Sky Posted October 23, 2012 Posted October 23, 2012 Here's the text of the resignation letter he emailed to the Church on Friday while at the ex-Mormon conference.--------------------------David Twede wrote:Mr. Dodge, or current resignation processor,I have a feeling you know my name, as managing editor of MormonThink.com. Let me spare you and Mitt Romney all a load of more embarrassing media fallout, and having to fire Stake President Allan Pratt, who you may know is the star of the “Little Boyd factory self-abuse missionary video” on YouTube. If you haven’t seen it, you should watch it. It’s great humor. Have a beer first.I’ll save you the media fallout by foregoing your kangaroo “court of love.” First though, I want to thank Church leaders and especially Scott Gordon, head apologetic cheese, for their skulking me and the previous site founder at MormonThink. This produced the unintended but welcome ten-fold increase of traffic to MormonThink. With its balanced approach to looking at Church history from all sides, MormonThink is many times more popular now than FAIR and its one-sided approach. For now, the Orwellian tactics used in guilt and discipline boosted our rankings. A dozen more active LDS have asked to contribute to MormonThink to show a more balanced view of Church history. MormonThink, with its full-disclosure approach, is stronger than ever, with millions of hits each month.Attempts at General Conference recently to make MormonThink “forbidden fruit” have only showed curious members that, quote, “it is very desirable and delicious to the taste” as they bit into the fruit of knowledge. By the way, can I get the new hottie temple Eve’s phone number?While the aim of MormonThink has been to objectively examine history and doctrine of the LDS church, we understand that the latest actions by Salt Lake City has upset some members and caused increased resignations. By confronting truth-givers, the truth has caused problems among its own ranks. Perhaps the Church could avoid this if it started to disclose to its members, and investigators, the full truth of its historical foundations instead of hiding its history. At least, it’s unlikely Church leaders will go after future editors with impunity, now that they know what happens if they try to manipulate. Our Rolodex currently overflows with high-level media contacts. Thank you for the help.If you’d like to help further, please, by all means, excommunicate the next editor at MormonThink. Have leaders of the Strengthening Members Committee stalk us. Even better, send in the Danites, please, please. That should propel MormonThink popularity into orbit around Kolob.Seriously???This guy can't seem to go one sentence without some kind of smart-alecky comment or sarcastic barb. Humility is not a trait that he possesses.He only did more to reveal his true colors than anything about the church.If I were his Stake President, I'd be feeling relieved.
Wiki Wonka Posted October 23, 2012 Posted October 23, 2012 (edited) Of course it was not actually what the Church and whatever Scott did that caused the increased traffic but the claims being made about them by Mr. Twede and others looking to grab attention.The interesting thing is that nobody has actually correctly represented FAIR's position with respect to MormonThink. FAIR's goal in reviewing the site was never to get it shut down or removed. I'm pretty sure that you won't even find any text in the reviews which suggests that members don't visit the site. The URL's for the individual MormonThink articles are even included in FAIR's response.The major issue that FAIR had with the site was the fact that it portrayed itself as simply a site run by active members which presented historical facts and allowed the reader to decide for themselves. Yet, the site presents its own opinions that the Church isn't what it claims to be, that the leaders are liars, that Joseph Smith was a liar, and that the Church is simply a big business that doesn't care about its members. The founding editor bragged on ex-Mormon message boards about the progress he was making in bringing people out of the Church. He fantasized about having a "faith destroying session" with his bishop. He posted a Sunday School lesson in which he taught the children that the Holy Ghost was unreliable, and said that someone had to teach them the truth. His resignation from the Church at least ended that charade, and FAIR wasn't even aware that he had resigned. That would have been sufficient.The second editor, Twede, was simply a bonus. What he accomplished in a matter of just a couple of weeks was to indelibly brand MormonThink publicly for what it was, and even managed to bring the Church itself into it. This is far beyond anything that FAIR might have ever hoped to accomplish. FAIR's intent was to inform members that the site was not quite what it portrayed itself to be. Twede emblazoned it on a marquee surrounded by lights. All FAIR had to do now was link to all of the articles that were written about it, and quote Twede himself. If direct links were allowed (they are not due to search ranking issues), we would directly link to and send people to Twede's blog (the URL is listed by FAIR). At that point, whether or not he was disciplined didn't really matter any longer as far as FAIR's interest in the matter was concerned. The site is permanently branded because the Church was willing to discipline him.It doesn't even matter what new editors they bring in. They are of no interest. The site is branded for what it is.The media coverage wasn't very kind once they figured out that there was no Romney angle, and the media doesn't like to be played. So, if the MT editors are happy with increased website traffic as the ultimate result of all of this, then it sounds like a win-win to me, because nobody I know at FAIR is at all unhappy with the result.WW Edited October 23, 2012 by Wiki Wonka 1
Wiki Wonka Posted October 23, 2012 Posted October 23, 2012 Seriously???This guy can't seem to go one sentence without some kind of smart-alecky comment or sarcastic barb. Humility is not a trait that he possesses.He only did more to reveal his true colors than anything about the church.If I were his Stake President, I'd be feeling relieved.Well, he was playing to that particular crowd, which consists of many who post on RFM. They loved it.
