I wrote the SCMC about "Mister Scratch", and this was their reply:
Dear Ray,
We have examined our records and find nothing on a "Mister Scatch". This "person" may have commented on message boards, but we deem his/her commentary to be harmless to the Church. We take serious criticisms, well, seriously. But we don't have time to look into message board egos in search of anti-Mormon food stamps, so to speak. We appreciate your concern, and consider you a friend of our cause, but may we kindly ask you, Ray, next time you write the SCMC, to give us something to chase up, other than wild rabbits with anti-Mormon erections?
Mister Scratch wrote:I know that Steve Benson believed for a time that his phone had been tapped by the Church. Further, I've heard numerous accounts from various people about the Church mysteriously "tracking them down"--I.e., they'd moved, and then, out of nowhere, some bit of mail from the LDS Church turns up in their mailboxes, or the missionaries drop by, etc. I wonder: how does this mechanism work, exactly?
First of all, I think Steve Benson isn't near as significant as he imagines himself to be.
All of my siblings left the church many years ago yet their wards had no trouble relocating them (until they ultimately insisted on excommunication). How was this? My mom and I sent the records to their new wards for a number of years (and yes, I have apologised).
So long as you have an active relative or even a TBM friend, they are praying for your return to activity - and this is how they show the Mormon god they are sincere.
Mister Scratch wrote:I know that Steve Benson believed for a time that his phone had been tapped by the Church. Further, I've heard numerous accounts from various people about the Church mysteriously "tracking them down"--I.e., they'd moved, and then, out of nowhere, some bit of mail from the LDS Church turns up in their mailboxes, or the missionaries drop by, etc. I wonder: how does this mechanism work, exactly?
First of all, I think Steve Benson isn't near as significant as he imagines himself to be.
All of my siblings left the church many years ago yet their wards had no trouble relocating them (until they ultimately insisted on excommunication). How was this? My mom and I sent the records to their new wards for a number of years (and yes, I have apologised).
So long as you have an active relative or even a TBM friend, they are praying for your return to activity - and this is how they show the Mormon god they are sincere.
If this happened during the time that Steve says that ETB was effectively non-functional, but the CJCLDS insisted that he (ETB) was at the helm, he may well have been quite significant to the COB. No?
NOMinal member
Maksutov: "... if you give someone else the means to always push your buttons, you're lost."
Does anyone else find this story ridiculous? Why in the world would 'Church Security' care where he lived?
"Surely he knows that DCP, The Nehor, Lamanite, and other key apologists..." -Scratch clarifying my status in apologetics "I admit it; I'm a petty, petty man." -Some Schmo
Mister Scratch wrote:I know that Steve Benson believed for a time that his phone had been tapped by the Church. Further, I've heard numerous accounts from various people about the Church mysteriously "tracking them down"--I.e., they'd moved, and then, out of nowhere, some bit of mail from the LDS Church turns up in their mailboxes, or the missionaries drop by, etc. I wonder: how does this mechanism work, exactly?
First of all, I think Steve Benson isn't near as significant as he imagines himself to be.
All of my siblings left the church many years ago yet their wards had no trouble relocating them (until they ultimately insisted on excommunication). How was this? My mom and I sent the records to their new wards for a number of years (and yes, I have apologised).
So long as you have an active relative or even a TBM friend, they are praying for your return to activity - and this is how they show the Mormon god they are sincere.
If this happened during the time that Steve says that ETB was effectively non-functional, but the CJCLDS insisted that he (ETB) was at the helm, he may well have been quite significant to the COB. No?
No.
Why tap a phone for his beliefs, if he's a talking head on PBS, has a syndicated political cartoon or meets regularly as a high councilman with the stake president?
The Nehor wrote:Does anyone else find this story ridiculous? Why in the world would 'Church Security' care where he lived?
They wanted a pound of flesh for their Court of Love. Maybe you could read the last sentence for the first time.
I read it and it's ridiculous. He's hiding to what? Retain Church Membership?
"Surely he knows that DCP, The Nehor, Lamanite, and other key apologists..." -Scratch clarifying my status in apologetics "I admit it; I'm a petty, petty man." -Some Schmo
The Nehor wrote:Does anyone else find this story ridiculous? Why in the world would 'Church Security' care where he lived?
Quinn, in his career as a historian, has unearthed perhaps more embarrassing truths about the Church than anyone---ever. Moreover, it seems that BKP had a personal vendetta against him. I wouldn't be surprised if Elder Packer had personally ordered these Church Security agents to hunt Quinn down.
The Nehor wrote:Does anyone else find this story ridiculous? Why in the world would 'Church Security' care where he lived?
Quinn, in his career as a historian, has unearthed perhaps more embarrassing truths about the Church than anyone---ever. Moreover, it seems that BKP had a personal vendetta against him. I wouldn't be surprised if Elder Packer had personally ordered these Church Security agents to hunt Quinn down.
Yes, the cruelty of hunting a man down so you can give him a letter regarding a disciplinary council......how horribly Orwellian of them.
"Surely he knows that DCP, The Nehor, Lamanite, and other key apologists..." -Scratch clarifying my status in apologetics "I admit it; I'm a petty, petty man." -Some Schmo