Fellow Mormons, what's sooo very wrong with playing the lottery?

Question

...and that?

I know that it can lead like to a gambling addiction or something, but if you play it like once in a while cuz you're darn broke and not even a [miracle] can save u, its not harming anyone, it wold be like a help if you win something.

And is it true that u cant pay thighting from won lottery money?

Answer 1

Awwe give them a break. The LDS were the original founders of Las Vegas. They didn't put the gambling there but the sure as heck didn't stop it either. So not all bad.

Answer 2

If you are darn broke and playing the lottery to "save" you, I think a bit of education on the lottery and finances would be wise. The lottery is to be played "for entertainment purposes only" because the chances of winning are so very slim. Now wait, it says on the ticket here, a one in three chance! Yep, you have a one in 3 chance of winning.....your dollar back. My sweet hubby, a student neuropsycologist, did a paper on gambling. What they do to trick you into playing, and keep playing. The lottery is NOT a money solution. In fact, out of the few that actually win a large sum, most are broke after a few years. Like once famous movie stars, they never learned how to use money so they cant keep it.

Now, as a fellow Mormon, I see gambling the same as drinking alcohol. Not everyone who drinks alcohol becomes an alcoholic or kills a kid driving drunk....not everyone who puts a quarter in a slot ends up loosing all they have with an addiction. But how do you know your suseptible until its too late. The Word of Wisdom was given for the weakest of the Saints, and so was this instruction. God does not bless us through disobediance. PAY YOUR TITHING. Many non members cringe at tithing, many more show an amazing amount of concern in the way I spend my money....But tithing works. I have seen more blessings through tithing then any others I have recognised in my life. Just when I knew I was stuck there has been a way out. I have gotten long forgotten rebate checks just when I needed them, checks for overpayment from doctors and dentists I hadnt seen in a year...I have found an extra $20 in a coat pocket, and on and on. Also, if you are paying your tithing and get to a point where you cant manage, then the Church can help you. They can give you food, pay a bill, etc. This is part of where your tithes go. To help the needy. IF you are striving to follow the commandments, and live faithfully, if you are attending your meetings and paying your tithing, living an honest, good life, you WILL be fine. You will always have what you need.

Answer 3

ummmmmmm... I try  not to question that. I get fed up sometimes too. Just stick to the rules and don't start bending them b/c I know that it just leads to bending more till they break.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?...

Answer 4

It must not be that wrong.  When I lived in far northern Utah, a store in Franklin, Idaho had a sign saying "Home of the Utah lottery."

Answer 5

im Methodist

$1 lottery ticket wont hurt but personally I dislike wasting money..

Answer 6

the idea is that one has to work to receive one's earnings and not rely on little to no effort, which is what lottery does. as you've mentioned it can be addictive when left unchecked especially when one is in dire need for money. related to that is you may pay lottery money as part of tithing but keep in mind that playing lottery was discouraged in the first place. Hope that answers your question. have a great day :)

Answer 7

"Last week, someone lost an eye at Bingo!"

-Family Guy

Answer 8

Well, if you are really that broke, you should spend that money on something else, but the real answer is that it's addicting and ruins many people's lives.  It also takes advantage of niave people like you.  The organizations that put them on make more than the people who win - and even if they say some of the proceeds go to parks, etc.  They are still taking advantage of people who really hope to win.

Answer 9

I'll tell you what is wrong with gambling.  It apparently leads to having no life.  I am so tired of going into the convenience store to grab a quick soda or gas and having to spend 10 minutes behind a scratch off lottery addict.  You people are so annoying and don't seem to care that you are annoying the cashier and the long line waiting behind you.  These people will actually scratch off their tickets at the counter and God forbid you win a dollar on that ticket because then I have to wait for you to make your next scratch off selection.  Get a job!  That's a sure way to make money.

Answer 10

The lottery is an optional tax that only stupid people pay. You don't have to be religious to realize that.

