LDS Church Formally Denies Federal Agents Visited Mormon Canneries; Oathkeepers Now Retracts The Story

The story about Federal agents visiting Mormon canneries in Tennessee has been further debunked and can now be put to bed once and for all. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints says it didn't happen, and Oathkeepers has now pulled the story from their website.

From the LDS Newsroom blog, the Church's official statement:

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has received a number of inquiries about an alleged visit by federal officials to a Church canning facility in Tennessee seeking information about those who use the facility. The Church has investigated these claims and there is no basis for the rumors.

In my second post about this issue, I suggested that Oathkeepers intended nothing malicious or self-serving in publishing the original information; they might have been misled by a source previously considered reliable. This proved to be the case, and Oathkeepers deleted their previous post, replacing it with an explanation. Oathkeepers states that the source who provided the original information is now denying that he ever told them that event occurred. As a result, Oathkeepers has now instituted a more vigorous vetting process; from now on, they will NOT post any such story based on what they are told by other people unless and until they are willing to go on video or at least on an audio recording with their information. That way, in case someone starts to crumble under the public attention or other pressures, and wants to deny what they told Oathkeepers, they will have video or audio proof.

This is proof that Oathkeepers is not some itinerant conspiracy mill masquerading as a patriot group, but a genuine organization of patriots who represent themselves as guardians of the republic and who are devoted to promoting constitutionality. Those who sympathize with these goals can join them in full confidence that the group is a worthwhile investment.