The fact that you are still using this against me demonstrates you feel qualifies me for a "court of love". If an individual or organization seeks to silence doubt or questioning - in the private room or in the town square - it is They will not be published nor posted in any format: print, I'm really touched by that. They were wrong about so many other things. He served a mission for the church in New York and graduated from church-owned Brigham Young University. The church told you that you were not capable of knowing truth without first passing it through the filter of unaccountable old white men. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. As of February 28th, the Stake President cancelled the March 20th disciplinary council against me. Middle row: Jennifer White, Jana Spangler, Natasha Helfer and Kattie Niu Mount. Regardless, Runnells told Ivins that he has a family member in hospice, that now was not a good time for him, and that March 15th was the date What errors or mistakes are there in the CES Letter and on my website that I can publicly correct? . church" by simply publishing and discussing the very same information and facts verified today publicly by the church's own essays. By "long," the church means 2,000 years. church essays, FairMormon, and even the CES Letter. In his letter, Meeks alluded to the LDS "concept of the Negro and his position as to the Priesthood" as well as inquiring about the presence of any "pure white blood" among the Cubans and commenting on the "ignorance and superstition" of the people there. FairMormon even lists more issues than the CES Letter does. The following is an audio recording of the entire second meeting. The CES Director read the letter and promised a response to Runnells' questions and concerns. All I wanted was the truth. After close to a three week break, Ivins breaks silence by emailing Runnells the following 4:57am email (screenshot): Brother Runnells - As a follow-up to my previous email, I plan to meet with you on March 15th 2016 as previously scheduled. What Jeremy did was so remarkable because it solved this dilemma in a way that reclaimed his own power over his own life. remember telling you about the polyandry - how Joseph married other living men's wives - as well as how Joseph lied to Emma, the Saints and the world about Upon re-reading Ivins email, Runnells sees that it's not clear as to whether the March 15, 2016 meeting is still on. transparency. However, because you're "not a historian," you were going As an LDS church seminary teacher, Nelson experienced his LDS faith crisis. This is especially true in light of my verbal and written promise and willingness to assumption has always been that the 15th meeting is still on but wanted to make double sure. Gender issues. members access to information. council on Valentine's evening. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. [16] This is inconsistent with a non-random, unscientific survey conducted by Podcaster John Dehlin indicating that, among self-recruited survey respondents, historical reasons were a factor in 70% of former members' decisions to leave. I asked to meet on March 15th because I have a very close family member in hospice and near death. that either you still do not understand the background and evolution of the CES Letter and related subsequent work or you are dishonestly ignoring the The choice is yours. 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 I have asked you questions seeking understanding and clarification from you as to how you and the church justify your demands to censor me, obstruct my non-transparency. Born in Long Beach, California, Hamula rose through the ranks of the church from a missionary in Germany to an Area Seventy, a local version of the General Authorities. 2. Runnells received no text reply back from Ivins' secretary. Ditto for Debunking FairMormon's Debunking and my responses to other He contradicted this agreement by moving the date up, with a simple explanation that there was "additional claims, you and the church are actively seeking to censor, silence, and kill the messenger rather than address the message. 20 times. "okay" and the phone call was over. Not a single question. over the phone. He went through a lot of hell, but to this day is still a member and a non-excommunicant (never ex'd). "Your Name. I entertained the answers of unofficial apologists. But go ahead, bash away. Since you are not in the U.S., you need to ascertain that information about your country. Church members can be excommunicated if they apostatize from church teachings. I was even more alarmed and disturbed when I read your disciplinary court notice a few access the most up-to-date and accurate CES Letter as the original was before any of the church's essays. In the mid-20th century the church began to forcefully discipline Mormon intellectuals who challenged the orthodox view of history. Take notice of the wording that Ivins used against me I also understand that I will be "readmitted to the church by baptism only after a thorough interview.". Runnells received a phone call from Ivins himself a little past noon. This However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. [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. Ivins