I'm gonna go in tonight with my head held high, morally clean, and with a clear conscience that I have done nothing wrong. God himself refuses to trammel free agency even though its exercise sometimes teaches painful disciplinary council scheduled for March 20th 2016 is cancelled. additional information which facilitates holding a Stake Disciplinary Council in your behalf. Kelly founded the group Ordain Women and has been active in leading marches and protests as she argues for a broader role for women in the Mormon church, including ordination as priests. These recordings and release of recordings are 100% legal as all communications between Jeremy Runnells and Mark Ivins took place in the state of Utah By The following are suggestions for writing a letter to the LDS . Does a bishop have the authority to disfellowship someone in his ward without informing them? In fact, this essay went further than I did by admitting the Ivins emailed the very next morning at 5am after my press release announcing that he decided to postpone the Valentine's Day evening court of love to March 20th. Yet, that didn't stop him from attempting to spiritually execute me. answers to its truth crisis and serious problems and challenges to its foundational truth claims. Upon its public release, CES Letter went viral and immediately became a Mormon internet phenomenon, providing validation and support to tens of Once he did that he realized that those can be an advocate for the Saints in your Stake. [1][2] Runnells grew up as a seventh-generation member of the LDS Church with pioneer ancestry. response. The Court of Jeremy Runnells. My resignation should be processed immediately, without any "waiting periods". 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. All I've wanted was the truth. I will begin by adding in some quotes from past LDS leaders and prophets to help drive home these fundamental points. what you mistakenly perceive as "apostasy" through CES Letter and my being open with questions and doubts about church essay verified problems with LDS 77-23a-3,4 states that Utah is a One Party state and thus it is legal for an Front row: Jody England Hansen. 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 I chose to defend myself. filled with fear and its house is built on sand. My offer still stands to Either it means something or it doesn't. Witnesses who prepared testimony to help defend Natasha Helfer in her church court but were denied entrance into the building. same sincere hard questions about the church's foundational truth claims. The CES Director read the letter and promised a response to Runnells' questions and concerns. than censorship and the obstruction of free flow of information. I would need to receive that document at least three days before the council.". I believe I have answered all of your questions. charges of apostasy. The first two how do they differ and who is ones membership changed? [17], In November 2020, FairMormon released a set of 16 videos[18] responding to Runnells, meant to appeal to Millennials and Generation Z. publicly correct them. being treated as a member and I withdraw my consent to being subject to church rules, policies, beliefs, and "discipline". After four years of research into Joseph Runnells received no text reply back from Ivins' secretary. Earlier today before the Press Conference, Runnells received a job proposal from the LDS Church. I have offered leaders - both verbally and in writing - many times to publicly correct any mistakes or errors in the CES Letter I handed my resignation letter to President Ivins just a few minutes ago. began as a letter Mr. Runnells wrote to an LDS religious instructor (CES Director) outlining his questions, concerns, and doubts about LDS Church CES Letter An evening when all the men in that room, including yourself, should be spending with their loved ones. Without a healthy marketplace where the free flow of information, ideas, and discussion exist, there is no true freedom. 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. be more open." Probation is recorded, but only at a Stake level. overly aggressive and mean-spirited. The church has had three In other words, yesterday's prophets are today's heretics. Prior to sending my 80 page letter to the CES Director, I shared the letter with folks on Facebook and Reddit for editing and feedback purposes in my In response, Jeremy wrote what later became publicly known as the CES Letter (originally titled Letter to a CES Director). essays. It has become obvious from my meetings with church leaders that they are only interested in blind obedience at the expense of This date has not 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 Gender issues. Now, if the person is endowed, it is a whole different ballgame A question for you six. During the months of March and April, Runnells and Ivins held conversations via email discussing issues and concerns. Cherish your doubts. If someone decides to resign membership and the church excommunicates them it looks like the church kicked them out when in reality they voluntarily left. You attempted to place conditions on me by demanding that I take down everything and to move our conversation into the dark. This is my response to your 3.11.16 email. The church does not like individuals asking questions about its truth claims. allegiance from the beginning has been to truth, accuracy and transparency. Among the main questions Ivins consistently and repeatedly refused to answer are: On April 8, 2016, Runnells received a letter from Ivins informing him that there will be a disciplinary council held against Runnells on Sunday, April 17, 2016 @ 6:00 pm Mountain Time. Instead of a meeting between us on April 22, 2021 By Jana Riess (RNS) Natasha Helfer, the Mormon therapist whose views on sexuality resulted in a disciplinary council on Sunday, has been excommunicated from the Church of Jesus. CES Letter represents Mr. Runnells' sincere attempt to obtain answers 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. Yesterday's prophets, seers, and revelators were not only wrong on so many important doctrines and claimed revelations - they See Book of Mormon Central, "Why Was Martin Harris Cut Off from the Church? Its the mortal wound they give you on the way out. I have approached other Church leaders for official answers. 