Why Does The Mormon God Need My Money?
Or Why Is It Necessary To Pay My Way Into Heaven?
It never ceases to amaze me how human beings throughout history were duped into believing that the way to Heaven or paradise is by way of the dollar. Or every other currency now and in the past. For example, the Indulgences of the Catholic Church throughout its long history and then fast forward to the 1950s with Scientology, where you have to pay vast sums of money to achieve higher levels of knowledge. Then, of course, there is a myriad of other examples one could list, too many to list. But, for my purposes, now my mind is clear after moving away from weekly indoctrination, why does the Mormon God need my money?
Although Mormon church teachings suggest that tithing and monthly fast offerings are an act of obedience and love to others, it always confused me when the same teachers and leaders added God does not really need your money. It's a test; they would add when I asked if I passed the test and if I could have my money back, I was curtly informed that "donations" did not work that way. The confusion happened after twelve months when I was told it was necessary to be a full tithe payer to be a Mormon temple recommend holder. Without that tiny piece of paper, I couldn't enter the highest level of the Celestial kingdom or Heaven. And so I'm guessing it wasn't a donation but a payment to enter Heaven? Hmmm.
Although President Joseph F. Smith stated in 1907, ". . . we expect to see the day when we will not have to ask you for one dollar of donation for any purpose . . ." yet money continued to be collected and amassed until today. Only recently, one of the Mormon Apostles, Elder David A. Bednar, said when asked about poor people paying tithing given the church's wealth, "The Church doesn't need their money, but those people need the blessings that come from following God's commandments.” How very convenient. What kind of wealth are we talking about? How could we know as the Mormon church does not reveal its accounts and keeps them secret, which I find staggering considering the church have a massive tax exemption from the Federal government due to its religious status? Nonprofit organizations, including religious groups, are exempted in the United States from paying taxes on their income. Yet, the figure of $100 Billion in just one account was leaked in 2019 to the IRS. As charitable donations are meant to use and not accumulated, why did the Mormon church have tax exemption?
Here is the kicker. Religious exemptions cost US taxpayers $71 billion a year.
The annual revenue of US churches is $220 Billion.
The real estate value of US churches is $232 Billion.
The annual income tax paid by US churches is ZERO.
The annual property taxes paid by US churches is ZERO.
Although apparently Gods are all powerful and can do whatever they want, whenever they want to, they don't ever do anything except amassing large sums of money. And their human speakers or prophets live comfortably in lovely warm homes with regular meals. But unfortunately, that is not always the case for the people who give up their means to enter Heaven. I was often told at church that a 10% tithe was the same for everyone. And yet, when I visited the widows and single mothers, the 90% they had left was insignificant compared to the wealthy members. Their 90% went one of a hell farther.
© Stephen G. Arrowsmith 2022
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