Mormon guy's adoption scheme...again

[Palerider]

I'm glad the church has denounced this scheme. That's awfully brave of them.

https://5newsonline.com/2019/11/11/morm ... on-scheme/

So, having read this latest article on the Arizona Mormon who set up this adoption scheme, I was puzzled by a couple of comments from Elder Rasband. When asked to comment on the case:

1. Rasband said, "Being a Latter Day Saint doesn't exhonerate him."

2. He also said, "The church will be reviewing his membership as soon as his trial is over."

I don't understand why Rasband would say his being a Latter-day Saint "doesn't exhonerate him." That seems like a really odd statement of the obvious. I mean, how could it exhonerate him? To me his membership is irrelevant. So why even bring it up as a possibility of being exculpatory? Do I go too far in saying that this statement sounds kind of.....stupid?

Or is he subliminally implying that in some cases being a Latter-day Saint can put one above the law?

The other thing I find interesting is that I thought the Q15 wanted to maintain that all these matters were handled on a "local basis". So why is an Apostle stating that "the church" is going to be reviewing this guy's membership after his trial is over? Isn't that up to his Bishop and SP???

Did Rasberryband just inadvertently tip his hand here?

[Anon70]

I had the same reaction to #2. Felt like a gotcha moment. I also found it odd that he even commented. Don’t the GAs keep quiet until told to speak up? Isn’t the MO to let the official church spokesman make the comment?

[moksha]

Or is he subliminally implying that in some cases being a Latter-day Saint can put one above the law?

Being LDS (and Republican) has not only helped a couple of criminal Attorney Generals escape jail time but ultimately netted them remuneration from the State of Utah. Elder Rasband's comment was meant for the judge and jury of Mr. Peterson's trial. They will follow what a General Authority tells them.

[Corsair]

I had the same reaction to #2. Felt like a gotcha moment. I also found it odd that he even commented. Don’t the GAs keep quiet until told to speak up? Isn’t the MO to let the official church spokesman make the comment?

I have a strong testimony that Elder Rasband was moved upon the spirit of Kirton McConkie and provided with the most appropriate statement to make before the unbelieving press.

[Hagoth]

Did Rasberryband just inadvertently tip his hand here?

I think he is unquestioningly tipping his hat. He is displaying a mode of thinking that is common to Mormons (and, I suppose, to any fundamentalist in-group). There are basically two kinds of people: Mormons (the Good Ones) and non-Mormons (a mixed bag of Bad Ones and potentially Good Ones, assuming they eventually become actual Good Ones). Just think how often LDS people speak of others as Members or Non-Members, as in "he's a non-member, but he's still a pretty decent guy."

[moksha]

Here are some excellent articles from a crack investigative unit in Hawaii on the scope of this problem. Peterson is mentioned numerous times. Baby selling is apparently a very lucrative business.

https://www.civilbeat.org/2018/11/why-a ... -worked-2/

https://www.civilbeat.org/2018/11/marsh ... e-lawyers/

https://d1l18ops95qbzp.cloudfront.net/w ... _1998_.jpg
The last story shows how this baby-selling business grew straight out of his mission to the Marshall Islands.

[Fifi de la Vergne]

Here are some excellent articles from a crack investigative unit in Hawaii on the scope of this problem. Peterson is mentioned numerous times. Baby selling is apparently a very lucrative business.

https://www.civilbeat.org/2018/11/why-a ... -worked-2/

https://www.civilbeat.org/2018/11/marsh ... e-lawyers/

https://d1l18ops95qbzp.cloudfront.net/w ... _1998_.jpg
The last story shows how this baby-selling business grew straight out of his mission to the Marshall Islands.

I'm curious if anyone has more information about the Matt Long mentioned in the last article. I had heard that Matt Long of Infants on Thrones was Peterson's attorney. I had not heard, as is apparently the case, that he and Peterson were mission companions in the Marshall Islands and that Long was also involved in the adoptions. Anybody know?

[Anon70]

I had the same reaction to #2. Felt like a gotcha moment. I also found it odd that he even commented. Don’t the GAs keep quiet until told to speak up? Isn’t the MO to let the official church spokesman make the comment?

I have a strong testimony that Elder Rasband was moved upon the spirit of Kirton McConkie and provided with the most appropriate statement to make before the unbelieving press.

I felt the spirit when I read your testimony.