Does the church really own Coke/Pepsi?

[kreleia]

I decided to pop in and post this here, because it was a nice little break in my day, and answered a question I'd had for a few weeks. I believe it was Cactus Jack that posted it originally, saying that the Mo's owned Pepsi. So, I finally checked out Snopes.com (the urban legend site) about it. Here's what I found:

http://www.snopes.com/cokelore/mormon.asp

The rest of the site is interesting reading too.

[peter_mary]

See, I had heard that the Church owns Phillip-Morris, as well as Playboy, Inc, and Anheiser Busch.

KIDDING!!!

However, I am not kidding about this.

Idaho Falls is home to two, count them, "Two" malting plants...one for Anheiser-Busch, and one for Modelo, the maker of fine Mexican beers. In fact, the Modelo plant in Idaho Falls is the FIRST US plant for this company of any sort.

The reason? The barley grown in this area is fabulous beer barley. Who grows that barley? You guessed it...Mormon farmers.

Now, to be fair, there are some Mormons who stand their ground and only raise feed barley because their principles just won't allow them to contribute to the beer industry. But their fellow Ward/Stake members argue that the feed barley contracts just aren't anywhere NEAR as lucrative as the beer barley contracts, and a man would be a fool not plant beer barley. Besides, the money you earn from beer contracts is "filthy lucre," and you don't have to pay tithing.

Ha! Turns out, that's not true, either! The Church is happy to receive tithing money from farmers who knowingly sign contracts to sell their barley crop to Anhesier-Busch and Modelo.

So this is what the landscape looks like as you drive on I-15 through Idaho Falls. On the North end of town, there is a huge group of silos draped with the most gigantic (and awesome) photograph you have ever seen of the Budweiser clydesdales charging through the snow. These silos are surrounded by good, Mormon farm land producing beer barley.

Then in the middle of town, nowhere NEAR as big or impressive, you can spot the wedding-cake shaped LDS Temple downtown.

And then as you head south (toward Salt Lake, duh!) you pass the GIGANTIC malting plants, featuring the beer logos from all the brands they service. Some of the locals refer to them as the "Beer Temples" because they are so much more prominent on the landscape than the Mormon temple ever will be, and it is becoming one of the most important pieces of the local economy.

It's rather amusing, really...

Peter_Mary

[helemon]

I decided to pop in and post this here, because it was a nice little break in my day, and answered a question I'd had for a few weeks. I believe it was Cactus Jack that posted it originally, saying that the Mo's owned Pepsi. So, I finally checked out Snopes.com (the urban legend site) about it. Here's what I found:

http://www.snopes.com/cokelore/mormon.asp

The rest of the site is interesting reading too.

a 1% holding of The Coca-Cola Company's stock would be worth $1.375 billion.

And the church would rather spend that type of money on a shopping mall? :duh

[kreleia]

That's pretty interesting, Peter_Mary... and doesn't surprise me in the least. So, I guess since they're technically not actually drinking the beer, they're still "in the world, but not of it." Right? Cuz you have to be able to pay for your space "in the world." :D :D Too funny - a Mo temple surrounded by beer barley silos! (I prefer Sam Adams myself... mmmm Cherry Wheat. **drool** ;) )

[Born Free]

<snip>

Then in the middle of town, nowhere NEAR as big or impressive, you can spot the wedding-cake shaped LDS Temple downtown.

And then as you head south (toward Salt Lake, duh!) you pass the GIGANTIC malting plants, featuring the beer logos from all the brands they service. Some of the locals refer to them as the "Beer Temples" because they are so much more prominent on the landscape than the Mormon temple ever will be, and it is becoming one of the most important pieces of the local economy.

It's rather amusing, really...

Peter_Mary
PM,

Speaking of amusing, I cannot let this opportunity pass to point you at the most amazing beer commercial ever (for an Australian beer - of course).

If you have broadband, go for the high resolution version of this, as the content justifies it! Enjoy!

http://www.bigad.com.au/

Look what Mormons miss out on. Life on a LARGE scale!

Daryl

[cactus jack]

Hmmm. Mormons raise barley to sell to the brewerys. Ok, that's logical. They are making the stuff one sins with but not partaking of it. Cool. Now with that said....

...what about the whorehouses in Nevada? Only making the sins available, just not partaking of it, right?


THEN that reminds me of a joke I haeard about mormons and prostitution. Got me in some serious truble when I was working at a restaurant in Utah some years back. Back when that happened, me and a couple of bussers were telling religious jokes. Ok, ok. Mormon jokes. Well the AM comes over, and he's the local elder's quorum president. He sees we're having a blast and wants to take part. I tell him, "nah dude, you're mormon and these are mormon jokes". He says, "That's ok! I enjoy those as well!" So then I told him this one-

Did you know that prostitution is legal in three states?
1. In Nevada they call them ladies of the evening....
2. In Wyoming they call them sheepheaders....
3. In utah they call it the relief Society.... :eek: :D

There is something about looks that kill. He wasn't very pleased. We got a kick out of it, and so did the GM because the AM said he didn't mind. Can't complain about the water being wet if you jump in the pool.... :duh

[cactus jack]

Also, I just checked the snopes dot com site, and I have to disagree. A number of times I was refused blessings because I drank tea and soda pop. FWIW.

