John Dehlin is thinking about bringing Mormon Stories back

[creekster]

The comments are great.

I could only get through few. I guess I just dont care enough to revel in it.

[old_gregg]

I could only get through few. I guess I just dont care enough to revel in it.

weird that you're commenting about how much you don't care about those comments on a separate website bro

[creekster]

weird that you're commenting about how much you don't care about those comments on a separate website bro

I'm just weird like that, I guess.

Does this mean you care about my weirdness, then?

[Jeff Lebowski]

weird that you're commenting about how much you don't care about those comments on a separate website bro

IT'S NOT A GREAT CAUSE!

[creekster]

IT'S NOT A GREAT CAUSE!

I am glad you have made this transition. If you need assistance (and let's face it, we both know you do) transitioning on other topics I would be happy to coach you for $200 an hour.

[old_gregg]

I'm just weird like that, I guess.

Does this mean you care about my weirdness, then?

i care about you as a person and friend

[falafel]

Lots of similarities between comments by LDS apologist types when responding to Dehlinites and Dehlinites responding to post-Dehlinites.

Seriously James? I have lost all respect for you. Why do you care so much about this?? You are posting antagonistic posts all over the internet. How do you even have time for this? Don’t you have a real job? Even people over at mspc Facebook group have called you out. Move on.

Also, someone used the phrase "peanut butter and jealous".

[creekster]

i care about you as a person and friend

Color me surprised. I didn't think you thought I was either.

[Northwestcoug]

I think we elsewhere established very clearly that I have no idea of the numbers involved, nor do I claim to know. What I do believe is that people tend to be a lot more self-reliant and capable of problem solving, on the whole, before they are told they need help to solve their problems. His cause was never great. Its existence has morphed into a racket (to the extent it wasn't some version of that to begin with). As a general matter I think we need fewer people telling us we need help to deal with our lives, on any issue, rather than more.

That's quite the blanket statement, but I don't necessarily disagree. All I'll say is that there are definitely some ex-mos who need some type of therapy to sort out existential issues that can easily morph into significant mental health problems. But that should be done by someone who is, ahem, licensed. I wouldn't recommend 'coaching' from Dehlin.

[Green Monstah]

A couple of years ago LDC and I were at D-book after going to the temple in Portland just a week or so after gen conf, the lady behind the desk said something about a new book by one of the apostles. I said "oh I figure anything really important they had to say they just gave us for free, no thanks" I thought it was a playful sarcastic comment. The teller started testifying to me about how nobody makes any money from D-book and started getting that crying voice where she was going to break down and walked away. LDC was not amused.

Random Memory: there was an Asian restaurant a few doors down from there that I loved on my mission (Best Teriyaki, maybe?). All you can eat teriyaki and sweet and sour sauce and a buttload of rice, plus chicken, all for under six bucks. It was all a chunky missionary who'd just gone to the temple could ask for in the late 90s.

[falafel]

Random Memory: there was an Asian restaurant a few doors down from there that I loved on my mission (Best Teriyaki, maybe?). All you can eat teriyaki and sweet and sour sauce and a buttload of rice, plus chicken, all for under six bucks. It was all a chunky missionary who'd just gone to the temple could ask for in the late 90s.

I have no doubt you got a buttload of rice there.

[Topper]

Color me surprised. I didn't think you thought I was either.

When is a gibbon considered a person?

[Moliere]

Interesting analysis of Open Stories Foundations recent financial releases

http://rationalfaiths.com/john-dehlins-osf-finances-q-raised-qs/

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Like I mentioned a couple posts back, the personal inurement seems to be a valid argument against the 501c3 tax status. With JD taking a significant portion of revenues as a salary and with him obviously having some control, albeit mostly indirectly but his indirect influence seemed pretty strong, as to how much he made it just reeks of for-profit status. I remember listening to at least one podcast where he was asking for more new donations because some people had to withdraw support due to job loss and other things. He made a plea for the donations to support him and his family while he dedicated time to the podcast. Seems like direct inurement at that point.

The financials, even for 2016, are severely lacking. They were cash basis before this year and now they are accrual basis but no adjustment was made for that change. They aren't comparative, which they should be. There's no cash flow statement and the notes are nowhere near comprehensive. They are also unaudited, which is fine since they aren't required to be audited, but take that for what it's worth.

I also find the $80k they are stashing away to be interesting. That's a very large rainy-day fund. It would make me apprehensive to give more if I were a donor. Why not use that money to promote/advertise more. Instead, the board is sticking it away in case revenues run dry. It's very LDSish and frankly weird given the very low cost of operations outside of the two salaried people.

Also, the board member on the podcast, which I didn't listen to, is with Grant Thornton. I'll just say that I've dealt a lot with GT and they leave a lot to be desired. Sure, he probably knows a bit what he's talking about but GT is what it is, a mid-tier firm that has very little in the way to professional expertise when it comes to a professional practice group.

[jay santos]

Moliere, please stick to movie reviews.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Moliere, please stick to movie reviews.

Speaking of which, I got halfway through reading Moli's post and fell asleep.