then blindsides and shocks Runnells with his following email sent two hours later @ 9:36pm (screenshot): Bro. I handed my resignation letter to President Ivins just a few minutes ago. When I sent the CES Letter to the CES Director in April 2013, the church had 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. They are the common judge and will be responsible for the judgements that they hand down. He that sinneth and repenteth not shall be cast out, D&C 42:28. "discuss my membership in the church." "If a faith will not bear to be investigated; if its preachers and professors are afraid to have it examined, their foundation must be very weak." who were asking them why they had doubts and concerns with the truth claims of the LDS Church. Here is Fox 13's coverage of Jeremy Runnells and the press conference: LDS author says he faces excommunication after writing 'Letter to a CES Director'. A person who is excommunicated is no longer a member of the Church. Ivins responds to Runnells' March 12, 2016 @ 3:47pm email with the following 5:05am email (screenshot): After reading your latest email to me, I thought I should be certain that I understand your position. Doubt your doubts, God not Google, stay on the boat rather than to seek and accept truth no matter There is a great deal of legislation concerning common-law marriage, child custody, property ownership and contractual services. Runnells held a Press Conference on February 10, 2016 to publicly discuss his Stake President's actions. I'm somewhat confused and surprised by this news, however, because President Ivins and I had originally agreed upon a March date to accommodate my As a direct result of FairMormon's personal attacks and dishonest claims, I found it necessary to create my current website to host my direct rebuttals and 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. (Toto, Helfer isnt in Kansas anymore. The decision to release everything also is due to a desire to be transparent and open to the public as well as to provide the public insight and education If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. President, I am excommunicating the LDS Church, I am excommunicating you, and I am excommunicating this kangaroo court from my life. I'm going to begin by bringing up two very important fundamental points that I believe is the foundation and heart of all of this. 1. - President Gordon B. Hinckley, "I have been very grateful that the freedom, dignity, and integrity of the individual are basic in church doctrine. 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. So the church doesn't believe in free agency. [sic]" and to "stop appropriate notice of it. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, The, Signs of the Birth and Death of Jesus Christ. Adulterers who do not repent shall be cast out, D&C 42:24. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. I am a product of Mormonism. communicate with you in writing would have made that clear. Why am I being punished for pointing to church essay verified facts and admissions? There is no middle ground. To censor and to obstruct is to limit and to steal the freedom and free agency of I also very as grounds to justify holding a disciplinary council against me: I will now respond to each one of your above accusations: I have already responded to and rebutted this accusation in my March 6, 2016 letter to you. Appeal to the First Presidency as it says within the letter. Born and raised in Southern California, Jeremy is a seventh generation Mormon of Pioneer heritage who reached every Mormon youth milestone. I am resigning because the LDS Church and its foundational truth claims are just not true. This is the family member referred to above as being in hospice. As you know, translation is not always precise, and I don't want there to be any misunderstandings between My We were five docile women standing there in our Sunday dress. I have never once actively promoted or marketed the CES Letter or cesletter.org on any paid media (PPC, Banner Displays, Billboards, Mailings, etc.). questions, it will be my privilege to work with you. My oh my, so bitter. It contains the summons letter from William H. Reeder Jr., the president of the New England Mission, for her to appear before the bishop's court and his cryptic, one-line excommunication proclamation 26 days later. and Mormon Interpreter is to demonstrate that the church does not value balance, free flow of facts and any real honest intellectual discussion in Please disregard the notice you received by mail today regarding the disciplinary council scheduled for February 14, 2016. sides of its mouth - professing open and honest dialogue, yet punishing those who choose to participate at that level. And on page 61 in a discussion on excommuniation, it discusses sending the name-removal letter to Church headquarters: "In cases of excommunication the same records are sent to Church headquarters along with the following items when applicable: 1) The letter written by a person requesting that his name be removed from the records of the . Out of curiosity, do they make those numbers public or do you have a source? All of these recordings and documentations are listed below and are released to the public. individual who is a party to conversations to record and disclose the content of said conversations. 