Posted on 04/24/2009 9:19:10 AM PDT by Alex Murphy
As Shawn Merriman's alleged Ponzi scheme piled up millions during the past 15 years, another party likely benefited from his fraudulent fortune: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The Arapahoe County investor, accused of bilking dozens of investors of up to $20 million, served as a Mormon bishop for five years, making tithing payments — composing 10 percent of his income — to the church, LDS officials acknowledged Thursday.
So the Utah-based church could eventually find itself paying back Merriman's donations to his victims if the funds are ultimately deemed by a court to be "ill-gotten" or fraudulent gains, said church spokeswoman Kim Farah.
"While (the church) has no intention to keep any monies that were illegally obtained by a contributor, the church will wait until all the facts are in before making a decision," she said.
The church declined to disclose how much Merriman, who has not responded to interview requests, contributed through tithing.
The Securities and Exchange Commission has filed civil charges of securities fraud against Merriman, and a criminal investigation is under way. Victims and government investigators said the 46-year-old confessed his scheme.
The LDS church has previously returned tithing payments from members found to have violated the law.
A big question, Mormon officials say, is how much, if any, of the contributions paid to the church were the result of fraud, Farah said. And if so, to whom should the money be returned.
It's unclear whether Merriman had another source of income. SEC investigators say he cheated dozens of investors since 1994.
Up to 10 of those investors were Mormons who entrusted their money with him in part because he was a church member.
There are other ways Merriman's scheme may have steered money toward the church. He used part of his proceeds to amass hundreds of works by Renaissance artists and works by Rembrandt, displaying them in churches or church-sponsored facilities.
It's possible, some LDS members say, that his exhibits lured other donations to the church merely out of appreciation.
"I don't recall if there were any donations received (as a result of his exhibits)," said Bob Meldrum, a volunteer for the Parker Center for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. "Who knows, somebody could have."
Merriman was excommunicated by the church in March.
....There are other ways Merriman's scheme may have steered money toward the church. He used part of his proceeds to amass hundreds of works by Renaissance artists and works by Rembrandt, displaying them in churches or church-sponsored facilities. It's possible, some LDS members say, that his exhibits lured other donations to the church merely out of appreciation....
....Merriman was excommunicated by the church in March.
Rembrandt's "Biblical Etchings" Exhibit at LDS.org
Related thread:
Ex-Mormon Bishop Charged in $20M Ponzi Scheme
Good for them.
Considering Madoff’s suckers will get nothing, these folks are going to get lucky, at least some of them will get what he tithed back. Good luck getting any of their money back from the Cadillac dealer, the airlines or the art dealers. So the LDS excomunicate this guy for his Ponzi scheme and fraud. How about Rome excommunicating the President of Notre Dame for ripping off thousands of parents who paid for a Catholic university. I think maybe the Bishop of South Bend might agree.
This is so sad for everyone involved. I find your reasoning to be slightly strange.
If I get this straight, the guy was cheating people out of money and tithing on the ill gotten gains. That is just weird.
It is a sad situation for all those involved.
As Shawn Merriman’s alleged Ponzi scheme piled up millions during the past 15 years, another party likely benefited from his fraudulent fortune: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
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Starting with Joey Smith’s bank scam in kirkland and his home made phony $3 bills that he laundered in MO and elsewher, the mormons have a 180 year history of fraud...
Joey Smith was finede $1,000 for his part in that but he skipped out of town and never paid it...
Mormonism does not respect the authority of the United States government...
Because he wanted to continue his fiefdom/theocracy unhindered, Brigham Young was known to pray for the death of the US POTUS...
But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. 1 Peter 2:10
and mormons practice their doctrines of thievery not only against the “Gentiles” which was considered not a sin...
But each other...
Joey Smith was GIVEN as in FREE several thousand acres to build Nauvoo...
Instead of just handing it out to his followers, as the giver intended, he lied to them and made them pay for it...
He made at least one million dollars from that “clever” deal...
Later, Brigham Young figured out ways to cheat his followers in SLC...
The handcart tragedy in which Brigham Young caused the unnecessary deaths of hundreds of European “saints”, came about from his greed...
In that scammed he made his followers pay for the passage twice...
The SLC “saints” had to “assist” the “pilgrims” and the European “saints” had to also pay for their own passage...
In the bulding of the rairoad through Utah, Brigham Young found several ways to cheat both the “Gentile” railroad and the US government plus his own followers...
Mormonism is based on lust for sex, money and power..
For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 1 John 2:16
My reasoning is that the media is quick to point out the religious affiliation or service of anyone caught in a scandal or crime. There is nothing they love more than a “evangelical pastor” in a hotel room with a hooker, a “Mormon Bishop” in a Ponzi scheme, or “Catholic Priest” arrested for molestation. The media seeks out the religious angle of any story where they can bash Christians. In this story they have a former Mormon clergyman who ripped a bunch of people off for millions of dollars. Their angle is to go after the church, knowing that as a devout Mormon he tithed a percentage of his income to them. They are hoping to get a negative response from the church so they can paint them as having taken these peoples money. My guess is the guy also donated money to secular charities. When a liberals get arrested for this kind of stuff I don’t see them going after the Sierra Club or PETA to see if they are going to give back their donations. The courts may indeed do that but it is not a media story.
The segue to the Notre Dame controversy is that the liberal media sees nothing wrong with the tens of thousands of Catholic families who paid money for their children’s education at a “Catholic University” that is now hosting and honoring a leader who is direct conflict with the teachings of the Church. That is fraud to me, but you won’t see an MSM story with that angle.