Answer 11

It's not just about you....it's about the people who's money you're taking.   The entire setup is unhealthy.   A brief overview of gambling:

1.  You get something for nothing if you win

2.  You pay for nothing if you lose - at least if I go to the store and blow a dollar on a DVD, I get a DVD...when you lose...you get NOTHING.

NO MATTER WHAT GAME YOU PLAY....in order for someone to win the money....someone has to lose money.

Gambling was forbidden within the puritain colonies for religious and survival reasons.  They couldn't afford people to be deprived of property or finances that were needed for survival.

Lotteries in America have a tumultuous history, having been banned many times due to corruption over the proceeds.

By 1910, gambling was dead in America - having been outlawed due to corruption.

1931 - the depression is in swing, Las Vegas resurrects gambling, and the mob becomes involved in vegas.

In 2002 $900 BILLLION was wagered in gambling in all its forms in America

The casinos ALONE made $68 billion in lost winnings from gamblers (that's not even counting lottery tickets)

That's more money than what is spent on all other entertainment in the U.S. COMBINED (movies, DVDs, concerts, sports)

The net loss is ~8% of what is wagered.....generally if you gamble...you're not going to win....

Some people argue that gambling stimulates the economy and makes wages for the states.  Opponents note that the money blown on lotteries and casinos are a "Fake" economy that cannibalize the local economy, i.e. money spent on lottery tickets could be spent on education, homes, retirement, health care, food.

Only 4% of gamblers become pathological gamblers.......BUT....they contribute 35%-50% of the revenue made by institutions and programs that support gambling.  (Go back to the amounts wagered....most of that only came from 4% of the gamblers)

5% of gamblers will risk EVERYTHING they own.

For every pathological broke gambler, ten to fifteen persons are affected financially, socially, spiritually by their problem.  When friends can't help...the state takes over....costing more in taxes, welfare and crime

40% of white-collar crime is tied to gambling

There are five steps to addiction - this applies to gambling:

experimentation - "lets try this"

recreational use - "This is fun"

habitual use - "This is what I do for fun on wednesdays now"

Abuse - risk it all and lose it all

and finalllyyyyyy addiction - despite losing it all they continue

(Note the first step is experimentation....what's wrong with this?)

The odds of winning on a lottery ticket are spelled out - often 1 in 4 chance of winning.   However, your chances of losing are 3 in 4.

Even if you get your dollar BACK....you did not "win" - you risked a dollar to only get it back.

you have no control over whether you win - the odds are set by the person you're buying the ticket from (if you're doing lottery) - it really is a gamble (Spiritually speaking, with all the parables of talents and money, is this a good use of talents and what the Lord gives us?)

Some economic studies show that for every $1 gained in state revenues, there is a $1.90 cost to the government in welfare, law enforcement, rehabilitation, foreclosures and processing.....

When you play the lottery....you're playing into something VERY big and in my opinion....very corrupt that destroys a lot of lives.  Do you REALLY want to take money from people who have a problem and risk their kids futures on gambling?   That money you win has to come from somewhere.....where do you think it comes from?  

Looking up above....these answers are some of the reasons why the LDS church does not condone gambling.  In fact, utah is the only state other than hawaii that bans gambling.   When I look at all the problems gambling causes...I see religios adherence as the only force stopping it!  

I also find it interesting that it is the one state where the LDS church wields power in democracy that this...past time...does not wield influence and destroy lives.

Answer 12

wow they actually think its wrong to play the lottery? lol wow what is this world coming to?

Answer 13

True, you can't pay tithing from lottery winnings.

It's gambling. It's never a good idea to waste the gifts that the lord has given us, and quite frankly, gambling is the best way to do that.

If you need money, then save the money you'd spend playing the lottery. Invest it once you have enough. Let it work for you. There's much better ways to make you money work than gambling.

However, I will say that gambling does provide a living for people in Vegas and in South Carolina, the proceeds of the lottery goes to funding education. So I wonder sometimes if it's as bad as it used to be....

I dunno. Use your best judgment.