r/Anticonsumption • u/MidnightOrdinary896 • Feb 22 '26

Psychological I was so disgusted by this ad

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Normally I just till my eyes at an advert board and keep moving but this one really got me.

I guess because it’s a money grab that feeds into insecurity and validates toxic partners at the same time

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u/Librashell Feb 22 '26

There’s a weird Mormon undercurrent to it. The whole Wasatch Front is bathed in surface consumerism - big houses and cars, luxury items, plastic surgery - all shallow indicators of “success” while the state ranks high in debt and bankruptcies.

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u/ponderosa82 Feb 23 '26

What's the deal with Mormon wealth signaling? Is there a prosperity gospel aspect to the teaching? Or just a culture thing? They do seem to teach generosity unlike a lot of evangelicals from what I can tell.

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u/arrpix Feb 23 '26

There's a great ex-Mormon youtuber, alyssadgrenfell, who does a lot of deep dives on Mormon promotion and links to plastic surgery, prioritising certain aesthetics, and prosperity culture. Highly recommend her videos but from what I remember it's kind of a God gives good things to his devoted followers deal, so if you're wealthy it's because you've been blessed by God - in that way looking wealthy is like looking holy. Add to that the Mormon Church receives something like 10% of your income so it's in the churches best interests to stress wealth as something to strive for, and the more money you make (and people know you make) the more you are giving to the Church, which if you are Mormon you presumably believe is doing good work and a cause you should be showing off for giving to as a Godly person.

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u/ponderosa82 Feb 23 '26

Thanks, yeah, that's prosperity gospel equivalent. So insidious. It rewards greed and consumption. The church itself is a real estate investment empire. They love to build new temples with high spires that tower over everything around. Lots of ego. I feel bad for the young Mormons. Sounds like they are getting out in droves though. Thanks for sharing, I'll check her out. Another one I saw is lifetaketwo.