DiscussMormonism.com

The Mormon Church has confirmed what its critics have been charging: that it keeps files on members who criticize church policies and passes the information along to the critics' local church leaders.

At a recent symposium in Salt Lake City, Lavina Fielding Anderson, the editor of The Journal of Mormon History, which is not sponsored by the church, spoke of "an internal espionage system" in detailing what she said was church intimidation of Mormon intellectuals and feminists. Her assertions were echoed by other participants in the meeting, sponsored by the Sunstone Foundation, an independent Mormon group.

This month Don LeFevre, the church's spokesman in Salt Lake City, acknowledged that a committee of high-ranking Mormon officials "provides local church leadership with information designed to help them counsel with members who, however well-meaning, may hinder the progress of the church through public criticism."

F. Ross Petersen, a Mormon historian, told The Salt Lake Tribune that two years ago local church officials had questioned him about public comments he had made on changes in Mormon ceremonies. At the interview, he said, the officials relied on a file of photocopied material and asked him about things he had written decades earlier, but they refused to let him examine the file.

Ray A wrote:I believe the Church also monitors blogs and forum comments. I have no hard evidence for this, but it would be incongruent to think otherwise, when one understands the nature of the SCMC. Why, in the age of technology, would it only monitor what's in print?

Mike Reed wrote:Interesting thought, Ray. You may be right. I wonder though, if the Church would have the man power enough to pull this off, while at the same time, have the man power be small enough to ensure that information about it wouldn't get leaked out.

Mike Reed wrote:I hear what you are saying, Ray, and I think we are mostly in agreement about this. I am just wondering about the "man power" it would take to monitor the entire internet. I am wondering if that is even possible--to do so in any thorough way. But yeah... I wouldn't be surprised if this forum, MADb, myspace, and popular blogs are monitored. If I were to guess, I would say that they are. Either way, it is better to be safe than sorry. Better to use a random name, or the name of a disaffected Mormon apologist as a pseudonym. ;) I also wonder, though, if the Church keeps record of the times I defend Mormonism from the sensational nonsense of counter-cultist fundamentalists… or only my critical posts against the Church.

4 And perhaps a committee can be appointed to find out these things, and to take statements and affidavits; and also to gather up the libelous publications that are afloat;
5 And all that are in the magazines, and in the encyclopedias, and all the libelous histories that are published, and are writing, and by whom, and present the whole concatenation of diabolical rascality and nefarious and murderous impositions that have been practised upon this people—

Ray A wrote:Mike, I don't believe they monitor the whole Internet. That would not be possible. But I believe all ex-Mormon forums are monitored. And critical blogs. This is in line with the mission of the SCMC, as outlined in D&C 123.

6 That we may not only publish to all the world, but present them to the heads of government in all their dark and hellish hue, as the last effort which is enjoined on us by our Heavenly Father, before we can fully and completely claim that promise which shall call him forth from his hiding place; and also that the whole nation may be left without excuse before he can send forth the power of his mighty arm.