Criticism of Mormonism/Websites/MormonThink/Media efforts by MormonThink editor David Twede/David Twede in his own words

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A FAIR Analysis of: MormonThink A work by author: David Twede

MormonThink editor David Twede says...
"I hide my name precisely because of things like this....I know a lot of members don’t want their life disturbed. In the Mormon church, if you’re not part of the uniform group, you are ostracized."^[1]

Things to think about

In this blog post Twede tells anti-Mormon readers that he doesn't want his identity to be known because his efforts to use his membership in the Church to deliberately weaken the faith of others could result in Church discipline.

• Why does Twede not disclose that he, by his own admission, only returned to Church attendance so he could claim that the hostile MormonThink.com site was run by "active members"?
  • "I may be here [at Church] for the long haul. MormonThink [now because of me] has an active member as managing editor. Attending is my cross to bear (one prior edtior had to resign quietly when the church came for him, something I may find difficult to forestall in my case)." - David Twede, blog post, 12 September 2012.

• Why does Twede not disclose that he used his claim to be a practicing, attending Mormon to deliberately undermine the faith of members?
  • "As the new managing editor at M[ormon] T[hink], and to encourage developing MormonThink with credibility and with pertinent information & experiences, I have decided I will renew my attendance at my assigned ward in Central Florida. I don't know if this is long term or not, but I am a member of record without blemish on my membership except inactivity in recent years." — Post by "mormonthinker" [David Twede] on ex-Mormon message board Recovery from Mormonism, 6 September 2012, 8:42 a.m.
  • "Going to church, as current managing editor (other editors are not returning, are resigned or completely out) is for me to both build perspective ...and to increase [MormonThink] credibility--that an attending mormon is actually one of the essential staff at M[ormon] T[hink]. — Post by "mormonthinker" [David Twede] on ex-Mormon message board Recovery from Mormonism, 7 September 2012, 10:28 a.m.
  • Anti-Mormon editors hiding their views and attending Church to more easily spread doubt is a common tactic admitted by MormonThink.

• Why does Twede not tell the press that he knew that what he was doing would be grounds for Church discipline?
  • "I don't want anyone I meet in person to know I'm associated with, let alone managing editor at, MormonThink. I don't even want Pat [a member Twede was trying to lead away from the Church] to find it serendipitously--it could get me in a sort of pickle and cut short my church activity." - David Twede, blog post, 12 September 2012.
  • "Attending is my cross to bear (one prior editor had to resign quietly when the church came for him, something I may find difficult to forestall in my case)." - David Twede, blog post, 12 September 2012.

MormonThink editor David Twede says...
"[W]hy would I take these photos [of LDS temples] after leaving this religion? Because, I plan to sell them and recoup my donations over the years! hahahahaha!"^[2]

Things to think about

In February 2010, Twede publicly makes it clear that he has left the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

• Why did Twede publicly and openly claim that he had left the LDS Church in 2010, but now claims he's a "member in good standing" unless he's trying to deceive other members and the press about his acts and intentions?
  • "I need to play stoic; switch on the poker face [at Church] so that...I don't stand out in character. Not yet." - David Twede, blog post, 12 September 2012.

MormonThink editor David Twede says...
"I may not have the beliefs I once had, but I feel a kinship to the culture....I don’t want to lose that. Losing my membership would be sad for me and my family."^[3]

Things to think about

Twede ends his post with a paragraph of sexual innuendo discussing a fellow church-goer, and a photo mocking LDS temple standards.

• If Twede feels a kinship with Mormon culture, why did his blog and public Facebook posts ridicule and express contempt for members of the Church and their beliefs?
  • "The theological discussions were rather dull, even for me...."
  • "It's funny that the adults are the ones playing pretend at church and the children are honest" (italics in original).
  • "I find myself sighing and eye-rolling at the phrase-tossing 'Book of Mormon' this and 'Joseph Smith' that."
  • "I text a friend who's left Mormonism long ago and with whom I console myself when I need to dull my LDS-pain." - David Twede, blog post, 12 September 2012.

MormonThink editor David Twede says...
...he feels kinship with LDS culture.

Things to think about

Twede mocks religious believers as unreasoning and irrational.

• Yet, within LDS culture, the private and sacred nature of the LDS temple ceremony is well understood. Twede would have known that believing members would find his actions offensive and inappropriate in one claiming to be a member. Why then was one of Twede's first actions as editor of MormonThink to return explicit material critical of LDS temple worship to the MormonThink site?
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MormonThink editor David Twede says...
...that Church leaders were concerned about his publication of LDS temple materials.^[4]

Things to think about

• If this is true, then why did Twede collaborate with ex-Mormon Steve Benson in preparing a press release claiming he was being silenced for his political opinions? Why did Twede's press release not mention the temple angle, but instead emphasized the political dimensions?

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MormonThink editor David Twede says...
"[Twede] described himself as a fifth-generation Mormon but 'agnostic, a doubter.'"^[5]

Things to think about

• Why does Twede describe himself to the press in terms of uncertainty ("doubter," or "agnostic") but earlier declare on-line that he was frankly atheist?
  • "I've returned to attend the Mormon church after five years of atheism." - David Twede, blog post, 12 September 2012.

== Notes ==

1. [note]  David Twede, cited in Jamie Reno, "Mormons Want to Excommunicate Romney Critic," The Daily Beast (21 September 2012).
2. [note]  David Twede, Facebook post, 2 February 2010, 5:28 p.m.
3. [note]  David Twede, cited in Peggy Fletcher Stack, "Mormon blogger, a Romney critic, faces church discipline, but why?" The Salt Lake Tribune (21 September 2012).
4. [note]  Stack, "Mormon blogger," op cite.
5. [note]  David Twede, cited in Stephen Hudak, "Writer says blog miffs Mormons," Orlando Sentinel (21 September 2012).