I want to add that I trust that you will be fair to me and will follow [4], The CES Letter outlines a large list of issues Runnells has with LDS Church beliefs and its historical narrative. In fact, they had to wait approximately 5 minutes from Runnells' entering the room for Ivins to come back in the room with an interpreter. Even with cochlear implants, Jeremy is legally deaf. questions posed in CES Letter and raised concerns about the LDS Church's recent historical essays ( http://lds.org/topics/essays). It has validated and confirmed to me that this organization has no divine power or divine mantle behind it. never a remote thought of holding a "surprise" disciplinary council on March 15th. Why do they deserve our blind loyalty and unquestioning obedience? disciplinary court on me: conduct a Temple Recommend interview. Why won't you just answer the questions in FairMormon I would have thought that my email indicating a willingness to [sic]" and to "stop 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 "No interpreter or any representative will be allowed to attend with you. 3 years of waiting for promised answers from the CES Director only to be left with silence. [Attached to the resignation letter that Runnells physically handed to Mark Ivins was also a letter from Runnells' attorney, Mark Naugle. To claim or imply that the acceptance of donations is wrong for CES Letter Foundation but totally okay for organizations like FairMormon Many Latter-day Saints share the same questions and concerns I do about the LDS Church's foundational truth claims. Nelsen, Transition Integrity Project - full document, Rich Higgins National Security Council Memo - Deep State, Article on the Pentagon and unidentified aerial phenomenon, Marco Rubio on off-world crafts in our top-secret air space. Runnells decides to email Ivins to Again, I will be bringing my trusted interpreter to ensure that I understand 100% of everything that is said in our meeting. 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. including translations. In that letter and the excommunication letter, King did not mention same-sex marriage or female ordination among the reasons. 4. By hiding and withholding important information from members and investigators, you are literally obstructing the free agency of members of the church, and I have a problem with that. This is not and never has been my intention. I am resigning because the LDS Church and its foundational truth claims are just not true. Church members can be excommunicated if they apostatize from church teachings. The bishop is appointed to be a judge in Israel, D&C 107:72. overly aggressive and mean-spirited. what you have said and done has done just that. 2. Unfortunately, no response ever came. on Marth 15th. I have painfully come to see for myself that the Mormonism of my youth is dead. I am glad to hear that, although you need to Gender issues. I believe President J. Reuben Clark when he said: "If we have the truth, no harm can come from investigation. free agency and the free agency of others, and to take our conversation away from the light of transparency and openness into the dark of secrecy and It's important because if not all the information is on the table, if an organization or an individual takes some information off the table - critical information - they are literally obstructing their free agency of the member or investigator. You are the owner of your life and your identity. Related A professor at a Mormon university was asked to retract a pro-LGBT Facebook post. You likewise refused to answer and clarify. We stand with you, Sam! The very next morning after the press conference, Ivins sends Runnells the following 5:14am email to postpone the Valentine's Day disciplinary council CES Letter was my response. Runnells held a Press Conference on February 10, 2016 to publicly discuss his Stake President's actions. 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 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 . - Elder Hugh B. He that sinneth and repenteth not shall be cast out, D&C 42:28. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Our whole strength rests on the validity of that vision. Questions which you agreed to help me get answers to - with zero conditions attached - in our November 2, 2014 insinuations against Runnells along with their multiple attempts to excommunicate Jeremy Runnells. completely agreeable and committed to publicly making the corrections. nowit's a "privilege to work with [me]"? It mostly deals with historical issues surrounding the time of the founding of the LDS Church in the 1820s and 1830s, although it does talk about more modern issues as well. I have done nothing wrong. I'm really touched by that. CES Letter represents Mr. Runnells' sincere attempt to obtain answers A former bishop from Southern Utah who produces a podcast about LDS Church history announced Monday that he has been formally excommunicated. President, I am excommunicating the LDS Church, I am excommunicating you, and I am excommunicating this kangaroo court from my life. A decision has been made. It was not Christlike in any way. where, in addition to Federal law 18 U.S.C 2511(2)(d), Utah Code Ann. Runnells requested a delay until March 15th, citing a close family member in hospice care, which was originally against me. history. Join. 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. responses to FairMormon. In 1841 the Mormons published a poem which stated "Or Book of Mormon not his word, because denied by Oliver". Many wonder if the If a one-night stand constituted a common law marriage, we would increase the number of polygamists by a million-fold overnight! Every single interaction and communication between Jeremy T. Runnells and his former Stake President, Mark Ivins, has been recorded and documented from the It has validated and confirmed to me that this is an organization that prizes, above all, obedience and conformity over morality and integrity. Firestorm ensues, Ivins reverses interpreter ban after Runnells fights for one. Different accounts of First Vision. 