[Hoban Washburne]

Has anyone heard any news on this front? I guess Tennessee is continuing to make it hard for him to stay home?

I don’t have a subscription to this new article. Does anyone have access that wants to share a TL;DR?

Elite athlete Salesi Moa sets new commitment date, has five finalists

I can see that there’s a new commitment date of July 31 but is there any other useful info in the article?

[UteThunder]

Start a new thread and share some more of these wild things he told you. That is, if you feel comfortable sharing.

[Jim Vanderhoof]

I have the same feeling Holladay. I think last year left a sour taste in everyone’s mouth. The older leaders Barton Snowden Dumani Johnson on defense. An experienced offensive line can lead as a unit. Add lots of skilled athletes on offense. I have sensed a positive vibe going after spring ball. The team seems more together and highly motivated. Time will tell but if Dampier can move the offense we will be hard to beat. I definitely see this team having a better record than BYU with a harder schedule.

[Chasqui]

No I totally get that Rick. It seemed a little wild that the assistant AD was even saying it. Personally I didn’t believe it but I figured here is as good of place to share it as any. Besides, the zoobs have like 20 assistant ad’s. For all I know he could be at the bottom of the totem pole. It could explain some of the wild things he told me while we chatted for the better part of an hour.

[Holladay Ute]

So it looks like the More Good Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization that is independent from the church but which the church helps support financially through donations (they may or may not be a primary donor, but they are definitely not the only donor). By definition, it is a not-for-profit organization. So I’m not sure who is getting rich off of it? It looks like they help operate websites and manage social media pages. And it basically looks like a way for members of the church to share their positive experience within the church and to provide information about the church. I’m sure the funds donated by the church support the building/maintenance costs of those websites and social media pages. I’m not sure if those funds find their way directly to the social media influencers themselves? I would be shocked if you can prove that this is the case. Maybe the people themselves somehow make money from Facebook and Google for the views. I don’t know, but I highly doubt they are getting pass-through income from the church. This group does have a good score on a very reputable independent third party website that rates the integrity of 501(c)(3) organizations (https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/203385036). I will contact the More Good Foundation and ask if they pay the social media influencers directly, etc. and I’ll get back to you.

The Mormon Wives with Secret Lives show is not at all an accurate reflection of the culture, values, etc. within our church (and for what it’s worth, I used to know one of the people on that show). There’s also a ton of other misinformation about our church on the internet as well. So the church spends resources to help educate people and provide the church’s perspective on different issues. The church has always respected the free agency of individuals and it also encourages people to use their brain and study things out on their own. I think it’s totally fair and reasonable for an organization to spend money to educate and invite other people to learn more. Political organizations, educational institutions, healthcare institutions, etc. (basically any organization that exists) all spend a lot of money on education (or marketing, whatever you want to call it). I would not consider that priest craft, but to each his own.

Deseret Book is a for profit organization owned by the church. And I can appreciate why you or others might view that negatively. I would say a few things about it. First, it may be a for profit organization, but the church itself is a not-for-profit organization. Who is personally getting rich off of it? Second, I am certain they are abiding by laws and paying the appropriate taxes. Third, nobody is forcing or pressuring anybody to buy books, etc. from there. Fourth, as a member of the church, I think it’s great. I am happy there is a place where I can buy paintings of Jesus that I want to put up on my wall in my house. I don’t feel like I’m getting ripped off, and I don’t know of many places where I can find stuff like this that I want. Deseret Book, in my view, has had a really positive influence on my family and my house.

I would say the same things about the City Creek investment they made. Downtown (where the temple is located) is really important to the church. They wanted to create a wholesome environment next to their historical temple and make an investment in the process.

As for the investment arm of the church, called Ensign Peak, that invests the church’s assets. Yes, they are trying to make money for the church (which, again, is a not-for-profit institution). No, people are not personally getting rich off of it. I know people that work there. They are good people. They are buying Ferraris and flying in private jets. They make below average industry wages (within the investment management industry).

I can also understand why people might view this dynamic (the church trying to make money through investments) as negative. I don’t share that view though. I fully support the church investing its funds (and I am a full tithe payer). First of all, I believe in the principle of tithing (i.e. I believe that God wants me to pay tithing). The church clearly does not need all of the tithing that members pay. It’s about the principle itself, and I can understand why that might not jive w/ people who don’t believe God leads our church. The church also does not force people to pay tithing (just like it doesn’t force people to believe in the church). The church believes in saving. As a tithe payer, would I rather have the church sit on funds that don’t do anything (and lose value b/c of inflation)? Absolutely not. I would be mad if they did that. I am happy they try to invest it smartly. And b/c I know people who are doing the investing, I know that they take it very seriously and view it as a sacred responsibility and fiduciary duty. What do they does the church do w/ the money it makes on its investments? They do a lot of good things like help pay for people to get an education at places like BYU, the church is regularly one of the first relief organizations to the scene during disaster/emergency situations across the globe (right next to the Red Cross), etc. Anybody who understands anything about how an endowment works can appreciate the church’s mindset. For example, I have a family foundation and we spend 5% of our assets every year. We don’t spend 100% b/c we want the foundation to be around forever. We also invest the foundations assets so that they will grow (which means we can do more and more good with the assets over time). A lot of foundations have failed (as have the charitable organizations they supported who relied on them for survival) b/c they weren’t managed the way the church manages it’s funds. The church does a good job of saving and investing. And they more good things b/c of that. Here is link that explains how they use their resources: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/learn/church-donations-and-reserves?lang=eng

Spending church funds on NIL is definitely a completely different thing than any of these other examples you brought up.

[UtahPilot47]

True but BYU has an incredibly easy schedule. They will have their chest-thumping moments this year.

[EagleMountainUte]

Yeah probably the same accountants and money handlers that worked on their investment portfolio.

[EagleMountainUte]

Home

One of the organizations that takes church funds. You would have to see the algorithm plug they have been paying for over the last year or so when there has been a giant up tick in Mormon influencers on all of social media. It actually coincided with the Mormon housewives show was my observation.

The priestcraft of this religion is very apparent. (Deseret Book, City Creek, Investment antics) So spending church funds on NLI isn’t out of the question in my mind at all.

[Holladay Ute]

I don’t want to get ahead of my skis but I think it is more likely that Utah outperforms Vegas expectations (~7.5 wins?) and that BYU underperforms (~6.5 wins?). Although I think those are reasonable numbers Vegas has come up with.

Before Retzlaff, I was already feeling good about our odds down there (which is why I already got tickets to the game). After Retzlaff, I’m feeling that much better about it. A lot can change though. Injuries could plague us again. Our unproven offense might lay an egg. Our defense could take a step back after some key losses on the D line. We also have a harder schedule and BYU has an easier schedule. And we’re coming off a 5-7 season and they’re coming off an 11-2 season. All that said, I just have a feeling this will be a very fulfilling and rewarding year for us (particularly relative to them).

[Rick]

I don’t know about that Chasqui. I think Sitake’s a figurehead and that Hill essentially saved his job. Hill is a creative defensive mind who takes the foundation of the Whittingham’s defensive philosophy and mixes in the appearance of chaos. By the way, I don’t say figurehead lightly. I think Sitake is a Lavell Edwards clone and gets out of the way of his coordinators.

Scalley should reach out to Hill. I’d be thrilled with Shah or Swan as well. I don’t think Ellis is the right fit. He’s terrific right where they have him.

[Author]

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