Room for All in this Church
June 16, 2014
We face a difficult and pivotal moment in Mormonism as LDS leaders and church members wrestle more openly with complicated aspects of our faith, its doctrine, and its history—often in spaces afforded by the Internet. In light of possible disciplinary action against prominent voices among us, we the undersigned Mormon bloggers and podcasters affirm the value of the conversations that take place in the LDS “Bloggernacle” and express our hopes for greater understanding and compassion from all of us involved in current tensions.
May we all remember, as scripture teaches, the intricate intertwining of mercy and justice. May we all follow the admonition to seek understanding before judgment, even as we address matters that can be difficult to talk about.
Scripture and tradition teach us that excommunication is one way of maintaining the boundaries of a religious community. But we believe that excommunication is not the best way to address conflict over doctrine, policy, or tradition. We ask our leaders to consider other ways of maintaining boundaries, strengthening Church members, and encouraging them to grow spiritually within Mormonism’s large and embracing community without the fear and despair the threat of excommunication sows not only in those threatened but in their families, friends, and those who share similar concerns about LDS Church doctrine or history—even those who do so silently. We are deeply encouraged by the recent news about the prospect of de-escalation in at least one of the current cases and pray for positive steps towards reconciliation.
The issues in Mormon doctrine, history, and practice highlighted by those facing church discipline are much larger than any one individual. It is not only unavoidable that these issues will continue to be discussed; such discussion is good for the health of our religious community and faithful to the truth-seeking spirit of the Latter-day Saint Restoration. As bloggers, podcasters, and passionate contributors to good, healthy online discussion, we affirm our commitment to continue speaking openly and publicly, and encouraging others to do so as well. We will continue to use online spaces to grow in knowledge and faith, to attempt to present and see many sides of each issue, and to reach out to those expressing pain, heartache, and loneliness. It is our experience that these conversations can bear good fruit as Latter-day Saints mourn with those who mourn and reflect on, deepen, and renew their faith.
We are grateful for our membership in this Church and for the unique opportunities the Internet has provided us to share our Mormon experiences, questions, and hopes. We pray that a spirit of clemency will guide the words and actions of everyone—especially those who bear the heavy responsibility of ecclesiastical discipline of Church members—and that the words of President Uchtdorf will hold sway: “Regardless of your circumstances, your personal history, or the strength of your testimony, there is room for you in this Church.”
Signed:
Dan Wotherspoon, Mormon Matters podcast
Jana Riess, Flunking Sainthood blog (Religion News Service)
Natasha Helfer Parker, The Mormon Therapist blog
Paul Barker, Rational Faiths blog and podcast
Michael Barker, Rational Faiths blog and podcast
Mark Crego, A Thoughtful Faith Support Group (Facebook)
Lisa Butterworth, Feminist Mormon Housewives
Joanna Brooks, Feminist Mormon Housewives
Gina Colvin, KiwiMormon blog
Lindsay Park, Feminist Mormon Housewives
Jared Anderson, Mormon Sunday School podcast
Daniel Parkinson, No More Strangers blog
Bill McGee, Sunstone
Mary Ellen Robertson, Sunstone
Stephen Carter, Sunstone
Michael Stevens, Sunstone
Chelsea Shields Strayer, LDS WAVE
Tresa Edmunds, LDS WAVE
Chelsea Robarge Fife, Mormon Feminist Cooperative
Kalani Tonga Tukaufu, Feminist Mormon Housewives
David Landrith, Mormon Mentality
Jennifer Finlayson-Fife, Mormon Matters podcast
Jerilyn Hassell Pool, Rational Faiths blog
Spencer Lake, Clean Cut blog
Brittany Morin-Mezzadri, TheLadyMo blog
Katie Langston, Feminist Mormon Housewives blog
Hannah Wheelwright, Young Mormon Feminists blog
Erin Moore, Young Mormon Feminists blog
Kimberly Lewis, Feminist Mormon Housewives
Nikki Hunter, Feminist Mormon Housewives
Nancy Ross, Nickel on the ‘Nacle blog
