July 6 — LDS Charity System Costly for Those in Need. Ensign, ‘I Was an Hungred, and Ye Gave Me Meat’, May 2004, 57 “Those in need are expected to do all they can to provide for themselves. Then families are expected to assist in taking care of their less-fortunate members. And then the resources of the Church are made available.” – Gordon B. Hinckley
_____
Matthew 25:35 “For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in.”
_____
The passage in Matthew is referring to the servant who took care of a stranger and how God looks upon the service as if it was done for Him.
You’ll notice in the sequence of events from the mouth of the Mormon prophet that first the destitute must take care of themselves.
If they can’t make ends meet then members of the Church are expected to foot the bill and only after those two venues are exhausted, the Church with its deep pockets will come forward.
Don’t think it’ll be a free gift though. Those who receive must pay back by either working on one of the welfare farms or through a payment plan of a low interest loan. The Church doesn’t just dole out money with no questions asked.
There will be a price to pay.
For non-members this typically means joining Mormonism as the Church isn’t in the habit of giving alms to the poor without a nice ROI (return on investment).
Unfortunately, members of the Church don’t stop to compare this with the biblical example of how we’re to treat those who are less fortunate.
You’re not expecting anything in return, nor do you set up payment plans! One Bible commentary noted that the grateful stranger said, ‘you took me with you into the household circle’.
When you have the opportunity share the biblical example of what this all means.
With Love in Christ —
Michelle ✟
[…] LDS Charity System Costly for Those in Need — Gordon B. Hinckley […]
Oh my. That’s so sad. All that money the church has and they can’t give without asking for it back. That’s not Christlike. I guess it’s Joseph Smith like🤣Have a blessed day. Prayers for the deceived.🙏🙏🙏🙏
Hi M.J.,
I totally agree… Charity doesn’t come with interest or strings attached.
Probably one of the reasons why they have a hard time understanding God’s gift of grace.
Enjoy the rest of your weekend,
Melissa
That’s a pretty jacked up charity system if I ever heard one. It’s not charity if you have to pay it back, with interest no less.
From another perspective, not long ago,the “church” boasted about giving 7.35 million to the American Red Cross.
All the while dropping a cool 133 million on a real estate investment in South Florida.
Now one could argue 7.35 million to the ARC is a hefty donation. But the “church could do much better. It’s worth several hundred, BILLION dollars. Their combined charitable donations don’t come close to the 10% the “church” expects from the members.
A while back LDS journalist Jana Riess wrote in an article for Religion News Service, titled “Why I stopped tithing to the LDS Church”. She wrote “At tithing settlement this year, I declared myself a full tithe – payer and explained why none of the money has gone to the Church”.
Matthew 19:21
Jesus said unto him, if thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come follow me.
Tetelestai-Melissa