Update2, Formerly titled: "Is Glenn Beck Really In Good Standing With The Mormon Church?"
Earlier today, Keith Olbermann posted a diary requesting Kossiacks, "Send Me Everything You Can Find About Glenn Beck."
I've come up with what I think is an outstanding angle from which to very legitimately attack Glenn Beck.
Beck has repeatedly asserted his adherence to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, colloquially, the Mormon religion.
In fact, in a recent interview, ABC's John Stossel asked Beck why he decided to become a Mormon. Beck replied,
"I apologize, but guys will understand this. My wife is, like, hot, and she wouldn’t have sex with me until we got married. And she wouldn’t marry me unless we had a religion."
Beck’s wife, Tania, confirmed it to Stossel: "He’s not joking."
According to Beck, his marriage with his second wife, Tania, is the one that the LDS Church has "sealed," authenticated.
So the good standing of Beck's marriage is tied to his good standing in the LDS Church.
More than anything, the Mormon religion seeks to be known within the positive faces of its members. It forwards itself and its adherents as champions of strong family values and high ethical standards. Their point is to present a highly moral image to the public so people might become attracted to the religion and convert.
Knowing Beck and what he does, and knowing the church and what it says it stands for, I want to know why Beck's church allows him to remain a member in good standing.
Or is he?
What Beck spews each day offends the good sensibilities of millions of people of good will, people that the LDS church says it cares deeply about.
From what I can see, Beck is the absolute opposite of the sort of face that the LDS Church would like to have representing the squeaky clean image it forwards to the public.
So why does it? We need to start asking these questions of the LDS leadership.
Does the LDS church really accept Beck as a member in good standing?
If so, why?
Do they let members do what he does? Isn't there a role for LDS Church Discipline here, at least initially at the stake (regional church) level?
According to a news report, Beck lives in New Canaan, Connecticut. The nearest ward (like a local church in the LDS relgion) to Beck's home is probably The Bridgeport Ward, but it may be another one nearby. He would attend one of these as a requirement. And the nearest temple (where LDS adherents undergo ceremonies that enable them to advance in the religion) is The Manhattan New York Temple.
I think these church leaders need to be asked if what Beck does represents their religion.
Call them up and respectfully ask.
Get them on television and ask. Can you do that in a respectful manner, Mr. Olbermann?
The mere question will create a public relations crisis for the religion and for Beck. If the church refuses to distance itself from Beck, it will be a costly choice as it sees itself becomes tied to Beck's incendiary rhetoric.
But if they distance themselves from Beck, they could prevent a public relations crisis for themselves, an option that will look very attractive to them but that will be very costly to Beck.
Update1: Some videos of Beck touting his squeaky clean Mormonism image:
| Glenn Beck Mormon, on Being Mormon
| Glenn Beck Mormon Home & Family
| Glenn Beck Mormon Family Time
| Glenn Beck on Mormonism
| Glenn Beck - Mormon Family
| Glenn Beck Family & In-laws