Strengthening Church Members Committee

[Sky]

Can anybody tell me more information about the Strengthening Church Members Committee? I don’t know a lot about it, but I have noticed that it is a major sticking point with our critics. My understanding is that it supposedly monitors the publications of church members for criticism of the leaders, which if found, could possibly result in dis-fellowshipment or excommunication. The critics charge that it is secretive and stifles intellectual inquiry.

According to Elder Holland (from the BBC documentary), the committee is there primarily to protect the Church from polygamist groups, if I understood him correctly. I personally can understand the Church’s point of view of wanting to protect itself, and why it can tolerate criticism only up to a point. In the end, you are either loyal or you aren’t. You can’t be a fair-weather friend forever. I’m keenly aware of the phenomenon of when Church members proclaim loyalty to the Church on the one hand, but in another venue find themselves completely at odds with it. I’ve noticed this especially with the advent of the internet and blogs where people can express their viewpoints and be anonymous.

The committee supposedly had a large part to do with the infamous September Six. But the thing is, I notice lots of people today doing basically the same thing that the September Six did, but they are not receiving any type of Church discipline that I know of (Joanna Brooks, John Dehlin, Carol Lynn Pearson and others come to mind). So where exactly is the tipping point?

Thanks in advance for anybody who can shed further knowledge on this topic.

[thesometimesaint]

The Danites are looking for them.

[wenglund]

To learn about this committee requires dawning your tin-foil hat and tuning in to the Church's back channel. Hopefully, you remember the access code. If not, it can be found by reading the Joseph Smith Egyptian Papers.

Thanks, -Wade Englund-

[Duncan]

If you have access Elder Carlos E. Asay spoke at the 1986 Sperry Symposium and talks about this committee

[cinepro]

Haha ur crazy for wanting to know about the committee. Silly silly tin foil hat UFOS. It is nuthing and if ur asking about it u shouldn't. Not becuz it actually does anything but becuz we don't talk about it. Even tho I don't know much about it I have faith that the committee does just wut it sez it duz. It "Strengthens" the "Members". How could that be bad?. Have faith.

[rameumptom]

Cinepro,

You make it sound like it is the evil and dark Magisterium of Philip Pullman's Golden Compass trilogy. If such were the case, I'm sure someone would have noticed the torture chamber in the basement of the Salt Lake temple by now, used to bring forth confessions of sin from the spiritually lazy.

Indoctrination classes, er, seminary and Institute classes would not be done by lay members, but by a fully paid staff that is trained in the arts of brainwashing and mass hypnotism. We would expand BYU to universities everywhere, and insist our children all attend there, rather than at other schools, which teach evolution and the Big Bang theory (of course, BYU would also have to stop teaching these).

And, the members would be forbidden to get on the Internet.

[cinepro]

Thanks in advance for anybody who can shed further knowledge on this topic.

There's always wikipedia:

Strengthening Church Members Committee

Frankly, from everything I've heard about the committee (including Elder Holland's comments), the name of the committee sounds like doublespeak. I can see how the committee's actions strengthen the church, but I don't understand how its actions actually "strengthen" individual members of the Church.

Edited April 9, 2012 by cinepro

[Jaybear]

Cinepro,

You make it sound like it is the evil and dark Magisterium of Philip Pullman's Golden Compass trilogy. If such were the case, I'm sure someone would have noticed the torture chamber in the basement of the Salt Lake temple by now, used to bring forth confessions of sin from the spiritually lazy.

Indoctrination classes, er, seminary and Institute classes would not be done by lay members, but by a fully paid staff that is trained in the arts of brainwashing and mass hypnotism. We would expand BYU to universities everywhere, and insist our children all attend there, rather than at other schools, which teach evolution and the Big Bang theory (of course, BYU would also have to stop teaching these).

And, the members would be forbidden to get on the Internet.

Great. Instead of answering a simple question, lets (1) mock the question; (2) mock the person mocking the question; (3) Mock the person mocking the person mocking the person asking the question.

[Kenngo1969]

I don't know much about it, either, but there is a Tactical Unit, composed of heavily-armed, well-equipped operatives clad head-to-toe in black, including jackboots, who zip-line from the black helicopters through the windows of unsuspecting targets. Or at least, that's the rumor.

[rameumptom]

Great. Instead of answering a simple question, lets (1) mock the question; (2) mock the person mocking the question; (3) Mock the person mocking the person mocking the person asking the question.

But that is what I do best! How many people do you know can do all three in just a couple short paragraphs, and make it all seem seamless?

Edited April 9, 2012 by rameumptom

[mercyngrace]

The committee supposedly had a large part to do with the infamous September Six. But the thing is, I notice lots of people today doing basically the same thing that the September Six did, but they are not receiving any type of Church discipline that I know of (Joanna Brooks, John Dehlin, Carol Lynn Pearson and others come to mind). So where exactly is the tipping point?

Isn't it possible that the softer approach is due to backlash from the September Six incident?