Judd Posted October 23, 2012 Posted October 23, 2012 Well, it would seem to me that if there were an upcoming disciplinary council to be held after the election, as he proports, that his best interest would be served in the "I told you so". On the flip side, it would sure put a big damper on his whole media campaign of there were a council held pre-election. Sure makes me suspicious about why he would ever resign membership at this stage of the game, on the cusp of 'proving' the council was about politics.
why me Posted October 23, 2012 Author Posted October 23, 2012 Definitely demonstrates how much he actually cared about being a member if anyone is in doubt that he was driven out of a church he loved.My point all along. Those who wish the church well do not lead others out of the faith. And MormonThink attempts to do just that. And david knows that. His resignation was a good thing for him because he is now true to himself.
why me Posted October 23, 2012 Author Posted October 23, 2012 Sections from the letter:Attempts at General Conference recently to make MormonThink “forbidden fruit” have only showed curious members that, quote, “it is very desirable and delicious to the taste” as they bit into the fruit of knowledge. By the way, can I get the new hottie temple Eve’s phone number?I have a feeling you know my name, as managing editor of MormonThink.com. Let me spare you and Mitt Romney all a load of more embarrassing media fallout, and having to fire Stake President Allan Pratt, who you may know is the star of the “Little Boyd factory self-abuse missionary video” on YouTube. If you haven’t seen it, you should watch it. It’s great humor. Have a beer first.If you’d like to help further, please, by all means, excommunicate the next editor at MormonThink. Have leaders of the Strengthening Members Committee stalk us. Even better, send in the Danites, please, please. That should propel MormonThink popularity into orbit around Kolob. These sections of the letter speak rather loudly where his heart was on MormonThink.
Calm Posted October 23, 2012 Posted October 23, 2012 Well, it would seem to me that if there were an upcoming disciplinary council to be held after the election, as he proports, that his best interest would be served in the "I told you so". On the flip side, it would sure put a big damper on his whole media campaign of there were a council held pre-election. Sure makes me suspicious about why he would ever resign membership at this stage of the game, on the cusp of 'proving' the council was about politics.Having it at the exmormon conference maximised the attention he got, IMO.
why me Posted October 23, 2012 Author Posted October 23, 2012 Having it at the exmormon conference maximised the attention he got, IMO.His letter was rather childish and eventually, he will regret writing that letter in the tone that he did. It was a letter that could have been written by a teenager.
MormonMason Posted October 23, 2012 Posted October 23, 2012 Looks like David Twede decided to pull the plug on his Church membership himself. So there won't be any disciplinary council later on after all.They could still hold one if there are grounds enough to warrant it. Name removal requests do not always prevent disciplinary councils.
Avatar4321 Posted October 26, 2012 Posted October 26, 2012 His letter was rather childish and eventually, he will regret writing that letter in the tone that he did. It was a letter that could have been written by a teenager.Depends on the teenager, sadly.
Avatar4321 Posted October 26, 2012 Posted October 26, 2012 Looks like David Twede decided to pull the plug on his Church membership himself. So there won't be any disciplinary council later on after all.He's disallusioned that the Stake was pursuing normal Church procedures for the case of apostasy? I am not really sure what about the process would cause disallusion.
