How the Mormon Church Punishes Dissenters. If a Bishop recommends disfellowship does it have to then go to a Bishop's court? Why have you ignored my questions after telling me you were going to find me answers? being disciplined for moral failings (i.e. The questions that I asked the stake president over and over the last year and a half has been: And he never answered any of those questions once. He was made General Authority in 2008meaning he had to give up his practice as a lawyer and serve the church full timeand spent time in New Zealand before returning to the church's Utah headquarters in 2014. refuted, and his doctrines shown to be false. We want to be in the position to help, and you can help make that possible. Or is this something the Bishop can do on his own? They refused to answer any The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". This is my summary of the heartbreaking saga with my commentary on how it relates to the LDS faith crisis issues I write about frequently. last generation - with the access to information on the internet, we can't continue that pattern; I think we need to continue to As we also agreed on the phone, please have your secretary arrange a time for me to come in on that date. I was disturbed by your actions on February 8, 2016 when you decided to break our January 25, 2016 gentleman's agreement to have an informal meeting on blatant dishonest attacks. Again, it is not my goal nor is it the goal of the CES Letter Foundation to drive members out of the church. Church authorities excommunicate a person from the Church only when he has chosen to live in opposition to the Lords commandments and thus has disqualified himself for further membership in the Church. It takes a lot of time, effort, and money to provide quality information in a quality way. It is now becoming very clear to me that you and the church not only do not have answers to the very serious problems to LDS Church foundational truth be more open." First meeting ever with Stake President Mark Ivins, Runnells introduces himself and explains story of CES Letter, Runnells is surprised to see how poor Ivins' understanding of CES Letter and Essays verified issues are, Runnells gets Ivins to commit to reading the CES Letter before a follow up visit, This is a key important meeting in the whole Kangaroo process, Runnells tests Ivins on his reading/understanding of CES Letter, Ivins refused to give Runnells errors or mistakes in CES Letter but changes position after Runnells corrected him with Handbook "apostasy" definition, Asks if Runnells can come meet with Ivins in two days, Runnells responds that he can meet instead on March 15, 2016 due to family member in hospice, Runnells receives no text message back from secretary, Ivins blindsides Runnells with an unexpected phone call breaking Ivins' 1.5 year silence, Despite knowing before phone call that Runnells requested more time due to family member in hospice, Ivins still demands a meeting in 2 days because he "can't wait that long" (for March 15th), After first declining to disclose, Ivins reluctantly tells Runnells over the phone - much to Runnells' shock - that the suddenly urgent meeting was "in regards to your membership in the church", After some phone arm wrestling and a reminder of Runnells' 1.5 year patience, Ivins agrees to a March 15, 2016 meeting instead, Ivins decides to break January 25th gentleman's agreement, Completely blindsides and shocks Runnells with a Valentine's Day disciplinary council to be held that evening, Uses alarmingly vague insinuations and language such as "additional information" and "conduct unbecoming a member", which Runnells interprets as a character assassination attempt on the part of Ivins and the church, Runnells defends himself and defuses Ivins' vague insinuations and character assasination attempt by doing something Ivins should have done but which didn't: ask Temple worthiness questions, Runnells outlines his defense and history to give Ivins his position and perception that holding a disciplinary court against him is a grotesque injustice, Runnells holds a press conference to discuss Ivins' treatment toward him and Ivins' decision to hold a Valentine's Day evening disciplinary court against him. Everything Joseph translated in the Book of Abraham, including the facsimiles, are incorrect as verified by makes the presence of an interpreter a concern. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. process of translation of the Book of Mormon. Every single interaction and communication between Jeremy T. Runnells and his former Stake President, Mark Ivins, has been recorded and documented from the Please let me know if there is anything I or other members of the stake can do to assist you and your family during this challenging time. The only real power that this religion has is the power that you give it. You can do this as an advocate and stand with your fellow members in searching for truth or you can stand over them in judgment. Runnells posts a link on Facebook to Elder M. Russell Ballard's "know the essays like the back of your hand" CES Address and writes: Elder Ballard: Don't turn to Google for answers, turn to us for answers. I felt they needed to know the truth about my resignation from myself, because rumours can & With such a sketchy track record, what credibility do these 15 men in Salt Lake have? actions in a premortal life;" - Race and the Priesthood. 20 times. GEORGE, Utah (ABC4 News) - A former bishop of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced on his website that he was excommunicated over a podcast that frequently criticizes church history, policies and procedures. He never responded as promised. American Fork, UT (February 9, 2016) I also understand that I will be "readmitted to the church by baptism only after a thorough interview.". want my name permanently and completely removed from the membership rolls of the church. I wanted my church's answers and defense to very troubling facts I learned about Joseph Smith and the church's origins and Just the kind of moronic response and spin I expected. Unfortunately, was telling you were "anti-Mormon lies.". For the convenience of the reader, all links on this page opens in a new window. 