Mormon church now owns $2BILLION of US farmland, with more acreage than Bill Gates and China combined: Huge land grabs in Nebraska and Florida spark backlash from local farmers
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12868689/mormon-church-owns-land-bill-gates-china.html
The Mormons are on a farmland-buying spree that is driving up prices and forcing local farmers out, according to critics.
... the Mormon church now owns around $2billion worth of farmland across the US, covering around 859,000 acres, more land than Bill Gates (270,000 acres) and China (383,935) combined. ...
... But the sprawling Mormon agricultural empire raises further questions over why the church is seeking to build such a large portfolio and what it is using the proceeds for. Farmland Reserve has said it sees its land purchases as an investment 'to generate long-term value to support the Church's religious, charitable, and humanitarian good works'. There are also indications that it could form part of the church's 'prepping' ethos. Mormons believe that before Jesus returns, there will be a period of war and hardship and need to be prepared. ...
Another data point indicating everyone is getting nervous about the state of the world.
I get that outbidding the locals is not a nice thing to do, but this Trad Catholic is far happier seeing land in Mormon hands than in Bill Gates' paws--Mormons might be wierd, but they aren't trying to kill me, like Gates is.
Having given thousands of volunteer hours in their food packaging & preparation facilities, I believe that this goes directly to help those in need. Those farms use mostly volunteer help & the foods are packaged in facilities mostly worked by volunteers from my experience & understanding. A few of the managers are paid to make sure all the volunteers know how to operate machinery & package via local laws.
The food isn't limited to members of the church either. Any struggling individual, or family, can find a local bishop & get a food order to help them out as needed. Often this is in exchange for some act of service, or self improvement (though not always). Think of it as a hand up, instead of a hand out.
I have a hard time believing that land will not be put to use, producing as much food as possible, with volunteers serving to help those in need.
Time will tell, though historically this is what this church has done with farms.
If it wasn't this church, it would be Blackrock, Bill Gates, State Street, etc...
I would rather it go to a group that historically has offered these foods to those in need & promotes repopulating the Earth, vs those who want to depopulate & poison the globe.
the giving is tithing based and they regularly refuse those in need if tithing isn't on the horizon
I have seen some bishops encourage their own members with this, though I have never seen this happen with non members who ask for help.
It depends on each bishop and the situation. There was a single mother I had been helping rebuild a home with a collapsed roof. I asked the bishop that presided over her area & he told me they were a member he had not seen for almost 10 years. He had their elders quorum show up that weekend with multiple tools to help get the roof repaired & take care of some other issues in the home. He also provided her with food for their family for the next couple years with only the hope that she could feel our Savior's love through the service given. I have also seen some other bishops be more judgemental.
My father served a mission in Idaho, brought a Mexican immigrated family (late 60s) to the church as investigators looking to see if this was for them. The bishop told him that he should not bring Mexicans back ever again. After my father & his mission companion discussed this with the stake president (think of them as the manager of each bishop, who is supposed to care for & guide each ward during their time of service) he was called up the following day & asked by the stake president to make sure that he brought that family back & that he would be leading the meetings the following week with a new bishop that would be called to serve that ward.
Also there was a time was also a time where I saw a family that seemed to desperately need help & the bishop refused it. Later I found out that the father was cheating on our friend's mom & once that father had left the home the Bishop started helping the family. The kids assumed that the bishop had essentially given that dad an option of getting back in line with the teachings of Jesus Christ (ie cling only to your wife) or there would be no help. We really don't know why he refused while the dad was in the home & abusive, though that theory made sense to us teenagers at the time. It very well could have been that guy refused to pay tithing.
That said, we are all human. Some are petty & judgemental. try to change their paradigm with loving example. Though I cannot force anyone to change. It pains my heart when I see problems, that others who are able to help, refuse because those who need help are not "up to snuff" in their opinion.