On Sept 9th, 2018 Mormon Bishop Sam Young was called to appear before a disciplinary council held by his Stake President and the members of the High Council in his local Sugarland Texas stake. Mr. Young has been active in promoting reform in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints – commonly known as the Mormons – particularly in the area of child protection and dangers around the long standing church policy of worthiness interviews in which leaders meet with children in private and discuss sexual subjects. There is an excellent article at Huffington Post which gives a good overview of how Sam got to this point.
We now know that the result of this hearing was excommunication.
Alma Appears
While Young signed an agreement before the council stating that he would not record the proceedings, someone under the name “Alma” produced a recording which was posted on the YouTube channel of NewNameNoah – the same channel which has previously published recordings of Mormon Temple ceremonies. Interestingly, the name Alma refers to a priest in the Book of Mormon who was converted to the side of righteousness after hearing Abinadi state his case before the wicked King Noah. Does this mean a member of the Stake High Council is secretly supportive of Sam and his efforts? I suppose time will tell.
Cherry Picking
The published recording is isolated to that part of the hearing where the Stake President lays out the evidence against Sam – evidence which is supposed to make the case that he is guilty of Apostasy and so should be excommunicated and cut off from fellowship and participation in the church. On first listening, you may hear the quotes provided by the Stake President and think that the case against Sam is fairly solid.
However, if you actually chase down each of the quotes provided and look for where they were obtained and in their full context you will notice something – the evidence is a patchwork of quotes taken out of context, with a sentence here and a few words there patched together to give the appearance of an apostate diatribe. It is the very definition of “Cherry Picking” which is ironic because Mormons have long accused critics of unfairly taking quotes out of context and cherry picking the words of Joseph Smith and Brigham Young and other leaders in order to make them look bad. To have a Stake President do this to someone like Sam Young is an embarrassing hypocrisy.
If you take the time to go through each cited blog post in context you can see that in many instances the Stake President skips over the parts of Sam’s writings which refer to Mormon scripture and doctrine about Common Consent – a foundational principle in church governance which requires members to voice their approval or disapproval of church leaders and decisions.
He also conveniently skips over parts of Sam’s writings in which he specifies that he is inviting people to participate in the principle of Common Consent to vote in disapproval if and only if they believe that is the right thing for them to do – he is not telling people to be opposed to the leaders for the sake of opposing the church alone as the Stake President makes it appear.
Unsurprisingly, the Stake President skips right over instances where Sam speaks of his Christian conscience and how his actions are an appeal to follow the example of Christ.
In one case cherry-picked quotes are provided from totally different blog posts without indication. In some instances, the quote is cut off mid-sentence.
In short – he presents a false depiction of the spirit, essence, and intent of Sam Young’s position and statements. This false foundation is what was then used to justify the action of excommunication.
YouTube
You can listen to the recording here:
Transcript
I have provided a transcript of the video and have placed an ellipsis at every point where the Stake President skips over context to stitch together his desired apostate narrative. You can click on the hyperlinks to go straight to the original source or you can click on the icons to have an image of the source open up which has the selected quotes highlighted and then you can see what words of Sam’s were skipped over or excluded in order to make him seem more “apostatey.”
Click to see reference from CHI with quoted segments highlighted
Let me begin by quoting from the church handbook of instructions. Bishops and Stake Presidents have a responsibility to help members overcome transgression through repentance. This responsibility includes counseling individual members as needed and helping them in their efforts to repent. In some circumstances, it requires administering church discipline. The term Church discipline refers to restrictions and conditions of repentance placed on a person…. Leaders administer Church discipline in a spirit of love so it can bless the life of the transgressor. To do this, leaders must be guided and inspired by the Lord…. Formal Church discipline is administered in a disciplinary council and can affect a member’s standing in the Church. The purposes of Church discipline are (1) to save the souls of the transgressors, (2) to protect the innocent, and (3) to safeguard the purity, Integrity, and good name of the Church. God does not overlook sin, and His servants cannot ignore evidence of serious transgressions.
