This is the closest thing to admitting bad behaviors I've ever seen the church own up to.

"regret mistakes made, and now consider this matter closed."

And they still think they can control their narrative.

https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/church-issues-statement-on-sec-settlement

Edit. Any TBMs looking for talk material might consider this link because it is so inspiring.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/21/2023 06:32PM by Elder Berry.

"regret mistakes made, and now consider this matter closed."

Members should use that line on their bishops when they confess their sins. I bet that would make a lot of deacons, teachers, priests and missionaries happy!

The matter is closed! Say no more!

I like this part:
"Since 2000, Ensign Peak received and relied upon legal counsel regarding how to comply with its reporting obligations while attempting to maintain the privacy of the portfolio."

Why do they think they need to keep privacy about their investments? Oh, let me guess. It's not secret, it's sacred.

It wasn't their fault- legal counsel did it!

They've been ok doing hokey stuff for 22 years! Why look into it now when they got caught?

They are not fooling anyone here.

"Roger Clarke, who leads Ensign Peak, has said that part of the reason the Church sought to conceal its wealth was to ensure continued tithing by believers."
https://qz.com/the-mormon-church-hid-32-billion-in-shell-companies-1850140376

They don't hire stupid lawyers.They knew they were using shell companies to skirt the law. They just thought no one would dare go after them. Now they just regret they were caught.

This scandal never would have happened if Bernie Madoff had been one of the "Advisors"...he would have just ripped off all $32B, and the Church would have likely hidden the theft......and really too bad Romney wasn't implicated in this somehow too.

Reputable charities publish their financials. They stand by their financial decisions. The Mormon church (by the admission of Ensign Peak's director,) skirted the law because church leaders did not want to discourage tithing. I'm going to infer that church leaders also knew that a $100 billion trust fund would raise a lot of questions from many Mormons, and perhaps more importantly, from members of the general public and legislators.

The Mormon church only does what it does because they think it will either comply with the law, or that they can get away with it -- no different from most other corporations.

The only question is, will anyone with morals or ethics rise to a position of power within the church? -- because those currently at the top have been found wanting in that regard. The top leaders have all had the 2nd annointing, essentially giving them a "get out of jail free card." There is no incentive for them to care. There is no incentive for them to act in a moral or ethical manner.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/21/2023 07:09PM by summer.

Spot on as usual, summer.

There's no need to control the narrative if they've got sufficient control of the tithe-paying, temple-attending membership.

What's hilarious about this is that Quentin Cook used this same dodge when he set up shell companies to help him siphon off profits from his Marin County hospital swindle. Cook absolutely knows how these shells operate. And it's not like he's the only lawyer among the Q15, either. They knew exactly what they were doing.

But wait… couldn't Jesus have warned them about this type of dishonesty during his weekly appearance to Russ & Friends in the Whatever Temple? </s>

>>But wait… couldn't Jesus have warned them about this type of dishonesty during his weekly appearance to Russ & Friends in the Whatever Temple? </s>

Recently apparently there was some GA talk about using the words "the savior" in place of "the church." So, I guess we can say the savior had to pay a fine for setting up hokey shell companies. LOL

Did the Q15 do this, or was it Causse & company? I'm not entirely sure how things work anymore, and I don't want to ask my dad because it will start an argument.

https://www.sec.gov/litigation/admin/2023/34-96951.pdf

On page 3:

"8. To prevent disclosure of the securities portfolio managed by Ensign Peak, the
Church approved Ensign Peak’s plan of using other entities, instead of Ensign Peak, to file Forms
13F. The Church was concerned that disclosure of the assets in the name of Ensign Peak, a known
Church affiliate, would lead to negative consequences in light of the size of the Church’s portfolio.
Ensign Peak did not have the authority to implement this approach without the approval of the
Church’s First Presidency."


N.B.:

"Ensign Peak did not have the authority to implement this approach without the approval of the
Church’s First Presidency."

The complaint goes into detail on the history of the church's actions in setting all of this up.

The church does not apologize. We wanted to pay that fine.

My two oldest brothers ordered me to shut up and said it was all FAKE NEWS. I sent them links to Deseret and to the SEC filing. They then told me the conversation is over.

It's absurd to think someone can rationalize so much hypocrisy? At what point does one discard bogus beliefs and move on to newer more improved truth?

