Gadianton wrote:with the exception of one interview...
huh...violation of a direct order?
That's an excellent point, Dean Robbers. I hesitated to say so, but the reality is that this admission has enormous ramifications. If I may say so, this is a watershed moment in the history of Mopologetics. I mean, just look at this, from
Mormon Interpreter's mission statement:
Although the Board fully supports the goals and teachings of the Church, The Interpreter Foundation is an independent entity and is neither owned, controlled by nor affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or with Brigham Young University. All research and opinions provided on this site are the sole responsibility of their respective authors, and should not be interpreted as the opinions of the Board, nor as official statements of LDS doctrine, belief or practice.
(emphasis added)
You see these same kinds of disclaimers on all the Mopologists' output--all claiming that the Brethren don't exert any "control" over what they do. But, clearly, that's not true. According to this recent comment, it seems that all it takes is "a couple very powerful figures" to make a mere
suggestion for there to be a huge ripple-effect on what the apologists do. And it's easy enough to read between the lines: not only was he expected to sever all ties with Sunstone, he was expected to do so for
politcal reasons. (The "concerns held by some...about what was then called FARMS" was that they were too "liberal": i.e., open to postmodernism, subscribing to the LGT rather than the North American Book of Mormon theory, relying too heavily on the intellect rather than the mantle, and so on.)
So, this admission is huge. It is, in effect, a confession--after all this time!--that the Brethren control Mopologetics.