Harry Reid fireside canceled due to threats?

[scottie]

Do any Nevada CUFers know anything about this?:

http://www.millennialstar.org/guest-...omment-page-2/

I was shocked today to read a description of the behavior of our fellow Latter-day Saints in Nevada who call themselves political conservatives or Republicans. From what I gather, a Stake Presidency in Nevada invited Harry Reid to speak at a “Why I Believe” fireside (Harry Reid has spoken at other such firesides in other stakes and at other functions). Members of that stake were apparently outraged at the suggestion that a Mormon with a different political viewpoint than their own might bear testimony. A member of the stake described what happened in her personal blog, The Backordered Life.

Members of her stake apparently threatened to protest with signs and to heckle Harry Reid from the audience (in a fireside about a person’s testimony! — I would guess that these same people are the type who would strongly discourage clapping after a musical number at a fireside). It seems that Senator Reid even received some threats of violence causing concern for his safety that ultimately got the fireside canceled. Members of the stake allegedly sent emails to the Stake Presidency saying that Harry Reid was the most evil man on the planet and that the Stake Presidency must be evil too to have even considered letting him bear his testimony:

One man said, “If I see Harry Reid in the temple, I’m going to hit him.” Another told our stake president, “Harry Reid is the most evil man on the earth, and you and your counselors are next.” . . .

There were even people weighing in from out of state. One woman called from St. George, Utah; my husband took the call, and she gave him a message for our stake president: “You’re a wicked man for allowing this to happen.”

...

[Sleeping in EQ]

I'm not shocked. I think the powers that be on South Temple have been trying to nudge the nutjobs back from the cliff with gentle admonishments about anger, but its time for stronger rhetoric and/or action.

CB is full of this stuff, as you well know.

[byu71]

Do any Nevada CUFers know anything about this?:

http://www.millennialstar.org/guest-...omment-page-2/

I call Bull Shit!!

[Jarid in Cedar]

I call Bull Shit!!

I hope this is TIC as I have heard similar comments wandering around hospital and around the ward house.

Political extremists worry me about the same as religious extremists.

[All-American]

BYU invited Harry Reid to speak at a forum not so long ago. I thought he gave a very good address. Hopefully, for others in attendance (as it did for me), the speech went a long way in showing that a good person with good intentions can look at the same problems and believe in different solutions, and that there's nothing wrong with that.

[Jarid in Cedar]

Hopefully, for others in attendance (as it did for me), the speech went a long way in showing that a good person with good intentions can look at the same problems and believe in different solutions, and that there's nothing wrong with that.

Amen.

[RC Vikings]

I would like to see Sen. Reid give just a short talk in GC this weekend.

[scottie]

I'm not shocked. I think the powers that be on South Temple have been trying to nudge the nutjobs back from the cliff with gentle admonishments about anger, but its time for stronger rhetoric and/or action.

CB is full of this stuff, as you well know.

Who knows if this is true, but this was the first comment:

One thing people seem to have missed is that the idea for this fireside did NOT originate with the stake presidency [she added the "NOT" in her second comment], but was initiated by the First Presidency, who were concerned about fellow church members’ judgments of Senator Reid’s personal worthiness. They thought that if members could just hear his testimony, they would lay off the vitriol in that regard, though they may well continue to disagree with his politics. In light of this provenance of the fireside’s conception, this outcome is that much more sad and tragic.

...

[OrangeUte]

I would like to see Sen. Reid give just a short talk in GC this weekend.

i think it would be interesting to have high profile members, whether politicos or sports or entertainment figures either speak or perform at GC. I would certainly be more willing to tune in - unless they also turn on the "priesthood voice", in which case i will then quickly tune out.

[Indy Coug]

I call Bull Shit!!

Ditto

[Jeff Lebowski]

I call Bull Shit!!

I think the correct term (for today at least) is "April Fools!"

Anyway, I hope that is the case.

[byu71]

I hope this is TIC as I have heard similar comments wandering around hospital and around the ward house.

Political extremists worry me about the same as religious extremists.

Here is why I call Bull Shit. First off it is a hot issue. Why after such a contentious issue would a Stake President have a come hear Harry Reid bear his testimony fireside. No way in hell if a SP did that would I protest it, but I sure as hell wouldn't be showing up to it.

It is probably like this Tea Party thing, a few nut jobs express themselves and then we paint the whole group with the same broad brush.

If he was really invited, they should have gone through with it. If people protested or threatened him, those people should have had their membership put on probation.

[Solon]

i think it would be interesting to have high profile members, whether politicos or sports or entertainment figures either speak or perform at GC. I would certainly be more willing to tune in - unless they also turn on the "priesthood voice", in which case i will then quickly tune out.

This happened in April 1985. Peter Vidmar spoke in Priesthood meeting after winning a couple of gold medals in the 1984 LA Olympics.

Here's his talk:

http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.js...____&hideNav=1

[OrangeUte]

This happened in April 1985. Peter Vidmar spoke in Priesthood meeting after winning a couple of gold medals in the 1984 LA Olympics.

Here's his talk:

http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.js...____&hideNav=1

thanks for the link, solon. i'll check this out.

[OrangeUte]

I think the correct term (for today at least) is "April Fools!"

Anyway, I hope that is the case.

i hope so too, but it doesn't seem outrageous or silly enough. and, frankly, after some of the comments i've heard in my own ward about hreid, i am not suprised. i had one member tell me that harry reid was going to end up in the telestial kingdom at best.