Back when I was a believer, a nonmember told me the Mormons owned ZCMI. I became very defensive and explained that wasn't really the church itself that owned it. I was just sure the church wasn't involved in anything but charity. The mental gymnastics went into hyperdrive when I realized I was wrong.

It is intent to deceive and mislead.

So how many Mormons are now going to feel justified in lying about their income to LDS Inc? Goose, gander, sauce.

Good point. Most people know when they aren't being treated fairly.

Also, how many members might take this as an OK to lie even more about their church and other things (like work or business dealing)?

If their church lies and tries shady deception in their dealings, they might take that as god given approval to act like their church example. It's like lyin' for the lord on steroids.

It's no surprise MLMs are attractive to members. Pyramids and reformed Egyptian go together. Mormonism is a giant families are forever scam earning outside (for Jesus profits) interest compounded daily.

No LDS "Church",

This matter is definitely NOT "closed".


Here are some items to consider:
- Rehire the fired janitors
- Reimburse missionary expenses.
- Make tithing voluntary especially for the poor and middle
class.
- Use some of your billions to alleviate poverty and suffering
in the world. Jesus fed the 5000. Now it's your turn.
- Stop making impoverished and starving members pay for
everything.

Maybe we should all just be asking the questions we should
be asking..ya, that's the ticket!!!

So if the matter is closed, how many Sundays is the First Presidency forbidden to take the sacrament? What about prayer? Teaching rights? Ability to speak and ask questions in class? How long will their temple recommends be suspended? Who will fill in as the interim First Presidency until we reach full and truthful repentance?

Gee, I wonder what Jesus would do in a situation like this?

I'll bet he would take that 32 billion and go to Vegas and spend on hookers, coke, booze and roulette!

I used to giggle a lot during the administration and passing of the sacrament. I guess you could say that I was under the effects of light mindedness and subject to loud laughter. I and other sacramental delinquents were routinely rounded up and brought in to repent for serious, egregious and detrimental sins. Yes, that's what they called not doing your duties back then.

So how is this going away?

I sure wish that I would have had the courage to tell them "mistakes were made and now this matter is closed."

That should have been a Sunday School lesson 40 years ago.

Mistakes? Sounds like deliberate false statements over a period of almost 20 years:

"The church was aware of Ensign Peak’s misleading disclosures, the SEC said. Church officials wanted to avoid disclosure of the amount and nature of their financial assets, the SEC found.

"The SEC’s order explained the lengths to which the church and Ensign Peak went to cover their tracks.

“If this had been anyone else, it is reasonable to believe that the SEC likely would have charged an anti-fraud violation.”

https://www.wsj.com/articles/church-of-jesus-christ-of-latter-day-saints-its-investment-adviser-settle-sec-probe-792ffc71?mod=Searchresults_pos3&page=1

    
Who among us has not made that mistake?

Imagine all those Catholics who made a mistake while trying to practice the rhythm system!

making fun of Catholic drummers. They all can't be Ringo Starr.

Hmm...

That's more serious than most people think.

Put the following together:

D&C 129:7
7 ...it is contrary to the order of heaven for a just man to deceive;...

2 Nephi 9:34
34 Wo unto the liar, for he shall be thrust down to hell.

Jeremiah 48:10
Cursed be he that doeth the work of the LORD deceitfully...

AND THEN:

Doctrine & Covenants (D&C)121:36-37 says that the priesthood must be "...handled only upon the principles of righteousness. ...[W]hen we undertake to cover our sins, or to gratify our pride, our vain ambition, or to exercise control or dominion or compulsion upon the souls of the children of men, in any degree of unrighteousness, behold, the heavens withdraw themselves; the Spirit of the Lord is grieved; and when it is withdrawn, Amen to the priesthood or authority of that man!"

Amen.

Things like following the scriptures and paying taxes are for the little people, never the ones in charge.

Yup. I've gotten cynical in my old age -- with reason.

This kind of BS Church speak makes me so angry. It makes me want to go to next general conference....... stand up and BOO all 15 of them.

Nemo the Mormon has written a letter to the first presidency regarding this matter.https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hW6Lk-jTLkIcOAmcaNWFlnX7yfNolJEZ/view

I wish I had heard that line so I could use it in tithing settlement every year, ‘l regret mistakes were made, not by me mind you, but now let’s consider this matter closed.”

