Bernard Gui Posted August 19, 2012 Posted August 19, 2012 Has anyone seen the Current TV exposé on the Church, "The Mormon Candidate?"If you are ex-Mormon, have you been followed by ex-CIA/FBI Mormons who work for the Strengthening Members Committee"?If you have left the Church and then returned, we're you handed a dossier with all the documentation of your excommunication and personal activities while out of the Church? 2
KevinG Posted August 19, 2012 Posted August 19, 2012 I see black helicopters when I enter restaurants with bars.
Deborah Posted August 19, 2012 Posted August 19, 2012 The scary thing is some people will believe this.
Tacenda Posted August 19, 2012 Posted August 19, 2012 (edited) Are you talking about this BBC documentary on youtube...[media=] where it features Mitt Romney's cousin who is ex-mormon, saying he was being followed? Also, they ask the PR for the church, I believe his last name is Purdy, about the Strengthening Members Committee and he at first denies it is still around and then admits it is in the church. I think there are 6 parts to this youtube series.I believe they got alot of things wrong in the documentary. Edited August 19, 2012 by Tacenda
thesometimesaint Posted August 19, 2012 Posted August 19, 2012 Pure rubbish.Heck if this hit piece can't even get the name of the church right. How on Gods' green earth does anyone expect anything else about it to be right? 1
zerinus Posted August 19, 2012 Posted August 19, 2012 Are you talking about this BBC documentary on youtube...[media=] where it features Mitt Romney's cousin who is ex-mormon, saying he was being followed? Also, they ask the PR for the church, I believe his last name is Purdy, about the Strengthening Members Committee and he at first denies it is still around and then admits it is in the church. I think there are 6 parts to this youtube series.I believe they got alot of things wrong in the documentary.This is old news. This documentary came out months ago, and has already been discussed. Maybe it is being shown on US TV only now; but it was shown in the UK ages ago.
KevinG Posted August 19, 2012 Posted August 19, 2012 The strengthening the members committee is straight out of the Priesthood handbook. In our quorums we assign people to work on tasks associated with three of the church missions: Missionary, Temple work and Strengthening the members. The Strengthening the Members committee usually looks at stuff like service projects and socials. The hilarious thing is those committees are notorious for meeting once a month and failing to get anything scheduled. The idea that they are modern day danites or secret police is laughable.Unfortunately some people are going to believe the kooks and be afraid of the Mormons because of these stories.
Bernard Gui Posted August 19, 2012 Author Posted August 19, 2012 Are you talking about this BBC documentary on youtube...[media=] where it features Mitt Romney's cousin who is ex-mormon, saying he was being followed? Also, they ask the PR for the church, I believe his last name is Purdy, about the Strengthening Members Committee and he at first denies it is still around and then admits it is in the church. I think there are 6 parts to this youtube series.I believe they got alot of things wrong in the documentary.That is indeed the one. Also interviews with Elder Holland...
Bernard Gui Posted August 19, 2012 Author Posted August 19, 2012 This is old news. This documentary came out months ago, and has already been discussed. Maybe it is being shown on US TV only now; but it was shown in the UK ages ago.May be old news so some, but it is being aired now and it is full of misinformation.
harfad Posted August 20, 2012 Posted August 20, 2012 May be old news so some, but it is being aired now and it is full of misinformation.That is typical of most UK produced stuff of this kind.
KevinG Posted August 20, 2012 Posted August 20, 2012 That is typical of most UK produced stuff of this kind.Yes. The Brits are very good at science fiction and comedy. 3
wayfarer Posted August 20, 2012 Posted August 20, 2012 (edited) The strengthening the members committee is straight out of the Priesthood handbook. In our quorums we assign people to work on tasks associated with three of the church missions: Missionary, Temple work and Strengthening the members. The Strengthening the Members committee usually looks at stuff like service projects and socials. The hilarious thing is those committees are notorious for meeting once a month and failing to get anything scheduled. The idea that they are modern day danites or secret police is laughable.uhhh... SCMC is not your local elders quorum, sorry. It is a formal, employed organization that monitors what apostates are saying about the church in order to assist local leaders in identifying potential threats. There are also internet volunteers who go out to various sites to participate and defend the church. If I were leading the church, I'd probably do as much as well. Being aware of what your enemies are saying is important for any organization to know.When I was involved in mormon internet usenet in the 90s, if I recall correctly, there were many stealth polygamists in the Church, trying to continue to use Temples at the time. The church REALLY didn't want this practice to continue, and I sensed they were on our boards monitoring, for some action was taken then that surprised me. I had no issue with it.Elder Holland acknowledged that it exists today. I do not think, at all, that this is a spying thing, but rather, an organization doing internet awareness of members who may be working against the church. Cases are referred to Stake Presidents who may themselves interview the person, or have the Bishop do it. Most of the time, nothing happens. I know of at least three recent cases.I seriously doubt, however, that ex-CIA agents are materially involved, any more than internet experts and knowledge management people. Certainly, the church has better things to do than follow Mitt's nephew around. And there is no enforcement -- it's simply a referral to local leaders. Edited August 20, 2012 by wayfarer
volgadon Posted August 20, 2012 Posted August 20, 2012 uhhh... SCMC is not your local elders quorum, sorry. It is a formal, employed organization that monitors what apostates are saying about the church in order to assist local leaders in identifying potential threats. There are also internet volunteers who go out to various sites to participate and defend the church. If I were leading the church, I'd probably do as much as well. Being aware of what your enemies are saying is important for any organization to know.When I was involved in mormon internet usenet in the 90s, if I recall correctly, there were many stealth polygamists in the Church, trying to continue to use Temples at the time. The church REALLY didn't want this practice to continue, and I sensed they were on our boards monitoring, for some action was taken then that surprised me. I had no issue with it.Elder Holland acknowledged that it exists today. I do not think, at all, that this is a spying thing, but rather, an organization doing internet awareness of members who may be working against the church. Cases are referred to Stake Presidents who may themselves interview the person, or have the Bishop do it. Most of the time, nothing happens. I know of at least three recent cases.I seriously doubt, however, that ex-CIA agents are materially involved, any more than internet experts and knowledge management people. Certainly, the church has better things to do than follow Mitt's nephew around. And there is no enforcement -- it's simply a referral to local leaders.Also, in many places, it doesn't exist at all. I've served in branch presidencies in two countries, without so much as hearing of the SCMC.
