MAILBAG? MATT A listener wrote in regarding our discussion on church finances: “I think there is a balance somewhere in between full-disclosure and what we’ve got now - where, as Melissa said, we can read articles on the church news to see where we are spending money. I would like something like a line item budget. You don’t have to tell me exact numbers, but what about letting us know that we spend 20% on temples, 15% on disaster relief, 35% goes into savings, etc. I’d be interested in your thoughts on a middle-of-the-road type financial disclosure from the church” QUICK CLIPS (A FEW OF THE WEEK’S STORIES) MELISSA Church sends weekly emails of inspiration MATT I think we should discuss two things from President Oaks Devotional. The first is these two figures he presents: President Oaks asks young people to consider what they miss when marriage is intentionally delayed. President Oaks mentions a couple of causes: shortage of affordable housing, and increased student debt. What else is behind these trends? The second is his response to a question from a Young Woman in the US who is concerned with how other members of the church act on social media and at stake youth activities regarding LGTBQ issues. He says two things that I think we should discuss. 1) He tells young people that their church leaders and parents can help them understand eternal principles and then emphasizes the For the Strength of Youth pamphlet. The states that “With these truths as your guide, you can make inspired choices that will bless you throughout eternity” then 2) He emphasizes the two great commandments and says, “Anyone who does not treat individuals who face gender identity challenges with love and dignity is not aligned with the teachings of the first and second great commandments.” What is the best way to stand up for the truth on these moral questions? MELISSA American Idol winner is LDS MATT Plans For 101-Foot Mormon Temple In Cody Spark Opposition, Petition Drive MELISSA Has the church increased transparency about what happens inside temples? Related: Status of all 133 temples announced by Pres. Nelson MATT Central American Youth encouraged to serve missions MELISSA Mental Health awareness https://www.thechurchnews.com/ MATT What does anti-Mormon bias look like in academia? A Q&A with Patrick Mason “I’ve heard students of faith at Utah State University and the University of Utah say they are sitting in classrooms where at least their perception of the faculty is that they are hostile to either the particulars of their faith or faith in general. Oftentimes, it revolves around more social and political and cultural issues, such as LGBTQ equality and things like that, but sometimes it’s just simply, at least in the student’s perception, a kind of hostility toward religion broadly speaking” Is this true? FAMOUS MORMONS MATT Alan Moon: Ticket to Ride Frank Norris: Pit Grandpa Beck: Cover your Assets (BIG DEAL, LITTLE DEAL, NO DEAL?) MELISSA 1 in 4 lds have thought about leaving the church by Jana Riess. I think it is humorous that she wrote this piece because that number is the same as the national average. She could just have easily written a story that says that 22% of the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are converts, or that at most 5% of our church members have left the church, compared to 37% leaving the Catholic Church or 24% leaving their Protestant church. MATT Church handbook instructs on how to handle preferred names or pronouns. There are some interesting tidbits in there. MELISSA Women's Conference talk on how to avoid spiritual overwhelm MATT Holly Jane, 39, wasn't willing to quit her OnlyFans venture, despite the bishop demanding she delete her account. Apparently she still attends church, but she has faced disciplinary action for continuing to have an OnlyFans account.
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