This was NOT a mistake!

Yes, they don’t have the right to control the narrative here.

Nemo wrote

"Dear Brethren,
On behalf of myself and concerned members of the church globally, we find
ourselves at a loss of how to reconcile the contradiction between being asked
to account for our own honesty and integrity in Temple Recommend
interviews, and having to sustain brethren who are seemingly unaccountable
in matters of being honest in their dealings and finances. Common Consent is
being ignored, and yet the Scriptures and Church Handbook are very clear on
just how this matter can be dealt with.
I understand the likely response to this email will be an insistence that the
First Presidency are blameless and the fault lies with myself. However, if this
is the case, please counsel me as my priesthood leaders as to why this is so, in
spite of the clear case for Church Discipline against those involved in the
intentionally misleading investment behaviour which has violated and
betrayed the sacred trust of church members, as outlined below.
On 21st February 2023 it became public and global knowledge, that Ensign
Peak Advisors, Inc, created multiple Limited Liability Companies (LLCs)
over 15 years, with the approval of the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints. The creation and operation of these LLCs caused
the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to institute cease-and-desist
proceedings pursuant to Section 21C of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,

against Ensign Peak Advisors, Inc., and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-
day Saints.

The Order states:
“8. To prevent disclosure of the securities portfolio managed by Ensign Peak, the
Church approved Ensign Peak’s plan of using other entities, instead of Ensign Peak,
to file Forms 13F. The Church was concerned that disclosure of the assets in the name
of Ensign Peak, a known Church affiliate, would lead to negative consequences in
light of the size of the Church’s portfolio. Ensign Peak did not have the authority
to implement this approach without the approval of the Church’s First
Presidency.”
According to the report, in 2001, December 2005, 2011, and November 2015,
there were separate instances of senior church leadership approval of the
creation of additional LLCs. This implicates the First Presidencies at each of
these times:

2001 & 2005:
Gordon B. Hinckley (Deceased)
Thomas S. Monson (Deceased)
James E. Faust (Deceased)
2011 & 2015:
Thomas S. Monson (Deceased)
Henry B. Eyring
Dieter F. Uchtdorf
“31. Throughout its history, at least once each year, Ensign Peak’s Managing
Director met with the senior leadership of the Church to discuss Ensign Peak’s
activities, including at times the LLC Structure. Unanimous approval from the
senior leadership of the Church was required before Ensign Peak could deviate from
the LLC Structure and file Forms 13F in Ensign Peak’s own name.”
This potentially implicates the current First Presidency, who allowed this
behaviour to continue:
Russell M. Nelson
Dallin H. Oaks
Henry B. Eyring
Also implicated due to his historic position as Presiding Bishop is Gary E.
Stevenson.
Please now consider the following sections of the Church Handbook of
Instructions.
The Church Handbook of Instructions 32.0 states:
“The First Presidency defines the policies and processes for repenting of serious sin.”
But what is to be done when that First Presidency is involved in serious sin?
Serious sin is defined by the Church’s Handbook as:
32.6
Severity of the Sin and Church Policy
Serious sins are a deliberate and major offense against the laws of God. Categories of
serious sins are listed below.
• Violent acts and abuse (see 32.6.1.1 and 32.6.2.1)
• Sexual immorality (see 32.6.1.2 and 32.6.2.2)
• Fraudulent acts (see 32.6.1.3 and 32.6.2.3)
• Violations of trust (see 32.6.1.4 and 32.6.2.4)
• Some other acts (see 32.6.1.5 and 32.6.2.5)
32.6.1
When a Membership Council Is Required
The bishop or stake president must hold a membership council when information
indicates that a member may have committed any of the sins described in this section.
For these sins, a council is required regardless of a member’s level of spiritual
maturity and gospel understanding.
Sins That Require Holding a Membership Council
• Murder
• Rape
• Sexual assault conviction
• Child or youth abuse
• Abuse of a spouse or another adult (as outlined in 38.6.2.4)
• Predatory behavior (violent, sexual, or financial)
• Incest
• Child pornography (as outlined in 38.6.6)
• Plural marriage
• Serious sin while holding a prominent Church position
• Most felony convictions
32.6.1.3
Fraudulent Acts Financial Predatory Behavior. A membership council is required if
an adult has a history of deliberately and repeatedly harming people financially and is
a threat to others (see 38.6.2.4). This includes investment fraud and similar
activities.