wayfarer Posted August 20, 2012 Posted August 20, 2012 Also, in many places, it doesn't exist at all. I've served in branch presidencies in two countries, without so much as hearing of the SCMC.it's really alive and well in "morcor" - mormon corridor, and in washington DC. I never saw anything in india or china, but then again, I wasn't really looking.It's really nothing to worry about. I actually believe the church has the right to look at what members are saying in public. If someone is publicly opposing the church, as Holland has said, then 'we're going to have a little chat...'There is a very deep and important principle in Confucianism, what Confucius said was the single thread that went throughout his teachings: 忠恕 - zhong shu. zhong, the 中 centered 心 heart, meaning initially "loyalty", but much more -- an abiding and centered faithfulness to one another, and shu, 如 listening, or like/as the 心 heart operates -- meaning reciprocity, but more: the golden rule -- we do not do to others what we don't want done to ourselves. This is the essence of Confucius' middle way, although he speaks of the equanimity of emotions as well.The point being, I have come to realize that loyalty to the church -- not blind obedience, but a caring for the church as my own tribe and family, which it is, coupled with the willingness to forgive some things that may have happened that I don't agree with... This needs to govern my relationship here. That loyalty extends to the idea of defending the church when someone speaks incorrectly or tries to harm members of the church, and the SCMC seems like an appropriate thing to do in this case.
volgadon Posted August 20, 2012 Posted August 20, 2012 I really don't mind the idea either, it is just that I've never seen it, even when as a counsellor I would have known had it existed in our district. I don't doubt that it exists in some places.
Bernard Gui Posted August 20, 2012 Author Posted August 20, 2012 I really don't mind the idea either, it is just that I've never seen it, even when as a counsellor I would have known had it existed in our district. I don't doubt that it exists in some places.To the critics, it's the current version of the Danites.
cursor Posted August 28, 2012 Posted August 28, 2012 (edited) Gotta love this empty quote from Gov. Mitt Romney:"I believe in an Americawhere millions of Americansbelieve in an Americathat's the Americamillions of Americans believe in.That's the America I love."January 2012Hey, "God bless America."_____edit: oops ... looks like I mistook the title of the thread to mean something else ... Edited August 28, 2012 by cursor
The Nehor Posted August 28, 2012 Posted August 28, 2012 Gotta love this empty quote from Gov. Mitt Romney:"I believe in an Americawhere millions of Americansbelieve in an Americathat's the Americamillions of Americans believe in.That's the America I love."January 2012Hey, "God bless America." 2
selek1 Posted August 28, 2012 Posted August 28, 2012 If you have not heard of the SCMC, do not worry.....WE have heard of YOU.
Carborendum Posted August 28, 2012 Posted August 28, 2012 Actually, it may or may not bother me depending on the motives, attitudes, and methodology. But being as subjective as these can be, who's to say how it is actually being administered? I can go casually forward not worrying about this, since I have faith in the good intentions of Church leaders. But critics will always see such activity in a negative light.Consider that when Katie Holmes left Tom Cruise, there were all sorts of rumors about her being followed by the Scientologists. Being an outsider, we can't really know the truth of that situation. But I immediately jumped to the conclusion that it was true, when I don't know much about them at all.At the same time, I read many blogs where people were making comparisons with Mormons. "Oh, yeah. If you leave the Mormon Church on your own, they keep records so they can follow you all over the world. You never get away from them." Yes, it's true. We want to fatten you up with our monthly delivery of cookies.
DavidB Posted August 28, 2012 Posted August 28, 2012 At the same time, I read many blogs where people were making comparisons with Mormons. "Oh, yeah. If you leave the Mormon Church on your own, they keep records so they can follow you all over the world. You never get away from them." Yes, it's true. We want to fatten you up with our monthly delivery of cookies.It is true, I have spoken with a person tasked with tracking down the whereabouts of members.
KevinG Posted August 28, 2012 Posted August 28, 2012 (edited) It is true, I have spoken with a person tasked with tracking down the whereabouts of members.He is called the ward clerk and he gets tired of notices from Salt Lake City claiming Sis. Soandso lives in the ward boundaries even though we sent her change of address form in 3 times.I once went to visit a member of record who complained that I shouldn't be harassing him. So I gave him paper and a pen and told him if he'd write the Bishop and tell him he was no longer a member I would take the note back and take care of it. After looking at me with an open mouth he demurred and said he'd take care of it later. Edited August 28, 2012 by KevinG
KevinG Posted August 28, 2012 Posted August 28, 2012 One hardly needs a secret committee to find out about those publicly opposing the church. I think anyone could call their Bishop and say please address this with Brother X.
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