Reference with quotes highlighted
A disciplinary council must be held when evidence suggests that a member may have committed any of the following transgressions. Apostasy – As used here, apostasy refers to members who repeatedly act in clear, open, and deliberate public opposition to the Church or its leaders. Priesthood leaders must take disciplinary action against apostates to protect Church members. The Savior taught the Nephites that they should continue to minister to a transgressor, “but if he repent not he shall not be numbered among my people, that he may not destroy my people”
Sam evidence suggests that you have, among other things, encouraged others to vote opposed to church leaders. And organized more than one public action that expressed opposition to the church or its leaders.
First. you’ve encouraged others to vote opposed to church leaders. Evidence is publicly available and I will be quoting your own words – using your own words.
Cherry Picked Quotes highlighted
March 12, 2017 – I quote: [Words are actually taken from a post dated March 9, 2017] Take responsibility for destroying the lds church…. Your sustaining vote upholds the violation of Christ’s law of common consent…. No favors are done for the apostles by simply saluting everytime they ask for a vote. Rather, we are putting them in danger of the corrupting influence of unfettered power…. Follow Jesus by Voting Opposed There is only one way that this beautiful part of the restoration will be restored to its rightful place. It up to us to take it into our hands and to lift them in opposition to the continued disobedience of the Savior’s Law of Common Consent. Go to conference, in your home, in your chapel, or in Salt Lake City, and vote to have our rights and privileges of consent restored.
cherry-picked quotes highlighted
[Words here are actually taken from a post dated March 26, 2017] The use of the wording: “sustain” or “opposed” – the words of Christ should be used “approve” or “disapprove” I don’t oppose, I disapprove….
Consider voting in disapproval, April 1st. When the disapproval vote is called for, raise your hand in your home and Church or at conference. Send an email to your bishop and stake president informing them of your vote. If so inclined, record your name on the common consent register. At this moment, 330 members have publicly registered their disapproval. It’s that simple.
Quote highlighted
May 18, 2017. [Words here actually taken from a blog post dated May 15, 2017 ] There have been two intentions behind my blogs, the Talkeria and the voting opposed initiative. #1: to help the church. #2: to help people. I’ve decided to drop #1 and advance #2 to #1. The good ship, Zion leaves a plenitude of damage in its wake. Damage to real live human beings. I’m turning away from helping the corporate church and turning exclusively toward helping those being beaten up by the boat.
cherry-picked quotes highlighted
September 23rd “Invitation to Vote Opposed–Together. On September 30th, the semiannual voting session of General conference will be held. Since April 2016, I have voted opposed at six different conferences at the general stake and ward levels…. At April’s general conference three of us to called out our opposing votes in the presence of 21,000 others who compliantly raised their sustaining hands…. This general conference, I plan to vote publicly…. I will be voting in plain sight on facebook live. I invite you to join me… live at my office… join facebook live on my facebook page… add your name to the common consent register – a record of those who disapprove. This has been live for 12 months. There are now 442 members who have openly cast their vote of disapproval. … Disregard for the law of common consent. This is a law from God, plainly taught in our scriptures, doctrine and pronouncements by prophets and apostles. Currently our top leadership is disobeying this commandment, and they are leading the entire church to follow that same disobedience. Closed quote.
Second. You have organized more than one public action that expressed opposition to the church or its leaders. Evidence is publicly available and I’ll be using your own words.
cherry-picked quotes highlighted
July 27, 2018 blog. I quote: One week ago today I met with my stake president. He had received personal revelation that it was urgent to give me a message…. “Walk away, Sam. walk away.
Cherry picked quotes highlighted
July 12, 2018 email – I quote: “My next action is planned for July 28th and 29th….. It’s an action that the church has never faced before. It will draw every bit as much attention as the march. In fact, it will have a bigger impact. Millions of people…. Preparations have been quietly underway for the past few weeks…. This action will be completely peaceful and legal and huge….
July 27th, 2018 blog. I quote: “One week ago today I met with my stake president. He received personal revelation that it was urgent to give me a message…. walk away Sam walk away. He asked me to seriously consider it. I said I would. After our meeting. I carefully deliberated within a few days my decision was firm…. I chose not to walk away. Rather, I would move full steam ahead with preparation for the action on July 28th and 29th…. I didn’t want to give the church advanced warning this time. In all our storied history, this would be the first time they’ve ever faced this type of action.
Quoting in the dialogue in the blog. Sam (I described all the elements of the action) Supporter: that has the potential to cause a real PR nightmare for the church. Sam: that’s what I’m counting on….
