LDS Church returned $200K in Southwick Tithing

AP ^ | Sept. 14, 2009

[Colofornian]

Settlement papers show Mormon church leaders agreed to return more than $202,000 in tithing money paid by a man convicted of bilking investors out of more than $142 million.

U.S. District Court filings show Val Southwick paid The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints $202,761.74 between 2001 and 2006.

In 2008, the LDS Church Corporation of the Presidency agreed to return the money as part of a Securities and Exchange Commission enforcement action.

Spokesman Scott Trotter says the church has a policy of not profiting from alleged ill-gotten gains.

Southwick was convicted of securities fraud and is serving nine consecutive prison terms of one to 15 years.

[Elsie]

...paid The Church ...

Not GAVE???

[Elsie]

...paid The Church ...

Not GAVE???

[greyfoxx39]

U.S. District Court filings show Val Southwick paid The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints $202,761.74 between 2001 and 2006.

So...was he a bishop during this five years? If he was, he was controlling which members received temple recommends during this time when he, himself was ineligible to have a recommend himself.

 Temple Recommend questions.

1 Do you have faith in and a testimony of God the Eternal Father, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost?

2 Do you have a testimony of the Atonement of Christ and of His role as Savior and Redeemer?

3 Do you have a testimony of the restoration of the gospel in these the latter days?

4 Do you sustain the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as the Prophet, Seer, and Revelator and as the only person on the earth who possesses and is authorized to exercise all priesthood keys? Do you sustain members of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles as prophets, seers, and revelators? Do you sustain the other General Authorities and local authorities of the Church?

5 Do you live the law of chastity?

6 Is there anything in your conduct relating to members of your family that is not in harmony with the teachings of the Church?

7 Do you support, affiliate with, or agree with any group or individual whose teachings or practices are contrary to or oppose those accepted by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?

8 Do you strive to keep the covenants you have made, to attend your sacrament and other meetings, and to keep your life in harmony with the laws and commandments of the gospel?

9 Are you honest in your dealings with your fellowmen?

10 Are you a full-tithe payer?

11 Do your keep the Word of Wisdom?

12 Do you have financial or other obligations to a former spouse or children? If yes, are you current in meeting those obligations?

13 If you have previously received your temple endowment:

Do you keep the covenants that you made in the temple?
Do you wear the garment both night and day as instructed in the endowment and in accordance with the covenant you made in the temple?

14 Have there been any sins or misdeeds in your life that should have been resolved with priesthood authorities but have not been?

15 Do you consider yourself worthy to enter the Lord's house and participate in temple ordinances?

 

I see boasts from mormons all the time on the superiority of having an "unpaid clergy", and the leaders having superior "discernment"....what harm was done to innnocent people because of the failure of the Stake President's "discernment" in his not knowing this man was a crook, and worst of all, lied to get a recommend?

A comment at the SL Trib asks, "To whom is the money being returned?" I'd like to know that, too.

I pray for those who were bilked by innocently trusting this man just because he was a fellow mormon, that their powers of discernment will improve with this experience.

Ping to the Inmans.

[svcw]

I see boasts from mormons all the time on the superiority of having an "unpaid clergy"

I find this interesting myself. There has not been one ldser who I have seen answer why 'unpaid' clergy is superior to paid clergy.