Lesley Butterfield, Bryce Blankenagel and I create a very strong case for why we all should care about the Strengthening Church Members Committee and their top secret files obtained through secret spies and online moles. We learned quite a few things during our call to the SCMC office, call in Episode 73, and we bring in current events that make these discoveries even more significant. The recent Vice piece chronicling the sex abuse case in West Virginia and how they focus on the LDS Church “Helpline” becomes a vital tie in. And did you catch the Panel of Women at the Women’s Conference at BYU who told all the women in the church how to submit when Priesthood leaders are being dismissive? Yuck! It is aaaaaalll related! Be sure and listen to Episode 75 as well, as this is a 2 part discussion. The videos for these episodes are already on Patreon, where subscribers got a super early release!
Links mentioned in this episode:
- Video of Panel Part 1
- Video of Panel Part 2
- Video of Panel Part 3
- Jump to Part 2 of Discussion, Episode 75
- Radio Free Mormon and his Call to Elder Dyches of the SCMC
- VICE: The Mormon Church Has Been Accused of using a Victim’s Hotline to Hide Claims of Sexual Abuse
- Deseret News: Latter Day Saint Spokesman Denounces news story about church’s abuse response
- Deposition Notes RE: Kirton McConkie involvement in the Bishop’s Helpline
- Panel of Women at BYU: How to respond to a Dismissive Priesthood Leader
- Episode art found here
- VENMO for Mormon Happy Hour one time donations
- Music by bensound.com and by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 - Transition pieces found here
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Today, 3 Mormons are back to call the Strengthening Church Members Committee. This Committee serves the church leadership as an Orwellian group of dutiful spies who track down the activities of members who have been deemed apostate. These files contain screenshots of online activities and other evidence of apostasy. Once a member gains the level of public attention that is deemed problematic to the LDS highest authority, the member’s local leaders, Bishops and Stake Presidents, are given the go-ahead to begin disciplinary action. As you may remember from MHH Ep57, myself, Lesley Butterfield and Bryce Blankenagel are still members of record and have not yet resigned for unique reasons. So we decided to call Elder Dyches this morning to obtain what information was found in our prospective SCMC member files. Listen in to see how it went and what new information we gained! Lesley asks specifically about what recourse members have who are abused by the very local ecclesiastical leaders that Church HQ refers us back to when we raise concern. Don’t miss Part 2 where we discuss this call and all the new information and its significance later today.
I bet you didn’t know, but Lesley Butterfield, Bryce Blankenagel and Colleen Payne Dietz have not yet resigned from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, more popularly referred to as the “Wins For Satan” Church, following President Nelson’s admonishment to cease using the term “Mormon” as it causes “wins for Satan.” We will oblige, President Nelson. Join 3 Mormon panelists (shoot I said Mormon) as we each share our own reasons for not utilizing the amazing service available at quitmormon.com to alleviate ourselves off the records of “The Church” (also an authorized term)…just yet. We discover our reasons are all very different and unique, but we agree on so many passionate feels! 1 part thoughtful discussion, 2 parts bitch fest. Don’t worry, we take turns. As always, if you’d prefer to watch this panel instead of just listen, follow the links below to MHH’s Patreon page! And don’t forget to check out the 2018 Brodie Awards Nominations! Vote for Mormon Happy Hour!
Marie Kent, of My Book of Mormon Podcast and Lesley Butterfield of Mormon Women Speak Podcast get together with Colleen to provide a bit of feminist reaction to the most recent General Conference. A fascinating conversation that even took us to debate works-based faith versus grace-based faith. And of course, the 10-day Social Media fast issued ONLY to the women.
Colleen shares her celebration of Pride Week with Lesley Butterfield by telling the story of her cousin’s beautiful gay
The Angels on Fire have strong feelings regarding the LDS First Presidency’s World Tour message to the people of Kenya. Colleen and Miranda are joined by a friend of the show, Julian Jesse, who shares his experiences, research, and feelings regarding Nelson’s remarks in Africa. Last week, Lesley Butterfield wrote an Op-Ed published in the Sunday edition of the Salt Lake Tribune. In it, she powerfully calls the LDS Patriarchy out for their lack of appropriate response to the pervasive spiritual abuses within The Church. She joins the Angels on Fire once again to discuss her activism to bring awareness to ecclesiastical abuse, especially through her own website, Unrighteous Dominion. Miranda brings a marvelous new Post-Mormon Life Pro-Tip topic to the show, SEX! We have opened a can of misguided worms, so consider this Part 1 of a lively discussion regarding Mormon Sex Myths! Bonus material is up on our Patreon page!