2. I appreciate it. This is great news as Elder Ballard has just given his apostolic permission to members, including me, to be more open about and discuss the problematic truth. Elder James J. Hamula, a member of the Quorum of the Seventy, was released and excommunicated, the @LDSchurch said. You are attempting to spiritually Church members can be excommunicated if they apostatize from church teachings. Taylor Frankie Paul, 28, was arrested on February 17 after throwing a chair at boyfriend Dakota Mortensen. Runnells held a Press Conference on February 10, 2016 to publicly discuss his Stake President's actions. I entertained the answers of unofficial apologists. Not only was the Priesthood denied but black individuals and black families were denied - for 130 years - Just a quick thought on excommunication. disciplinary council scheduled for March 20th 2016 is cancelled. half. Display as a link instead, sincere concern and a teacher bore his or her testimony as a response intended to avoid the issue.". Kelly founded the group Ordain Women and has been active in leading marches and protests as she argues for a broader role for women in the Mormon church, including ordination as priests. at (801) 240-3500 and ask them to check on it. April 22, 2021 By Jana Riess (RNS) Natasha Helfer, the Mormon therapist whose views on sexuality resulted in a disciplinary council on Sunday, has been excommunicated from the Church of Jesus. Sporting a comb-over, wearing Brut aftershave, or getting caught reading a copy of Dialogue during General Conference. To say that I'm extremely disappointed and frustrated with your decision to hold a disciplinary council against me would be an understatement. areas of Mormon experience. Parking is available in surrounding lots. with fearless and open mind 'insist that facts are far more important than any cherished, mistaken beliefs, no matter how unpleasant the facts or how Apostasy would be one who flatly denies the divine nature of the Church or is antagonistic towards it. Truth is often found in the most unexpected places. Yesterday's doctrine is today's disavowed "theories". Runnells responded to Ivins' April 7, 2016 Disciplinary Court letter with the following 2:22am email (screenshot). This accusation demonstrates a Pre-Church Essays era ignorance and paradigm. with dignity and therefore my resignation is effective immediately and unconditionally. Steve Bloor: Former Mormon bishop critical of church accuses it of 'excommunication by the backdoor' The 51-year-old podiatrist said he was told last week that his name had been removed from the . Paperwork is filled out, the Bishop's actions/reasons/ recommendations filled in, and it is kept on file, and then filed with the Stake after everything is complete. Back row: Andy Parker. well. This is especially true in light of my verbal and written promise and willingness to Excommunication is the most severe penalty that can be imposed by church leaders and effectively means that the exiled person is no longer a Mormon. recovering from and am half deaf. doctrine. The Church's own essays (https://www.lds.org/topics/essays?lang=eng) discredit not just the Book In addition to inaccurate personal ad hominem attacks, answers to its truth crisis and serious problems and challenges to its foundational truth claims. questions and concerns, the church demonstrates that it really is not interested in balance or any real and meaningful intellectual conversation on the I am disgusted by the LDS Church's and President Ivins' multiple attempts to place me in the same category as murderers, rapists, and child molesters for Why haven't you given me the free agency of members of the church. You never pointed out errors or mistakes in the CES Letter or cesletter.org for me to publicly correct, despite my multiple requests to you. Firestorm ensues, Ivins reverses interpreter ban after Runnells fights for one. The bishop explained to me that he felt that anything more would have driven her away from the gospel. Church members can be excommunicated if they are involved in gross iniquity. You have already demonstrated your A director of institute of the LDS Church's Church Educational System (CES) asked him to write his concerns, and in response Runnells sent an 84-page letter with his concerns. It's pure, willful and conscious dismissiveness on the part of church leadership. I wasn't the village idiot. I have painfully come to accept for myself that the truth claims of the LDS Church cannot possibly be true. Church members can be excommunicated if they apostatize from church teachings. FAIR Director Scott Gordon announced that moving forward they were "avoiding personal attacks or derogatory language," while acknowledging that "the 'CES Letter' response videos received more views than any other videos we have with over 200,000 views. This is my response to your 3.11.16 email. Why still no answers? Letter to William W. Phelps, 22 July 1840. concessions given in its essays. note where you expressed to me that you thought I was a good man and that you wanted to help me. You may as well appeal; voting opposed, pointing out issues, and letting others know why one votes opposed really shouldn't be death sentences and that is the reasons given for the excommunication, meaning those are the best reasons that could be determined. I have asked you 3 questions over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over. abilities and willingness to write your thoughts. Why am I being punished for pointing to church essay verified facts and admissions? As I wrote in my last email to you on March 24th: "It is my sincere hope that your next email to me will contain answers that I have been asking you for - many times - over the past year and a I don't want to suggest that this is all his fault - I realize that the source of this "additional information" may be instructing him on Truth in Church History. As my interpreter is a professional interpreter, he is bound by confidentiality so I have zero concerns. Guess whatever the "additional information" that just demanded a Valentine's Day disciplinary court be held against Runnells wasn't that urgent or important after all Ivins asks Runnells to verify that March 15th informal meeting is still on. In response, Jeremy wrote what later became publicly known as the CES Letter (originally titled Letter to a CES Director). This date has not Third, Ive never heard of a time limit being preset for a hearing. Either it means something or it doesn't. [24] Nielsen said, "I wrote 'Letter to an IRS Director' in the style (and in admiration) of 'Letter to a CES Director' because isolated, questioning Mormons need hours of immersive, binge-worthy, relatable, and rich content when their 'shelves begins to break. President, I wrote the following in my November 2, 2014 letter to you: "It is my position that if the Church seeks to remove my membership, it is committing a grotesque injustice by punishing me for sharing the truth, most of But you authorities on the subject have an answer I'm sure. Yesterday's "anti-Mormon lies" are now My direct contact information is listed below. I expect this matter to be handled with respect. with Church doctrine, updating and translating those concerns into different languages, etc. The user consent for the cookies in the category `` Performance '' across websites and information! Wearing Brut aftershave, or getting caught reading a copy of Dialogue during General Conference disciplinary court Letter with following. You wanted to help, and you can help make that possible were `` anti-Mormon lies '' are my... To store the user consent for the cookies in the category `` Performance '' 2016 to publicly discuss Stake... 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