| Title: | The Glory of God is Intelligence. |
| Moderator: | BSS::RONEY |
| Created: | Thu Jan 28 1988 |
| Last Modified: | Fri Apr 25 1997 |
| Last Successful Update: | Fri Jun 06 1997 |
| Number of topics: | 460 |
| Total number of notes: | 6198 |
A new topic was introduced into note 105 concerning possible control of the
news media by the LDS Church. I felt that that topic should be in a new note,
and with Gary's agreement I have moved the appropriate replies from 105 to this
note.
Allen
-- moderator
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Note 105.53 REPLIES TO NOTE 38.4 53 of 54
TEMPE1::LARSEN 27 lines 23-JUN-1988 03:52
-< Media Control? >-
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Re: .52
Paul,
Not to start another topic but since the subject of
the Mormon churches control of the media etc. was brought up,
to your knowledge, just how much control is exercised over
the media and the different organizations under its control?
I lived in Salt Lake for many years and it was a point of
frequent conjecture by Mormons and non Mormons in Utah.
As a Mormon I am aware of how little actual control was ever
attempted on any of us, by the Church even if we were employed
by the Church. Come to think of it I am amazed at how little
control they try to exert within the actual church organization
itself. Some times I wish they would give a lot more direction
on how fulfill some of the callings.
But you were apparently closer to the workings of the Church
organization, what is your opinion of how much actual control
is exercised over such organizations as KSL radio station, the
Deseret News, and the TV station (is it still KSL also?)?
How official is it if it does not have that magic number on it
but it published by Covenant Recording, Beehive Press, or Book Craft?
| T.R | Title | User | Personal Name | Date | Lines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 140.1 | Mormon control of the media - never! | CACHE::LEIGH | Fri Jun 24 1988 11:34 | 42 | |
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Note 105.54 REPLIES TO NOTE 38.4 54 of 54
SLSTRN::RONDINA 37 lines 23-JUN-1988 12:56
-< Mormon control of the media - never! >-
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Concerning Church control over the media in Salt Lake City:
I do not know the answer to this question. However, I can tell
you that when I did work for the Church, Office of the Presiding
Bishtopric, little or no "control" was ever to my knowledge exerted
in those areas we worked in. I know this fact because when trying
to understand why some stakes or wards of the Church did not adhere
to standard policy or guidelines, we would be told that each Stake
President and Bishop exercised a certain amount of autonomony, and
the Church respected this local autonomy.
One of the fundamental principles of our Church is free will/agency;
the right of each individual to choose for themself. So control
and manipulation as far as I am concerned are as foreign to our
Church as can be. Yes, we receive counsel, guidance, suggestions,
guidelines, encouragements, and admonitions from our church leaders,
but contro and domination, never!!!! As a matter of fact our Scriptures
warn us against the exercise of "unrighteous dominion".
There are many things I like about the LDS Church, one of the
principles I like most is this one of giving the individual his
or her own choice to heed and follow or to disregard.
Many of the Mormon detractors like to paint a picture of some kind
of "Mormon conspiracy" that "gets people" when they disagree or
drop out. I have read these preposterous stories in The Godmakers
and wondered how any thinking American in the 1980's could possibly
think that these ludicrous stories could be even faintly true.
So, Dave, this note is a long way around to say that IF the Church
controls the media, I have not seen it. The Mormon culture, which
"seeks after truth", "tells us to prove all things", and "hold to
that which is true", would not exist for a day if authoritarian
control and domination were exercised.
Paul
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