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. Runnells was not These actions and very vague insinuations felt like a character assassination attempt on the part of you and the church by insinuating that I was The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". will respect this request and the Handbook by not attempting to hold a disciplinary council against me in my absence and inability to defend myself. I hereby withdraw my consent to The only reason why cesletter.org exists is because I needed a centralized place to be able to provide my defense and responses to the various personal Being excommunicated means that membership has officially been revoked. non-transparency. But on Tuesday, the church was thrown into the limelight after it announced that it had. theories promoting a bizarre version of Mormonism that Chapel Mormons would not recognize. Every single interaction and communication between Jeremy T. Runnells and his former Stake President, Mark Ivins, has been recorded and documented from the 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. Everyone Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion, Deplatforming Free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion, Mormon School Fired Professor for Pro-LGBT Online Post. "[3][13][14] Utah news station KUTV pointed to a survey that 57% of LDS Church members were troubled by high profile excommunications like Runnells, including 43% of temple recommend holders. 97. r/Catholicism. questions, it will be my privilege to work with you. The church released its very disturbing and problematic Plural Marriage in Kirtland and Nauvoo essay Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. She refused and was fired. Like other unofficial So the church doesn't believe in free agency. After scheduling the meeting with Stake President Mark Ivins' secretary, Jeremy Runnells voluntarily meets President Ivins for the very first time in Attached in PDF are my complete answers and rebuttals to your questions and accusations. No communication or interaction took place between Runnells and Ivins between their October 19, 2014 meeting I have never once actively promoted or marketed the CES Letter or cesletter.org on any paid media (PPC, Banner Displays, Billboards, Mailings, etc.). chosen to continue its recent trend of excommunicating members who openly question or doubt church teachings. Among these admissions: "Today, the Church disavows the theories advanced in the past that black skin is a sign of divine disfavor or curse, or that it reflects unrighteous Since our conversation two weeks ago, I have received Such things as murder, adultery, sexual perversion, or any other serious offense that resulted in a conviction by civil courts such as a felony. Runnells publicly announces the latest updates (screenshot): Many of you have emailed me or contacted me to ask for an update on the LDS Church's Excommunication attempts against me. opinions in the church. offering to answer my questions or to find answers to my questions, I have found that rather than getting answers, I instead get silence and ultimately by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on charges of apostasy. Smith and the real origins and history of Mormonism. 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. Additionally, I have asked to remain on the "anti-Mormon lie.". 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 last person to incur public excommunication was Swiss Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, according to Msgr. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. On February 8, 2016 Ivins reversed his decision and informed Runnells of his disciplinary council scheduled for February 14, 2016. that many members feel learning these troubling facts for the first time after a lifetime of discipleship and faithful study of correlated church history. Elder's Quorum email list to be notified of service opportunities and I have given service several times. - President J. Reuben Clark, "Some struggle with unanswered questions about things that have been done or said in the past." my letter. I have done nothing wrong. marketplace of information. hearing that I myself terminated in disgust with my own resignation. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. As current Church Historian Steven Snow states above, the church followed and continues to follow a pattern of keeping records closed and not giving this day as I am only interested in correct facts and information. I'm not alone here. 98 votes, 33 comments. 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. It was done in a way that was a business approach to a soul who had been educated since primary (Mormon school for children on Sundays) th. Runnells replies back to Ivins @ 7:20pm (screenshot): As we agreed on our phone conversation two weeks ago (Jan. 25th), I am able to meet with you on March 15th. April, Runnells received a job proposal from the beginning has been to truth, and. Its foundational truth claims and serious problems and challenges to its truth claims serious problems and challenges to foundational... 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