lds excommunication letter
He admitted to his SP his past deeds. members access to information. It also takes a lot of resources to help those who have questions and who are trying to liberate themselves and their loved ones, while keeping their dignities intact. DOB: Membership# (if you have it, not required if sending directly to Bishop) Address. It includes removal of a member's name from the records of the Church. But Lyman remained with his wife, Amy Brown Lyman, the general president of an LDS women's society, and was rebaptized in 1954, according to The Salt Lake Tribune. You are asking me to limit and to obstruct not just my own free agency but the free agency of members and investigators of the church who also share the by giving me written notice by email and certified mail at least 6 days in advance, as you have done in the past, to announce any Although I no longer have a testimony or literal belief in the truth claims of the LDS Church, It may take time. My The main and most important response was given in attached PDF letter to email, which can be read below after email content. 2. I would appreciate you or other church leaders taking the time to answer my questions before calling a disciplinary council. Another witness, Jody England Hansen, was told that each witness would be restricted to a three-minute time limit, which is also nowhere in the Handbook. Church leaders became aware that Lyman was having an affair with a woman he had been given to counsel and excommunicated him for unlawful cohabitation. Yet, you still attempted to break our It has nothing to do with the character, the story or Marvel. No response ever came. In 2015, John Dehlin, a Mormon blogger who criticized church leaders and teachings in podcasts, was excommunicated for conduct contrary to church laws, though he denied having committed apostasy. /r/Mormon is a subreddit for articles and topics of interest to people interested in Photo by Jody England Hansen. Being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS/Mormon) is not a feeling of identification or affiliation, it is an actual membership record. Joseph Smith translated a standard funerary document that has nothing to do with Abraham What errors and mistakes are there in the CES Letter or on my website that I can publicly correct? on the issues troubling so many Latter-day Saints - a conversation, by the way, these Mormon apologists started and initiated first with their attacks Mark Hofmann Salamander Letter; David Whitmer's Second Seer Stone . Although it may seem like a punishment, IMO it is an act of compassion. 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. I wish no harm to and only the best for the Church and its leaders. The Church's own essays (https://www.lds.org/topics/essays?lang=eng) discredit not just the Book A decision has been made. A vigil for Jeremy Runnells is being organized on Sunday, February 14, 2016 @ 7:00 pm Mountain Time at the American Fork Utah East Stake Center. murder me while refusing to answer the very reasonable questions I have asked you so many times the past year and a half. Temple. If you allow yourself to be excommunicated, then the Church forever will claim that narrative in your life. It is up to him, really. Do what is right and the consequence is excommunication. You are the owner of your life and your identity. This event illustrates the problem: what you perceive as "opposition" and "anti-Mormon lies" are really church essays verified facts and church essays It is up to the discretion of the presiding authority. But again, this is really up to the Bishop. There are TL;DR boxes listed in each section. 77-23a-3,4 states that Utah is a One Party state and thus it is legal for an Ivins' church office in American Fork, Utah. Appeal to the First Presidency as it says within the letter. themselves have published most of the issues found in my 80 page CES Letter followed by their unofficial, uneven, and unsatisfying "answers" and pet A main theme of the letter is the belief of Runnells that the church knew unflattering aspects about its history but deliberately hid or misrepresented them. Resolve your doubts. The chair struck her five-year-old daughter Indy, leaving her with a 'goose egg' bump on . situation has changed since our last meeting in the fall of 2014 as I recently lost half of my hearing. It's my understanding that there's several of you who have come Everything Joseph translated in the Book of Abraham, including the facsimiles, are incorrect as verified by It felt like bullying to me. 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. The CES Director read the "very-well written" document, stated that "these are issues which the Brethren (Apostles) are concerned about" and promised a But now, after the press release, press conference, media interviews and tremendous reaction/response on social media, he is willing to move it back to the Regardless, I wish to express gratitude to President Ivins for his offer to hold an informal meeting in March before any disciplinary court to explain to threats of excommunication. But on Tuesday, the church was thrown into the limelight after it announced that it had. As an LDS church seminary teacher, Nelson experienced his LDS faith crisis. Ivins confirmed that he had and responded that March 15, 2016 would not work as he "can't wait that long. being disciplined for moral failings (i.e. Additionally, I have asked to remain on the (Toto, Helfer isnt in Kansas anymore. I was contacted by a CES Director in March 2013 to share my questions and concerns regarding the LDS church and its foundational truth claims. ", Surprised by the sudden sense of urgency on Ivins' part, Runnells asked Ivins what the meeting was in regards to. response. The following is the November 2, 2014 letter Runnells handed to Ivins in the beginning of this meeting (can be read in PDF here) or read below: I am writing this letter to you to make sure that there are no misunderstandings or confusion regarding my response to several of your questions that you "If we have the truth, no harm can come from investigation. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts, Member of Even the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I think you should make them have no excuse that this is a local issue. In fact, October 19th's "anti-Mormon The church, through its CES Director, promised me a response in April 2013. on Marth 15th. LDS Church Postpones Court of Love Against Jeremy Runnells: I received an email this morning from my Stake President, Mark Ivins, indicating that the disciplinary council has been postponed until March 2016 - it If you resign, then you reclaim power over your life but the reality of the close-knit culture of Mormonism and the result of years of leaders reinforcing the idea that apostates are immoral and under Satans influence means that the Church still gets the parting shot of controlling the narrative of your exit. The church told you that you were not capable of knowing truth without first passing it through the filter of unaccountable old white men. In no way [do they] reflect Christian discipleship." Indeed, I began seeking answers to my but that is just what i've always been told on the subject, could be wrong. "So, because you guys are not answering my questions, and you guys have not answered my questions the past 3 years, it is very clear to me that the church does not have answers to its truth crisis. You cannot paste images directly. "As the letter shared by Ms. Helfer indicates, the decision of the local leaders was based on her public, repeated opposition to the church, church leaders and the doctrine of the church, including our doctrine on the nature of the family and on moral issues," Hawkins said in a statement. communicate with you in writing would have made that clear. If we have not the truth, it ought to be harmed." It was a vicious Your demands were disturbing It is a global issue for Even with cochlear implants, Jeremy is legally deaf. held on April 17, 2016 @ 6:00pm. The church released its very disturbing and problematic Plural Marriage in Kirtland and Nauvoo essay This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Truth stands boldly and unafraid; it is not shaken by testing or investigation. A vigil for Jeremy Runnells is being organized on Sunday, April 17, 2016 @ 5:30 pm Mountain Time at the American Fork Utah East Stake Center. The simultaneous loss of these two witnesses of the Book of Mormon caused great sorrow throughout 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 In fact, most of them have created versions of Mormonism that directly contradict the First Presidency's and Quorum of Twelve's version of Mormonism. A note dated 4 July 1840 preceded Phelps's letter in the letterbook. Later this evening (February 9, 2016) @ 7:40pm, CES Letter Foundation issued a press release announcing the upcoming Valentine's Day disciplinary The following is the PDF letter Runnells attached to email to Ivins: I'm still waiting for your answers to my CES Letter questions. Runnells decides to email Ivins to By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. charges of apostasy. overly aggressive and mean-spirited. priesthood leader. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. But the world has changed in the Fourth, The Washington Post has reported that there is a possible conflict of interest at work here, in which this stake president is the former boss of Helfers husband. Part of the church's antiquated pattern that it still clenches to in 2016 is the pattern of trying to censor and punish open/public discussion and debate Attached in PDF are my complete answers and rebuttals to your questions and accusations. - President J. Reuben Clark, Truth is unafraid of light, questioning, investigation, and scrutiny. Natasha Helfer received the news of her excommunication from her Salt Lake City-based church on Wednesday in a letter written by Stephen Daley, a regional church official in Derby, Kansas. thousands of questioning current and former LDS Church members. President, as I've very clearly outlined in my March 7th letter to you, it is my strong position that I have done nothing wrong. questions that I asked them. People of all faiths and perspectives are welcome to engage in civil, respectful discussion about topics related to Mormonism. disciplinary council scheduled for March 20th 2016 is cancelled. Runnells - Just checking to see if anything has changed in your schedule that we could meet sometime this week. I expect this matter to be handled with respect. PLEASE NOTE: If you do not see a GRAPHIC IMAGE of a family tree here but are seeing this text instead then it is most probably because the web server is not correctly configured t I would like to meet I have repeatedly asked you to correct me or to show me errors and mistakes that I can publicly correct. In other words, Joseph's Book of Abraham translations are wrong. Jeremy lost half of his hearing six months ago. As Mormon historian and scholar D. Michael Quinn wrote: "Attacking the messenger does not alter the reality of the message.". Why won't you just answer the questions in confirmed to me in a very real and personal way that I no longer want to be associated with this organization in any way. fellow Saints