32.6.1.4
A membership council is required if a member commits a serious sin while holding a
prominent position. These include a General Authority, General Church Officer,
Area Seventy, temple president or matron, mission president or his companion, stake
president, patriarch, or bishop.
32.2.3
Protect the Integrity of the Church
The third purpose is to protect the integrity of the Church. Restricting or
withdrawing a person’s Church membership may be necessary if his or her conduct
significantly harms the Church (see Alma 39:11). The integrity of the Church is
not protected by concealing or minimizing serious sins—but by addressing
them.
The above named brethren have undermined the integrity of the church by
their authorisation of deliberately misleading investment behaviour, which is
now internationally known. In addition, they have clearly committed
“serious sin while holding a prominent church position”, by the handbook's
own definition of serious sin.
The Book of Doctrine and Covenants, Section 107 teaches us:
25 The Seventy are also called to preach the gospel, and to be especial witnesses unto
the Gentiles and in all the world—thus differing from other officers in the church in
the duties of their calling.
26 And they form a quorum, equal in authority to that of the Twelve special witnesses
or Apostles just named.
36 The standing high councils, at the stakes of Zion, form a quorum equal in
authority in the affairs of the church, in all their decisions, to the quorum of the
presidency, or to the traveling high council.
82 And inasmuch as a President of the High Priesthood shall transgress, he shall be
had in remembrance before the common council of the church, who shall be assisted
by twelve counselors of the High Priesthood;
83 And their decision upon his head shall be an end of controversy concerning him.
84 Thus, none shall be exempted from the justice and the laws of God, that all things
may be done in order and in solemnity before him, according to truth and
righteousness.
Stake High Councils are equal in authority to the Quorum of the Twelve
and First Presidency. D&C 107 authorises Stake High Councils and Bishops
to take action and initiate Church Disciplinary Procedures.
I am therefore calling for Church Discipline against the First Presidency of the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Unfortunately given the span of
the financial behaviour that was subject to the SEC order, it must also be
called for against Dieter F. Uchtdorf given his position in the First Presidency
from 2008 - 2018. I also call for church discipline against the Presiding
Bishopric, Roger Clarke as Managing Director of Ensign Peak, and any others
who have taken part in publicly embarrassing this church and undermining
its integrity through this financial behaviour. They have betrayed the sacred
trust of tithe paying members who trusted them to handle their offerings
with uprightness and propriety.
Joseph Smith himself submitted to church disciplinary councils. Are the
current senior leadership of the church less accountable than Joseph Smith?
A Council must be called to address the financial behaviour of the
aforementioned senior church leaders and any others involved. None are
exempt from the Justice and Laws of God.
Warm Regards in anticipation of your response,"

The church CAN, unfortunately, control the narrative among the sheeple. DW is a proud member of the sheeple, and if Nelson or Oaks or whoever says something, well, godammit, it's true. They would NEVER lead anyone astray! -- not the public, not the press, and certainly not the members! She never questions. She leaves herself open to abuse and other ways of taking advantage of her, mostly because her mother's stern mantra was,"If anyone tells you to do something, you just do it!" Nothing to mitigate here. Anyone! It's a dangerous thing to teach this to a child. DW is not forthcoming with any details about what has happened to her, but I do know that it involves sexual abuse

Apology for LDS kids: Mom, mistakes were made. This matter is now closed.

I've seen this in politics, too.

Deny
Deny
Deny

That's in the past.

Yeah, get over it. Move on. Stop dwelling in the past. Stop obsessing about the past

Make the whistleblower into the problem. That’s the goal.

    

Now you are arousing my ire.

I guess after much reflection, the thing that bothers me the most is how this shows the huge disconnect between The Book of Mormon and The Restoration from Joseph Smith.

The Book of Mormon has stories of the truth prevailing with divine intervention yet Joseph used a banking con, political pressure, and even ran for president of the United States. He sought for money and power which all are contrary to The Book of Mormon.

He even used marriage in a way specifically prohibited in The Book of Mormon.

It was like he produced a book to warn people about himself.