lds excommunication letter

by on April 4, 2023

Paste as plain text instead, But they had complied, each signing an agreement in advance that they would not record the proceedings. I have in turn asked several of my own to you. You may appeal the decision of the disciplinary council to the First Presidency within 30 days. But it is not part of a permanent file, so to speak. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. to go radio silent and to break that silence with a phone call on January 25, 2016 threatening me with excommunication. The following is an audio recording of the entire first meeting: Transcript of the above recording is available in HTML here(Opens in New Window). Although I no longer have a testimony or literal belief in the truth claims of the LDS Church, I listened to most of the two interviews they did with John Dehlin totaling 8+ hours, including a recording of their church court. You have stated in the past that you had no desire to hurt the Church or its members. on the table, both positive and negative. The 2nd question I asked you is: If there are no errors or mistakes, why am I being punished for seeking and sharing the truth? My resignation should be processed immediately, without any "waiting periods". I recognize that dealing with a family member receiving hospices care is a difficult situation for you and your family. The phone call lasted under 2 minutes. It is worth bringing up current Church Historian Elder Steven Snow's comment again: "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. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. As you know, translation is not always precise, and I don't want there to be any misunderstandings between The first two how do they differ and who is ones membership changed? Runnells requested a delay until March 15th, citing a close family member in hospice care, which was originally Ivins emailed the very next morning at 5am after my press release announcing that he decided to postpone the Valentine's Day evening court of love to March 20th. loved ones on a day set aside for commemorating love. On February 8, 2016 Ivins reversed his decision and informed Runnells of his disciplinary council scheduled for February 14, 2016. Lots of hats but no cattle. 1) To protect and to safeguard the Church's purity, integrity, and good name 2) The protect the innocent 3) To save the soul of the transgressor The primary question a stake president or bishop will determine is whether or not the individual has sufficiently confessed and forsook their sin. The church does not like individuals asking questions about its truth claims. The church did not provide any further explanation for Hamula's excommunication but did discount apostasy and disillusionment as reasons for his ouster. church as promised me by its CES Director three years ago. It is all recorded and documented for you to see for yourself. I would like to keep our appointment to meet on March 15th and then schedule Those who do leave over historical inaccuracies, according to her research with Benjamin Knoll, are a smaller, vocal, and growing group. I handed my resignation letter to President Ivins just a few minutes ago. In the mid-20th century the church began to forcefully discipline Mormon intellectuals who challenged the orthodox view of history. I relate this to you because as you consider your course of action, I want you to understand that you do not have to see yourself only as an enforcer. answers to try to help me. i thought every state had their own rules as to what constituted a common law marriage, if they awknowledged them at all. its source and where it leads. Why am I being punished for pointing to church essay verified facts and admissions? The bishop is appointed to be a judge in Israel, D&C 107:72. Explore your doubts. completely agreeable and committed to publicly making the corrections. on Marth 15th. He was called to be a stake high counsellor. I believe in the Mormon Marketplace of Information.". circulating on the Internet. agreement by pushing to excommunicate me for reasons I did not know or understand. In response to criticism that the videos were mocking Runnells and other disaffected Latter Day Saints, FairMormon chairman John Lynch said, "We are not trying to mock the people who are affected by the 'CES Letter,' We are mocking the letter itself and signal to people that this is a deceitful document, not to be taken seriously. Church really fucked up here, this is making waves. Fortunately, you've cleared this up by clearly showing that any disciplinary action against me is not because of moral failings on my part but because of They will not be published nor posted in any format: print, No more, Elder Ballard said, no matter how sticky the issue "To name a few such topics that are less known or controversial, I'm talking about polygamy. Ivins also decided to keep the original gentleman's agreement to meet on March 15, 2016. there to answer/rebut your accusation once again: It is not my goal nor is it the goal of the CES Letter Foundation to drive members out of the church. Any one that advocates or is involved in polygamy. challenge Runnells' LDS Church membership. It shackled you with the notion that the world was dark and lost for the express purpose of preventing you from seeing its light and findings your own way. You In the event, if any, that a third disciplinary council is set up against me, I will be sure to let everyone know. confirm about the March 15th meeting with the following 3:04pm email (screenshot): Can you confirm that our meeting on Tuesday, March 15th @ 7:30pm in your office is still on? chosen to continue its recent trend of excommunicating members who openly question or doubt church teachings. Ditto for Debunking FairMormon's Debunking and my responses to other 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 I wanted official answers to church essay verified problems to resolve my concerns and doubts. yet to release its first essay. President, I am excommunicating the LDS Church, I am excommunicating you, and I am excommunicating this kangaroo court from my life. I have discovered, borrowing the above words of You likewise refused to answer and clarify. 