[Born Free]

<snip>

He says, "That's ok! I enjoy those as well!" So then I told him this one-

Did you know that prostitution is legal in three states?
1. In Nevada they call them ladies of the evening....
2. In Wyoming they call them sheepheaders....
3. In utah they call it the relief Society.... :eek: :D

There is something about looks that kill. He wasn't very pleased. We got a kick out of it, and so did the GM because the AM said he didn't mind. Can't complain about the water being wet if you jump in the pool.... :duh

What is one of the first telltale signs of a cult?

No sense of humour! :duh

Daryl

[helemon]

PM,

Speaking of amusing, I cannot let this opportunity pass to point you at the most amazing beer commercial ever (for an Australian beer - of course).

If you have broadband, go for the high resolution version of this, as the content justifies it! Enjoy!

http://www.bigad.com.au/

Look what Mormons miss out on. Life on a LARGE scale!

Daryl

So Peter Jackson's team is doing beer ads now huh! :D

[helemon]

I decided to pop in and post this here, because it was a nice little break in my day, and answered a question I'd had for a few weeks. I believe it was Cactus Jack that posted it originally, saying that the Mo's owned Pepsi. So, I finally checked out Snopes.com (the urban legend site) about it. Here's what I found:

http://www.snopes.com/cokelore/mormon.asp

The rest of the site is interesting reading too.

Dang, I thought owning a major soft drink company would explain their desire to pump 25 million gallons of water a day from their Florida ranch! :duh

[helemon]

It's rather amusing, really...

Peter_Mary

and barley for all useful animals, and for mild drinks,

Just keepin the word of wisdom as it was originally intended.

[Born Free]

So Peter Jackson's team is doing beer ads now huh! :D

Yes, there is a certain Lord of the Rings battle scene grandeur about it isn't there? And I believe it was shot in NZ.

I would love to know more about the production technique. Presumably lots of computer graphics for the crowds. (I am not sure there are that many Kiwis in the whole country!)

It is part of a great series here with the tag 'Made from beer'.

Daryl

[helemon]

Yes, there is a certain Lord of the Rings battle scene grandeur about it isn't there? And I believe it was shot in NZ.

I would love to know more about the production technique. Presumably lots of computer graphics for the crowds. (I am not sure there are that many Kiwis in the whole country!)

It is part of a great series here with the tag 'Made from beer'.

Daryl

Yeah I am certain that the commercial was done with CGI's for the shots from the air. Still a clever commercial.

[Born Free]

I always like to ask, what is the fuel that feeds this type of story and why do people so happily and uncritically pick this type of story up and disseminate it.

The key elements of the story as I see it are:

Duplicity
Greed for money

Does that say something about how people feel about the Church, or is it a projection of their own issues (or even a combination of the above)?

That they would rather run with rumour than try to clarify and work with fact, says a bit for a start.

Does that connect with a certain desire to see, or suspect the Church as highly duplicitous in many areas in ways that many ex and post-Mormons have found it to be in several specific areas?

Personally, I regard that gullibility and failure to research played a critical role in my staying in the Morg in the first instance, so I am careful not to repeat that lack of thoroughness, even if it is about the organisation that played a role in deceiving me historically. Truth-seeking should be impartial, I believe.

I have experienced being 'judged and executed' on the basis of lies, fears and gossip in my life, so I take great care to not do that to anyone else, even an organisation I see as reprehensible as Mo.

Further, if we are party to slanderous comminications regarding the Church on the basis of little, we will lack credibility when we come to the really serious (of which there is plenty). Besides, gossiping is easy and mentally lazy. Mounting solid, unavoidable criticisms takes more time, energy and skill.

Daryl

[helemon]

I always like to ask, what is the fuel that feeds this type of story and why do people so happily and uncritically pick this type of story up and disseminate it.

The key elements of the story as I see it are:

Duplicity
Greed for money


I think it is the same as any juicy bit of gossip, namely the object of the story is doing something in private that they or society condems publicly.

A while back there were people spreading rumors about how they used to have wild sex parties with Hinckley and Monson back in the 60-70's. With that one though most of the people who heard about it rejected it, even people who were opposed to the church. It seems there are some rumors that are too outlandish to be believed.

[Born Free]

I think it is the same as any juicy bit of gossip, namely the object of the story is doing something in private that they or society condems publicly.

A while back there were people spreading rumors about how they used to have wild sex parties with Hinckley and Monson back in the 60-70's. With that one though most of the people who heard about it rejected it, even people who were opposed to the church. It seems there are some rumors that are too outlandish to be believed.
So you are telling me that Mo swinging never got a toe hold?

Sounds like just a hop, step and jump across from plural wives.

Daryl

[helemon]

So you are telling me that Mo swinging never got a toe hold?

Sounds like just a hop, step and jump across from plural wives.

Daryl

Who knows, maybe it was all true! :eek: :Puking Sorry I just pictured those two having group sex. :Puking

Personally I think swinging is more ethical than polygamy or polyandry. At least with swinging the wife knows who you are screwing around with and is a willing participant. Plus you don't have to marry another mans wife to have sex with her. All parties agree to the arrangement.

[Born Free]

Who knows, maybe it was all true! :eek: :Puking Sorry I just pictured those two having group sex. :Puking

Personally I think swinging is more ethical than polygamy or polyandry. At least with swinging the wife knows who you are screwing around with and is a willing participant. Plus you don't have to marry another mans wife to have sex with her. All parties agree to the arrangement.

I think we work from the same base: No force, fraud or coersion!

Daryl

[peter_mary]

Just keepin the word of wisdom as it was originally intended.

Helemon,

Unfortunately for you, your mind apparently works like mine...I had the exact same thought! My condolences...

Peter_Mary