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. on the issues troubling so many Latter-day Saints - a conversation, by the way, these Mormon apologists started and initiated first with their attacks Doubt is the beginning to knowledge and wisdom. When I first read the title to this threadI thought it was going to be like a Letterman Top 10 list of reasons to be excommunicated. but that is just what i've always been told on the subject, could be wrong. City (50 Broadway, Salt Lake City, UT). I plan to continue to render service to members I will then forward your statement to the First Presidency. years. President Ivins assured Runnells that he wanted to help, and that he would obtain My goal has been to get official answers from the All rights reserved. the Mormon marketplace of information. additional information which facilitates holding a Stake Disciplinary Council in your behalf. It told you that you were at heart evil and immoral and only by subordinating your conscience to their decrees could you see yourself as a good person. My membership evaporated the second that I gave President Ivins my resignation Ivins confirmed that he had and responded that March 15, 2016 would not work as he "can't wait that long. 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. I entertained the answers of unofficial apologists. From a predeliction towards 'adult beverages'??? If we have not the truth, it ought to be harmed." Ivins gave in and agreed to March 15, 2016. what's right rather than to do what's right at the expense of obedience. I did it their way only to find lots of icing but no cake. '"[25], Harris, M. L., Bringhurst, N. G., & Mauss, A. L. (2020). 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. process of translation of the Book of Mormon. Everyone Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion, Deplatforming Free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion, Mormon School Fired Professor for Pro-LGBT Online Post. So, for example, you can open up the transcripts to audio recordings in a Front row: Jody England Hansen. circulating on the Internet. As for your claim: "You have stated in the past that you had no desire to hurt the Church or its members. The evidence against the Book of Abraham is so damning that the church abandoned, through its essay, its long held position that Joseph Smith did a literal Stephen Daley, LDS stake (regional) president in Derby, wrote in a letter on Wednesday that while members may hold diverse opinions on a number of topics, Helfer "cannot be a member in good. The Church Handbook is clear that when there is any possibility of a personal conflict of interest in a disciplinary hearing, the stake president is supposed to consult with the First Presidency. answers to try to help me. Runnells seeks clarification from Ivins on whether March 15th meeting is still on. And the specific questions that I asked are: And you have not answered a single one of them.". When I had my faith crisis in early 2012, there were very little official answers from the Church to the questions and concerns raised in the CES Letter. I believe President Hinckley's dichotomy that this work is either the restored gospel of Jesus Christ or it's a great fraud. would be a grotesque injustice against me. Gone are the days when a student raised a In February 2012, Jeremy experienced an awakening to the LDS Church's truth crisis, which subsequently led to a faith transition that summer. Among the more interesting items in the collection is a lecture she gave in 1970 titled "Can We Manipulate the Past?" and information. (Update, Monday 23 June: The author has been excommunicated by the Mormon church. An evening when all the men in that room, including yourself, should be spending with their loved ones. If you are not sure that your membership is still carried on the LDS records, you can call the LDS Church Membership Dept. Those of you that have served in Bishoprics, pls correct me if I am wrong: Pam, I believe that disfellowship requires a court. 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. 18:31 (Mosiah 26). addition to clarifying how your demands are reasonable and congruent to the foundational principles of free agency, transparency, honesty and freedom? I am confident that you will be able to hear and understand the proceedings. As of Thursday, more than 200 health-care professionals signed a letter to the stake president saying they are concerned that withdrawing Helfer's membership will create a culture of stigma and. In some cases he may say that he wants them to partake of the sacrament, give a prayer, etc. Also note that, after Runnells' strong protest to Ivins, this letter moves away from "conduct unbecoming a member" and other vague insinuations to simply "apostasy". So, two disciplinary councils were set up and cancelled. disciplinary court be held against me that week on Valentine's Day. You tried to hold a court on me on The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 50 East North Temple Salt Lake City, UT 84150 Website: www.lds.org The Human Rights Campaign reports on news, events and resources of the Human Rights Campaign Foundation that are of interest to the general public and further our common mission to support the LGBTQ+ community. questions that I asked them. Then help me. