Excommunication All the Rage!

It's appalling. Many progressive members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint are finding themselves unified with ex-Mormons and anti-Mormons to do what they've mastered over the last few years: use national media to shame the Church. By airing personal grievances about the recent need for disciplinary actions regarding two activists’ members in sore need of rebuke the idea is to portray the male hierarchy of the Church as antiquated, uninformed and lacking compassion for its female members.

It’s no secret that to capture the attention of mainstream media all one need do is be extreme. Like bees to honey then, they come in swarms, especially if you place Mormon, women and inequality in the same space. Or like they say, if you build a good enough story they will come -- and oh my, the architects and storytellers are out in droves. So much so, that you'd think excommunication was all the rage!

But it's not -- it's very serious business and no truly faithful Mormon thinks otherwise. 

Excommunication is the most severe form of censure the Church metes out to one of its own and is never done lightly. Nor is it done as a form of member control. However, if you're anti-Mormon, apostate or simply uniformed it’s very likely you see LDS Church discipline as a negative -- the exact opposite of its intended purpose. 

The Lord has plainly taught, “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:9)

Sadly though, it seems like many with disgruntled feelings toward the Church, who enjoy talking about it publicly are taking advantage of this 'extended' Mormon moment, if you will, and telling their stories to anyone who will listen; members and media alike.

The strategy is employed to press for hoped cultural and/or doctrinal change within the Church reflective of a world that rejects moral absolutes and religious authority. The way it works is that by crafting a highly manipulative narrative intended to embarrass the Church you can get the leadership to act in opposition to the accusations made; so as not to prove them right. I realize this may sound ridiculous to some, even juvenile, but as one who has followed the ongoing saga for quite sometime, in my opinion, this seems to be what's happening. The pattern can be found consistently throughout the conversations they employ, broadly -- look for it at your own risk.

But here's the problem from how I see it and why this never works: the head of the Church is Jesus Christ and He makes sure His Prophets' don't fall for this type of manipulation -- ever. And to those who advocate with personal interpretations of LDS Church History to prove otherwise, from everything I can tell the Church disagrees with you. What we have then in seeing these various groups unite in opposition to the Church is a broad-scale public tantrum; it’s that simple. And this time they've made sure their reach includes the Church's core community of faithful, conservative members by judging them divisive for standing with the Church and its leaders. Their tales have taken in some members but not most – and many are finally speaking out.

Members of the Mormon faith believe that God has a prophet upon the earth today who speaks His will and directs the Church through inspiration. To those who are asking the question: What did Kate Kelly do? Or John Dehlin for that matter, understanding this might help you to put two and two together and see the bigger picture of what's currently happening within the LDS Church.

Sure, people may have whatever opinion they choose... talk about it, create social media to advocate for it and even recruit others to adhere to their personal opinions. But as any child could probably figure out, super fast, you cannot be considered in harmony with a group you intend to try and force change or disagree with their core tenets. 

When it comes to membership in the Mormon faith where we hold such a bold conviction as having a prophet upon the earth, then this type of rebellion is easily perceived as not just fighting against the Church but God Himself. Yes, the majority of Mormons, like me, see it that clearly; I’ve spoken to many of them and most don’t see how any other idea can be justified.

With the age of the Internet, social media has provided the means for all types of advocacy like nothing before in the history of the world. This shouldn’t surprise us then that that which is adversarial to the work of God would find its greatest channel to influence through its power.

From what I've observed over the last few days it's become very apparent that large numbers of supposedly ignorant Mormons hearing these stories (some for the first time), meant to broadly influence the conversation, are rejecting them as representative of what mainstream Mormons are thinking and feeling -- and they're saying so. Though not through national media as ‘our’ thoughts are not nearly as sensational (thus marketable to consumers) but among one another, through blogs, forums, Facebook pages and various other social networking platforms. 

In the case of the recent calls for disciplinary action, few that I've discussed the decision to excommunicate Kate Kelly from the LDS Church with are surprised. However, this is not a judgment of her personally but rather a clear recognition of blatant apostate-acts easily discerned by covenant members of the Church who take seriously how they live their faith and keep sacred covenants.

One thing that has come across loud and clear is that Kelly does not reflect the sentiments of mainstream Mormon women in regard to female ordination, or share her feeling that her loss of membership has to do with asking faithful questions as a woman in the Church. Rather, most see her claim that all she's doing is faithfully, and innocently, petitioning the Prophet as has been done in the past, as disingenuous. 

