot of typos due to typing on my phone LOL.

I’m not saying all Mormons are bad, I’ve met a handful that were some of the nicest people I’ve met. The elderly that I work with, are some of the worst when it comes to finding out I am no longer Mormon. (not that I tell them, but it’s pretty obvious when I sport a cross and saint necklace.) I will keep that friendly reminder to pray for them and to help them regardless of religion 🙂
 
Yes, the few Mormons I know are those I worked with. My father thought highly of the Mormon girls at work. So that good work and spirit is the Holy Spirit’s as well.

Pope Benedict saw the entire world as a sacrament because within it, there is working of grace for goodness, mercy, and justice by all people of good will.
 
twopekinguys said:
Their “spiritual belief system” is very financially related.
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I always felt tithing was a matter of being faithful, much like I do about attending Mass. 🤷

Ah well…🙂

Tithing never bothered me. Even now I dont mind my offerings. 🙂
 
Marie…your idea of tithing…being faithful is reflected in the history of the Jewish people, whose greatest sins were being unfaithful and falling into idolatry.

The Church in its beginning, looking back at St. Justin the Martyr’s description of the Mass is clear in that only the rich were to support those in need…and that they themselves were to give freely of what they chose to give.

Tithing only came up two times in the Old Testament.

Yes, we have parish missions, and endeavors of the universal church where we are asked to pledge for some need or another. If we decide not to, we are not chastised in any way.

The Church recognizes our basic condition…the Lord created us free, with free will, and because only when we are free can we do something truly good for good intentions.
 
An interesting article in the Salt Lake Tribune today, regarding a LDS man who owes $900K in federal taxes. Ordered by the court to pay a monthly payment, he argued in a court case that this monthly payment needs to have his LDS tithing taken into account, and reduced by $3K a month. The court ruled that LDS tithing is not a necessity, but a voluntary contribution. Which, is what LDS here say regularly. This guy’s arguments is, it is not a voluntary contribution but a necessity because if he doesn’t pay his tithing, he will no longer be allowed to be a Mormon temple worker.

So, there is that.
 
RebeccaJ said:
An interesting article in the Salt Lake Tribune today, regarding a LDS man who owes $900K in federal taxes. Ordered by the court to pay a monthly payment, he argued in a court case that this monthly payment needs to have his LDS tithing taken into account, and reduced by $3K a month. The court ruled that LDS tithing is not a necessity, but a voluntary contribution. Which, is what LDS here say regularly. This guy’s arguments is, it is not a voluntary contribution but a necessity because if he doesn’t pay his tithing, he will no longer be allowed to be a Mormon temple worker.

So, there is that.
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(deep whistle)
Did he deliberately cheat the government? Wouldnt that alone be cause for not having a TR (not being honest with your dealings with others?)

(Edit when I reread)

"In an interesting point, however, Mormon blogger Sam Brunson notes that the LDS Church’s official Handbook says members who refuse to pay their taxes cannot have temple recommends or hold callings of “principal responsibility”

He, according the LDS Handbook, shouldnt have a TR in the first place…
 
KathleenGee said:
Marie…your idea of tithing…being faithful is reflected in the history of the Jewish people, whose greatest sins were being unfaithful and falling into idolatry.
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That has always been my intent and attitude in my life and relationship with God, whether was LDS or now as a Catholic. Being faithful.
 
Marie5890 said:
(deep whistle)
Did he deliberately cheat the government? Wouldnt that alone be cause for not having a TR (not being honest with your dealings with others?)

(Edit when I reread)

"In an interesting point, however, Mormon blogger Sam Brunson notes that the LDS Church’s official Handbook says members who refuse to pay their taxes cannot have temple recommends or hold callings of “principal responsibility”

He, according the LDS Handbook, shouldnt have a TR in the first place…
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But he will be paying his taxes now.
 
luckycross26 said:
Recently, I had two missionaries come to my door in the freezing rain/ snow… They were baffled when I didn’t immediately let them in… But I was getting ready or work. I think they have a more pushier attitude seeing as they are in the “Mormon Mecca” and are expected to get higher rates of concerts.