This story also shows how important paying a full 10% to the LDS Church is to members. This disgusting person had absolutely no compunction against defrading his associates and fellow Mormons, but was absolutely cognizant of the fact that if he quit paying tithing, his standing within the community of Mormonism would collapse. His payment of tithing was necessary to keep up the appearance of “righteousness” so that he could continue his theiving.
Also it shows a complete lack of what Mormons claim as a “priesthood gift of discernment.” This man functioned as a totally upstanding Mormon right under the noses of those who claim God gives them special powers to discern the hearts of men and was in fact Mormonism teaches that he was “called” by God according to his righteousness to his high office as Bishop.
Of course people who call themselves Christian also fail in similar ways, but Christian leaders don’t claim any special priesthood powers or discernemtn either. Christians recognize the sinful nature inherent in men and that ALL men are have fallen. The becomeing-god-game, and appearances of perfection found in Mormonism aren’t played out in Christianity
See my post #8. Mormonism is different than Christianity. Mormonism teaches about special Priesthood powers and callings of righteous men to offices by discernment. Obviously this story points loudly to the fact that there is no such thing as Mormon Priesthood powers.
That’s a great point about as long as he paid his 10% tithe he was in good standing with the mormon god and SLC...
What a cover...
That lack of real discernment may well finally be the undoing of the mormon “kingdom”
The internet is not a friend of the mormons...
It cant be cowed, threatened or controlled...
Surfers are not concerned with the threat of “apostacy” because they might be considered “intellectuals” when they question a leader or doctrine...
If only Nephi and Moroni had told Joey Smith about the it-will-come-to-pass internet...
What a big OUCHY...
Mormon Priesthood powers
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When a 12 year old boy is considered a “priesthood holder” with authority over all females, even his own mother, there is something wrong ...
That is definitely unBiblical...
No 12 year old was a “priest” in the Old Testament
When Jesus was 12, and later, he obeyed His mother ...
He was “subject” to her...
And He went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: Luke 2:51
After their Bar Mitzver at age 13, modern day Jewish boys are not made “priesthood holders” with all power and authority over others....
It just means that they are now responsible for their own actions as adults ...
and they may now read the Torah out loud in the Temple....
Just as Jesus did...
It’s a Rite of Passage, a Coming of Age...
and although they now have responsiblities, they do not have authority as yet...
From the article: “While (the church) has no intention to keep any monies that were illegally obtained by a contributor, the church will wait until all the facts are in before making a decision, she said.
- - - - - - - - — - - - -
Sounds familiar.
From Star Trek First Ferengi Rule of Acquisition: Once you have their money ... never give it back.
You are correct, some pastors THINK they have special powers. Mormonism TEACHES that their Priesthood HAS special God ordained power BECAUSE they are Mormon. Mormonism teaches that the righteous LDS Priesthood leaders can and will become gods of their own universes. It is not the same thing at all.
Some nominal Freeper Christians think they are somehow helping the cause of conservatism by blurring the lines between heresy and Christianity. It is a fallacy born in Hell.
If you take all a man’s money he’s yours to control. (Joseph Smith, Mormon Profit)
“The way to make a million dollars is to start a religion.” (L. Ron Hubbard, Scientology founder)
About the evil Internet...
On the other hand, however - and extremely alarming - are the numbers of individuals who are utilizing the internet for evil and degrading purposes . . . . My brothers and sisters, involvement in such will literally destroy the spirit. Be strong. Be clean. Avoid such degrading and destructive types of content at all costs - wherever they may be! I sound this warning to everyone, everywhere.”
(Thomas S. Monson “179th Annual General Conference Sunday afternoon,” in “Church News: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,” published 5 April 2009)
Wow. That Monson quote is a keeper. “The internet is evil”.
Well, OK there is a lot of evil on the internet, but there is also a lot of good. Some of that good is showing others the truth about Mormon history and doctrine. The fact that LDS growth rate has dropped to zero in the last 15 years (since the growth of the internet) says that there are those who are listening. Praise God for that!
Some of that good is showing others the truth about Mormon history and doctrine.
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Silly Gentile...
That’s why our good master told us not to surf the Net...
MormonDude’s lil Sis...(See how great it is that WE have someone to do our thinking for us?)
Did you mean to misquote the guy? “The internet is evil” That’s no where in the quote. “...extremely alarming - are the numbers of individuals who are utilizing the internet for evil and degrading purposes . . . . My brothers and sisters, involvement in such will literally destroy the spirit. Be strong. Be clean. Avoid such degrading and destructive types of content at all costs.” I don’t know a single pastor out there that would not agree with that statement.
I was quoting TN’s post, she actually uses “the evil internet”.
There are bad things out on the internet. But you are coming into an ongoing conversation between Nana and myself, over many threads and privately, about the impact of the internet on the fewer LDS converts and the rise of those who are leaving the LDS church.
I left the LDS before internet use became so widespread. Among my LDS friends, I have heard laments about how the internet is hurting the LDS church.
The LDS church has a history of controlling what its members watch and read either directly or indirectly. I have seen it firsthand. I was LDS for several years.
My pastor has no such history of control.
Are you saying if a priest molests children, the press isn’t supposed to mention he’s Catholic?
Anyway, that stuff was going on for years before it became huge national story in 2002 ... bad example!
People like a good hypocrite story of any kind: Elliot Spitzer is a great example. I loved that story.
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