and disciplining any of them who had questions, he saw that it was his pastoral duty to be an advocate for them and to help elevate those "anti-Mormon lie.". But go ahead, bash away. February 10, 2016 CES Letter Foundation Press Conference, Leaked Video of Jeremy Runnells Disciplinary Council. sides of its mouth - professing open and honest dialogue, yet punishing those who choose to participate at that level. censored due to the personal nature of the details and names of individuals, locations, and events involved. I'm pleased that I and everyone else involved, including the high council, will be able to spend time with our Why isn't the church going after FairMormon for destroying Mormon testimonies on the Internet? Back row: Andy Parker. I'm done with this court. The Salamander Letter: The Most Scandalous Document In Mormon History A clip from Netflix's Murder Among the Mormons that explores the infamous salamander letter. A few months later in the summer of 2013, unofficial Mormon apologetic group FairMormon decided to publicly post an "analysis" of my letter. 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. 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 Upon its public release, CES Letter went viral and immediately became a Mormon internet phenomenon, providing validation and support to tens of Race and the priesthood. LDS Church members have reached out to Runnells after reading the CES Letter. questions with the complete expectation of a victorious outcome in favor of the LDS Church's foundational truth claims. During these discussions Runnells sought answers for questions posed in CES Letter and raised concerns about the LDS Church's recent historical essays (http://lds.org/topics/essays). I have done nothing wrong. If I were to be excommunicated and kicked out of the church for asking questions and for sharing truth despite my verbal and written offers to publicly never a remote thought of holding a "surprise" disciplinary council on March 15th. Despite the CES Director and Stake President, Mark Ivins, - President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "I think in the past there was a tendency to keep a lot of the records closed or at least not give access to information. B). Instead of providing pastoral support to Mr. Runnells, the LDS Church has The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints likes to keep its internal affairs private. While I no longer attend regularly, I enjoy attending family events (blessings, baptisms, ordinations, funerals, etc.). Goodbye. The website exists for the purpose of being able to directly respond, in an organized manner, to those who have attacked me and continue to She said Hickey did not consult with Pope John Paul II. But in the past, the LDS church has dismissed high-ranking officials for moral transgressions that violate church doctrine, as well as criminal offenses. commissioned or he was one of the biggest frauds this world has ever seen. My resignation should be processed immediately, without any "waiting periods". This was why I sought the help of the CES Director. In the event it You learning in Sunday School and Church correlated narratives to the disturbing historical and doctrinal facts now verified by the church's own essays. situation with a family member in hospice care. No communication or interaction took place between Runnells and Ivins between their October 19, 2014 meeting of the Church for the indefinite future. This directly contradicts the Book of Mormon itself: "Neither the rules nor the translations in the grammar book correspond to those recognized by Egyptologists todayScholars have identified the papyrus "The Church has a strong desire to protect children and, as you know, issued updated guidelines for interviewing youth earlier this year.". [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. truth crisis. What errors or mistakes are there in the 'CES Letter' or on my website that I can publicly correct? Runnells responded to Ivins' April 7, 2016 Disciplinary Court letter with the following 2:22am email (screenshot). attempting to excommunicate me on unfounded accusations. It appears as though you are unwilling to take down The only real power that this religion has is the power that you give it. can be an advocate for the Saints in your Stake. You either have it, or you do not. me of. As of right now, I am still a member in good standing (no discipline, disfellowship or excommunication). The CES Director responded that he read the "very well written" letter and that he would provide Jeremy with a response. With respect, President, your question demonstrates that you either have forgotten the letter that I gave you to read in our November 2, 2014 meeting or there had to be some form of joint property ownership, joint accounts, children and living together, living together for a certian leangth of time, etc. following snippet: Immediately after you read "persist in teaching as Church doctrine information that is not Church doctrine after they have been corrected by their bishop or higher authority," I immediately responded by stating to you repeatedly: "I am asking you to correct me and you are not correcting me.". '"[25], Harris, M. L., Bringhurst, N. G., & Mauss, A. L. (2020). For your convenience, I am copying/pasting from I am resigning because I absolutely resent and am disgusted by the LDS Church's and President Ivins' treatment toward me and their attempts to spiritually He was either a Prophet of God, divinely called, properly appointed and I will begin by adding in some quotes from past LDS leaders and prophets to help drive home these fundamental points.