Obviously I have left out the PR nightmare, nightmare details… The coming action, nameless until Sunday, will be every bit as historic. This will be the first and maybe the only time this occurrence faces the church.
During the facebook live broadcast – I quote: “you have people you know who are considering joining the church. Please brief them of the danger to the children in the LDS church. This is probably not the optimal time for families with kids to join.”
Cherry picked quotes highlighted
August 19th, 2018 news conference address – quote: Our action will help the prophet release his revelation sooner than later…. The apostles had not made the changes that will offer full protection to our children….. As a result, the Mormon church remains the most unsafe institutional church for kids…. as an ordained bishop I challenge the Apostles… You are condoning immoral behavior, the world is listening…. The second challenge is the Samaritan challenge. I challenge the Apostles to be Samaritans, not the Priest in Christ’s parable. So far they have chosen to be priests…. Come out of your ivory tower… Apostles, though this policy you have harmed countless children…. You, dear Apostles, now understand. You are no longer innocent of the damage being done to our children. The next suicide from shame will be the laid at your feet. At this point, you have no excuse.
Desert News article – quotes highlighted.
August 30th, 2018 – Deseret News. I quote: My contention is I’m not opposed to the church or its leaders” Young said Thursday, “I’m opposed to a policy.” However, he allowed, “I can see how someone can interpret what I’m doing as opposition to the Apostles”… During the strike he also characterized the church’s position as “insane,” called it “the most extreme, unsafe church in America,” said “I would not join the church today” and encouraged others not to join.
cherry-picked quotes highlighted
September 5th 2018, Salt Lake City news conference. [Transcript here] I quote (about the church): “A cold, heartless, money-making machine of an institution… I will not be defending my membership…. The real purpose of the disciplinary council will be to put the institution on trial” close quote.
Sam, That’s the evidence that I have. You will now be afforded 45 minutes to give your response and we won’t interrupt you or Patty [unintelligible] question the council [unintelligible] give a response. You previously identified Patty, and we appreciate you being here, as a witness [unintelligible] comment on the evidence and make any other statements you desire. As I mentioned earlier, Brother Powell will account for the time allotted. If you choose he can provide updates at fifteen minute intervals.
Conclusion
It is impossible to hold a hearing if you are going to have to include every single statement made – time does not allow it. Selecting and presenting demonstrative quotes is a necessary part of such a hearing. However, the degree of cherry-picking seen here without any indication to the audience of High Councillors that the words presented are different than originally put forth is nothing short of dishonest. It is disrespectful to those men whose names are going to be attached to the actions of the council because it makes them party to dishonest proceedings.
Remember that the evidence presented in this hearing is supposed to be the worst, most plainly obvious proof of apostasy. If you cannot make the case of Apostasy without distorting and misrepresenting the words of the accused, then you open yourself up to the criticism that you fabricated evidence to support a predetermined verdict – the very essence of a kangaroo court. This is an embarrassment to the church and to the offices of Stake President and High Councilman as it paints them with the stain of corruption of power.
I confess that I doubt that the Stake President, acting alone, would have thought it proper and ethical to create such a patchwork narrative. Common, good, normal people don’t operate in such an openly deceptive way. I agree with those who observe that the evidence was likely gathered and prepared by higher church authority and provided to the Stake President for use in the council, nicely wrapped with a predetermined verdict. One commenter on Reddit observed that the boilerplate response about church discipline has changed since the days of Kate Kelly and John Dehlin and now the language leaves room for the higher church authorities to coordinate and direct disciplinary actions – with the local leader being the ones who *administer* it.
Were it not for “Alma” and the secret recording we would not even be aware that such a distortion of justice had taken place in the hearing. While it is true that these councils are not courts of law and have no formal rules of evidence – basic honesty and decency require that you at least allow a man’s words to reflect the reality of what was actually said if they are going to be used to cast him into outer darkness.
I imagine many church defenders might look at this and say “so what – it doesn’t matter if Sam said some good sounding stuff at times – it is the worst words he said which convict him as an apostate worthy of excommunication, even if taken out of the full context.”
I would observe that this is a dangerous position for the faithful. If you take that same idea and apply it to Joseph Smith, then it validates the critics of the Prophet who bring up quotes which demonstrate deception, racism, pride, sexism, coercion and predation. Those “worst words” would convict him of the same.
