Reason#114: “It’s the Economy, Stupid”

On a regular basis I read message boards where ex-Mormons and wavering Mormons express concerns about the LDS Church. Many want to discuss doctrinal changes.  Others report on practices of local LDS leaders that they consider to be unfair or even predatory. But one very active trending topic I am seeing — from exMos, neverMos and even some practicing Mormons — is great concern over the LDS Church’s multi-BILLION-dollar shopping mall in downtown Salt Lake City. Why would a mall become a spiritual issue?  In an economy where foreclosures and bankruptcies are commonplace, in a church where members are given a “calling” to become church janitors working without pay, the investment of this kind of money causes alarm. LDS Inc. would say...