From My Informant: A Coup for the Old Guard?

[_harmony]

What's to stop Peterson from misappropriating funds in a situation like the one Scratch describes?

1. funds have to be verified

2. Dan has to have the inclination to steal (which he doesn't)

3. BYU has to give way (which I just can't see)

I don't buy it. Who died?

[_Joey]

I suspect the MI probably does have a certain amount of influence in isolated parts of Provo, South Orem and in a couple of aisles in the Olivewood bookstore. To say that it has no recognition is completely unfair.

[_Doctor Scratch]

If this is true, it means that DCP and his interests will effectively control the direction of Maxwell Institute apologetics for the foreseeable future.

I thought he already did. How is this news?

No--I don't know that he has ever been in full control of either FARMS or the Maxwell Institute, even though there are good reasons why you've been given that impression. As of right now, the Executive Director of the Maxwell Instititue is M. Gerald Bradford:

http://maxwellinstitute.BYU.edu/about/a ... n.php?id=4

If I recall correctly, he has been the Executive Director since 2008.

As for FARMS--as far as I can tell, this no longer exists as an institution. There is no administrative listing for it on the MI's Web site:

http://maxwellinstitute.BYU.edu/about/a ... ration.php

As you can see, DCP is not even the head of METI, which he has always described as "his baby."

I think that Dan's long tenure on the messageboards and his "insider's" POV have led a lot of people to assume that he's always been monolithically calling the shots, and this is an impression that he's never been anxious to correct. The real truth, though, is that other people have historically wielded a whole lot more power. Louis "Woody" Midgley, for example, probably has a lot more influence. And with respect to FARMS, Jack "The King" Welch is the guy that everyone answers to. I believe that Paul Hoskisson and M. Gerald Bradford are two others with a great deal of power within the M.I., and in the case of Bradford (at least per his listed M.I. publications) seems a lot more diplomatic and "Chapel Mormon"-ish than DCP and his comrades.

I've heard before that there have been internal conflicts between the M.I. folks, perhaps the most recent salient example being the decision on what to do w/r/t to Will Schryver's online antics. According to what I heard, there was a faction that wanted to do nothing, and that felt that a crackdown on Schryver would amount to capitulation to the critics and anti-Mormons. On the other hand, there were others that clearly believed that publishing Schryver would be a PR liability. This latter faction was the one that won out. Do you think that Dan Peterson sided with these people? Because I sure don't.

As for what the "multi millions" might be spent on---you're right, Harmony, that this can't be anything more than speculation. I'm not sure that the rumor is true.

If it is, though, I honestly can't see Dan "misappropriating" the funds, as someone put it. Certainly, he'd use his power and influence to funnel the money into his pet projects, though. If the rumor is true, I would expect to see more aggressive marketing and branding from them. My sense is that DCP has moved into more of a "ring master" or "showman"-type of role. While a part of him may long for the Good Ol' Days of ripping into people like Loftes Tryk, he has wisely realized that the M.I. and Mopologetics will be better off if he simply engages in empty evangelizing and proselytizing: just trying to get the word out. This is evidenced in his recent projects like MST and the new, crappy blog (which has already gotten him into some conflicts, by the way). The thing is: it's unclear whether this push for greater notoriety is motivated purely out of a desire to be more popular and better-known, or whether this is about "fixing" the reputation of Mopologetics--i.e., that it's about "re-branding." I'm inclined to think it's the former. I don't think that a proper "rescuscitation" can ever happen with apologies from the key people involved, along with a number of important retractions in the Review. But this is never going to happen, so I guess we can only hope that the M.I. eventually gets so popular that the mainstream media starts taking a closer look at articles like "Text and Context," and looking into the online antics of its key personnel.

[_Spurven Ten Sing]

If true, would we expect to see a Willy pop up again? Maybe even get published?

[_lulu]

he has wisely realized

Or did BKP tell him to knock it the hell off? It might take a grizzly bear to stagemanage a grizzly bear.

After he went ape crap over the Shumway's photo spread in Time, net rumor was that he had an upcoming appt with BKP. Since then, to my knowledge, he's been pretty tame.

[_Doctor Scratch]

he has wisely realized

Or did BKP tell him to knock it the hell off? It might take a grizzly bear to stagemanage a grizzly bear.

After he went ape s*** over the Shumway's photo spread in Time, net rumor was that he had an upcoming appt with BKP. Since then, to my knowledge, he's been pretty tame.

Was that really a "net rumor"? I never heard that. Can you link to any other information on this? I.e., was this discussed elsewhere online?

[_lulu]

Was that really a "net rumor"? I never heard that. Can you link to any other information on this? I.e., was this discussed elsewhere online?

A lesson in why I shouldn't post things like that. I read exmormon, postmormon & here. Seems like that sort of thing that would be posted here. I couldn't find it using this site's search engine (which won't search "Peterson" or "Packer") nor using google.

Said something like "meeting" or "appointment" "next Wed" maybe "next week" "SLC." Posted by someone who would know DCP's schedule. Was discussing the future of apologtics or MI.

Shumway's photos ran Dec. 5, 2011. Maybe someone can come up with better search terms than I did.

If I ever find it, I probably won't remember why I was looking for it.

[_Doctor Scratch]

You know, Lulu, I do think I vaguely remember Dr. Peterson saying something along those lines himself--i.e., he was saying that he was heading to SLC to speak with one or more of the Brethren about M.I.-related issues. Could it be that he was given a dressing-down at this meeting? It's certainly possible, and I agree with you that he's been a lot more subdued since the Shumway debacle. But there are other possibilities, too. It could be that he was called on the carpet and threatened with discipline if he dares to engage to that same extent. It could be that he's simply terrified of responding--that he is turning cowardly as time goes by. It could be that this is a tactical move, and that he thinks he will be better off if he ceases commentary on things critics say. It could be that he has simply decided to try and ignore all criticism, and to focus on things that he mistakenly thinks are productive.

[_harmony]

The products from MI itself are ideas that might be sellable to the general public (spaghetti that will stick to the wall) which explain parts of the church that currently have limited appeal (a.k.a. strange)? MI are the brain stormers about issues that aren't selling well right now?

I don't know that any of it is secret. Maybe none of it needs to be, since 99.9% of the earth's population don't know about it or ignore it? And if it's open, more brain stormers, more ideas, better chance of finding ideas that work?

Not their main function. They exist to translate some boatload of ancient whatever. Or something. (could be the gold plates, but there would have been a press release from the Newsroom Prophet if they'd showed up again).

Apologetics is what they do for fun, not for work.

Maybe someone just wants to increase Dan's frequent flyer miles?

And narrow is the opposite of broad.

I don't understand your narrow question.[/quote]

[_lulu]

But there are other possibilities, too.

Well, there are other possibilities, like BKP becoming a purring kitty. Actually, in his last few talks, BKP's been throwing in a fair amount of humor. Now, that's new for him.

@#$ I wish I could find where I read about DCP's trip.