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. rebuttals and defenses against their attacks on my personal name and integrity as well as their false claims. ", Elder Ballard pointed to the church's essays (https://www.lds.org/topics/essays) and instructed his Of the Book of Abraham. Again, show me where I am wrong or where I am teaching something that is factually not true and I will be more than happy to publicly Church foundational truth claims. The church does not like individuals asking questions about its truth claims. (screenshot): Dear Brother Runnells - Thank you for the email and the expression of your feelings regarding your current situation. CES Letter has been downloaded an estimated 600,000 times to date, and over 12,000 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 Your words above ring extremely hollow in light of your consistent refusal to answer legitimate and reasonable questions. That way the chance for misunderstanding by either of us will be reduced. this day as I am only interested in correct facts and information. Contrary to what some assume, it is not my goal nor is it the goal of the CES Letter Foundation to drive members out of the church. The room with the high council and stake presidency already inside was locked and Ivins had to tap to get the door opened. at 7:30pm; please confirm your attendance. What other reasons are there for excommunication? You're invited to see for yourself and to come to your own conclusions. all over again. You can keep your thoughts in your head, but the minute that you exercise your freedom of expression, you get thrown into a disciplinary council. and what took place. Address For your convenience, in addition to enclosing the letter I handed to you obedience and conformity over the pursuit of truth and virtue of individual free agency. Fortunately, Elder M. Russell Ballard gave a recent talk to the Church Educational System this I have always been committed to the CES Letter being accurate and up-to-date. 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. blatant dishonest attacks. "If we have the truth, no harm can come from investigation. me exactly what the charges are and why disciplinary action is being taken against me. We were all temple recommend holders, and they were treating us like we had baseball bats or something.. assist, please let me know. Such things as murder, adultery, sexual perversion, or any other serious offense that resulted in a conviction by civil courts such as a felony. They refused to answer any It takes considerable time, effort, man hours, money and resources to contribute to the conversation in the Mormon marketplace of information. If there are no errors or mistakes, why am I being punished for seeking and sharing the truth? He went through a lot of hell, but to this day is still a member and a non-excommunicant (never ex'd). 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. Mormon blog Thoughts On Things And Stuff did an excellent analysis titled Flip the Script: The How and Why of Jeremy Runnells' Exit. Wanting to understand these historical issues, Runnells learned about and was specifically disturbed by Joseph Smith's marriages to already-married women, and Book of Abraham historical criticisms. Even though the church does not censor as much as it used to in the pre-Information Age, it still unfortunately censors and Here&39;s a LDS Youtuber and author I enjoy. Quitmormon.com has already had 913 submissions of resignation in the time since Sam's announcement barely a day ago. Out of curiosity, do they make those numbers public or do you have a source? Posted at 9:02 PM, Apr 23, 2021 and last updated 2021 . It's pure, willful and conscious dismissiveness on the part of church leadership. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. I listened to most of the two interviews they did with John Dehlin totaling 8+ hours, including a recording of their church court. Yes family and friends have abandoned me. questions to higher levels of authority so that authoritative answers could be provided. I'm a firm believer in free agency and individual freedom. Born and raised in Southern California, Jeremy is a seventh generation Mormon of Pioneer heritage who reached every Mormon youth milestone. This is my response to your 3.11.16 email. He was either a Prophet of God, divinely called, properly appointed and As I am no longer a member, I 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 All of these allusions reflected conventional LDS attitudes towards race at that time in 1947. Jeremy T. Runnells is a critic of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and author of the book titled A Letter to a CES Director (later renamed CES Letter). in the beginning of our November 2, 2014 meeting, I am also copying/pasting the relevant part that helps to answer your question: I didn't wake up one day and decide to create CES Letter and cesletter.org. "The Church has a strong desire to protect children and, as you know, issued updated guidelines for interviewing youth earlier this year.". [1][2] Runnells grew up as a seventh-generation member of the LDS Church with pioneer ancestry. I have repeatedly asked you for correction so that I can publicly correct as I am only interested in accurate facts and information. 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. I still do not know what the charges are or why any disciplinary She argues that most members who leave do so for reasons other than historical inaccuracies. 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 Communicating with you through an ASL interpreter is not something that I am willing to do in the matters involved here. Joseph Fielding Smith, that Joseph Smith was a deceiver who willfully attempted to mislead people and that he should be exposed, his claims should be You have refused over and over and over and over and over to show me any errors or mistakes for me to publicly correct. non-transparency. Either it means something or it doesn't. its source and where it leads. excommunicated. Runnells sends Ivins one last letter in response to his latest disciplinary council letter seeking answers to his questions, Runnells also responds to several of Ivins' accussations against him, Ivins banned ASL interpreter in disciplinary council, Runnells shares ban with social media. contradict each other. "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My is ever brought to my attention that there are any inaccuracies in the CES Letter or on my website, I am totally and 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. I would like to meet Obviously, I will also I'm sure that your anger and cynicism is very justified