Posted on 01/31/2013 5:05:06 PM PST by Colofornian
Late last year (2012) a copy of the 2006 Mission President’s Handbook was posted on an individual’s blog site. This document, produced by the Mormon Church as a practical instruction manual for mission presidents, “contains basic policies and guidelines established by the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles to help you lead your missionaries and direct the work” (6). The book is not intended for general readership; “general” readers have found that it contains some things that are surprising in light of the public face that the Church puts forth.
PaycheckOne such surprise is found in Appendix B, Family Finances. It begins,
“While you are serving as mission president, the Church reimburses the necessary living expenses for you, your wife, and your dependent children. Dependent children are defined as those who are under age 26, have not been married, and are not employed full-time. Living expenses include food, clothing, household supplies, family activities, dry cleaning, personal long-distance calls to family, and modest gifts (for example, Christmas, birthdays, or anniversary).” (80)
Additional reimbursable or paid expenses are also listed including (but not limited to) medical expenses; support for children serving full-time missions; dance lessons (and the like) for elementary and secondary school-aged children as well as their school tuition, fees and books; undergraduate college tuition; a gardener; a housekeeper; internet and other utilities; babysitters; transportation expenses including the use of a car and all fuel and maintenance expenses; and personal health and life insurance premiums.
The handbook instructs,
“The amount of any funds reimbursed to you should be kept strictly confidential and should not be discussed with missionaries, other mission presidents, friends, or family members.” (80)
One can only speculate about the reasons for this confidentiality among friends and family. But the mission president is also instructed to keep mum about these financial benefits to the taxman.
“Because you are engaged in volunteer religious service, no employer-employee relationship exists between you and the Church. As a result, any funds reimbursed to you from the Church are not considered income for tax purposes; they are not reported to the government, and taxes are not withheld with regard to these funds…
“To avoid raising unnecessary tax questions, please follow these guidelines closely:
“Do not share information on funds you receive from the Church with those who help you with financial or tax matters. Any exceptions should be discussed with the Church Tax Division.
“Never represent in any way that you are paid for your service.
“If you are required to file an income-tax report for other purposes, do not list any funds you receive from the Church, regardless of where you serve or where you hold citizenship.” (82)
Eric Johnson and Bill McKeever did some calculations on a hypothetical mission president serving in the state of Utah. This imaginary Mormon Church leader ended up with benefits equaling $99,500 per year. Furthermore, Eric Johnson writes,
“It must be mentioned that tithing on these items are not supposed to be paid. Unlike other church members, this family can receive temple recommends without paying tithing on “income.” Hence, for the value of this compensation, which we list here at almost $100,000, the tithe amount would be at least $10,000. So, this particular mission president—who, remember, is considered a “volunteer”—is getting compensation for at least $110,000! Not bad for someone who is not supposedly getting a wage!”
Indeed.
Show us then a single post of yours on another FR thread where you've gone to bat for the literally TENS OF THOUSANDS of negative comments about Islam/Muslims?
Go ahead. Show us.
Give us a link.
Are you -- in the eyes of ALL FREEPERs -- going to start labeling those who have repeatedly commented negatively on Islam "bigots?"
Are you consistent? Or religiously hypocritical?
What about Satanists? Do you go to bat for them, too, when negative comments about Satanism are issued on FR?
How about Scientology?
Is every negative comment about ANY "religion" "bigoted" in your eyes?
What about the apostle Paul in Acts 20 who referenced "wolves" who were about to come in and steal sheep?
If/when you get to heaven, will you presume to lecture him on that matter?
What about when Jesus referenced the Pharisees as "children of the devil" in John 8; or when he called them whitewashed sepulcres -- tombstones -- in Matthew 23? He also referenced them in their proselytizing efforts as attempting to make others "twice the son of hell."
Are you going to start badgering Jesus, too, over these comments he made?
I’m nominally a Christian...
It seems this is precisely the problem: Apparently you don't even know some of the things uttered by the divine-man you claim to follow...
OK, bigots like you have made me an agnostic. Happy?
What “view” do I think is superior? I have not espoused any view that I’m aware of.
I am sorry, ozzy, it is not possible to be a “nominal Christian”.
You are either a Christian or you are not, however your statement explains much.
No they lost because they were rhinos.
Sure you did!
You condemned someone else’s ideas- demonstrating that you believe your view is superior- even worse, that you are so intolerant that you had to publicly condemn his ideas.
Bigotry is the belief that your view is superior, and an intolerance of competing beliefs. I don’t condemn you for your bigotry though. I accept you as you are.
Really ironic, since you accused him of bigotry.
Sorry, I didn’t know you were the judge of who is a Christian. Forgive me, God. When I said I was a nominal Christian, I meant that my parents made me attend Sunday School. I haven’t been back to church since, but I haven’t joined any other religion. If that doesn’t fit your definition, that’s OK too.
I condemned bigotry. I realize this is not popular with bigots. I don’t think you know what bigotry and irony are.
Did the fact that Obama won stop the heresies of the Mormon Church?
Sometimes there are other battles, battles that are more important and indeed may well be the cause of the lesser ones.
Obama wasn’t happenstance...
Oh, I see.
Church just for your edification does not make you a Christian.
I stand by my statement, you are either a Christian or you are not.
Being a nominal Christian would be no different than being nominally pregnant.
The most bigoted seem to always be the ones who yell bigot first.
Of course all humans are bigots, it is our very nature. The fact so much effort is being made to eradicate all bigotry is a fools errand. The very fact one does that is bigotry itself.
You have the floor, would you like to rebut?
You would be one of the few...
Whatever. You don’t consider me to be a Christian. I can live with that. I will leave you to enjoy your bigotry.
Actually AMPU nailed it dead on. But then sometimes logic is a wasted effort...
I agree about the fool’s errand. Apparently everything is bigotry except attacking Mormons. I’m done here. It’s like talking to a box of rocks.
I admit its bigotry. I am bigoted agains those who corrupt my Saviors message. I am also bigoted against leftist, communists, democrats Muslims and anyone else who firecly wants to alter what is good and true in the world as well as those who support such activites and groups.
I assume as a poster on FR you love and agree with democrats...
Wait, you don’t?
Bigot.
See its so easy.
No, you judged someone else’s religious belief that differed from yours - and were quite intolerant that he should dare express his view publicly.
Bigotry, pure and clear as day. You believe you have the right to correct him, as seen in your post, because you know better than he what he should not believe or express.
But as I wrote, I accept you as you are. We all have shortcomings. Me too. I guess it’s why we all need a Savior. We fall short.
Boy did my family miss out. My son-in-law has been a Mormon bishop twice- never got a dime. And yes he did and does pay a full tithe on his income. I think this time you have fallen over the edge in your lack of knowledge and overall stupidity and hatred.
The main guideline is simply this:
Accusing another Freeper of being a bigot is also mind reading and therefore "making it personal."
And changing the subject of thread over such things makes the thread "about" you and/or other individual Freepers. That also is a form of "making it personal."
This thread is an example why ad hominems are not tolerable in religious debate.
All of you: Discuss the message - not the messenger.
I did not say you were not a Christian, I said going to church does not make you a Christian.
And I also said you are a Christian or you are not.
Only God knows whether you are Saved or not, it is one judgement I am not permitted.
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