Mark Brown, The Mormon Hub (Facebook)
Alicia Jones, LDS Left (Facebook)
Elise Villescaz, LDS Left (Facebook)
Emily Summerhays, Feminist Mormon Housewives
Mindy Farmer, The Inquisitive Mom blog
Jeff Krey, A Thoughtful Faith Support Group (Facebook)
Lori Burkman, Rational Faiths blog
Laura Compton, Mormons for Marriage
Alison Moore Smith, Mormon Momma blog
Heather Olsen Beal, Doves and Serpents blog
Brent Beal, Doves and Serpents blog
Ed Snow, Doves and Serpents blog
Erin Hill, Doves and Serpents blog
Meghan Raynes, Exponent blog
Aimee Hickman, Exponent blog
Rachel Hunt, Exponent blog
Liz Johnson, Exponent blog
Libby Potter Boss, Exponent blog
Heather Moore-Farley, Exponent blog
April Young Bennett, Exponent blog
Deborah Farmer Kris, Exponent blog
Jessica Oberan Steed, Exponent blog
Carolyn Kline, Exponent blog
April Carlson, Exponent blog
Sariah Anne Kell, Exponent blog
Chelsea Sue, Exponent blog
Emily Clyde Curtis, Exponent blog
Emily Updegraff, Exponent blog
Dayna Patterson, Doves and Serpents blog
Cheryl Bruno, Worlds Without End blog
Katie Evans, Zelophehad’s Daughters blog
Mike Cannon, Zelophehad’s Daughters blog
Kristy Benton, All Are Alike Unto God blog
Lori LeVar Pierce, All Are Alike Unto God blog
Rebecca Reid Linford, All Are Alike Unto God blog
Paula Goodfellow, All Are Alike Unto God blog
Cheryl McGuire, All Are Alike Unto God blog
Kay Gaisford, All Are Alike Unto God blog
Lorlalie Pallotta, All Are Alike Unto God blog
Wendy Reynolds, All Are Alike Unto God blog
Pablo
Born and raised in Northern California, Pablo received his education at Ricks College and BYU with a BA in Spanish, minor in PE Coaching. Pablo served his LDS mission during the years 94-96 in Rosario, Argentina. He now runs a skate shop and batting cages in Orem, UT. He's married and has 4 boys.
All posts by Pablo
Beautiful. Good on all of you.
So glad you all did this! Thank you.
You admonish doubters to seek understanding? Then you say that communication is not the answer. Well, what is and please don’t say prayer because doubters have, no doubt, done a lot of praying. They’ve also asked church authorities, but been given platitudes in response. Only when they went front and center were they given attention.
I humbly add my name to the list. Online Book of Mormon in Hebrew.
Wonderful. Will pass this on to those involved.
Religion is not democracy, God doesn’t rule according to what the latest fad is. I appreciate the contributions the gay and lesbian community brings to this world but marriage is between a man and a woman. This is not open for debate. I understand that many of you believes otherwise, but God married Adam to Eve. Jesus Christ reaffirmed this concept when he said in Mark 10:5-7 “And Jesus answered and said unto them, For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept. But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife;”
I know it is a complete waste of time citing scriptures that you already know, but I will stand for this immutable doctrine.
Nonetheless, I hope the church will not start excommunicating people that believes in same-gender marriage and others that believe in the false doctrine of women receiving the priesthood. There is room for them in this church, there is no room for open dissent. What next, protest against tithing? Isn’t this why we have so many offshoot “Mormon” churches around? I guess you are ready for creating another offshoot, selecting your own prophet and cherry pick the doctrine you will accept as true.
Oswaldo – FYI, pretty much every Mormon splinter group has its origins in disputes over polygamy, whether it is modern polygamist groups that disagree with the church’s current views against polygamy or if it was groups that formed in the Nauvoo days that advocated for monogamy over the church’s views for polygamy. Pretty much all of them follow essentially the same core doctrines as the Utah branch (though the Community of Christ never had a racial priesthood ban and ordained women to the priesthood back in 1984).
Andrew, thanks for your posting. I am very concerned that this divisive issue will create another splinter LDS group. Don’t you think that the FLDS and others think they are right and we are wrong? This is how all starts, with disunity among members. “If you are not one you are not mine.”
