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On the one hand, the Mormon Church is a complex history of edicts issued from "on high" -- and I'm not talking about the Mormon gods and their councils.

On the other hand, I have the Mormon Church Handbook of Instructions referenced in this blog: It is indeed quite reflective of the Mormon Church's highly bureaucratic, legalistic ways.

And hence, in this case the "snare" -- as the Mormon Church seeks to simply dismiss some of its louder members by edicts from "on high." ... All as the Mormon Church Handbook of Instructions shows it's all to be done at the local level.

The timing of Kate Kelly's ex-communication -- coupled with other louder Mormonites (John Dehlin, Alan Rock Waterman) shows that indeed this is all a purge from "on high" -- in contradiction to locally-driven ex-communications. See, for example: 476-479: John Dehlin and Kate Kelly Discuss Possible Disciplinary Action (June 18, 2014)

And all of this hasn't been limited to those three prominent individuals: "According to Internet accounts there have been other people who have been spoken to by LDS leaders and some who support Ordain Women have had Temple Recommends taken away by their local leaders."
Kate Kelly Exed, John Dehlin & Rock Waterman Face Discipline (LdsRevelations.com, June 24, 2014)

Perhaps you are a Non-Mormon and from a Mormon perspective don't comprehend the magnitude of even taking away a temple recommend, let alone being ex-communicated.

#1
Mormon doctrine states that you need to reach the highest degree of glory to live with Heavenly Father forever. No temple recommend, no living with Him eternally in His presence. (How is that "heaven" if you can't live with the Glorious Host?)

#2
Mormon doctrine states that eternal families are ONLY for those who reach the highest degree of heaven. So from a Mormon perspective, no temple recommend, no "forever marriage" and no "forever family." In fact, without that temple recommend, your son or daughter might be married in the Mormon temple but you as a parent are shut out from viewing and experiencing it!

#3
Mormon doctrine states that without the highest degree of exaltation, you're supposed "eternal progression" toward becoming a god or goddess yourself will fail. No temple recommend, no godhood attainment for you.

Welcome back Colofornian!

I guess she could be thankful the danites weren’t sent out for her.

The rules in the CHI are flexible. There has always been a "elite" class, from the very top to the neighborhood churches. The mormon church has ALWAYS been "it's not what you do, but who you are" and women are always at the very bottom.

You won't find a lowly truck driver in the position of ward bishop.

From: Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid

[Harvey has challenged Butch to fight for control of the Hole-in-the-Wall gang]
Butch Cassidy: No, no, not yet. Not until me and Harvey get the rules straightened out.
Harvey Logan: Rules? In a knife fight? No rules!
[Butch immediately kicks Harvey in the groin]
Butch Cassidy: Well, if there aint' going to be any rules, let's get the fight started. Someone count. 1,2,3 go.
Sundance Kid: [quickly] 1,2,3, go!
[Butch knocks Harvey out]

Dear Colofornian,

Are the Kate Kelly circumstances really that much different than the scene depicted in the movie?

If not, can you really expect a much different outcome?

/Zak

From MormonCurtain

Kate Kelly’s Kangaroo Kourt
Tuesday, Jun 24, 2014, at 07:06 AM
Original Author(s): Kishkumen
Topic: JOHN DEHLIN AND KATE KELLY EXCOMMUNICATION

Now to the individual writings. Kaimi Wenger, over at the blog Times and Seasons makes a crucial point about the basic irregularity of the proceedings against Kate:
Today, the council announced that they had decided to excommunicate her, for “conduct contrary to the laws and order of the Church.”

This result is very troubling.

I have serious doubts about the substantive result here. I will set them aside for this post and instead focus on an important procedural matter: Sister Kelly was never informed that she was to be tried for “conduct contrary to the laws and order of the Church,” was never given a chance to defend herself from that charge, and was ultimately excommunicated for an offense to which she had no way of responding. This is astounding.

As noted on her website and in the media, Sister Kelly was informed by e-mail, on June 8th, that the bishopric was considering church discipline “on grounds of apostasy.”

In response, she submitted a letter explaining that she had not committed apostasy. This was necessary as the court was scheduled after she had left the state, so she could not attend in person. In addition, Nadine Hansen wrote an excellent brief, examining the question in detail and concluding that Sister Kelly did not commit “apostasy” as defined in the church handbook.

The brief may have been persuasive, since the bishopric did not in fact find Sister Kelly guilty of apostasy. However, they ruled that she should be excommunicated for “conduct contrary to the laws and order of the Church.”

This is an exceedingly troubling outcome. To arrive at this result, the bishopric must have done the following:

1. Brought new charges against Sister Kelly, at the hearing - a hearing in absentia, where she was not present
2. Decided to deliberate on those charges
3. Did not inform her of those charges
4. Did not allow her to make any statement in her defense regarding those charges
5. Made a decision on those charges
6. Excommunicated her, based on those new charges

All within a single day, all without providing the least notice to Sister Kelly.

http://mormoncurtain.com/

Vanity just posted: Time for new reformation re: understanding of Biblical priesthood, sainthood, & ordination [Vanity]

CAUTION!! CHRISTIAN BASHING THREAD!!
This thread does not praise God. It weakens faith.

Obviously, there's a FReeper who has his/her panties in a knot because you have brought up the CHI (mormon rule book) for discussion.

So many outside of Mormonism don’t grasp that this isn’t even about women pastors. Mormons have a lay “priesthood”- everything is done by members, no training given and even 12 yr old boys hold their ‘priesthood’. Women are excluded from things that they are allowed as lay members in almost every other church - they can’t stand in the circle when their babies are blessed, they can’t lay hands on or anoint for healing or blessing, and in most Protestant churches women lay members can even baptize but not in Mormonism.

And the fact that 3 men broke their own rules to oust a woman is ironic.