My parents/ entire family are LDS with the exception of a few. I was baptized LDS at ge 10, but left when I was 13. I just didn’t believe in it and knew I belonged somewhere else. My parents were open to me, encouraging me to find my own way and truths. Same with my siblings. The people in general, when they find out that I’m in the process to become Catholic, are pretty judgmental. They dot understand it. Girls in high school were brutal. I played on a hockey team where I was the only non Mormon. I respected them but I was left out of alot of team building exercises.

I went to NYC a year ago and was amaZed of the diversity there! I really miss the people I met!
Click to expand...
I have to admit, that I lack an understanding of “small town” life, if that is what it can be called. Where everyone goes to the same church (or temple) and believes the same things. Here, there are many areas where pockets (sometimes deep pockets) of anti-Christian (Mormon as well) sentiment reign supreme, but it’s easy to ignore these extremists who are intolerant in the name of tolerance. My church community is tight knit, so I have a place to go where I belong. Even those in the Catholic community who see me as “unorthodox” are easily ignored, as no two Christians can produce any less than three opinions. The diversity is wonderful here and if you can get over the high prices on everything, taxes that would give you a migraine, and overcrowding come on over we’d love to have you! 😃
 
twopekinguys said:
J said we shouldn’t call the a cult, or a business.

I merely pointed out the fact that they are in fact a business, and what some of their holdings are.

Their “spiritual belief system” is very financially related.
  1. Tithing. Mandatory 10%, or you can’t get all of your blessings.
  2. Malls, farms, ranches, etc. Secular profits.
It really isn’t a hard connection to make.

I’m happy they helped you with your spiritual foundation, everyone needs a beginning.

However, that does not diminish the fact that they are very much money based.
Click to expand...
I found out about the tithing a few days ago and I have to say that is quite odd. What if you are poor and can’t afford to tithe? It also hit me that the genius who was a Mormon on Jeopardy a few years back suggested that he would have to give a certain amount of his winnings to the church, in what sounded like a mandatory obligation, which I’m sure exceeded 10%. Still, to call it a business is something I don’t know about. They are entrepreneurial, but I don’t think that is tantamount to calling their “faith” a business, at least not yet. I am finally coming to the conclusion that they are not Christian, but I don’t want to call them things I don’t they are or are not. Give me time, my friend, give me time!
 
J_the_Centrist said:
Mormon on Jeopardy a few years back suggested that he would have to give a certain amount of his winnings to the church, in what sounded like a mandatory obligation, which I’m sure exceeded 10%.
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He would only be expected/required the 10%. He could, however, do more if he so chose.

It’s also fair to state that there other forms of contribution (or at least were)

Tithing was mandatory. But there was also fast offerings, missionary fund, etc etc, that would not considered part of the tithe.

Tithing was defined at 10% of your gross income.
 
luckycross26 said:
Recently, I had two missionaries come to my door in the freezing rain/ snow… They were baffled when I didn’t immediately let them in… But I was getting ready or work. I think they have a more pushier attitude seeing as they are in the “Mormon Mecca” and are expected to get higher rates of concerts.

I went to NYC a year ago and was amaZed of the diversity there! I really miss the people I met!
Click to expand...
Have to take the good with the bad whereever you live.

Here’s a good: Maddox Ranch House in Willard, UT

Very nice tasting buffalo steak if I must say. Can’t find it easily in the Midwest. 😦
 
Sounds like the fellow must pay mandatory tithing to Mormon religion and yes, the IRS is correct in stating he is contributing freely to his belief system. He can’t win. Must pay.
 
RebeccaJ said:
I agree, but my point is, here is an LDS person saying paying tithing isn’t a voluntary contribution but a necessity.
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If his goal is to be so-called temple worthy, I agree with you. It’s a necessity in the LDS view to pay a full tithe.

However, cheating on his taxes, even if he paid a full tithe, still left him, in LDS view, temple unworthy.

He screwed himself, as far as “temple worthiness” is defined by LDS leadership.

🤷
 
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