Lutherans are Mormons

[JonNC]

The thread isn’t about what’s wrong/right with Mormonism…or Lutheranism…for that matter.

ads,
It was an interesting thread. Thanks for offering it.
Jon

 

[jblake]

jazzy_987;:

Maybe they shared church buildings somehow?

That would be in Salt Lake City. The LDS sold a couple of churches, because they didn’t have the adherents to pay the tithes. (With an LDS church on every block, and a half the city full of non-mormons, it is a financial drain on The corporation of the president to pay for buildings could generate a profit if sold.)

jonathon

 

[dianaiad]

That would be in Salt Lake City. The LDS sold a couple of churches, because they didn’t have the adherents to pay the tithes. (With an LDS church on every block, and a half the city full of non-mormons, it is a financial drain on The corporation of the president to pay for buildings could generate a profit if sold.)

jonathon

Just a comment:

When I first moved to the town where I live now, we all met in a lovely white chapel on 10th St. West. It was the only LDS meetinghouse in town–there was only one more in the valley, which was the stake center. Our stake served an area nearly 200 miles in diameter; Mom, as Stake President of the MIA, spent a LOT of time driving.

My oldest daughter was baptized there, and my first three children were blessed there. Then the church sold it, in the early 1980’s. . It is now a medical building.

I’m certain that some will say that the church sold it because it couldn’t afford it, right?

Nope.

The money they got from selling it paid to purchase all the land that now has 15 meeting houses, including three stake centers.

Not that it means much, but you might want to consider that there are other reasons for selling a building other than that the church ‘can’t afford it.’

There are many buildings out there that serve congregations that, even if every member in it paid a completely full tithing, could not afford the upkeep on the building. That’s why we all of us pay tithing and it is administered by the church for the good of all of us; the meeting houses in the wealthiest neighborhoods look very much like the meeting houses in the poorest; all beautiful, functional and well kept. The Temple that the poorest Mormon attends is as beautiful as the one the richest Mormon attends…

 

[RebeccaJ]

Just a comment:

When I first moved to the town where I live now, we all met in a lovely white chapel on 10th St. West. It was the only LDS meetinghouse in town–there was only one more in the valley, which was the stake center. Our stake served an area nearly 200 miles in diameter; Mom, as Stake President of the MIA, spent a LOT of time driving.

My oldest daughter was baptized there, and my first three children were blessed there. Then the church sold it, in the early 1980’s. . It is now a medical building.

I’m certain that some will say that the church sold it because it couldn’t afford it, right?

Nope.

The money they got from selling it paid to purchase all the land that now has 15 meeting houses, including three stake centers.

Not that it means much, but you might want to consider that there are other reasons for selling a building other than that the church ‘can’t afford it.’

There are many buildings out there that serve congregations that, even if every member in it paid a completely full tithing, could not afford the upkeep on the building. That’s why we all of us pay tithing and it is administered by the church for the good of all of us; the meeting houses in the wealthiest neighborhoods look very much like the meeting houses in the poorest; all beautiful, functional and well kept. The Temple that the poorest Mormon attends is as beautiful as the one the richest Mormon attends…

Wards are dissolving in SLC, it is a fact.

Avenues wards continue to lose members
Mormon portion of Utah population steadily shrinking
Keeping members a challenge for LDS church

 

[jblake]

dianaiad;:

I’m certain that some will say that the church sold it because it couldn’t afford it, right?

From what you wrote, there were two meeting places for Mormons in your area.

In greater Salt Lake City, one can throw a stone through the window of at least one LDS meeting place, regardless of where one is. In terms of both absolute numbers, and as a percentage of the general population, LDS membership in Salt Lake City is declining. Roughly half the current population of Salt Lake City is not Mormon. The LDS have had to merge both wards and stakes, because of the increase in the percentage of non-Mormons. One of the fears that Mormons have, is that Salt Lake City will become a town that is run for and by non-Mormons.

The Corporation of the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints didn’t get to be one of the wealthiest corporations in the world by disregarding fundamental economics. When economics justifies the merging of two wards, or stakes, then that will be done, if both the current, and projected LDS membership can be adequately cared for within the merged ward or stake.

Not that it means much, but you might want to consider that there are other reasons for selling a building other than that the church ‘can’t afford it.’

I’m fully aware of the reasons why churches sell, and exchange both land and buildings.

• The second most common reason is because of the need to expand — as in your example.
  *The most common reason is because congregation membership has dwindled to the point that it either literally can not afford the cost of maintaining the current building, or it can not justify that expense. (This occurs across the entire religious spectrum.)

jonathon

 

[MelanieAnne]

The membership decline is not just in Utah. I’ve heard of wards merging in our local area also because of the decline in membership/attendance. Mormons often have great success in conversion/baptizing new members but retention is the key to real, sustained growth. I don’t know what the numbers are but I know I have heard about programs aimed at long-term retention so the hierarchy definitely knows about the problem.