Why is the Mormon guy buying all our alcohol?
Posted by Ryan on November 29th, 2005Interesting situation I found myself in yesterday:
Apparently, the responsibility for planning and running the company Christmas party falls on the shoulders of the marketing director (that’s me by the way). The Christmas party every year costs the company just shy of $20,000.00 and is quite an extravaganza. So I was merrily spending the company money on this and that and going through old supply lists from previous years. Catering? Check. Decorations? Check. Liquor? Oh boy.
So yesterday afternoon I was walking through Costco with over 100 gallons of various types of beers, wines and hard liquors (vodka, whiskey, etc…). Just as I was leaving for this shopping trip, my boss jokingly said “Why is the Mormon guy buying all our alcohol”? To which I remarked that it was because I was going to switch everything out with water and apple juice and it was all pat of my plot to convert the whole company. All fun and games right?
So I am sure you have figured out by now why I am telling this story. What do you think? Was it appropriate for me to go out and buy all the alcohol? Bonus: I know that if I were to request exclusion because of my beliefs the company would have understood and it would not have adversely affected my employment status. Double Bonus: Regardless of whether or not I made the purchase, I still had to plan the budget with alcohol, decorate the bar area, hire bartenders, etc… does it matter how involved I get in the facilitation of alcohol? Triple Bonus: If I have enough faith can I turn the alcohol to water just as the party starts?
First off, I don’t think you should be starting another thread without at least responding to comments made on your last thread…ha ha, just kidding. But really, what about the doctrinal issue I brought up? Or of course, it may not be substantive enough to even talk about?
As for buying the alcohol…
Unless I’m ignorant of any “real” doctrine of the Word of Wisdom, I am not aware of any command not to purchase any strong drinks for others…only to abstain from imbibing one’s self. This of course is the letter of the law!
Also, I think you’re on safer ground in that it wasn’t your purchasing power that did it anyway - you were only the vehicle. One could analogize to you, as an employee, making money for the company that is eventually dispursed to others who then use it to get drunk. In this way, you are also the vehicle for others to violate laws against strong drink (albeit a more attenuated vehicle).
Lastly, your question brings up an issue closely related to something that has disturbed me a little. Everyone in the Church knows the name Marriot - either because they’ve stayed at a hotel with that name, or know that the persons’ carrying this surname have been HUGE contributors to the Church’s funds because they happen to be members and also happen to be tied into one of the first hotel tycoons in history. It is commonly known also, that every Marriot hotel room has a Book of Mormon in it - just like most Hotel rooms have Bibles. But most people are not directly aware that every Marriot hotel room has direct access to explicit hard core pornography, virtually every kind of liquor imaginable, coffee, tea, and other sundries known to be violative of the laws of God.
It is a fact that monies generated from these substances are paid back to the Marriot family. Now, I understand that there is an issue with whether the Marriots are actually, “in person”, making choices regarding what goes on in the hotels - of course they aren’t because that’s not how business is run. In fact, the Marriots I’m sure have little say about ANYTHING that goes on. But, this does not downplay the fact that monies generated from the filth is paid to them. In turn, these monies are paid to the Church.
So, the issue is, does the tenuous tie between the evils that generate the money and the person receiving the money make it okay? Personally, I don’t think so - but then again, my personal thought on this is likely directly related to my covetousness.
It’s also kind of like asking: “If I win the lottery, should I pay tithing on it?”
Comment # 1 left by Wade on November 30th, 2005
I see no problem. The alcohol would have been bought anyway. For me, the key question is whether you’re a better example by being a good guy that lives the commandments or the guy that balks at buying the beer that would be bought anyway. You can do the second tactfully, but I think the first is the best option.
Comment # 2 left by D-Train on December 12th, 2005
Just a short comment. Not only (adding on to Wades comment) is it not wrong ,I think, to buy alcohol but it is not a sin for your co-workers to drink. They consuming alcohol is as much a sin as me eating a twinkie. Yes it is bad for my body but I have not been comanded to not to do it. The word of wisdom is given to the saints not to those around us. I think that many times we consider people that drink or smoke are sining by doing so but the word of wisdom is not thier commanment.
Comment # 3 left by Cpt. Teancum on December 15th, 2005
I would have personally asked someone else to purchase the alcohol. I would have felt extremely awkward. I also try to avoid the mere appearance of evil. I don’t think that you purchasing alcohol for your company was necisarily wrong because it was done because your job requires it.
There was a kid in our stake one time that was driving a truck that delivered alcohol to save money for his mission. He was nervous about it so he asked the stake president if it was ok and the stake president didn’t have a problem with it.
I would be real wary about buying alcohol or cigarettes for people. I disagree to some extent that the WoW is just for the saints. If any of my friends asked to borrow 5 bucks, I was fine with that. If they asked for the money to get cigarettes, I would say no. So my friends knew not to tell me what the money was for.
That’s just my opinon.
Comment # 4 left by Ian on December 16th, 2005