I think you're trying to compare a church with a 'business' that has 'political overtones'. - There's a difference between doing business and being selfish for one thing, and I think you're trying to make it sound as if the church is somehow selfish for being a business it deals with business, and it has reputable business members. What is selfish about giving 10% of one's income to God who has given you and I all? - I 'believe' in 'Mormonism' on the merit of truth and as I stated before I have zero ulterior motive. I read the Old and New Testaments, The Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants and the scriptures and words of the prophets. I know that Jesus Christ resurrected the third day after his crucifixion, and because he did I believe he saved us from the fall of Adam and Eve, and fulfilled 'the law' that had been practiced for years with animal sacrifice from the time of Adam, and Noah and others. My 'faith' in Christ has everything to do with truth, and deals with money on strictly a 'temporal' level. I must buy food and eat like you.

I'm a descendant of the pioneers who crossed the country to get to the Salt Lake Valley. I've been a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints all my life and my parents were married in the temple. The 'tax exempt' status you're talking about regarding the church is something I'm quite frankly entirely foreign to and leave it to whatever legal effort the church, or the government employs to handle those matters. You're a frustrating individual because somehow you feel you can go around telling other people what they believe. When they tell you directly and clearly you second guess them. DON'T TRY TO TELL ME WHAT I BELIEVE AND WHY BECAUSE YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW ME PERSONALLY AND THAT'S EXTREMELY INCONSIDERATE! - Regardless, you seem to be looking at the present social element of the church. Try looking at the historical element through the scriptures. - If you don't believe in the scriptures then you tell me - Where did we come from? Why are we here? Is there a God? Is there life after death? Who was Jesus Christ? Why do you believe what you do? - expound -