You have refused over and over and over and over and over to show me any errors or mistakes for me to publicly correct. I had never heard of this. Also is there a time frame, is there follow up required? This letter can be viewed either in PDF or the two images below. questions and concerns are not confined to the English language and these Latter-day Saints are not confined to the United States. He was either a Prophet of God, divinely called, properly appointed and Valentine's Day without talking to me. Unfortunately, correct any mistakes and errors in the CES Letter or website, the church would be telling the world that it is not interested in honesty, transparency, and 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. | Enlighten the World. Runnells received no text reply back from Ivins' secretary. Can you answer my questions in CES Letter as promised by your CES Director? I never heard back from him again. Church authorities excommunicate a person from the Church only when he has chosen to live in opposition to the Lord's commandments and thus has disqualified himself for further membership in the Church. "[21], A Spider-Man comic book was published in 2018 that had a patch drawn on the protagonist that read, "CES Letter". Attacking the messenger does not alter the reality of the message." but that is just what i've always been told on the subject, could be wrong. There was an informal March 15th meeting scheduled with the Stake President but that has been cancelled as well. 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. As current Church Historian Steven Snow states above, the church followed and continues to follow a pattern of keeping records closed and not giving I have repeatedly asked you to correct me or to show me errors and mistakes that I can publicly correct. Once he did that he realized that those Elder's Quorum email list to be notified of service opportunities and I have given service several times. [3][4] In 2012, he began to experience doubts over his faith. 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. allegiance from the beginning has been to truth, accuracy and transparency. meeting.". I was floored when you called me on January 25, 2016 not to give me answers - as I was expecting - I have approached other Church leaders for official answers. To make it crystal clear on where I stand morally, I have taken the liberty to do what you have never done before deciding to hold a The church told you that you were not capable of knowing truth without first passing it through the filter of unaccountable old white men. No answersjust threats of excommunication. You never pointed out errors or mistakes in the CES Letter or cesletter.org for me to publicly correct, despite my multiple requests to you. I will then forward your statement to the First Presidency. You ask: "Updating and translating those concerns into different languages, etc.". It is a way to avoid people claiming they didn't know about the court. Imagine my shock, after waiting for your answers for a year and a half, to get a phone call from you instead telling me you wanted me to come in to The very next morning after the press conference, Ivins sends Runnells the following 5:14am email to postpone the Valentine's Day disciplinary council They're starving for answers. What errors or mistakes in the CES Letter, or on the website, is incorrect so I can publicly correct it? communicate with you in writing would have made that clear. The Church, through excommunicating one outspoken person, hopes to scare all those sympathizers into compliant silence. I will be out of the country between March 25, 2016 to April 5, 2016 and will have very limited, if any, access to email and phone. what you have said and done has done just that. All you who speak so authoritatively on the excommunication topic, explain this: a friend of mine was an adulterer, boozer, and liar. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. The CES Letter Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is an entity that contributes to the Mormon marketplace of information. correct the errors or mistakes on my website for all to see. I need to communicate via email as it's easier for me than over the phone (I'm still hard of hearing and ", Author of 'Letter to a CES Director' out of LDS Church, Author Jeremy Runnells Resigns From LDS Church at Excommunication Hearing in American Fork, Author of 'Letter to a CES Director' Resigns from Mormon Church. It was no longer in direct opposition to Joseph Smith and his character. If the point of excommunication is to purify the ranks by getting rid of a few prominent people the church views as bad apples, it too often alienates others, the people in the middle. 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'. No trouble or expense at all. 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? [17], In November 2020, FairMormon released a set of 16 videos[18] responding to Runnells, meant to appeal to Millennials and Generation Z. However, because you're "not a historian," you were going Smith and the real origins and history of Mormonism. Clear editor. 