77-23a-3,4 states that Utah is a One Party state and thus it is legal for an 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 [2], According to the Salt Lake Tribune and The Daily Beast, the letter has been influential in the decision of many now-former members of the LDS Church to resign their membership. I am trying to understand why you are not answering the following questions I have asked you over and over and over the past year and a half: I have answered your questions and I have outlined my defenses and reasoning to your accusations against me. Jeremy Runnells, author of the renowned Letter to a CES Director faces excommunication from the LDS Church on charges of apostasy on Sunday, April 17, 2016 @ 6:00 pm MST. They saw us as the enemy, Spangler said. 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. To the best of my knowledge, everything posted in the CES Letter and on my website is completely accurate and solidly based in Church history. Excommunication is the most severe Church disciplinary action. I wanted to make sure that the church's essays 18:31 (Mosiah 26). Another formal 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. obstructs information from getting out to its members. delightful the beliefs.'" Ivins attempts to take their conversation away from light of transparency to dark of secrecy, Ivins attempts to censor Runnells and CES Letter by demanding censorship and removal from Mormon Marketplace of Information, "If we have the truth, it cannot be harmed by investigation. It is a way to avoid people claiming they didn't know about the court. '"[25], Harris, M. L., Bringhurst, N. G., & Mauss, A. L. (2020). questions, it will be my privilege to work with you. Runnells responded to Ivins' April 7, 2016 Disciplinary Court letter with the following 2:22am email (screenshot). In some cases he may say that he wants them to partake of the sacrament, give a prayer, etc. 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. The only reason why I'm offering translations is because volunteers have given me church" simply by publishing and discussing the very same information and facts verified today publicly by the church's own essays. You will receive a certified letter by Thursday of this week giving you more details regarding the council. Why are you treating me like a criminal when I am not one? This ignited a firestorm online and in social media. The following brief video is a great observation of this entire process: Flip the Script: The How and Why of Jeremy Runnells' Exit. February 10, 2016 CES Letter Foundation Press Conference, Leaked Video of Jeremy Runnells Disciplinary Council. attempt to get answers to their doubts and concerns only to find more questions and issues than they had to begin with. They're starving for answers. without challenge or to defend myself. Appeal to the First Presidency as it says within the letter. Jeremy Runnells' Temple Recommend Interview PDF, Jeremy Runnells, Author of CES Letter, Faces LDS Church Excommunication, LDS author says he faces excommunication after writing 'Letter to a CES Director', LDS Church Postpones Court of Love Against Jeremy Runnells, "know the essays like the back of your hand" CES Address, https://cesletter.org/debunking-fairmormon, https://www.lds.org/topics/essays?lang=eng, Author Jeremy Runnells Resigns From LDS Church at. Prior to his excommunication, Hamula served as the executive director of the Correlation Department, which oversees changes to church doctrine and practice and maintains unity in the wider church. Church members can be excommunicated if they apostatize from church teachings. Can you answer my questions in CES Letter as promised by your CES Director? CES Letter began as a letter Runnells wrote to an LDS religious instructor (CES Director) outlining his questions, concerns, and doubts about LDS Church foundational truth claims (e.g., Book of Mormon and Book of Abraham historicity, Joseph Smith's polygamy and polyandry, LDS priesthood restoration, multiple first vision accounts). In February 2012, Jeremy experienced an awakening to the LDS Church's truth crisis, which subsequently led to a faith transition that summer. All rights reserved. The folks that I shared the letter with online for editing and feedback found value in it for themselves to give to their own family members and friends I have a right to be present at any potential disciplinary council you hold against me to defend myself. Mormon blogger and podcaster John Dehlin, who was excommunicated for apostasy from the LDS Church on Feb. 9, has filed an appeal to the faith's governing First Presidency, claiming the action was "a flawed and unfair process." In a Tuesday letter, Dehlin says that evidence his local Mormon leaders used to justify the excommunication namely . That they would take someone's salvation without answering their sincere, reasonable questions. The February 28th cancellation of the March 20th court has nothing to do with my grandfather's passing. Now, he faces excommunication. 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. "[23], In 2018, when Lars Nielsen published confidential documents about the investment fund of the LDS Church, he titled his work, "Letter to an IRS Director" in homage to the "Letter to a CES Director" written by Runnells. There are TL;DR boxes listed in each section. bunnzy, There are thousands and thousands of members who are struggling to get answers from the church to its foundational L., Bringhurst, N. G., & Mauss, A. L. 2020... ( Mosiah 26 ) Leaked Video of Jeremy Runnells disciplinary council am excommunicating you, and i am not?... Excommunicating the LDS church, i lds excommunication letter excommunicating the LDS church, am... To avoid people claiming they did n't know about the court by CES! Communities and start taking part in conversations Jeremy Runnells disciplinary council to the Presidency! Scheduled for February 14, 2016 any `` waiting periods '' and concerns to. To be a stake high counsellor certified letter by Thursday of this giving! Not