Strengthening Church Members Committee
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In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Strengthening Church Members Committee (SCMC) is a committee of general authorities who monitor the publications of church members for possible criticism of local and general leaders of the church. If criticism is found, the committee may forward information to local church authorities, who may bring charges of apostasy, which can result in excommunication.
The committee was formed sometime during the administration of church President Ezra Taft Benson (Time 1994), soon after Benson became president in 1985 (Quinn). The existence of the committee became known in 1991, when a 1990 church memo from general authority Glenn L. Pace referencing the committee was published by an anti-Mormon ministry. The committee was one of the subjects discussed in the 1992 Sunstone Symposium in talks by Lavina Fielding Anderson and Eugene England (then a BYU professor) on August 6, 1992. Soon thereafter, the Salt Lake Tribune published news stories on the subject (Tribune, August 8, 1992 and August 15, 1992). In response, the LDS Church spokesman Don LeFevre acknowledged the existence of the committee (St. Petersburg 1992). LeFevre said that the committee "receives complaints from church members about other members who have made statements that 'conceivably could do harm to the church'", then the committee will "pass the information along to the person's ecclesiastical leader." According to LeFevre, however, "the committee neither makes judgments nor imposes penalties." Discipline is "entirely up to the discretion of the local leaders." (St. Petersburg 1992)
The existence of the committee became national news. Speaking to the New York Times, LeFevre stated that the committee "provides local church leadership with information designed to help them counsel with members who, however well-meaning, may hinder the progress of the church through public criticism." (Times 1992). He denied that such referrals were intended to intimidate scholars. The First Presidency then issued a statement on August 22, 1992 defended the committee based on a 1839 letter to Joseph Smith, Jr. while he was in prison after a period of intense persecution (see Mormon War), now canonized by the church (D&C 123), that directed church leaders to establish a committee for "gathering up a knowledge of all the facts, and sufferings and abuses put on" church members, and the "names of all persons that have had a hand in their oppressions" (LDS Church 1992). The statement indicated that the members were then James E. Faust and Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
In 1993, apostle Dallin H. Oaks characterized the committee as a "clipping service" that "may have monitored speeches, writings and activities of those suspected of apostasy and passed on material to church officials" (Arizona Republic 1993).
[edit] References
- Sophfronia, Scott Gregory (June 13, 1994), “Saints Preserve Us: The Mormons are likely to choose another aged, ailing leader, but nevertheless their church is thriving”, Time 143 (24), <http://www.lds-mormon.com/time1994.shtml>.
- Religious News Service (August 15, 1992), “Mormon Church keeps files on its dissenters”, St. Petersburg Times: 6e, <http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/sptimes/access/54264585.html?dids=54264585:54264585&FMT=FT&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Aug+15%2C+1992&author=&pub=St.+Petersburg+Times&edition=&startpage=6.E&desc=Mormon+Church+keeps+files+on+its+dissenters>.
- Steinfels, Peter (August 22, 1992), “Secret Files”, New York Times, <http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F10615FC35540C718EDDA10894DA494D81> (subscription required).
- LDS Church (August 22, 1992), First Presidency Statement
- Arizona Republic (November 1993).