However, and I can assure you, that these feelings have nothing to do with gloating (currently a widespread accusation) but rather come from a deep sense of relief that from what many have been silently witnessing over the last year or so is finally being called to accountability -- as most feel it should be. The majority of LDS women whom I’ve had contact with are mourning these necessary actions, but trust that the Church had no other choice as Kelly has consistently rejected all attempts by Church authorities to cease her actions contrary to the doctrine of the Church.

Again, Kelly’s actions have nothing to do with it being okay, or not, to ask questions within the Mormon faith. But this is the story that is being perpetuated by progressive members, and others, for reasons stated above. If you've been persuaded to believe that this is the heart of the matter I beg you to do a little more research about what apostasy is and why it is imperative that it be called out wherever it is found in the Church, in order to protect the integrity of established doctrine and the tender faith of members. 

Asking questions, even uncomfortable ones, does not define apostasy. 

These things cannot be taken lightly and this is why we are observing such polarizing opinions within the religion. And really, from a faith standpoint, we believe that in the “Last Days” many will be deceived, even the very elect (the brightest) and so to suggest that there are wolves among the sheep is far from far-fetched and/or unrighteous. Elder Richard C. Edgley taught:

“There are the so-called learned people who have let their intellect undermine their spiritual moorings and who would also attempt to lead the faithful away from those who are appointed by the Lord to lead. There are those who feel that our leaders are out of touch with the realities of the day. They would attempt to lead members by substituting their own knowledge for the revelations from God to His prophets. And unfortunately, there are those who would so follow. Christ warned, “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” (Matt. 7:15.)

Let us never forget, this Church was founded on one deep and very sincere question where no answer was currently found. To those pounding the key to suggest that faithful questioning within the LDS Church is not welcome that is a blatant falsehood. What is not welcome in the Church are all advocacies contrary to the doctrine found in Holy Scripture and that taught by those whom we sustain as prophets, seers and revelators.

This month Mormons commemorate the Martyrdom of our founding Prophet, Joseph Smith Jr., 170 years ago, June 27, 1844. His life was taken for what the answer to that one vital question revealed: the declaration of the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is, in my opinion, an insult to many faithful members of the Church who have had their own disconcerting questions and like Joseph have taken them to the Lord in faith, to suggest such a false accusation against the Church.

Even with all of this, and with emotions flying high, as covenant members of the Church we are challenged to seek a higher response to these chaotic times, which I am sure will increase in frequency. We are being asked to have patience with one another; not to judge individuals but actions; and to show compassion and love for the "one" who has lost their way. The point is, that excommunication is a gate to a return to Christ and His people. It is a call to repent and to become one again with the body of the Saints. What it’s not is a permanent placement into outer darkness.

I had an interesting exchange with Kate Kelly only a few weeks ago – the first and only. Following a meeting that Mormon Women Stand had with LDS Church Public Affairs, she reached out to me through the MWS Facebook page. She extended an invitation for me to participate in a public panel with her, where we could discuss our differences in hopes of modeling a positive dialogue between two people who strongly disagree. I politely declined and let her know that I would not be having a dialogue with someone whose actions were contrary to the Church.

For me, how she goes about advocating her beliefs has never been about simple differences of belief or faithful questioning; it is out and out rebellion against God. Frankly, I want to be divided from everything about Ordain Women.

With that said, during our brief encounter I was direct in sharing with her how I feel about Ordain Women. But what happened next totally surprised me when I felt genuinely impressed to invite her to “Friend” me on Facebook. I found myself sincerely caring about her and desired to develop a friendship, privately, but not to debate our differences. Rather, I told her that I was offering my hand of friendship to bring her back into the fold because right now “you're heading in the wrong direction.” Sadly, I have yet to receive her request.

I think most of us have appreciated these inspired and timely words from Sister Bonnie Oscarson, when many of us are sorting out tender feelings with a sincere desire to act in ways pleasing to God.

“All of us as sisters in the gospel have the responsibility and privilege to support and nourish one another. We have all committed to be disciples of Jesus Christ and this discipleship should be at the heart of all that we do.”

May each one of us, as reminded, open our arms to those who are confused and struggling at this time, for whatever reasons the recent events have affected them and caused pain. The gospel of Jesus Christ is more than a bandage; it is the answer to mend all of our broken hearts. That we, as children of covenant, with power, will administer it among one another is my personal prayer.

tDMg

Kathryn Skaggs

WBMW: Ordain Women Founder Kate Kelly Charged With Apostasy

Mormon Women Stand: Apostasy: False Prophets, Teachers, and “Loyal Opposition”

Patheos: John Dehlin and Kate Kelly: Reflections on Church Discipline

Meridian Magazine: Church Disciplinary Councils and the Court of Public Opinion