Seems like all the advice they get from their top leaders is about the way they should conduct themselves in step a -> step b -> terms (mechanical activity) and the way that the organization should be managed (business).

It's always stuff like:

New policy concerning the brand-name and preferred labels to be used by the organization and its members.

The preferred color of shirts for members.

The minimum BIP hours (butt-in-pew hours) expected per member for weekly meetings conducted throughout the upcoming fiscal year.

Tithing reminders.

Announcements of new building construction projects.

Divisions, consolidations, reorganizations of wards, stakes, missions and regions.

Appointments of new leaders (executives).



It's never anything like:

New details on what happens in the afterlife.

Why things we learn in this life are relevant to the afterlife, which is a life without competition for resources, hunger, thirst, violence, disease, fatigue, etc.

A detailed exegesis on reincarnation and why it's true/not true.

Never anything like that. But it's the church that has all the answers, right? right??

It'll tell you in great detail how many beans you have now and how many more beans you need to keep being a prospective "good person". But it will never explain why the number of beans you have has any cause-and-effect relationship to your goodness as a person.

Are you seriously suggesting that members need to actually think?

Great post!

Are you seriously suggesting that members need to actually think?

Great post.

Wankers with spreadsheets.

IIRC, the slang term for those creatures is "sprankers."

Because business stats are measurable, thus goals and achievements can be met.

Because mormonism is a prosperity gospel. The members are looking for a return on their investment in the form of material gain in this life ($$$), and both material and spiritual gain in the next (multiple wives, planets, and all the mysteries revealed at last).

The doctrine makes no sense and is full of magic and superstition to keep the members guessing. The leaders condition them to accept that all the spiritual stuff that makes no sense will be sorted out later, so don't worry about it now.

That leaves the business end to manage outwardly so the leaders appear busy and engaged in everyone's welfare.

Since the members are working just as hard if not harder for prosperity in this life than the next, the business like manner appeals to the conditioning they have been immersed in. The members see it as valuable insight, straight from god to help the church meet its goals, and they can follow that business advise and help the church progress and meet its goals, and if the church meets its goals, then they get that return they have been so obediently waiting for.

"The doctrine makes no sense and is full of magic and superstition to keep the members guessing."

I don't see it and I live with an active Mormon. The doctrine is pay, pray, read BoM, go to a toga ritual, and obey the dictates of SLC over your heart unless you would feel worse hurting those you love (if you are more into heart swell than Heartsell.)

Everything mystical is personal so it doesn't muddy their mission and keeps crazy manageable.

Any situation, any way of doing things, seems normal if it's all you've experienced. Mormons think this is what religion, church, worship and doctrine is like because it's all they know. And because they've been taught any other way is wrong.

Membership size, 13,14,15, now 16

and the number & dispersal of temples (asia, europe, africa) are

items that individuals can visualize;


Personal & spiritual growth aren't.

GNPE Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Personal & spiritual growth aren't.

Have they ever been in Mormonism?

/SO Well Said SO FACTUAL. have you ever noticed that modern Mormon seers and revelators talk about bits of business like that?!


outrageous! you know outrageous Where are the angels, angels on angels now a day? super revelations?
healing plans? specifics ? directions? experiences anyone - anywhere -meditation directions even?
--- you're a profit (aka "the prophet") WHAT'S Up Got all these people willing to sit & you talk BIZNESS????

its surreal