There’s been something of a storm in on-line LDS groups over the course of the last week, centred on a message from emeritus Seventy Lawrence Corbridge¹. There is a suspicion that Elder Corbridge was responding to the new book by Jeff Strong, Torn, in which Jeff discusses research into why more than 40% of people who were fully active and participating members of the Church twenty years ago have since left the religion.

Elder Corbridge’s contentious statement came in a video produced with Scripture Central, an organisation funded by the LDS Church to the tune of millions of dollars, so there is also the suspicion that his message is at least approved by the Church, although I’m also sure that a great many of the General Authorities of the Church would disagree with him – at least in private².

This is what he said, ‘Darth Vader could be your bishop. The culture could be like Alcatraz and it will not drive you away.’

Continue reading →