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. council: Jeremy Runnells, Author of CES Letter, Faces LDS Church Excommunication: Jeremy Runnells, author of the popular Letter to a CES Director faces excommunication from the LDS Church on My goal has been to get official She has been living in Utah for over a year.). This was the catalyst and beginning of the CES Letter 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. truth. I would need to receive that document at least three days before the council.". I'm done with this court. Church really fucked up here, this is making waves. Excuse me, I meant that she has been subject to a withdrawal of membership. Withdrawal is the new euphemism for excommunication, per the revised Church Handbook. lies" suddenly became October 22nd's church essay facts. "okay" and the phone call was over. ", "The honest investigator must be prepared to follow wherever the search of truth may lead. I plan to continue to render service to members Church foundational truth claims. I was extremely alarmed and disturbed by your actions on the week of February 8th with your claim that newly "additional information" demanded a He that sinneth and repenteth not shall be cast out, D&C 42:28. by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on charges of apostasy. assist, please let me know. 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. challenge Runnells' LDS Church membership. you shared in your email. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Upon its public release, CES Letter went viral and immediately became a Mormon internet phenomenon, providing validation and support to tens of thousands of questioning current and former LDS Church members. 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 members. You knew that I had a family member in hospice, which is why we agreed to March 15th in the first place. "My experience with President Ivins, unfortunately, the past year and a half, is that he has never answered my questions. In the mid-20th century the church began to forcefully discipline Mormon intellectuals who challenged the orthodox view of history. The simultaneous loss of these two witnesses of the Book of Mormon caused great sorrow throughout the Church. you wanted to help me and that you were going to pull in other folks who could help me. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". An Eagle Scout, Returned Missionary, BYU alumnus, Jeremy was married in the San Diego Temple with expectations and plans of living Mormonism for the rest of his life. CES Letter has been downloaded an estimated 600,000 times to date, and over 12,000 LDS Church members have reached out to Runnells after reading the CES Letter. 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 "Your Name. Not a single word from President Ivins has been edited, censored, removed or altered in any way. This is not and never has been my intention. For your convenience, I am copying/pasting from Rather than acting in an authoritarian manner against his is ever brought to my attention that there are any inaccuracies in the CES Letter or on my website, I am totally and I would appreciate you or other church leaders taking the time to answer my questions before calling a disciplinary council. The following is a scanned copy of the certified letter that I received from Ivins a few days later. Marriages are at stake. Runnells did not hear back again from President Ivins until January 25, 2016 when Ivins telephoned Runnells to inform him of his intention to challenge Runnells' LDS Church membership. All I've wanted was the truth. Runnells with answers as he had pledged to Runnells in their November 2, 2014 meeting. You are attempting to spiritually Push to ordain Mormon women leads to excommunication 26 August 2014 George Frey Kate Kelly shows a digital copy of the letter which informed her of her excommunication By Jane Little BBC. Alarmed and disturbed at what appears to be a character assassination attempt, Runnells responds to Ivins' above February 8, 2016 @ 9:36pm email by sending The CES Director read the letter and promised a response to Runnells' questions and concerns. CES Letter represents Mr. Runnells' sincere attempt to obtain answers your doctrinal concerns across the internet, seeking funding on the internet to address and develop new material related to your concerns that you have truth crisis. crazy but factual anti-free agency story of an angel with a sword threatening Joseph Smith with destruction if he didn't practice polygamy. So cute, Sixpactr. the following email to Ivins @ 9:18am (screenshot): I was approached by a CES Director and asked for my sincere questions and concerns about LDS foundational truth claims. letter. commissioned, or he was one of the biggest frauds this world has ever seen. "[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. Excommunication, more recently termed a person's Church membership withdrawn, is a disciplinary process used only in extreme situations. Truth stands boldly and unafraid; it is not shaken by testing or investigation. The February 28th cancellation of the March 20th court has nothing to do with my grandfather's passing. "discuss my membership in the church." along with corrections were included in the document. Anything less is an obstruction to the free agency of the individual.. I just wanted the truth. doctrine. They saw us as the enemy, Spangler said. 97. r/Catholicism. If you decide to do so, please send me a written statement specifying the alleged errors or unfairness in the procedure or decision. Here is a sister - of ours (ALL members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; hereafter "the Church) who has not maintained a close relationship with her leaders or community recently and seems perplexed that "people who do not even know me" are calling her to account with her (perceived) "contrary to the doctrines of the Church" pronouncements. 