[mercyngrace]

Edited April 10, 2012 by mercyngrace

[kolipoki09]

The committee supposedly had a large part to do with the infamous September Six. But the thing is, I notice lots of people today doing basically the same thing that the September Six did, but they are not receiving any type of Church discipline that I know of (Joanna Brooks, John Dehlin, Carol Lynn Pearson and others come to mind). So where exactly is the tipping point?

I think the Church and Reformist Mormons walk a very fine line, and it's tough to define precisely where the tipping point might be. In most cases, if you avoid teaching any blatantly false doctrine (i.e. that Mary, Heavenly Mother, Jesus, and Elohim comprise the four members of the Godhead), don't actively advocate praying to Heavenly Mother, and don't mock and disparage Church leaders, you're probably going to be okay.

As for the excommunications/disfellowships of the September Six, we don't know exactly what the charges laid against them were. We have the accounts of five of the six, and speculation about the exact details of the proceedings, but nothing beyond that. I know that John Dehlin has formally and informally met with church leaders in the past, including members of the Quorum of the Twelve. Though Reformists largely have ideological differences with church leaders, those who have a sincere desire to still stay in the church generally still respect the role General Authorities play in the governance of the church.

If there is going to be a crackdown on Reformists, I don't expect it to happen this year.

[Bob Crockett]

There is a poster at the other board, Scratch, who knows a lot about this committee.

[cdowis]

I can see how the committee's actions strengthen the church, but I don't understand how its actions actually "strengthen" individual members of the Church.

Have you been in a temple recommend interview in the past ten years? It is addressed there. Your bishop may help you to understand.

Edited April 10, 2012 by cdowis

[Saints Alive]

Ever wonder why you have to submitt your real name when you sign up for an account here? It is so that the mod can forward it to the committee when you post questionable material! I will post more when I get back from the store... I ran out of tin foil.

[wenglund]

There is a poster at the other board, Scratch, who knows a lot about this committee.

That is because he supposedly has his own "committee." One of his "informants" may be rummaging through your trash even as you read this.

Thanks, -Wade Englund-

[phaedrus ut]

I was thinking about people in the past that the committee collected dossiers on before they were excommunicated like the September 6, Grant Palmer, Thomas Murphy, and David Wright and it made me wonder what present Mormon has the largest file with the SCMC? I'm guessing Joanna Brooks or John Dehlin.

On a related note I've noticed that whenever I write on my blog concerning a LDS topic I consistently get a half dozen hits from IP addresses at the COB.

Phaedrus

[Duncan]

I was thinking about people in the past that the committee collected dossiers on before they were excommunicated like the September 6, Grant Palmer, Thomas Murphy, and David Wright and it made me wonder what present Mormon has the largest file with the SCMC? I'm guessing Joanna Brooks or John Dehlin.

On a related note I've noticed that whenever I write on my blog concerning a LDS topic I consistently get a half dozen hits from IP addresses at the COB.

Phaedrus

i'm wondering if the GAs have files! Also someone had to have been watching out when the whole Bott episode happened and hit the fan as it were

[phaedrus ut]

i'm wondering if the GAs have files! Also someone had to have been watching out when the whole Bott episode happened and hit the fan as it were

I wonder if they will show you your file if you request it?

[Duncan]

I wonder if they will show you your file if you request it?

it would be pretty slim I betcha! unless they figured me out on here... actaully I have heard that when you leave your mission your President writes a brief report on you, now that is something I want to see!

[wenglund]

I was thinking about people in the past that the committee collected dossiers on before they were excommunicated like the September 6, Grant Palmer, Thomas Murphy, and David Wright and it made me wonder what present Mormon has the largest file with the SCMC? I'm guessing Joanna Brooks or John Dehlin.

And so once again the conspiracy theory heats up...

On a related note I've noticed that whenever I write on my blog concerning a LDS topic I consistently get a half dozen hits from IP addresses at the COB.

Maybe several people in the COB have bought into the human-generated global warming scare, and have sought out your blog for reinforcement?

Thanks, -Wade Englund-

Edited April 10, 2012 by wenglund

[Senator]

Have you been in a temple recommend interview in the past ten years?

I have, but I'm not sure what you're pointing to. Could you expound a little more?

[Saints Alive]

I have, but I'm not sure what you're pointing to. Could you expound a little more?

probably the question that ask if you affiliate with or support apostate groups and the question about affirming the prophet / leadership ties in too

[mercyngrace]

probably the question that ask if you affiliate with or support apostate groups and the question about affirming the prophet / leadership ties in too

I'm also curious how exactly that relates to the SCMC and how documenting the heretical or even apostate thoughts of some members strengthen the rest of the members? Maybe cdowis will add some insight.

Bishop: Sister MnG, do you sympathize, affiliate with, or support any groups that oppose the COJCOLDS?

Me: I don't think I do but I can't be sure, I have gotten the updated list of "Blogs to Avoid" from the SCMC yet.

Edited April 10, 2012 by mercyngrace