Ben Kaiser

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints - Dad of 4 - Shruggers Book Club

[Ben Kaiser @benjaminkaiserr]

@marcuslemonis My son - he is growing up to be a fine young man

[Dr Manhattva @Manhattva]

“Mormons aren’t Christian!” enthusiasts have no explanation for this.

[Ben Kaiser @benjaminkaiserr]

@QuayeRoyal Yes it does - those leaders call us "demonic" and what do you do with demons? Fight them, vanquish them, cast them out, destroy them, etc

This is not a difficult concept.

[Ben Kaiser @benjaminkaiserr]

This guy is absolutely delusional if he honestly thinks that dehumanizing an entire religion doesn't cause radicalization against that faith.

Don't forget that the day a man drove his truck into a church, started shooting, and then burned it down, people were too busy qualifying their statements with some form of "but they're not Christian" to actually care about what occurred. As quick as that building burned - so it was with how quick those that even noticed in the first place moved on.

Kyle and everyone else deflecting and downplaying what happened by hiding behind faux parallels to leftism enjoy these fruits only because we're basically choked each Sunday with the doctrine of being peacemakers.

We're humans, Americans, your neighbors, and would stand shoulder to shoulder with you in any righteous endeavor. And yet you justify the treatment because it's low "T" to combat it.

Was it low T to be forced from their homes again and again? How about hunted down due to the extermination order? What about freezing the death on the plains? Our history is steeped in bloody tragedy - mostly at the hands of the evangelical right!

Yet we vote with you, argue for mutual causes, serve in your communities, give relentlessly to your charities and even if we solved every major humanitarian crisis on the face of this earth you would still come with the same 5 bullshit arguments against us.

[Kyle Seraphin @KyleSeraphin]

The Mormons coming out of the woodwork to cry about this post is astounding. Read the comments. Just whiny victim crap.

I have never met LDS dudes like this in person. Maybe because they were either military or law enforcement colleagues. Such low-T stuff below.

[Ben Kaiser @benjaminkaiserr]

Data Centers bring tech. Tech people hate you. They will destroy your state. They will corrupt your local governments, schools, universities, and usher in legislation that at every turn seeks to strip away fundamental rights in the name of whatever is trending at the time

[Charles Fain Lehman @CharlesFLehman]

truly don't understand why I'm supposed to be upset about this.

"They want to build a big building in the middle of nowhere" okay?

[Ben Kaiser @benjaminkaiserr]

Theo Von Gets Emotional Over Jesus ✝️ https://t.co/Dy3HeX2tfA via @YouTube

Too many people feel like this and don't know it or at least cannot articulate it. Worse, those that love, hope, and pray to help don't know how or are often frustrated.

It's that old adage - you can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink. When the Lord says "an appointed time" or "in his time" or "in due season" or even "wait upon the Lord" - he too means that even if you think you're ready or think it's time, or if you're wondering when this season will end or circumstances change...

He knows us better than we know ourselves and when we say we wait upon the Lord it is not without anxious, consistent, and earnest effort - rather, there is a patience and a faith associated with waiting upon the Lord.

I pray for Theo and all those in the season of change - that they keep searching and may they find the Lord's hand outstretched

[Ben Kaiser @benjaminkaiserr]

I calculated the exact % I paid last year which includes fast offerings. This was just paying on Gross & again, fast offerings or other donation categories: Gross Income divided by total donations: 10.7%

[Matthew Watkins @ITalkOfChrist]

Does it really matter how I calculate my tithing?

Yes. It matters a LOT.

The Doctrine and Covenants defines tithing as "one-tenth of all [your] interest," which the Church Handbook further clarifies as "income." Beyond that specific definition, the Church generally leaves the mechanics of the calculation to the individual.

While the "gross vs. net" debate is common, we rarely put numbers on the conversation. To see how much these interpretations diverge in practice, I ran a case study for a hypothetical family with a stable, comfortable income and a 25% savings rate across eight different plausible methodologies of calculating tithing-- all of which I have heard from active, recommend-holding Latter-day Saints.

For a family making $150,000/year, the difference between the lowest and highest interpretations in this scenario is nearly $21,000! 😮

Why the Numbers Matter

This exercise isn't meant to prescribe a specific method or define what is "right." For that, see the Handbook and the words of the Prophets (https://t.co/toYQF98D4z).

But the Lord instructs us to "count the cost" (Luke 14:27-33) and be informed and intentional about our discipleship. This case study should help ground the conversation and decisions around tithing calculation.

Explore the Data

If you want to see how these different "lenses" change the math for your own household, you can view and copy the calculation spreadsheet here:

https://t.co/WAgermiL3O

[Ben Kaiser @benjaminkaiserr]

There was some controversy about the comment made during general conference about selling a car to pay tithing. People should do that and then some to stay current. Whatever it takes.

One of the strongest witnesses & testimonies I have of seeing the Lord's hand in my life has been a direct result of paying tithing: exactly, & then some.

[Latter-Day Saint @LDSMormon]

My Bishop confided in me that many members are claiming they are now unable to pay tithing.

This will not end well.

