Leaked video of former US Senator Gordon Smith of Oregon talking with Mormon leaders (the Mormon “apostles”) reveals details I find disturbing:

• he repeatedly, explicitly states that his loyalty* to the church is above that to the US, with the specific example of fighting gay marriage against the desires of his voters
• he describes how he was directly ordered to run for office by the church
• he states he was against the Iraq war but voted for it to expand Mormon influence in the Middle East
• he describes how important having loyal* church members in US Congress is for directly expanding the church’s influence, including business interests, in the US and abroad, with specific examples of using his office for church reasons
• he casually remarks that some of his information “may be classified”
• it is discussed that his staffers reported directly to and took orders directly from church officials

This is part of a larger series of leaked videos of Mormon leaders, another of which features the only time I’ve heard “homosexual agenda” used seriously.

https://www.wweek.com/news/2016/10/03/mormon-leaks-video-features-former-u-s-sen-gordon-smith-r-ore/

https://www.reddit.com/r/exmormon/comments/55iq5z/the_gordon_smith_leak_is_scandalous/

http://archive.sltrib.com/article.php?id=4424105&itype=CMSID

*In several places the term “temple recommend” is used. This is approval to receive the endowment [1] ceremonies, and indicates a Mormon member in good standing. In the endowment, members swear [2] to dedicate everything, including their lives, to the church. Until 1990 the ceremony included specific oaths [3] to sooner kill oneself than reveal details of the ceremony. Until the 1930s the ceremony included a specific oath [4] to take vengeance on the US for the death of Joseph Smith. Mormons believe that only those who have undergone endowment are admitted to (the highest circle of) heaven.

[1]  Wikipedia

[2]  Wikipedia

[3]  Wikipedia

[4]  Wikipedia

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