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?
• This message from Twede to Steve Benson shows the final press release as it existed when Twede was being interviewed by The Daily Beast. Note that it emphasizes Twede's articles about Romney and makes no mention of the temple. The Daily Beast published their article based upon this:

Posted by: steve benson [on Recovery from Mormonism] Date: September 20, 2012 10:55AM

This revised and expanded press release was subsequently provided directly to me, via email from the managing editor at "MormonThink.com," with the following explanation. including additional information:

"Steve, here is the latest statement.

"Also note, Jamie has been approved to publish an article with 'Newsweek/Daily Beast.' We've also got request to talk with 'Salon' and Peggy Stack at [the] 'SL Trib.' Also a feeler went to the 'NY Times' from an associate of an editor there.

"I'm feeling overwhelmed at the moment, and can imagine it will get worse. Thanks for your help."

(David further advised me in a separate communication that he has now been interviewed at some length by the "Newsweek/Daily Beast" reporter, which means national press coverage. Other major media outlets have also expressed interest). .

Below is the updated news release (with the added details appearing in the last two graphs):

"Last week, on September 11, 13 and 15, David [name deleted] the managing editor of MormonThink.com posted a series of articles on the political history of the LDS Church, as it relates to Mitt Romney’s campaign and his stubbornness of keeping his tax forms secret.

"As managing editor, David is a life-long, fifth-generation Mormon in good standing.

"Then on September 16, his LDS Bishop, LDS Stake President and two Church executives brought David into [name of state deleted] Mormon Church offices at the [name of city deleted]-based congregation and interrogated him about his writings, telling him 'Cease and desist, Brother [last name deleted].' In a letter they scheduled an excommunication 'for apostasy' on September 30 at 7:30am, to remove David from the LDS church.

"During the interrogation, LDS leaders questioned David for not publishing his full name and hiding his identity. To the leaders, David insisted that, 'In my heart I believe I am championing truth as I know it as managing editor of MormonThink.'

"The next question from them was: 'Who are the other individuals you work with on MormonThink?' They denied that they are on--in their word--'a witch hunt' but they continued demanding that David answer, 'If people are truly interested in truth, as you say they are, then why would they hide their name or who they are?'

"Many of us have seen the harm openly raising doubts can cause with family, friends and community in the Mormon culture. David asked them why now, and how did they come up with his name so fast after posting the articles. They would only say they were 'inspired.' He’s since heard that a Mormon apologist tied to the BYU affiliated FAIR alerted leaders in Salt Lake City, with David’s identity.

"The quick action is being kept quiet by the LDS Church. Despite the harm it may cause him with his family and friends, David has decided that the public should be aware of what is happening within the walls of the Mormon Church to those that dissent during this 'Mormon Moment.'"

• By the time the reporters from the New York Times and Salt Lake Tribune interviewed Twede, they had seen the Daily Beast article and were skeptical that the reason for the discipline was the result of anything he said about Romney. The New York Times concluded,

Mr. Twede’s situation was first reported on Friday by the Web site The Daily Beast, which suggested that Mr. Twede was being disciplined because he had posted several articles on MormonThink critical of Mr. Romney.

In an interview, however, Mr. Twede said he was not certain that this was the reason he was facing excommunication. He has also written posts on his personal blog, linked to MormonThink, about how he recently started attending church again after five years as an atheist. He described how he had struck up a friendship with a Mormon he called Pat and had e-mailed materials to Pat and Pat’s spouse that he hoped would shake their faith. ^[5]

Peggy Fletcher Stack of the Salt Lake Tribune noted after interviewing Twede,

But, Twede told The Salt Lake Tribune on Friday, his LDS leaders never brought up Romney, a Mormon, in their exchange with him. Though not supporting the Republican standard-bearer, Twede apologized to Romney, saying, "I didn’t mean for [the story] to go this way."

MormonThink editor David Twede says...
"[Twede] described himself as a fifth-generation Mormon but 'agnostic, a doubter.'"^[6]

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] 
6. [note]  David Twede, cited in Stephen Hudak, "Writer says blog miffs Mormons," Orlando Sentinel (21 September 2012).