Wednesday, December 18, 2019

2019.12.18 - WHAT WOULD JESUS DO WITH 100 BILLION DOLLARS?

 Yesterday after a whistleblower claims that the LDS Church stockpiled $100 Billion in charitable donations and dodge taxes, the First Presidency released a statement.

" Over many years, a portion is methodically safeguarded through wise financial management and the building of a prudent reserve for the future. This is a sound doctrinal and financial principle taught by the Savior in the Parable of the Talents and lived by the Church and its members. All Church funds exist for no other reason than to support the Church’s divinely appointed mission.
The reason why they give for safeguarding the money was the principles taught by the Savior in the Parable of the Talents?  I find it so interesting how people can interpret scripture so differently. While some could read the parable as justification to multiply what you have been given, others could read the parable as a condemnation, and teaching us of what NOT to do.

I might be wrong, but when I read the parable,  the servant with the one talent (in this case maybe his talent is only money).. hides that money from everyone else. The Lord then comes and says thou wicked and slothful servant.. you oughtest to have put My money to the exchangers (banks, hedge fund managers, stock brokers) and then at my Second Coming, you think I want the interest? This unprofitable servant is cast into outer darkness. I could be completely misinterpreting this though. I do find the following verses to be really interesting... it is the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats.


I think we would do well to reread Matthew 25. Quick one line summary of the parable:  The Sheep feeds the hungry, gives drink to the thirsty, takes in the stranger, clothes the naked, and visits the sick and those in prison. The Goats do not.

The Sheep are exalted and receive life eternal.
The Goats shall go away into everlasting punishment.

Maybe we can start giving some of those BILLIONS of dollars to the LEAST among us. Christ says that doing this is the same thing as giving it to Him. So maybe we don't need to wait to give him the lump sum when He comes again, but give it to the less fortunate NOW.
(and in my humble opinion, we would be even more "Profitable" servants)

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"Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me."
Matthew 25:45

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Sidenote:

From the Church Newsroom (was removed but has been archived HERE) Elder Andersen said the significance of the meeting with Vice President Mohadi was to “express to him our desire to help improve Zimbabwe.” He noted that Vice President Mohadi had made a specific request for support with the development of clean-water wells in more remote areas of Zimbabwe.“We want to help in every way we can,” said Elder Andersen. “We are not a wealthy people but we are good people, and we share what we have,” he added.

Really?