Allow me to post a joke that illustrates divisiveness:
I was walking across a bridge one day, and I saw a man standing on the edge, about to jump off. So I ran over and said, “Stop! Don’t do it!” “Why shouldn’t I?” he said. I said, “Well, there’s so much to live for!” He said, “Like what?” I said, “Well, are you religious or atheist?” He said, “Religious.” I said, “Me too! Are your Christian or Buddhist?” He said, “Christian.” I said, “Me too! Are you Catholic or Protestant?” He said, “Protestant.” I said, Me too! Are your Episcopalian or Baptist? He said, “Baptist!” I said, “Wow! Me too! Are your Baptist Church of God or Baptist Church of the Lord? He said, Baptist Church of God!” I said, “Me too! Are your Original Baptist Church of God or are you Reformed Baptist Church of God?” He said, “Reformed Baptist Church of God!” I said, “Me too! Are you Reformed Baptist Church of God, Reformation of 1879, or Reformed Baptist Church of God, Reformation of 1915?” He said, “Reformed Baptist Church of God, Reformation of 1915!” I said, “Die, heretic scum!” and pushed him off.
Cheers
Andrew, thanks for your posting. I am very concerned that this divisive issue will create another splinter LDS group. Don’t you think that the FLDS and others think they are right and we are wrong? This is how all starts, with disunity among members. “If you are not one you are not mine.”
Allow me to post a joke that illustrates divisiveness:
I was walking across a bridge one day, and I saw a man standing on the edge, about to jump off. So I ran over and said, “Stop! Don’t do it!” “Why shouldn’t I?” he said. I said, “Well, there’s so much to live for!” He said, “Like what?” I said, “Well, are you religious or atheist?” He said, “Religious.” I said, “Me too! Are your Christian or Buddhist?” He said, “Christian.” I said, “Me too! Are you Catholic or Protestant?” He said, “Protestant.” I said, Me too! Are your Episcopalian or Baptist? He said, “Baptist!” I said, “Wow! Me too! Are your Baptist Church of God or Baptist Church of the Lord? He said, Baptist Church of God!” I said, “Me too! Are your Original Baptist Church of God or are you Reformed Baptist Church of God?” He said, “Reformed Baptist Church of God!” I said, “Me too! Are you Reformed Baptist Church of God, Reformation of 1879, or Reformed Baptist Church of God, Reformation of 1915?” He said, “Reformed Baptist Church of God, Reformation of 1915!” I said, “Die, heretic scum!” and pushed him off.
Cheers
God married Adam to Eve; the government did not marry Adam to Eve.
Thank you for a thoughtful posting. You captured many of my thoughts and feelings about this “difficult and pivotal moment in Mormonism.” I, too, am grateful for my membership in the Church, and “for the unique opportunities the Internet has provided [me] to share [my] Mormon experiences, questions, and hopes.”
I look forward to enlightening conversations and comments by all.
Perhaps instead of using disciplinary action, which then becomes public. Leadership should dive into the online discussion and face this problem head on.
But they won’t, because it’d validate the ugly truths they’ve spent decades trying to bury. And if you’re thinking, “gosh, they just posted 7 essays in the last few months”, they are band-aids that are too little, too late. They don’t cover the whole issue or are just rambling nonsense.
Thank you so much for posting this here, Paul.
I want to share my appreciation to all those who not only signed off on this beautifully worded-document, but those instrumental in crafting it and thinking of the idea in the first place.
Have there been any thoughts about taking something like this statement and circulating it in the internet for signatures of others who feel the same way?
I would like to sign if there is, and I know of a number of others in my neck of the woods who would feel the same way.
I think this list is wonderful. Splinter groups? No, young people are leaving the church.
Love it. So great to see all of you sign your names and come together to express this.
They aren’t signatures, merely text – just kidding. It’s one of our exmormon arguments about the validity of the witnesses signatures.
Great job and it IS really good to see you all come together in support of free speech.
Thank you so much.
It’s enlightening to know that an exMormon is supportive of all these bloggers who ‘love’ the church.
I think that exMormons who are past the feelings of resentment and anger are probably the most compassionate towards people with questions. As we still remember that feeling of confusion and loss.
Is this an exMormon blog?
If Kelly wants to hold priesthood she can go to the RLDS. Don’t they have a woman prophetess now.
In 1977 if blacks wanted to hold the priesthood they should have left also. Look at the title of the post, and let’s not ask people to leave the church.
