Page 1 of 1

The 2025 Sampson Avard Golden Scepter Award

Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2025 7:45 pm
by Doctor Scratch
Greetings, Friends & Colleagues!

Here on the campus of Cassius University it has begun to feel like autumn, with the leaves changing colors the temperatures at last beginning to cool off. But the fall season also heralds another milestone: the awarding of the annual Sampson Avard Golden Scepter Award! As you may recall, this prize was established by Dean Robbers as a means of honoring someone "whose role in the course and/or study of Mopologetics has had an enormous and undeniable impact on the field." Of course, what this means has evolved over time, as the list of past honorees no doubt demonstrates. And there can be no question that this year's winner is exemplary in terms of demonstrating the current state of Mopologetics. My dear friends, I hope you'll help me in congratulating this year's Sampson Avard Golden Scepter Award:

Martin Tanner!!!

Image

Tanner was the award committee's undisputed choice for two reasons: first, because of his apparent role in the cancelation of Interpreter's radio program. While he was not openly identified as one of the causes, he was the headliner of the re-booted YouTube version of the show, which was lambasted by Interpreter President Daniel Peterson as being "awful" and "embarrassing," with "production quality" that was "absolutely terrible." So bad was this YouTube version that Interpreter seems to have abandoned the project entirely in favor of a "podcast format."

Meanwhile, perhaps alone amongst all Interpreter participants/"volunteers," Tanner's online bio is completely blank. It's almost as if he doesn't exist, or is being made to "disappear," or being ushered off-stage, where he won't "cause any more problems." Indeed, the Martin Tanner of 2025 was so indicative of the current state of Mopologetics that he apparently either wasn't invited to--or decided not to attend--Intepreter's Annual "Birthday Bash." (Fast-forward to 19:20 in the video, where Editor Allen Wyatt, wagging a rather menacing index finger, notes that he doesn't "see Martin" amongst the party-goers, who were nonetheless advised to contact Tanner if they want to know anything about the radio show.)

Clearly, Tanner's role in Mopologetics this year has been singular and definitional and he has helped to exemplify the state of the field at the current moment. Bearing all that in mind, I hope you'll join me in congratulating Tanner on this milestone achievement!

Re: The 2025 Sampson Avard Golden Scepter Award

Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2025 9:49 pm
by drumdude
Rarely, every once in a while and to the shocked surprise of those who have long declared it either dead or near death, the Interpreter Foundation unexpectedly emerges from its lethargic coma, opens its eyes, raises itself briefly up on its elbows, and emits yet one more last-gasp… with a high quality production like this! :lol:

Re: The 2025 Sampson Avard Golden Scepter Award

Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2025 10:07 pm
by Everybody Wang Chung
I would like to congratulate Martin Tanner on receiving this prestigious award. Martin now stands in the presence of such dignitaries as Stephen Smoot, John Gee, Mike Parker, Louis Midgley and many others.

I can't think of anyone else other than Martin, who so masterfully achieves the "so bad it's good" sweet spot in the Interpreter's videos and podcasts. Forget high production value, insightful commentary, or even basic audio engineering - who needs that crap anyway? Martin Tanner is a brave soul whose content is a glorious mix of jarring jump cuts, mic-popping enthusiasm, fuzzy/shaky camera work and Interpreter theories so unhinged and wacky you can't look away.

Here's to you, Martin!

Image

Re: The 2025 Sampson Avard Golden Scepter Award

Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2025 11:01 pm
by Tom
Well deserved, Esquire Tanner.

I must confess that I was struck by a statement made by Brother Wyatt during the Interpreter Foundation's highly patriarchal (did any women speak?) birthday-party service. Brother Wyatt said that the development of a new Interpreter website, which began in 2023, has been a "grueling and detailed" process. "It has taken longer than anyone first envisioned. And the reason for that is quite simple: there's no other website on the internet, that I'm aware of, that has the resources and the complexity we do." I am not making this up.

Previous Sampson Avard Golden Scepter Award Recipients:

2024: John "Jack" Welch
2023: Robert Boylan
2022: Stephen Smoot (revoked and instead awarded to Mike Parker)
2021: Kwaku El
2020: Hanna Seariac
2019: Louis Midgley and Blake Ostler
2018: Allen Wyatt
2017: Stephen Smoot
2016: Grant Hardy
2015: Neal Rappleye
2014: Blair Hodges
2013: William Hamblin
2012: Trevor Holyoak and Gerald Bradford
2011: Lamanite
2010: Pa Pa

Re: The 2025 Sampson Avard Golden Scepter Award

Posted: Sun Oct 05, 2025 7:55 pm
by Kishkumen
I heartily congratulate Brother Tanner for this immortal distinction! Sooner or later we must commission the symbolic mural in honor of these august recipients!

Re: The 2025 Sampson Avard Golden Scepter Award

Posted: Sun Oct 05, 2025 10:38 pm
by Dr. Shades
A hearty congratulations to Brother Tanner for being the recipient of such an honorable bestowal! I can think of no candidate more deserving of this prestigious award this year.

Good work, Martin. You most certainly deserve this.

Re: The 2025 Sampson Avard Golden Scepter Award

Posted: Thu Oct 09, 2025 12:57 am
by Gadianton
An epic achievement. I would think this award would be placed next to his "Letter". You know what I'm talking about. The letter he received from the First Presidency to receive Calling and Election. I assume Dan recommended him along with all of his other fellow staff.