The MormonLeaks site continues to periodically post documents providing a bit of inside information on the operation of LDS bureaucracy and leadership. The latest batch of posted documents includes a powerpoint graphic showing various threats to the Church. Well, included — in response to a "take down" letter from the Church, that graphic has since been removed from the site MormonLeaks used to displaying it, as related in an SL Trib story, "LDS Church goes after MormonLeaks." The graphic is still available (for the moment) at the Mormon Stories page for the podcast in which several panelists discuss the interesting graphic.
The graphic divides the identified threats into four categories:
- Threats from the Left: Ordain Women, John Dehlin, secularism, incredulity over LDS history, and disagreement with current policies (likely a reference to widespread unhappiness with the November 2015 policy).
- Threats from the Right: False prophets, Denver Snuffer, Last Days and end-of-the-world predictions, Robert Norman, Church has lost its way or is deficient, and people who need "something more."
- Sin or Inactivity: Chastity, lack of righteousness, lack of commitment, sabbath, and pornography.
- Unhappiness with Mormon Culture: One catch-all subcategory labeled "Language and cultural problems." This may refer to the frustration some LDS outside the USA have with the American focus of Mormon culture, even overseas, or it may refer to the increasingly politicized nature of Mormon culture with the USA, marching almost in lock step with the Republican Party.
That's actually a pretty good list. While the graphic has prompted the usual griping from online LDS commentators, it is actually reassuring to know that LDS leaders are at least aware of the broad spectrum of challenges presently facing the Church and its membership. I wish there were a second graphic displaying a realistic action plan for each subcategory. Maybe that will come out in the next batch of MormonLeaks documents.
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