Mormon Stories Podcast 152: Daymon Smith Pt. 4 - Is the LDS Church Serving God, Mammon, or Both?
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May 13, 2010 Daymon Smith, an LDS anthropologist and author of 'The Book of Mammon,' delves into the LDS Church's shift from spiritual to financial, raising questions about the ethics of using tithing for investments. He critiques the church's welfare initiatives, exposing disconnects between resources and congregant needs. Smith discusses the material privileges of church leaders compared to regular members and explores tensions between artistic expression and corporate interests, particularly regarding the City Creek Mall project. This complex dynamic of spirituality vs. wealth offers a thought-provoking look at modern Mormonism.
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Monetization's Transformative Impact
- Monetizing tithing converted LDS tithing from physical goods to liquid capital.
- This shift enabled the church to accrue capital and pay off debts rapidly, altering church operations forever.
Investment Shifts Church Focus
- Investing tithing money changed church priorities from charitable acts to corporate financial gain.
- Financial decisions began prioritizing profitability over continuous funding of some religious or social services.
Spiritual Risks of Corporate Capitalism
- The church's corporate financial model may conflict with spiritual principles taught by Jesus.
- Building financial security on worldly investments risks depending on a fallen world, which can be dangerous spiritually.
