Even though the church does not censor as much as it used to in the pre-Information Age, it still unfortunately censors and publicly correct them. I believe in the Mormon Marketplace of Information.". The following is a leaked video/audio recording of the disciplinary council. by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on charges of apostasy. So the real problem here is that the church has a problem with freedom of expression. After excommunicating the LDS Church, Stake President Mark Ivins, and their kangaroo court from his life by resigning, Runnells emerges out of the Stake Center to address the crowd. What errors and mistakes are there in the CES Letter and on my website that I can publicly correct? Also, the confidential nature of our meeting Introduction I received a letter informing me that on Sunday a "membership council" (formerly, "disciplinary council") will be held "on my behalf". disciplinary court on me: conduct a Temple Recommend interview. This letter can be viewed either in PDF or the two images below. yet to release its first essay. Ivins gave in and agreed to March 15, 2016. This is still my position and offer today. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Three years ago. to legitmate questions and doubts through proper church leadership channels. There was Excommunication is a disciplinary per the Church's definition. They also cant hold a calling in their ward, so they are outside (ex) community. I have repeatedly asked you for correction so that I can publicly correct as I am only interested in accurate facts and information. But in this case, much of that emphasis on correct and predictable procedure seems to have gone right out the window. and the first century C.E., long after Abraham lived." March 15th, I invite you to participate in a private written dialogue. After all, there are many Mormons who leave the church after going to FairMormon in an And good comeback. I have done nothing wrong to warrant this kind of response let alone a disciplinary council. Runnells stated that he would be happy to meet with Ivins on March 15, 2016. Also, the The CES Letter Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is an entity that contributes to the Mormon marketplace of information. FairMormon even lists more issues than the CES Letter does. All I wanted was the truth. 1.5 years of waiting for answers/corrections from Stake President Mark Ivins only to be met with silence, threats, and ultimately an excommunication All Thanks Six. or "stay in the boat" or "God not Google" are not answers to the problematic facts that directly undermine and challenge the LDS Church's 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 DOB: Membership# (if you have it, not required if sending directly to Bishop) Address. What other reasons are there for excommunication? - D. Michael Quinn, former assistant to LDS Church Historian Leonard Arrington, "There must be no forbidden questions in Mormonism." If it did not, then this Gone are the days when a student raised a You Gender issues. She argues that most members who leave do so for reasons other than historical inaccuracies. I mean, I don't know how to repent of - I've asked you over and over and over to tell me where I'm wrong. 2. I am resigning from the church due to its extremely disturbing lack of transparency and honesty to its members and investigators about the real Joseph I think that a bishops court is required for things like adultry, and murder and more then likely other felonious charges. truth. Updated on June 25, 2019. bunnzy having been put on probation and disfellowshipped (yes I was a bad girl) I was put on probation through talking with my bishop at the time, I couldn't partake of the sacrament, say prayers, giv. You agreed to help me back then only disciplinary council taken against me. half. Jana Spangler, one of several women who flew in from Utah to support Natasha and serve as the witnesses the Church Handbook says the accused can have, said the reception was chilly to say the least. church will ever reverse those excommunications and apologize to those historians and individuals for being ahead of their time by speaking and writing the actions in a premortal life;" - Race and the Priesthood. On February 8, 2016 Ivins reversed his decision and informed Runnells of his disciplinary council scheduled for February 14, 2016. It is a way to avoid people claiming they didn't know about the court. In addition to inaccurate personal ad hominem attacks, month where he acknowledges this: "Gone are the days when a student asked an honest question and the teacher responded, 'Don't worry about it.' To excommunicate me is an atrocious grotesque injustice. doctrine.". 675. being disciplined for moral failings (i.e. notice will be delivered to you regarding the scheduled disciplinary council. "These fragments date to between the third century B.C.E. Temple. complete and full confidence in my interpreter to get it right. They still do. But on Tuesday, the church was thrown into the limelight after it announced that it had. would be a grotesque injustice against me. [sic]" and to "stop New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. I have already answered and rebutted this accusation against me in my March 7th letter to you. 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 Runnells responded back via text that now was not a good time for him due to a family member in hospice care along with other obligations and commitments. Ivins then blindsides and shocks Runnells with his following email sent two hours later @ 9:36pm (screenshot): Bro. Seasons and Times, Vol 2, p482. 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 If there are no errors or mistakes, why am I being punished for seeking and sharing the truth? After speaking with President Mark Ivins and the High Council tonight, it became very clear to me that it was a kangaroo court. I am no longer a member of the church. I still do not know what exactly I'm being charged with or why I'm being taken to a disciplinary council. Also, no worries about preciseness as I have addition to clarifying how your demands are reasonable and congruent to the foundational principles of free agency, transparency, honesty and freedom? 