Storm Rider Posted May 16, 2016 Posted May 16, 2016 21 hours ago, Duncan said: Our stake had a "special stake conference" earlier today with an Area Seventy chap and then Bishop Causse. I noticed that there were other brethren on the stand and I asked my stake clerk bro. about this. He said that it's because of security reasons and there were other brethren strategically placed in the building. I thought moses smell the roses, what do they think is going to happen in Canada? nobody here cares a tim horton's donut about church leaders. I get general conferences, BYU stuff and big devotional events but in Canada? Is this a "thing" in other locations so that one stake goes to the bathroom and now everyone has to wear diapers? I have never heard of a security threat at a stake conference before. To be more serious. In the several stakes I have been where a visiting apostle is arriving a group was called to provide security for the apostle. I want to say most of the men called were from the High Priests and other individuals that worked in law enforcement. This group assisted outside the building and we were trained and given assignments to allow the apostle to move from the HC room to wherever they were serving lunch prior to the afternoon conference. In addition, to prevent the apostle from being crushed from those seeking to shake his hand. Often times, or at least often enough that we were warned, to assist if someone wanted to reveal a new prophecy to the apostle. There are those who are emotionally unstable that have caused problems and the objective is to keep these incidents as calm as possible. It is not a security to prevent violence per se or any form of terrorism. It is not harm from outside of the congregation of the saints, but rather potential disturbances from within. The apostle is human and he has a schedule of events and duties that he needs to accomplish. Though I am sure he would like to line up and shake everyone's hand, it is not possible or feasible. This group assists him in being able to more easily meet his objectives. Make sense? 3
Hamba Tuhan Posted May 16, 2016 Posted May 16, 2016 3 hours ago, VideoGameJunkie said: Jesus and Peter never needed security teams. Exactly! Oh, wait... 'Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus and took him.And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest's, and smote off his ear'. 4
Bernard Gui Posted May 17, 2016 Posted May 17, 2016 (edited) Our MPQs take turns providing security at stake conferences mainly because of vandalism and car break-ins in the past. My father-in-law was in charge of organizing local security at a regional conference attended by President Kimball. There were Church security men and off-duty professional law enforcement members providing the muscle. I see absolutely nothing wrong, faithless, or cynical about protecting Church leaders. Considering their age and frailty is all the more reason for it. Edited May 17, 2016 by Bernard Gui 1
ERayR Posted May 17, 2016 Posted May 17, 2016 19 hours ago, VideoGameJunkie said: Jesus and Peter never needed security teams. Peter carried his own sword. Probably some of the others did too.
deli_llama Posted May 17, 2016 Posted May 17, 2016 16 hours ago, Hamba Tuhan said: Exactly! Oh, wait... 'Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus and took him.And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest's, and smote off his ear'. 11 minutes ago, ERayR said: Peter carried his own sword. Probably some of the others did too. Maybe we should finish that story up. Remind us please, what did the Lord say and do after the sword came out and the ear came off?
ERayR Posted May 17, 2016 Posted May 17, 2016 4 minutes ago, deli_llama said: Maybe we should finish that story up. Remind us please, what did the Lord say and do after the sword came out and the ear came off? The topic was security people not what their response to a security threat should be. 1
deli_llama Posted May 17, 2016 Posted May 17, 2016 Yes, that is the topic. I am curious, why doesn't context matter in this case? Was Peter the Lord's security guard? Or, was Peter taking that role upon himself in that moment? If he was a security guard, he did a lousy job at it—falling asleep and all earlier. That is not how one stands watch. No, I don't think he was acting as security. After all, what need of security does a being that can slip into the crowd and disappear have need of? I also think it might be hard to separate security from response, when response (preemptive or reactive) is what security does.
ElPatron Posted May 17, 2016 Posted May 17, 2016 Based on what I've seen, I've always assumed it was based on known threats, areas that they might be visiting, possibly even the popularity of the GA, etc... At an area conference w/ Jeffery R. Holland I noticed what I perceived to be security personnel. Recently at a Stake Conference here in Texas, Elder Cook was in attendance. Our ward was responsible for the parking. I was there when he arrived w/ the member of the Seventy he was traveling with and they were driven there by a member of the Stake Presidency. No other person was w/ them. Just the 3 of them. Same thing when they left conference heading to the airport. I also had Elder Cook on a flight from SLC to DFW recently and it was just him and his wife traveling....I actually think he took my 1st class upgrade on that trip....not that I'm carrying any grudges for that.
Nevo Posted May 17, 2016 Posted May 17, 2016 I was an usher during President Hunter's visit to Vancouver in 1992. He was then the President of the Quorum of the Twelve. A church security guy (ex-FBI) arrived earlier in the week and briefed us on the arrangements. The plan was to have concentric rings of security. As an usher, I was part of the outermost ring. Others would be placed at strategic points along the aisles. And the church security guy himself would be on the stand, close to President Hunter. He told us to keep our eyes open during the prayers and watch out for suspicious activity, people rushing the stand, etc. It was just a year later that the Cody Judy incident occurred. I always wondered if the security guy lost his job over that. 1
Duncan Posted May 18, 2016 Author Posted May 18, 2016 1 hour ago, Nevo said: I was an usher during President Hunter's visit to Vancouver in 1992. He was then the President of the Quorum of the Twelve. A church security guy (ex-FBI) arrived earlier in the week and briefed us on the arrangements. The plan was to have concentric rings of security. As an usher, I was part of the outermost ring. Others would be placed at strategic points along the aisles. And the church security guy himself would be on the stand, close to President Hunter. He told us to keep our eyes open during the prayers and watch out for suspicious activity, people rushing the stand, etc. It was just a year later that the Cody Judy incident occurred. I always wondered if the security guy lost his job over that. I vividly remember that night. My two older siblings went to it, to watch the broadcast, and my bro came home and my Mum asked how it went and he shrugged his shoulders and said it was okay but my sister.... well, phoning everyone the rest of the night and telling everything and you'd think Toronto had won the Stanley Cup again! as I recall one or two guys were on Pres. Hunter and wouldn't leave, everyone else bailed on him though!
Guest Posted May 18, 2016 Posted May 18, 2016 On May 16, 2016 at 8:37 PM, Duncan said: Our stake had a "special stake conference" earlier today with an Area Seventy chap and then Bishop Causse. I noticed that there were other brethren on the stand and I asked my stake clerk bro. about this. He said that it's because of security reasons and there were other brethren strategically placed in the building. I thought moses smell the roses, what do they think is going to happen in Canada? nobody here cares a tim horton's donut about church leaders. I get general conferences, BYU stuff and big devotional events but in Canada? Is this a "thing" in other locations so that one stake goes to the bathroom and now everyone has to wear diapers? I have never heard of a security threat at a stake conference before. We live in a violent world. Churches of all type have always been targets for those who hate,or the unstable. MLK, Jr's mother was shot while playing the organ at a Church service. Historical Black Church in the South have been burned, blown up, etc. our own Churches and Temples have been targets. I am willing to die for my faith and beliefs, but I would not stand by and watch others be attacked. Having said this, the best way to secure our safety is to just be aware of our surroundings at all times. We once had a young man who had lost his mental facilities, he showed up at Church to hurt others...we got him out of the building and called police. The Ward, Satake and Regional authorities all had to get restraining orders.
Recommended Posts