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Porn, Casinos & Elder Marriott?

Richard E Marriott is the largest shareholder of the chain of Hotels with 10,734,755 shares. We discussed in the past about the fact that in all Marriott hotels people have access to porn TV channels. They may not have a majority of the stock but the family is the biggest single shareholder.

The Marriott family own about 14% of the entire company:
Source 1 and Elder J.W. Marriott is the chairman of the board and CEO which means that if he does not like the way the business is running he has the choice to change it or resign if the practises are not in agreement to what he thinks it should be done. Now, adding to the porn TV channels, they also own around 7 casinos worldwide in these areas: Romania, Egypt, Poland, Aruba, Puerto Rico, Netherlands Antilles, Peru.

Source 1 (Make a "Search" For "Marriott").

My question is: What the Church think about it?. I mean, it was clear in several Conferences the strong position the Church has regards to porn and gambling and those who profit from it, yet Elder Marriott is an Area General Authority and his hotels are profiting from those things. What's your view?.

Marriott Elder and Casinos Porn

I agree that he should be forcing the issue, and divesting of all those things. It isn't appropriate for ANY Christian to be involved in those things. If he has a testimony of the Gospel, then it is even more inappropriate. Then to top it off, he holds a high leadership position.

I guess if it is right for him, then I should start buying stock in the beer and liquor industries. Hey, how about if I invest in an abortion clinic! I hear that they are very profitable!

Porn, Casinos & Elder Marriott? Studies Doctrine Mormon

I am sure that the Antis have talked about it before, but I am surprised none of the media houses have pushed to ask him about it unless they have and he has not returned their invitation.

Marriott Elder and Casinos Porn

As far as I know (I do not know if it is so right now) they even show porn in Marriott Hotel in Provo, Utah!.

I found this interesting extract on the business of porn that mentions Marriott:

https://www.businesspundit.com/cgi-bin/mt-c...gi?entry_id=891

Marriott Elder and Casinos Porn

It doesn't make sense. I'm sure the official reason it is overlooked is because he does not have a controling interest in the company. In other words, he cannot demand porn be taken out if he is outvoted by a majority of the stockholders. Maybe this has come up in private interviews with his priesthood leaders and they are satisfied. But if you think about it, he is a full tithe payer and a good portion of his earnings come from porn and gambling. I've heard the single biggest profit in the hotel industry is the in room porn sales. So the church is accepting tithing money earned from pornography. I think the only appropriate move would be for him to sell his shares and get out of the business. I think we've been told to stand in holy places and to do everything we can to fight pornography. maybe there are exceptions for the wealthy.

Porn, Casinos & Elder Marriott?

And gambling because he has 7 casinos worldwide.

But that's the whole point, he will not do it, there is way too much money involved in this business, what it bothers me is the double standards. It is wrong for Joe public but it's right for Bro. Marriott because he has a name and money?. What the heck is happening here?. Is it because he is a full tithe payer and what he tithes is so much that the Church is overlooking the whole issue?. If this is the case, this is pure hipocresy.



Edited: LDS_forever on 10th Aug, 2005 - 1:43pm

Porn Casinos & Elder Marriott

Interesting to note that, from what I understand, the church does not accept tithing from lottery or gambling *winnings* -- but they will accept *earnings* from gambling and pornography? That is true hipocrasy!

Doesn't the church own hotels, also? Is porn available in church-owned hotels? That's an interesting question I'd like to research...

Porn Casinos & Elder Marriott Mormon Doctrine Studies

The church's place is not to nanny anbody, to dictate exactly their decisions and business dealings. Although the position of the Church has been clearly stated, Elder Marriott's conduct in relationship to that position is clearly his individual choice.

As far as his personal involvement in this, I would assume that he is essentially uninvolved with the day-to-day decisionmaking in the company. When the Marriott family actually owned the hotels, I believe things were quite different. I have heard (although I cannot find a source currently) that before the Marriotts sold out, they did not serve alcohol in their hotels. The contract to provide cable to these hotels probably went to the lowest bidder, and part of that cable package was the premium and pay-per-view channel services. The Marriotts likely had little to do with this decision, since that contract would have been made under the direction of the board of directors. Same with the decision by the company to buy casinos.

Now, does this indemnify Elder Marriott? That is God's decision, not ours. Yes, he still profits from these things. But where is the line? For example, when you buy Velveeta cheese or Kraft caramels, you are buying products of the Phillip-Morris company, the world's largest tobacco conglomerate. If you have money in a mutual fund, you probably have stock in companies that manufacture, distribute, ship, or sell products that clearly are against Church standards. To have stock in grocery stores, gas stations, convenience stores, restaurants, vending machine companies, publishers, etc. is to support the distribution of tobacco, alcohol, tea, coffee, pornography, etc. This is not justification, only truthful analysis. I doubt any businessman in America, Mormon or not, has his investments completely clean from these things. It is nearly impossible.

Does this mean Elder Marriott is OK? Still, that is God's territory. If we believe that the Prophet is led by revelation, we must also believe that Elder Marriott was called by divine instruction. We must also believe, then, that God feels him capable of being His servant and special witness, even seeing his weaknesses as only God can.

Leaders are not called because they are perfect, but because they are called. Are Church leaders the most righteous members of the Church? Not necessarily. I'll bet there are several humble, hardworking stake patriarchs, seminary teachers, librarians, and other members who have the same level of righteousness as President Hinckley, and they will receive similar rewards. The leaders are called because God wants them, not because they are more than men. Thus, when we criticize Church leaders for their financial dealings, their family lives, or the color of their neckties, we are speaking guile and straining at the motes in their eyes without regarding our own beams. Worse, we are second-guessing the Lord's judgement, which is historically an unsuccessful practice.