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). The minute that the church interferes with a member's or investigator's investigation by withholding or A total time span of a year and a half. Brown. priesthood leader. Members of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sing during the biannual general conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Salt Lake City, Utah, on April 5, 2014. Parking is available in surrounding lots. half. Internet Mormon organizations such as FairMormon, Mormon Interpreter, SHIELDS, etc., the CES Letter Foundation accepts donations. It has validated and confirmed to me that this organization has no divine power or divine mantle behind it. I will walk into this court on Sunday with my head held high, with a clear conscience, and a complete conviction that I have done nothing wrong. [5], After not receiving a response, in April 2013 he posted his letter on the internet. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. additional information which facilitates holding a Stake Disciplinary Council in your behalf. Please disregard the notice you received by mail today regarding the disciplinary council scheduled for February 14, 2016. I remind you of your written agreement to abide by Handbook and respectfully request that you treat me fairly by not holding a disciplinary council in my 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. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. 2015). The CES Director responded that he read the "very well written" letter and that he would provide Jeremy with a response. The easiest way to be excommunicated from the LDS religion is to have a liberal interpretation of LDS doctrine. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. I have asked you 3 questions over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over. I just wanted the truth. I will begin by adding in some quotes from past LDS leaders and prophets to help drive home these fundamental points. claims, you and the church are actively seeking to censor, silence, and kill the messenger rather than address the message. 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. I would like to keep our appointment to meet on March 15th and then schedule And the specific questions that I asked are: And you have not answered a single one of them.". 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. As my interpreter is a professional interpreter, he is bound by confidentiality so I have zero concerns. will not take place on Valentine's Day. By "long," the church means 2,000 years. from out of state. You have stated in the past that you had no desire to hurt the Church or its members. reference. This is especially true in light of my verbal and written promise and last generation - with the access to information on the internet, we can't continue that pattern; I think we need to continue to Race and the priesthood. recovering from and am half deaf. I understand what you consider the "seriousness" and the "consequences" of my actions. Such things as murder, adultery, sexual perversion, or any other serious offense that resulted in a conviction by civil courts such as a felony. The council will be held February 14th 2016 @ me to publicly correct. the disciplinary council scheduled for February 14th. Runnells made the observation that it appeared that Ivins' interpreter offer was his Plan B only if Runnells showed up with his own interpreter and put up a fight. The Church's Race and the Priesthood, Plural Marriage in Kirtland and Nauvoo, Book of Mormon Translation, First Vision Accounts, and Translation and Historicity of the Book of Abraham essays not only are in open opposition to Joseph Smith and church leaders, they directly contradict carefully correlated church narratives taught to generations of Latter-day Saints. questions posed in CES Letter and raised concerns about the LDS Church's recent historical essays ( http://lds.org/topics/essays). Rather than get the answers from you which I waited a year and a half for, instead I received threats of excommunication. The Mormonism I grew up in was a Mormonism where you were expected to do what is right while letting the consequences follow. I do disagree with many of the things Ivins also decided to keep the original gentleman's agreement to meet on March 15, 2016. I no longer have access to the CHI, so I'm going from memory here a little bit, but probation is really up to the discretion of the Bishop as to the DOs and DON'Ts. 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. Jeremy Runnells, Author of CES Letter, Faces LDS Church Excommunication FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CES Letter Foundation Phone: 801.609.8301 Email: media@cesletter.org Jeremy Runnells, author of the popular Letter to a CES Director faces excommunication from the LDS Church on charges of apostasy After scheduling the meeting with Stake President Mark Ivins' secretary, Jeremy Runnells voluntarily meets President Ivins for the very first time in lies" suddenly became October 22nd's church essay facts. Obviously, I will also 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 essays. All of them promised answers or to find answers only to never respond back. "anti-Mormon lie.". High Priest guy that everyone rolls their eyes to in Sunday School (every ward seems to have one). Instead I'll just enjoy my complete refusal to go to any of their meetings. the Brethren are very concerned about" and he promised that he would provide a response. Such things as murder, adultery, sexual perversion, or any other serious offense that resulted in a conviction by civil courts such as a felony. years to answer the questions as promised me. A sex therapist who was excommunicated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints this week admits she's shattered by the decision. I have expressed my position on cesletter.org: "I believe that members and investigators deserve all of the information on the table to be able to make a fully informed and balanced decision as to Since our conversation two weeks ago, I have received Front row: Jody England Hansen. The First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve have made some extraordinarily eye-brow raising admissions in these essays. Anything less is an obstruction to the free agency of the individual.. I waited patiently for a year and a half for your help. Legal Fund. The venue is open for dinner prior to the press conference at 6:00pm. Runnells was shocked as he was expecting the meeting to be a continuation of their November 2, 2014 meeting where Ivins would follow up and return to - 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. I needed time to prepare for an ASL interpreter for our meeting. 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