From: press2@cbnewsd.cb.att.com (barry.o.olson)
Subject: McLellin Collection Suppressed PT 1 of 10
Organization: AT&T
Date: Thu, 17 Dec 1992 03:12:49 GMT
Keywords: Tanner Nov. Newsletter/Hoffman bombings/suppresion



This is the first article broken down into 10 parts from Gerald
and Sandra Tanner's November "Salt Lake City Messanger" newsletter.
For those who need this info and couldn't obtain by hard-copy.
This is an FYI only production. Critique as you like.



SALT LAKE CITY MESSENGER          (Issue #83 - November 1992)
Utah Lighthouse Ministry
Po Box 1884,
Salt Lake City, Utah 84110


        Mormon Leaders Suppress "Key" Item in Murder Case
  The True McLellin Documents Found in First Presidency's Vault!


        On October 15, 1985, a bomb exploded in Salt Lake City,
Utah, killing Steven F. Christensen, a Mormon bishop. Later that
morning, Kathleen Sheets, the wife of another bishop, was killed
when she picked up a package containing a booby-trapped shrapnel
bomb. The following day, a Mormon document dealer named Mark
Hofmann was seriously injured when a bomb exploded in his car.
After an intensive investigation, it was discovered that Mark
Hofmann was the bomber. Hofmann was transporting a third bomb he
had constructed at the time of the explosion. Although this bomb
was prepared to kill someone else, it accidentally went off in
his own car. Hofmann later confessed to the murders and was sent
to the Utah State Prison.

        In October, 1986, before Mr. Hofmann pleaded guilty, we
published the book, _Tracking the White Salamander_. About two
months after Mr. Hofmann pleaded guilty in 1987, we published a
second book, _Confessions of a White Salamander_. In these books
we discussed many important details regarding Hofmann's murders
and the forged documents he sold to the Mormon Church and other
collectors. Three other books were published the following year.
The first book to appear was _Salamander: The Story of the Mormon
Forgery Murders_, by Linda Sillitoe and Allen Roberts, two Mormon
historians. The second book was entitled, _Mormon Murders_, by
Steven Naifeh and Gregory White Smith. The last book, _A
Gathering of Saints: A True Story of Money, Murder and Deceit_,
was penned by Robert Lindsey, a reporter for the _New York
Times_.

        The authors of all three of these books interviewed
investigators and all reached the conclusion that some Mormon
leaders had not been forthright in their contacts with law
enforcement officials. In addition, they felt that the church had
been suppressing important documents from its members.

        The Mormon Church leaders were very disturbed about the
bad publicity and on September 18, 1988, the _Los Angeles Times_
reported that "sources within the Mormon media establishment...
said the church already has begun a battle against what it
believes is the most serious attack against the church since the
polygamy controversy... The church has embarked on a massive
study of the books and news articles in an attempt to assemble a
master list of errors misquotes and exaggerations. 'Our response
to all the allegations made against the church will be made
public in about 60 days,' [Richard P.] Lindsay said."

        Notwithstanding this public announcement, this "master
list of errors, misquotes and exaggerations" has never been made
public. Some time later, however, it was announced that Richard
E. Turley, Jr., managing director of the LDS Church Historical
Department, was writing a book which would give the church's side
of the issue. Mr. Turley's work has finally appeared under the
title, _Victims: The LDS Church and the Mark Hofmann Case_.