I recommend doing anything needed to pay tithing. Stopping the payments of tithing can mess up your life real quick!

[Ben Kaiser @benjaminkaiserr]

@Manhattva Congratulations to Mikey, yourself, and your whole family!

[Ben Kaiser @benjaminkaiserr]

I have a really unpopular opinion on infidelity.

Of course it's situational and for many, a case by case basis, but when I experienced infidelity, it was hard at first, but the Lord helped me find an eternal perspective.

Although we were young when it happened a long time ago and are no longer together (I was willing and she wasn't!) I still remember the feeling of letting it go. It was not one time. And the depths of it would surprise you. However, there are some things that the spirit taught me that I would not repeat.

What I can say is that because I have been on both sides of it at one time or another I can tell you that the spirit has witnessed to me with such absolute clarity that if my current eternal companion were to ever step outside of our covenants, from an eternal perspective, I could very easily forgive her.

I am big on loyalty, obedience, and justice. I've learned these things from again being on both sides of violating each of those.

All I know, is that in comparison to eternity, one moment, one decision, should not define a covenant - or to put it in a different way, an eternity of happiness should not be defeated by an hour of weakness.

The Lord, of course, detests and of abhors dishonesty and betrayal - however, remember that the meek shall inherit the Earth, and those that find it within themselves to forgive, even if it may be conditional.....I have a personal witness of the blessings that come from being merciful to somebody whom you've pledged an eternal covenant to and with.

I speak as though it is easy, but it is not. However, the Lord is bound by what he says, and we have a reciprocal relationship with him because of the terms and conditions he has set up. We have taken those covenants, we have raised our arm to the square, and I know that the truest form of discipleship comes from having the spirit of charity and being charitable with our hearts and our loyalty to those whom we've pledged it to is one of the truest and sincerest forms of it.

[Law of Chastity @Law_Of_Chastity]

Last year, I was the victim of adultery.

All I can say is is that it was a struggle to stay alive. And it was a struggle to not put the other guy in the hospital.

I have the sweetest, most talented kids.

I know my presence in the home blesses their lives.

But living in a home with my wife, who still desires the other guy, kills me. It truly kills me.

I really don’t know what to do. Do I suffer for the sake of my kids and have a “roommate” for a wife?

Or do I start over, with the hopes that one day, I can marry someone who actually likes me?

[Cernovich @Cernovich]

Mormons have told me that Salt Lake City has degraded so badly that when foreign LDS members come in, the elders and etc try to keep them away from non-Mormon run areas. That's disgraceful. Take your state back. No more of this fake nice stuff.

[Ben Kaiser @benjaminkaiserr]

@jkimballcook @ldsfilmguy Her comments on abortion
Her comments on vax
Her comments on LGBTQ
Her charity record

[Ben Kaiser @benjaminkaiserr]

@BerkelKip Thank you!

[Ben Kaiser @benjaminkaiserr]

It is weird how in one breath we say there is no "right direction" (politically) - and yet there is a "right direction" after progressivism invades the LDS higher education and needs to be put back on track 🤔

[Luke Hanson @LukeFHan]

Elder Gilbert: "BYU had slipped. There were a lot of pressures for BYU to be just like the world. [President Holland] was bemoaning that he could feel this drift happening to the university and he's like, 'What have they done with our school that we love so much?'"

Later he hints that a few professors were participating in this push (seems most have been weeded out now), BUT most were on team Holland and were excited to get BYU back on track.

Don't let progs tell you BYU was going in the right direction and that you were wrong to worry about what was/is happening.

Don't let conservatives blackpill you into believing it's not being addressed.

[Ben Kaiser @benjaminkaiserr]

Thank you, @Cernovich

Many have recognized and understood this for sometime now - a major moment should've been last September for many people, but alas, many still will think that "all is well in Zion."

[Cernovich @Cernovich]

There’s been a major attack on Mormonism. This is the latest. An attempt to mock. I hope all see this for what it is. Also, this lady looks like a meth head.

[Ben Kaiser @benjaminkaiserr]

The constitution is an inspired document along with the bill of rights

Statistics aside - are dem members this willfully ignorant about basic doctrine?

The right to defend life and liberty is one of the more obvious doctrines found in the standard works

[Dem Saints @LDS_Dems]

Since I have already kicked the hive by speaking forbidden words about Republicans precious guns, let me also say

Statistically, almost no one is safer with a gun than without one.

The best way to protect your family from gun violence is to never have a gun in the first place

[Ben Kaiser @benjaminkaiserr]

@kp3indian55 @BradWitbeck @jaredadairbell Your comment bears no relevance to the discussion above. Further, if you're incapable of having an intelligent and nuanced discussion about history, which is obvious from your attempted defamatory comment, there is no point in engaging with you. I'll pray for you!

[Ben Kaiser @benjaminkaiserr]

The Lord taught us this in Section 5

6 For hereafter you shall be ordained and go forth and deliver my words unto the children of men.

7 Behold, if they will not believe my words, they would not believe you, my servant Joseph, if it were possible that you should show them all these things which I have committed unto you.

It's never been about signs, miracles, the plates, or even seeing Christ with their own eyes