More Sinister than the SCMC?

[_Mister Scratch]

I have been re-reading Quinn's The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power and have thus had the chance to look over his terrific chapter entitled, "Priesthood Rule and Shadow Governments." What I realized is that some of my remarks about the SCMC, and what I see as its essentially "sinister" and "disturbing" character, have been based partially on a slight mis-reading. I have been under the impression that the SCMC sometimes engages is certain kinds of espionage, including surveillance, but it turns out that this isn't entirely accurate. Rather, according to Quinn (cf. pg. 312) it is actually a subset of Church Security which deals with "intelligence gathering, including surveillance."

So where does the SCMC fit into this? As Quinn puts it, "The [SCMC] also receives surveillance reports and other information about LDS members from the Correlation Department, Public Affairs Department, Church Security Department, security officers of ZCMI department store..." etc. (pg. 312; emphasis mine). So, on top of the excursions to tape record speeches given by rogue members, it seems that the SCMC is responsible for gathering a collating this "intelligence gathering, including surveillance" that "Confidential Services" handles. So, get out your tinfoil hats!

[_karl61]

ZCMI? "Bishop Johnson just bought some pink crotchless panties" input in database stat.

[_Scottie]

ZCMI? "Bishop Johnson just bought some pink crotchless panties" input in database stat.

Except that ZCMI doesn't exist any more.

[_Mister Scratch]

ZCMI? "Bishop Johnson just bought some pink crotchless panties" input in database stat.

Except that ZCMI doesn't exist any more.

Good point. Quinn notes that Church Security administration consisted of "45 people," and that was back during the mid-'90s. I would imagine that if any sector of Church bureaucracy has expanded, it would be Church Security, and, along with it, the very disturbing "Confidential Services" faction.

[_karl61]

cool: they want to rumble then my team will be waiting.

[_moksha]

So BYU Security Force graduates are able to put their special ops training into further Church service and employment, eh?

[_Sethbag]

Yeah. First they caught the girls with the tennis rackets in their windows at Helaman Halls, now they're going to catch apostates! Yee-haw!

[_The Nehor]

How does Quinn know any of this?

[_Scottie]

Yeah. First they caught the girls with the tennis rackets in their windows at Helaman Halls, now they're going to catch apostates! Yee-haw!

LOL....ahhhh yes. The whores of BYU.

[_Trevor]

So where does the SCMC fit into this? As Quinn puts it, "The [SCMC] also receives surveillance reports and other information about LDS members from the Correlation Department, Public Affairs Department, Church Security Department, security officers of ZCMI department store..." etc. (pg. 312; emphasis mine). So, on top of the excursions to tape record speeches given by rogue members, it seems that the SCMC is responsible for gathering a collating this "intelligence gathering, including surveillance" that "Confidential Services" handles. So, get out your tinfoil hats!

Seriously, I would love to see more serious research done on the history of security and intelligence gathering in Mormonism, from Danites to the present. I recall my trip to the old church office building in SLC. In the subterranean parking lot there were security guys who looked like Secret Service types. LDS Security must be serious business, and I would like more of the inside poop. Of course, the story would not be complete without a discussion of historical documents, and even the shenanigans that both apologists and critics engage in as they battle over Mormonism's public image.