Avatar4321 Posted October 26, 2012 Posted October 26, 2012 Seriously???This guy can't seem to go one sentence without some kind of smart-alecky comment or sarcastic barb. Humility is not a trait that he possesses.He only did more to reveal his true colors than anything about the church.If I were his Stake President, I'd be feeling relieved.But Im sure he probably feels more sad at the wicked and unrepentent state he is in.Humility is a difficult trait to obtain sometimes, but it helps to try and obtain it. 1
Calm Posted October 26, 2012 Posted October 26, 2012 He's disallusioned that the Stake was pursuing normal Church procedures for the case of apostasy? I am not really sure what about the process would cause disallusion.That they didn't excommunicate him while everyone was still interested? 2
Bill “Papa” Lee Posted October 28, 2012 Posted October 28, 2012 You mean PR and perception impacts how the church carries out certain decisions? How unprecedented.... I assure you the does not fear everyone with a blog...but it is not a police state, you can appeal.
Cobalt-70 Posted October 29, 2012 Posted October 29, 2012 (edited) They could still hold one if there are grounds enough to warrant it. Name removal requests do not always prevent disciplinary councils.Yes they do. If a request for name removal is made, no disciplinary council is conducted. But church leaders can put accusations or evidence of wrongdoing in the file that the church keeps on its former members. See CHI I, 6.14.1. I understand this is a change from former procedure, recommended by the church's very competent lawyers. Edited October 29, 2012 by Cobalt-70
MiserereNobis Posted October 29, 2012 Posted October 29, 2012 Yes they do. If a request for name removal is made, no disciplinary council is conducted. But church leaders can put accusations or evidence of wrongdoing in the file that the church keeps on its former members. See CHI I, 6.14.1. I understand this is a change from former procedure, recommended by the church's very competent lawyers.The LDS church keeps files on its former members? Hoover-style or Facebook-style?
Scott Lloyd Posted October 30, 2012 Posted October 30, 2012 The LDS church keeps files on its former members? Hoover-style or Facebook-style?False dichotomy.
MiserereNobis Posted October 30, 2012 Posted October 30, 2012 False dichotomy.Sorry, it was meant for a giggle. I'll add the winking face to clarify
ERayR Posted October 30, 2012 Posted October 30, 2012 The LDS church keeps files on its former members? Hoover-style or Facebook-style?Wild accusations of those who know nothing style. When a member is excommunicated or request name removal a notation is made as to why. The proper entries are excommunicated or by request. No long lengthy notations.
Libs Posted October 30, 2012 Posted October 30, 2012 I didn't read this whole thread, but was wondering....is there really a "fast" being held for Mitt Romney this coming Sunday?
Calm Posted October 30, 2012 Posted October 30, 2012 If it is done, it is not done through the church as happens on occasion (usually for natural disasters), but privately. I would not be surprised if some were to do so.
Storm Rider Posted October 30, 2012 Posted October 30, 2012 Yes they do. If a request for name removal is made, no disciplinary council is conducted. But church leaders can put accusations or evidence of wrongdoing in the file that the church keeps on its former members. See CHI I, 6.14.1. I understand this is a change from former procedure, recommended by the church's very competent lawyers.Yes, Agent Avenger, and these top secret files, kept deep under the earth because of their sheer volume and importance, will be brought forth in the millennium due their their vital importance in God's judgment of each and every Latter-day Saint that left his Church. Of course, if they have their secret decoder ring still they could fool the angels at the gates and be let in forthwith. Of course, if they are carrying their replica of Smith's peep stone they could also be thrown into heaven...if they keep it secret and don't show it to anyone. Or if they have seen the top secret temple endowment they could also get thrown into heaven if they remember all the top secret covenants that no one has ever known, seen, or heard. Of course, there is that file that said they lied twice, saw an R-rated movie five times (could not get enough of Braveheart), and could not stop lusting over their neighbor's wife that the LDS Church kept secretly in deep under the earth with lawyers, I's sorry, competent lawyers keep hidden from the world.Don't you ever get tired of mental tripe?
ERayR Posted October 30, 2012 Posted October 30, 2012 I didn't read this whole thread, but was wondering....is there really a "fast" being held for Mitt Romney this coming Sunday?Not organized by the Church. Individual members are free to participate in any activity they want.
KevinG Posted October 30, 2012 Posted October 30, 2012 The same crowd who bemoans the keeping of a notation in a church membership record and complains the BSA didn't do enough to protect scouts from predators by using their records as a police referral service.Yup. The same crowd. 4
ERayR Posted October 30, 2012 Posted October 30, 2012 The same crowd who bemoans the keeping of a notation in a church membership record and complains the BSA didn't do enough to protect scouts from predators by using their records as a police referral service.Yup. The same crowd.The same ones that, no matter what the Church or Scouts do, it will not be thr right thing.
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