All Comments on 'Secret Prayer Ch. 08'

No long-winded comment from me this time even though this chapter, like all the rest in this story, stirred many memories and provoked much thought. I'll simply say, you wrapped this excellent story up beautifully. Bravo!

Loved this story

Great story. I really enjoyed it!

Excellent wrap up. Even though he conversation Jerek had with gage’s mom wasn’t his favorite thing to do, it was very impactful and loving, and worked in to grow the seeds of doubt. It’s important to remember this as we speak with some family or others at weddings and similar events. Maybe mom and Allison will leave the cult someday too. I know this may be the end but there are so many spin-offs I can think of and in some way get us more involved with Jimmy and Jeremy’s charity groups activities.

I do have a real concern though about the potential for creating a “proverbial slippery slope “ that was referenced about the charity/religious organization of the mormon church being responsible to return Gage’s giving- known as the tithe. *Important Disclaimer*. I have heard that the mormon church cult expects to both know their members income and then expects at least a 10% tithe to be given. In fact some cults publish their members giving. That is Wrong and is no longer giving or philanthropy. The 10% example was only a guide not a minimum or maximum amount.

But my concern is could that set a legal precedent that if a Jew, Christian, Muslin , Hindu church member chooses to leave and the individual was a multi-millionaire who’s lifetime giving actually was huge (example >50% of the overall annual church’s income/giving) will that bankrupt one of those organizations? Or by the same token, a philanthropist like Bill and Melinda Gates decides that they no longer agree with the mission of the charity or that a small branch in one city of the thousands it does work in, is corrupt, that they are due and in fact, now have a right to, a Full Return all their past giving during their lifetime?

This is also not right and risks cessation of the overall good the charity has been doing. Imagine if Doctors Without Borders, the Red Cross, HIV support groups, the local soup kitchen or homeless shelters were vulnerable in this way. I don’t like the fact that some get away with some unethical things but it doesn’t outweigh the benefits of most of those groups. The only way that forced return possibility seems right is if in this situation the mormon church has consistently done the above described practice of expecting a certain amount to be in good standing. Then that is even worse than the “sale of indulgence “.” The temporary practice of some priests in the Catholic Church that Luther fought so hard against to reform the church.

, That is an interesting thought. I know when it comes to the Mormon church, that lawsuit mentioned is a real thing. A man who had paid tithing monthly for upwards of 25 years is suing for all of it back under the idea that they used that money for non-charitable matters. This was after he left the church in 2020.

Of course, the Mormon Church also has over 120 billion is money/assets right now that they hoard while making their members do things like clean the church, set up events for indoctrinating kids, and the like all without any sort of compensation.

From one of the articles about said lawsuit: "Huntsman’s lawsuit, however, alleged the Church was using tithes — or a traditional, voluntary 10% donation of one’s salary to the Church — for business opportunities, not charitable resources. Huntsman specifically claimed the church used tithes to build City Creek, a mixed-use commercial development across from the Church’s headquarters in Salt Lake City. He also claimed the Church used tithing funds to “bail out the Beneficial Life Insurance company.”"

So, this technically a fraud case. Yes, Charities and other Churches could also be at risk of a fraud lawsuit in similar ways. Now, the LDS church is claiming his lawsuit is doing exactly what you are saying - putting churches and charities at risk, but I think the case is far more nuanced than that, and far more complicated. The LDS Church has been using a lot of those "donations" - and I put that in quotes because it is true that you aren't in good standing if you do NOT give at least 10% of your income to the church - to create businesses to protect their money and assets, and make more. So the church itself set themselves up for this very type of lawsuit.

Thanks so much for this story! I came from a fundamentalist background, and a lot felt very resonant. My church was very anti-LDS, but in the end, the stories are very similar. I really loved these characters, and felt very understood.

This was such a beautiful love Story. Your depiction of real life situations in the gay community give such a real look into the struggles our community face. So thank you for putting it out there so people can see the price our community is willing to pay to love someone.

I was 49 when I met my now husband 16 years ago. He was 55. We were both married to women prior. Me only 4 years him 25. We both played the straight games for fear of losing our family.

Even today in 2023 it's not easy for us.

So again I thank you for a Wonderful story, sharing our struggles.

I could literally read your heart stories all day. Thank you sweet one!!