Paul Barker, no one needs to leave the church we just need to do what we know to be true, follow the prophet. Israel was taken to captivity for not following the prophet. As we can see people have a tendency of not following the prophet and some even want the death of a prophet, many of them including Jesus and Joseph Smith were assassinated by those who claimed to being good Jews or good Christians.
What I don’t understand is the following: You think that placing a manifesto in favor of same-gender marriage and obtaining signatures will change the doctrine of the Church? Well, if the church would follow this kind of “pressure” we should do away with tithing, going to the temple, attending church meetings, etc. More than 50% of the members in the records don’t do these things only 20% pay their tithing and about 30% of those who have temple recommends attend the temple. That represent millions of signatures not thousands. The youth is leaving the church so we should relax the rules and do away with some pesky commandments, perhaps bring some rap music to the church and jazzy-up our hymns, etc. Well, that will become a different church then. Good luck with the signatures. BTW, there are 7 billion that care less about our church, that is lots of signatures.
On February 7, 2014, we wrote the Mormon Open Letter addressed to Thomas S. Monson. The church had already started publishing essays in the Gospel Topics section of LDS.org. These essays introduced and attempted to explain some of the troubling historical events and doctrinal issues (e.g. translation of the Book of Mormon, Blacks and the Priesthood, multiple versions of the First Vision, etc) that have troubled so many of us.
We wanted to create a forum where both former and active Latter-day Saints could ask the church for still more transparency. In our letter, we applauded church leaders for the publication of the essays and asked the church to become even more candid and forthcoming in several key areas. We expressed our concern over the impact of the church’s negative rhetoric when discussing those who have questions about doctrine and history. We were also disturbed by the harm the church’s profound lack of transparency and openness inflicted on individuals, families, and relationships.
Our concerns have only increased since then!
We are currently seeing numerous people called in and threatened with discipline ranging from being released from callings, having their temple recommends taken away, or even excommunication. Some of these stories have become very public. Many remain private, as the culture surrounding this situation is often laden with guilt and shame. The message is being sent that if you publicly discuss, blog, or write about your doubts and concerns, you are contradicting and disobeying church leaders and doctrine.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints bequeaths to us a legacy of thoughtful engagement with the world. It is precisely because they recognize and value that legacy that so many Latter-day Saints, active or otherwise, now insist on participating in difficult but necessary conversations about problems in the church.
People of great integrity and honesty are being told to shut their mouths, to acquiesce, to accept the status quo—not merely as the way things are, but as the way God wants them. They are being told that it’s not acceptable to discuss aspects of the church that cause pain, harm, and confusion. It’s not acceptable to ask for more transparency and historically accurate information. It’s not acceptable to question current religious policies even when accurate historical information demonstrates the legitimacy of the questions and concerns.
The world is watching. How the church deals with this crisis will greatly affect future conversations in and about the church. Greater repression and intolerance will harm, not help, missionary efforts and the ability of Latter-day Saints to work with others outside the church.
We, the authors of the Mormon Open Letter, reach out again to ask people to read what we’ve written. To consider whether this is something they can support. To consider whether it’s not only right but crucial to publicly ask the church for actions that we feel will make the church, individuals and families healthier. Our hope is the church will take proactive steps demonstrating openness and compassion, in order to mend the rift that is widening.
We also ask for the support of those (many of whom are in the news for being brought into church councils) who have engaged for years in these difficult but necessary conversations not merely about the church’s past, but about its future. We request that as members discuss the current climate in the church, they also discuss this letter. Please share it with the media. In forums where these topics come up, please link to the MormonOpenLetter. There is power in numbers and in raising our voices together. Please join us in our respectful request that the church help both members and non-members understand the church, its history, its mission, and its course for the future.
Please sign. Please join us, along with more than 3,400 other people—including hundreds of bishops, stake presidents, Elders quorum presidents, Relief Society presidents, Young Women’s and Young Men’s presidents Primary presidents, teachers from every auxiliary in the church, and thousands of returned missionaries—who have already signed, with love and hope for all that we might move toward greater shared understanding and compassion.
http://www.mormonopenletter.com/
Melanie Dawn Hall, Nathan Hesson, Melisa Oviatt Hesson, Matthew Hildebrand, Steve Holbrook, D William Johnson, Alison Udall and Holly Welker