I've recently heard on Facebook and other places that two prominent members of the church are being tried for apostasy. Their sentence: excommunication.
Many people I know are upset about this, even outraged. It is truly
tragic news. And I know that many people inside and outside the church
are criticizing the leaders for their role in this. I’ve checked out both the websites and
it seems as though both members in question are kind and respectful people,
and I understand how heartbreaking it would be to get a letter like that.
However, I would like to take a stand in defense of The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-Day Saints and the leaders in charge.
Kate Kelly is one of the people in question, and I am going to focus mainly on her because
I know much less about the other person being tried. I am sure Ms. Kelly
is a nice person, with a lot of good and noble qualities. I do not wish to attack her or judge her unfairly, but since she made the choice of allowing the public access to her
disciplinary letter and since she has spoken about this issue freely, I can assume that
she is open to comment about this action by the church and even wants the public to
discuss this situation. And so I’m going to discuss.
Kate Kelly is the founder of a movement pushing for the women in our church to receive
the priesthood. Now this is a whole other topic that I will probably post about another
day . . . but what I do want to focus on is her reaction. It’s one thing to put forth a request
in a respectful way, it’s another thing to keep going and not accept the answer.
Her movement did not die down after the leaders responded to her request. She continues
to demand full priesthood authority for all women. And the real problem with her
movement is that she is spreading her own discontent and her own doubts to others in a
destructive way.
Kate Kelly would probably argue that she is helping the church by her actions. According
to her, she sees a vision for the church that she feels would benefit the entire 15 million
members. But the problem is that she ISN’T the leader of this church. And . . . she isn’t
backing down. Even after the leaders declined, her website is still up, her comments
continue, she refuses to take no for an answer. And even though this is something that the
large majority of LDS women do not want, she is still pushing her cause, in essence -
fighting against the prophet.
Following the words of the prophet is one of the basic foundations of God’s church. It
has been since Bible times. The scriptures teach, “Whether by own voice or the voice
of my servants, it is the same." (D&C 1:38)
How can any organization function without order? The beautiful thing about this religion
is that standards of conduct are expected. It’s what sets us apart and makes us better
people. It would be terribly unfair to kick someone out of the church without telling them
the conditions of their membership beforehand, but this is not the case. Before baptism,
every member is taught and interviewed. They know the standards that the church expects
and they willingly promise to keep the commandments of God as the church teaches.
Some of these commandments include keeping the Word of Wisdom, keeping the law
of chastity, and supporting and sustaining the leaders of the church.
This doesn’t mean that we can’t disagree with our leaders, have doubts, or discuss with
others things that might be troubling us. But it does mean that we shouldn’t use our own
doubts to make dents in the faith of other people.
Following the prophet is a commandment, but it’s a commandment that is often
misunderstood. To followthe prophet doesn’t mean that we should blindly obey. It means
that we need to listen to the prophet, prayabout the things he teaches and gain a testimony
for ourselves through the Holy Ghost. If there are teachingsof the church that you don’t
agree with, or you wonder about, or challenges your faith, that is normal. But instead of
spreading these dis-beliefs all over the internet, the right path is to bring those doubts to
the Lord. I have had many questions, doubts and struggles with my faith, but in every
circumstance I have prayed my heart out to find answers, and I testify that in every case
those answers have come.
The Lord will answer our sincere prayers when we have questions.
And so if by a miracle, someone other than my family reads this blog, and if you are
stricken with doubts or feelings of frustration - if you are struggling to understand
something that doesn’t make sense to you, PRAY.
Pray to Heavenly Father. He wants to give us knowledge,
we just have to be humble enough to sincerely ask and accept the answers we receive.
We will get ideas, comfort and other words of inspiration that will enlighten us and
strengthen our testimony. We live in a calculating, dishonest world. There are so many
opinions out there, so many slick words - that truly the only way possible for us to find
truth is by turning to the Lord.
If we do our part, He will give us one of the most priceless gifts . . .
Knowledge of the truth.
