Careful. Not my immediate family!
Since I was gone, I read a couple of headlines a little late. Here was one I thought was worth mentioning.
On June 25th, it was announced that the LDS population is now at 13 million.
My family is growing exponentially! The first million mark was in 1947. The succeeding millions were 1963, 1971, 1978, 1982, 1986, 1989, 1991, 1994, 1997, 2000, 2004, and 2007.
Come on John, all the cool kids are doing it.
It has also been announced that 1 million members have served missions since the beginning of this church when the gospel was restored. Here's a little plug to feed your local missionaries.
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Growing Family
Written by Mindy at 7:07 AM
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14 comments:
I guess that doesn't sound that cool when you consider the 2 billion Catholics in the world. We're catchin' up.
But there is something strange about losing 10% of your assets for the rest of your life by joining a church. And 10% of what? My increase? So my level of guilt/shame/honesty defines my definition of the word increase?
Well you have already got me started so I better stop.
Congrats on the Million Man Mormorn March!
There should be many more Mormons!
If only they would allow me to share eternity with them. (see a later posting by Audra saying, "John, we WILL share eternity with you, if . . . .")
;)
Does anyone have a comeback for John other than: "It's what we gain that really counts!"
Audra may be willing to share eternity with you, but I'm not so sure.
I don't have a great comeback, except that we have killer church basketball tournaments...
I think it is the same answer the Lord gave the Israelites about the definition of their tithing...
Brian, again, I am not Mormon, much less a church school teacher (sorry, I am pretty sure I butchered your title), much less a Bishop. You need to elaborate on the answer that the Lord gave . . . please!
KC says it's your level of guilt/shame/honesty in your home teaching (visiting teaching) that says whether or not you get into heaven. So forget tithing! That only defines whether or not you'll burn in hell.
Okay, that was probably not a good plug for the church. Sorry Mindy.
from MIL guess I believe we get more than 10% of the good stuff in our lives from the Lord as well as more than 10% of the strength we need to handle the tough times.....seems worth giving back 10% John, I'd love spending eternity with you because you make me laugh so hard through this blog.... we all need laughter
Man, John, you are worried about tithing?! Well what about fast offerings? And the gas money you'd spend going back and from from the church and the temple? And the money spent feeding the missionaries and the couple in the ward who just had a baby, etc?
And then what about all the TIME sacrifices you'd have to make? You'd get a calling where you'd prepare lessons, or go to meetings, or plan events or activities all for NO PAY! And then the Elder's Quorum might call you Friday night to see if you can spend half your Saturday helping someone move in. And don't forget about Home Teaching where you'd go and visit a few families each month to share a message and see how they are doing. Etc, etc.
And you are worried about TITHING?! Man, you wouldn't make a good crazy Mormon after all!
That is just it Audge, I can do service standing on my head. But I don't understand why I can't do "more" service and tithe less. Yeah, yeah tithe means ten I get it, but ...! I mean, if you do as much service as a Bishop, you should get a pass on the tithe. New Rule.
And if there is a tithing requirement, then everyone gives 10% of what they literally increase by. Not this gray area stuff. There should be Morman tithe officers and everyone should file tithe returns etc.
I understand there is some element of you/your family making a decision after praying about what 10% is but the IRS makes it pretty clear, well not clear, but well defined what the "rules" are.
You are also right that the fast offerings would be a little challenging for me. Not so much because I would literally be starving but my wife is "not as sweet as usual" when the blood sugar dips. ;)
It just dawned on me when I wrote my last post that the Lord DIDN'T eleborate on the exact definition of tithing. It seems as thought He is saying, "10%. Now you're going to have to search your own heart and determine where you feel like you stand." In Isaiah, where the Lord in chapter 1, "Come..let us reason together...". I think we need to take issues to the Lord and reason and counsel with Him and then get His individual help on where our hearts should be.
I ramble...sorry!
Mindy, I am pretending that Brian is like Steven here in the sarcastic arena is that a safe assumption?
More so than you can imagine.
I wasn't really meaning to be sarcatic. I really DID just dawn on me the that Lord has not been overly specific about tithing details. So I think there is something to that. It was just a little thing that started making some sense to me as I typed.
And that crack about me being like Steven? C'mon John, that one was below the belt! :)
I kind of like John's idea about a tithing "pass". By the time David and I log our service hours we should be MAKING money. What a deal!!!
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