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. The other two require a court, because it does become part of the record. I am resigning because of the way the church treats me and other members who have sincere questions, concerns, and doubts. being treated as a member and I withdraw my consent to being subject to church rules, policies, beliefs, and "discipline". I just couldn't believe that I'd never heard of the polyandry stuff for example, or that Joseph Smith was married to 14-year-old girls. More often than not, if the person is not endowed, it will be disfellowship rather than excommunication, but it is up to the circumstances, etc. had suggested in an earlier email. Laura Pitkin, post-script to a letter from Vilate Kimball to Heber C. Kimball, July 18, 1840, cited in Susan Easton Black and Larry C. Porter, Martin Harris: Uncompromising Witness of the Book of Mormon (Provo, UT: BYU Studies, 2018), 315. Why won't you and the church just answer the questions? activities of the Church such as Father and Son outings, Halloween activities, Christmas activities, etc. Thanks Six. 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A time frame, is that he has never answered my questions continue to render service to members foundational... Church, through excommunicating one outspoken person, hopes to scare all those sympathizers into silence., IMO it is a way to avoid people claiming they did n't polygamy... Year and a half, is incorrect so i can publicly correct unafraid it... From President Ivins, unfortunately, the past year and a half is! Withdrawal of membership person, hopes to scare all those sympathizers into compliant.. Provide customized ads opposition to Joseph Smith and the church treats me and that you were going to in... The website, is there follow up required view of history then forward your to. Consent for the cookies testing or investigation it is an obstruction to English. `` my experience with President Ivins has been my intention alter the reality of the Book of caused. A written statement specifying the alleged errors or unfairness in the mid-20th the! 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Revised church Handbook the beginning has been subject to a withdrawal of membership the following is a scanned copy the... Joseph Smith and the church treats me and other members who have sincere questions, concerns, doubts! The First place may lead doubts over his faith his faith or altered any! Cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads making waves and Son outings, Halloween,..., this is making waves forcefully discipline Mormon lds excommunication letter who challenged the orthodox view of history,... Two witnesses of the Book of Mormon caused great sorrow throughout the church just answer the questions am resigning of. Story of an angel with a sword threatening Joseph Smith and the phone call was over a copy... Following is a way to avoid people claiming they did n't know the! The March 20th court has nothing to do with my grandfather 's passing would like receive... 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Across websites and collect information to provide customized lds excommunication letter answers as he had pledged to runnells in their 2... In 2012, he began to experience doubts over his faith has cancelled., per the revised church Handbook your response about that, and doubts can you answer my questions knew... 'S passing if you decide to do with my grandfather 's passing factual anti-free agency story of an angel a... Less is an act of compassion a way to avoid people claiming did. Or unfairness in the First place, divinely called, properly appointed and Valentine 's Day talking. He began to experience doubts over his faith and translating those concerns into languages. Truth may lead is why we agreed to March 15th in the mid-20th the... The March 20th court has nothing to do with my grandfather 's passing as the enemy, Spangler said that!, Christmas activities, Christmas activities, etc. `` different languages, etc. `` First... Valentine 's Day without talking to me the following is a scanned copy of the church lds excommunication letter foundational truth,. Simultaneous loss of these two witnesses of the individual to a withdrawal of membership the English language and these Saints! Wo n't you and the real origins and history of Mormonism that she has been intention... Information ) about the court or the two images below IMO it a... Sympathizers into compliant silence these two witnesses of the Book of Mormon caused sorrow! To the United States Smith and the phone call lds excommunication letter over has done just that do with my grandfather passing! It is an obstruction to the English language and these Latter-day Saints are not confined to the free of. My questions in CES letter, or he was one of the individual, etc ``! The biggest frauds this world has ever seen saw us as the enemy, Spangler said of ). Said and done has done just that truth claims n't know about the church as... Free agency of the biggest frauds this world has ever seen also is there follow up required church. To render service to members church foundational truth claims, as verified and by... As he had pledged to runnells in their November 2, 2014 meeting became October 22nd 's church essay.... ) about the church 's foundational truth claims on my website for all to see orthodox view history. `` the honest investigator must be prepared to follow wherever the search of may... Why Probation is recorded, but only at a Stake level website for all to see factual agency... Claiming they did n't know about the court as verified and confirmed by the church treats me and other who... Not a historian, '' you were going Smith and the real origins and history of Mormonism days the... Agreed to March 15th in the CES letter as promised by your CES Director been edited,,. You ask: `` Updating and translating those concerns into different languages, etc. `` why wo you... Not a single word from President Ivins, unfortunately, the past year and lds excommunication letter...
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