Could it be that the Mormon church is running a two tiered tithing system?

[Fumesucker]

One rate for the ordinary 99% Mormons and a much lower rate for the Mormons like Mitt who are more.. umm. worthy?

If it turns out that Willard's tax returns show a much lower figure for his financial support of the Mormon church than the ordinary Mormon pays I suspect it would create some internal strife within the church.

Pure speculation on my part triggered by some things I've read, I have no idea if this is true or not but given the way wealth and power normally work in America it would not surprise me in the least..

[louis-t]

1. All the more reason to keep the pressure on Mitt.

I doubt it. I think the evangelicals will be put off if they find out how much he is actually giving to a church they consider a 'cult'.

[Aerows]

6. Well

I could see all kinds of ads along the lines of "If a man can't be trusted to not cheat his church, how can he be trusted to run the government"?

Seriously - if he's cheating even his church, how could you possibly trust him with anything?

[xchrom]

2. Tithing like taxes - for the unscrupulous - is an ever renewing

Well of money.

Pretty tempting target - and you can 'treat' your 'friends'.

[customerserviceguy]

3. I'd be extremely surprised if that happened

They grub too much money to have established that. Now, the Mormon church will do anything it can to help its business members succeed, but they still want that ten percent from it.

[LiberalFighter]

4. That would be truly marvelous if the church had a two tiered system

that only the rich or well connected knew about. It would help decimate their membership and maybe dilute the Mormon control of the state.

[LeftyMom]

5. I doubt that, but I'm wondering if Reid got the scoop from somebody in the church.

Somebody's been reviewing Romney's financials to make sure he's tithing enough for temple worthiness, and people talk.

[braddy]

7. Just the opposite, Romney and Reid are both Temple Mormons, that requires verified 10% minimum tithe

Temple Mormons comprise about 15% of the Mormons and are rechecked every two years for compliance as the most devout and devoted, and dropping below the 10% tithe would kick them back to average Mormon status which means they aren't allowed into those glorious temples and they may not become a God.

[Hamlette]

10. here we say Mormons who hold "a temple recommend", not "Temple Mormons".

And the church does not require verification of paying 10%. They take your word for it. It is true, if you don't pay 10% you don't get a temple recommend and therefor you can't get into a temple.

There are no reliable statistics, at least not any available to the public, about how many mormons have a temple recommend. I've heard it is closer to 50% than 15%. But really, having a temple recommend doesn't get you any power or influence in the church. The use temples for marriages and baptisms. There are no group meetings or anything like that held in temples that I'm aware of. I'm not Mormon but I'm a Utah native and lived her for 56 years. No one knows whether you have a temple recommend or not. Unless you are invited to a wedding and want to go. At that point, you can catch up on back tithing and get a recommend pretty quickly, I'm told.

[braddy]

11. Mormons are required to prove the 10% compliance if the Bishop suspects, there is no Temple

recommend given unless the Bishop is sure, he is not required to take your word.

The 15 to 20% is a widely used figure for the number of Temple Mormons, there are a number of other requirements besides the mandatory tithing, such as wearing the underwear "night and day". I think the term temple Mormons is adequate for nonMormons, I see no reason that we all have to use a long and formal 'Mormons who hold a Temple recommend'.

You and I do not really know what goes on inside the Temples, some of it is secret and private to those faith elites, Ann Romney's own parents were forbidden to enter to watch their daughter's wedding, they were kept outside. Only Temple Mormons can have a Celestial marriage (or witness one).

Each Temple Mormon is required to be re-verified with their Bishop and Stake President, (Romney has been both and has excommunicated people) at least every 2 years, it is a very formal membership that means the member is in a state of salvation-readiness, tithing only 9%, or taking off the underwear would destroy that and get you booted back to the ranks.

[Hamlette]

12. maybe

Not sure how the Bishop verifies the 10%. Maybe they require verified tax returns?

Ceremonies performed in the temple are available all over the internet. And we who grew up around Mormons in Utah don't think it odd that Ann's parents didn't go to the wedding. Happens all the time. If you are looking for strange religious customs don't stop with Mormons. Transubstantiation. Really?

[braddy]

15. Verification can be required, the Bishop and Stake President are not required to accept one's word.

The details of the Temple secrets are secret, and the Holy Prophet has spoken on that required secrecy.

They went to the wedding, they just couldn't witness it or enter the Temple, it is odd to pretend and post that they merely blew it off.

Ann's' parents were forbidden to witness the marriage to Mitt Romney, but they were outside the Temple when their daughter married the wealthy and powerful Governor's son, they were not merely at home watching TV and doing laundry.

Mitt and Harry Reid are both destined to become Gods and to rule over worshipers, that is quite a thing to anticipate.

[Hamlette]

17. maybe but I don't know anyone who has been required to verify

I also think Romney would tithe the full amount because he needs and wants the respect of the church. God knows no one else likes him. The church can be bought and I think he paid the full price.

[braddy]

18. None of us is in the position to know such a thing, although Bishop and then Stake President Mitt

would be, since he was the overseer and the final word in Temple recommends for his area.

I agree with you Mitt has not and never will short change his religion, in my view, his dad, also a Bishop, used to give about 19%, the Romneys are Mormon royalty.

They came to America to serve Joseph Smith.

[Hamlette]

20. unless he releases his tax returns :)

[XemaSab]

8. Maybe it's a before taxes/after taxes problem

You think he tithes on his overseas assets?

[jberryhill]

9. Didn't he also give them securities and cut them in on deals?

My understanding was that LDS-controlled entities were also participants in Bain investments.

[cr8tvlde]

14. Now that poses an interesting situation...investments in and profits from casinos? n/t

[jberryhill]

16. Mitt was on the Marriott board at one point

The church itself gets a direct cut in a number of commercial enterprises. It's LDS Inc. at the highest levels.

[NightWatcher]

13. from a religion founded by a bank fraudster, Mitt's just trying to fit in

[Generic Other]

19. It's starting to sound a lot like Amway

And every cent you "donate" to a church is deductible on your taxes, right? So you cheat the taxman as well as pay the preacher.