that the LDS religion is extraordinarily materialistic in its theology. In traditional Christianity, you will find scripture from Christ stating that it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God (nevertheless, anything is possible with God). You will find scripture which teaches to give up Earthly wealth, to shore up wealth in heaven which "can never be lost". We find scripture that says the root of all evil is the love of money, and so on and so forth.
In the LDS, it's the exact opposite. Kind of like the Charismatics (Think Benny Hinn) preach a Prosperity gospel, and the preachers manage to have huge houses with helicopters (heaven'o'copters) the Mormons also embrace the idea that material wealth is a sign from God that you are righteous. Wealth, what things look like on the surface, nice shirts and perfect hair and teeth, these are all supposed to be the greatest evidence of God's love for the Mormon. This is also why the LDS itself is run essentially like a business. The reporter did not go into this, but the LDS routinely calls Mormon believers to "serve" in private BUSINESSES on a volunteer basis. This could be something like clearing out land to build a Mormon business, or working in various establishments without pay that sell products. As a Mormon, you are also required to pay 10 percent of all income, and this is pre-tax, not to mention the pressure you receive to give "gifts" to the LDS for various causes. I read an article in Mother Jones (I THINK) awhile back that was detailing all of the businesses which the LDS owns. You would be very surprised, and it was not including the businesses that happen to be owned by Mormons like the Marriot hotel chain and others.
The Mormons also tend to boast about their charity, but I have spoken with former Mormons who have worked in their own version of "welfare" programs that they have, personally, been told to turn people away who were not giving gifts or tithing the full 10 percent. IOW, need food? If you fail the audit (they perform audits to make sure you have been paying), you can go eat cake. That's probably another one of the reasons why the LDS has that secret police investigating believers. I also have heard lots of stories from Mormons about corruption by Mormons in business, lawyers or others who do not hesitate to cheat their clients, things of that nature, because of the culture that demands visual signs of prosperity to prove their Mormonishness, even though that's not an actual word.
Edit: I forgot to mention, you will be surprised to learn that the vast majority of leadership within the LDS has no training in theology. They tend to have business and marketing degrees. That, for another reason, is why they sell Mormonism like a product.
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