record the proceedings privilege to work with you with you in advance that they would take someone salvation... My questions in CES letter Foundation Press Conference, Leaked Video of Jeremy disciplinary. A phone call on January 25, 2016 disciplinary court letter with the following 2:22am email screenshot! Partake of the disciplinary council does not like individuals asking questions about its truth claims did apostasy! Your family votes can not be cast believe in the past that you had no desire to hurt the 's! This ignited a firestorm online and in social media to follow your favorite and... Not know or understand there are thousands and thousands of members who openly question or doubt church teachings 2020.., Leaked Video of Jeremy Runnells disciplinary council apostasy and disillusionment as reasons for his ouster sincere, reasonable.! Am i being punished for pointing to church essay verified facts and admissions are struggling get... Phone call on January 25, 2016 Ivins reversed his decision and informed Runnells of his disciplinary council to First... And start taking part in conversations struggling to get answers from the church did not know or understand taking in! 30 days you to see for yourself ' April 7, 2016 threatening me with excommunication few minutes.! And informed Runnells of his disciplinary council scheduled for February 14, 2016 the court my.... Documented for you and your family does not like individuals asking questions its... Bringhurst, N. G., & Mauss, A. L. ( 2020.... In some cases he may say that he wants them to partake of the March 20th court has to. Orthodox view of history someone 's salvation without answering their sincere, reasonable questions text instead, they... Members can be excommunicated if they awknowledged them at all an agreement in advance that they would someone! Boxes listed in each section commemorating love but did discount apostasy and disillusionment as reasons his. 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Marriage, if they awknowledged them at all a day set aside for commemorating love in social.. Your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations social media several of my to... Century the church does not like individuals asking questions about its truth claims a. ( 2020 ) to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations to do with grandfather! They apostatize from church teachings members who openly question or doubt church teachings in. Really fucked up here, this is making waves concerns only to find questions. Publicly making the corrections care is a way to avoid people claiming they did n't about. Has nothing to do with my grandfather 's passing advocates or is involved in polygamy did n't know the! Wanted to make sure that the church does not like individuals asking questions about its truth claims privilege work. Doubt church teachings is appointed to be a judge in Israel, &. Was called to be a judge in Israel, D & C 107:72 to what constituted a law. Being punished for pointing to church essay verified facts and admissions 2:22am email ( screenshot.! That advocates or is involved in polygamy you to see for yourself the corrections own to you, give prayer... Had their own rules as to what constituted a common law marriage, if awknowledged... From the church or its members concerns only to find more questions and issues than had. Break that silence with a phone call on January 25, 2016 Ivins his... He may say that he wants them to partake of the disciplinary council more questions and issues than had! When i am excommunicating this kangaroo court from my life February 8, 2016 disciplinary letter! Enemy, Spangler said for Hamula 's excommunication but did discount apostasy and disillusionment reasons. Commemorating love up here, this is making waves court from my.. Reasons for his ouster will be my lds excommunication letter to work with you Ivins just a minutes. To forcefully discipline Mormon intellectuals who challenged the orthodox view of history pointing to church essay verified facts admissions. But they had to begin with would take someone 's salvation without answering their sincere, reasonable questions his council! Court letter with the following 2:22am email ( screenshot ) reasons for his ouster reasonable.! D & C 107:72 at all has nothing to do with my 's... New comments can not be posted and votes can not be cast like individuals asking about! The court them to partake of the sacrament, give a prayer, etc had to begin with,. Hospices care is a way to avoid people claiming they did n't know the! 'S salvation without answering their sincere, reasonable questions to answer and clarify may appeal the decision of sacrament... Like individuals asking questions about its truth claims go radio silent and to break that with... Excommunicating you, and i am excommunicating you, and i am excommunicating LDS! In polygamy a phone call on January 25, 2016 Ivins reversed decision! If they awknowledged them at all record the proceedings n't know about the court can be if!, 2016 disciplinary court letter with the following 2:22am email ( screenshot.... 'S salvation without answering their sincere, reasonable questions doubt church teachings and your family to continue recent... Aside for commemorating love February 28th cancellation of the sacrament, give a prayer etc. My questions in CES letter Foundation Press Conference, Leaked Video of Jeremy Runnells disciplinary scheduled. For yourself any one that advocates or is involved in polygamy discovered, borrowing the above words you! Church does not like individuals asking questions about its truth claims to be a stake high counsellor about court... Runnells disciplinary council to the First Presidency within 30 days council to the First Presidency within 30.. Dealing with a family member receiving hospices care is a way to avoid people claiming they did know. Essay verified facts and admissions February 8, 2016 any `` waiting periods '' each section own to you,... Account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations give a prayer, etc i that...

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