Comments on: Temple Construction Costs vs. Humanitarian Aid?

By: Bryce Haymond

Bryce Haymond — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 16:51:30 +0000

Good point, Mark. For the record, I do moderate all comments on this blog, and if there are comments that are not friendly to the church, I simply delete them. This is not the place for enemies of the church to voice their dissonance.

By: Mark Collier

Mark Collier — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 16:17:56 +0000

Years ago when I lived in Denver, a local overnight talk show host got fed up with the negative publicity the Church was receiving when the temple was built. He invited an articulate member of the Church to come on his show and for three hours respond to detractors as they vented their feelings. It was remarkable to hear the well spoken responses from the Church spokesman. It was also notable that the detractors were largely gone after the first hour while people with complimentary comments filled the final two hours. The accusers dwindled into obscurity while the truth rang out into the last hour.

I was reminded of this situation when reading the excellent responses that continue to build upon the truths of the earlier responses. And where have the detractors gone? They continue to dwindle and fade away as a retreating army while the truth continues to build and develop as as does a musical crescendo.

By: John Pack Lambert

John Pack Lambert — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 03:11:03 +0000

The problem with the humanitarian aid figures is that it does not represent what the enemies of the Church claim it does, but much less.
If you pay attention this is the dollar value of the aid actually given to people through the humanitarian program. It does not represent the following:
1-The Church Welfare Program. True, this progam LARGELY assists members, but I know from first hand experience that people who have not been baptized are assited by it. Beyound this, if we are comparing spending on buildings to spending on aid, than we clearly need to put the Welfare Program in the latter.
2-LDS Family Services costs are not covered.
3-LDS Employment Services costs are not covered. I went to a career development seminar sponsored by them that had mainly people of other faiths attending.
4-I am not sure, but I doubt that aid given through the Welfare program to local storehouses is counted.
5-Providing free use of canneries to soup kitchens and food banks has a value that is not assessed here.
6-The logistical costs of aid, such as costs of fuel and such are not counted.
7-Contrary to the claim of some haters, the value of time donated is not counted.
8-The full answer to this I am not sure of, but if I use a Church chain saw to cut up a tree in someone’s yard, or some other church owned equitment to provide aid, would it count. Considering the wording of the phrases, I think the answer is negative.

By: Mark

Mark — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:42:19 +0000

Let’s not forget what these buildings do for the poor! The poor are lifted and strengthened. I serve in one of our temples weekly and see the poor come from their humble circumstances and sit next to the wealthy in equality, partaking of the saving ordinances of the gospel that are available to everyone who can clean up their lives and enter therein. What a blessing to see some of my fellow workers who come from what I would call a ghetto, to sit beside me and serve faithfully. They are lifted up and edified by this opportunity and I am blessed to be counted with them.

I also marvel when I hear the names of persons who lived in the Dark Ages echo through the halls of the temple and rejoice as they rejoice in being set free to progress on to their eternal rest in the presence of the Father after having lived through very troubled and difficult times on the earth.

Could we do such exalting work in a cinderblock warehouse? Yes, but the works of salvation deserve their place that is both beautiful and uplifting. I love the symbolic depiction of the beauty of eternity that comes from using the finest and best materials for the House of the Lord.

I rejoice in welcoming the poor of the world into the reverent setting of a beautiful temple, no matter their circumstances in the world. We sit as equals in the House of the Lord.

By: Mormon Soprano

Mormon Soprano — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 21:09:49 +0000

Great article Bryce, and nice comments to read. I would just add that whenever the church builds a temple and is purchasing those “finest materials”, they are doing so by stimulating the local economies, and keeping many small businesses, craftsmen, and contractors employed. Thus, the physical building of a temple is a huge humanitarian investment. And of course the spiritual humanitarian blessings which come to the people and the land are everlasting and priceless.

By: Bryce Haymond

Bryce Haymond — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:39:56 +0000

President Spencer W. Kimball taught:

The rich man may far outstrip his less fortunate neighbor in giving huge sums of money for charity, but when it comes to giving one’s self, they are on a common level, for each can give freely of himself, but each has only one single self to give. (The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, p. 251-252).

By: Bryce Haymond

Bryce Haymond — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 13:21:34 +0000

I just came across these words of the Savior:

16 Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor!
17 Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?
18 And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty.
19 Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift?
20 Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon.
21 And whoso shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein.
22 And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon.
23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. (Matt. 23:16-23)

By: Richard Davies

Richard Davies — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 19:27:00 +0000

It’s always easy to criticize others for not giving enough of their “excess” to the needy. But for some reason, we are never that critical with ourselves—after all, we “need” our own income and don’t have much, if any “excess”.

I wonder why JAMaddict didn’t disclose how much of their own personal income they give to charity?

By: JL

JL — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 18:57:06 +0000

“Wherefore, verily I say unto you that all things unto me are spiritual, and not at any time have I given unto you a law which was temporal; . . .” (D&C29:34).

Whether it is giving aid, educating the poor, or building chapels and temples, it is all spiritual to the the Lord. I loved Matt’s comment about those who complain likely haven’t contributed (to our church or theirs). Personally, I love watching every temple rise from the dirt and every plane loaded with supplies take to the skies knowing my small sacrifice has contributed to it.

By: Brad Minick

Brad Minick — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 17:55:41 +0000

If the church contributed 100% of her financial resources to humanitarian aid she wouldn’t exist long as a church. She would have no financial capital to pay for her expenses. There are operating cost that must be paid. Also, she is a church and must fulfill the spiritual needs of her members (both living and dead) and a large part of that spiritual need is fulfilled through temple worship. If the church totally ignored the spiritual needs of her members, she would eventually lose all membership and wouldn’t be much of a church. The church is doing it’s best to invite all the “come unto Christ” and receive of His gospel while offering assistance, via humanitarian aid, throughout the world to those who are hungry, sick, and afflicted.

Also, in temples, priesthood power is administered. And, what is priesthood power? It is God’s power delegated to man for the salvation of His children. God’s power!!!! What greater humanitarian gift can God give, through His church by the form of priesthood ordinances as administered in temples, than God’s (priesthood) power? Temples are humanitarian.