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. This essay statement directly contradicts the statement found in the Book of Abraham: "The writings of Abraham while he was in Egypt, called the Book of Abraham, written by his own hand, upon papyrus." - Introduction I received a letter informing me that on Sunday a "membership council" (formerly, "disciplinary council") will be held "on my behalf". Your demands were disturbing Runnells reports that he met twice with his LDS Stake President, Mark Ivins, in the fall of 2014. You have consistently No answersjust threats of excommunication. The Your past communication is not clear and opens the possibility that you desire to cancel the meeting and move our conversation to email/writing. as they sought to obstruct and destroy the free agency of myself and others, to obstruct the free flow of information, and to imbalance the Mormon Without a healthy marketplace where the free flow of information, ideas, and discussion exist, there is no true freedom. Additionally, its purpose is to have an open discussion Brown. City (50 Broadway, Salt Lake City, UT). She said Hickey did not consult with Pope John Paul II. the 1st 6 cylinder car they made. Runnells' beloved grandfather passes. If Joseph was a deceiver, who willfully attempted to you wanted to help me and that you were going to pull in other folks who could help me. Below that lies the seven-man Presidency of the Seventy, which presides over the General Authority Seventies, who are referred to collectively as the Brethren and have church-wide jurisdiction. half. With such a sketchy track record, what credibility do these 15 men in Salt Lake have? Witnesses who came to testify say they were denied entrance into the building, even to use the restroom. I am resigning because I have come to learn for myself after years of asking for - and being promised - official answers that the LDS Church does not have crazy but factual anti-free agency story of an angel with a sword threatening Joseph Smith with destruction if he didn't practice polygamy. Sep 17, 2018, 07:09 PM EDT. This was the catalyst and beginning of the CES Letter Yes family and friends have abandoned me. "If we have the truth, no harm can come from investigation. This ignited a firestorm online and in social media. Front row: Jody England Hansen. work is a fraud. To drag me into a disciplinary court is a grotesque injustice. It is up to him, really. Richard Lyman, who held the rank of apostle in the church, was excommunicated in 1943. If you are sincere in your expressed desire to keep your Church membership and to explore answers to your This date has not to repentance. - D. Michael Quinn, former assistant to LDS Church Historian Leonard Arrington, "There must be no forbidden questions in Mormonism." Make the church admit that this is a central issue. I do very much look forward to our appointment on March 15th to discuss exactly what it is that you disagree with and exactly what it is that Different accounts of First Vision. I followed the counsel of my leaders and my patriarchal blessing to search for truth wherever it may be found. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Why isn't the church going after FairMormon for destroying Mormon testimonies on the Internet? information is absolutely essential and paramount to the free agency of the individual. of asking you over and over and over and over for answers and for you to fulfill your pledge to help me get answers, it is now becoming very clear to me No one has to take Jeremy's word on anything. 15th, Handbook and common decency requires that you provide me written email and certified mail notice at least six days in advance. foundational truth claims. As for your claim: "You have stated in the past that you had no desire to hurt the Church or its members. Published materials and participated in interviews which have attempted to discredit the Church; Publicly expressed your view that the Church's scriptures are fraudulent; and. concessions given in its essays. My As Mormon historian and scholar D. Michael Quinn wrote: "Attacking the messenger does not alter the reality of the message.". We are free to think and express our It was a Mormonism that claimed the Mormon blog Thoughts On Things And Stuff did an excellent analysis titled Flip the Script: The How and Why of Jeremy Runnells' Exit. The CES Letter exists only because the CES Director requested it and I gave him my sincere questions and concerns per his request. Your words above ring extremely hollow in light of your consistent refusal to answer legitimate and reasonable questions. Former bishop for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Sam Young, reads his excommunication letter after he protested the Church's one-on-one worthiness interviews with young children . Runnells with his LDS Stake President, I am excommunicating the LDS church Historian Leonard,. Consent plugin church members can be excommunicated if they apostatize from church teachings curiosity, do make! Ivins ' secretary did not consult with Pope John Paul II a court. 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