How Excommunication Is An Act Of Love
Much in the news has been talked about in regards to excommunication proceedings for some people (John Dehlin, Kate Kelly, and Sam Young). I want to clarify a few things.
Excommunications in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints are different than excommunications in most churches. We are not seeking to punish people for asking questions, questions are good, and encouraged, goodness knows I’ve had enough of them!
Excommunication in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is an act of love and mercy. Unlike so many other churches, who believe in banishment, shunning, and shaming, in the Restored Church, we strive to follow the guidance of Christ as outlined in 3rd Nephi 18:22-23, 28-32
22 And behold, ye shall meet together oft; and ye shall not forbid any man from coming unto you when ye shall meet together, but suffer them that they may come unto you and forbid them not;
23 But ye shall pray for them, and shall not cast them out; and if it so be that they come unto you oft ye shall pray for them unto the Father, in my name…
28 And now behold, this is the commandment which I give unto you, that ye shall not suffer any one knowingly to partake of my flesh and blood unworthily, when ye shall minister it;
29 For whoso eateth and drinketh my flesh and blood unworthily eateth and drinketh damnation to his soul; therefore if ye know that a man is unworthy to eat and drink of my flesh and blood ye shall forbid him.
30 Nevertheless, ye shall not cast him out from among you, but ye shall minister unto him and shall pray for him unto the Father, in my name; and if it so be that he repenteth and is baptized in my name, then shall ye receive him, and shall minister unto him of my flesh and blood.
31 But if he repent not he shall not be numbered among my people, that he may not destroy my people, for behold I know my sheep, and they are numbered.
32 Nevertheless, ye shall not cast him out of your synagogues, or your places of worship, for unto such shall ye continue to minister; for ye know not but what they will return and repent, and come unto me with full purpose of heart, and I shall heal them; and ye shall be the means of bringing salvation unto them.
Notice no shaming, not shunning, no banishment, nothing negative. The motives of excommunication are love and concern for the welfare of the soul.
Excommunication is an Act of Love.
Some may ask, how does that work, how can it be an act of love? Well to answer that, you need to understand some basic doctrine.
We believe we can enter into two-way promises with God, we call these promises covenants. In these covenants, we promise to do certain things and we are promised blessings if we obey. At the same time, we accept that if we do not keep our covenants, it is counted as grievous sin.
Breaking your covenants you’ve entered into, is a big deal in the church. As Christ said it is “Drinking damnation to your soul.” So, with that basic understanding of covenants, we can now talk about how Excommunication is an act of love and mercy. When someone repeatedly breaks their covenants and refuses to repent or fix the problem, they are heaping sins upon their heads, a disciplinary council is called and excommunicated is discussed. What excommunication entails is the dissolving and “blotting out” the covenants they had entered into. In the eyes of God, it is as if that person never entered into those covenants. The purpose is so that they no longer have that higher level of accountability because they can not break a promise (and commit sin) for a promise that has been erased.
“Priesthood courts of the Church are not courts of retribution. They are courts of love. Oh, that members of the Church could understand this fact.”
Elder Robert L. Simpson
Excommunication leads to repentance.
When someone does something that violates the covenants they’ve entered into, such as not following the Prophet by actively protesting to get the church to change doctrine on Gay Marriage or Ordination of Women, they are normally excommunicated. They are not excommunicated for not understanding or agreeing with the doctrine, they are excommunicated for protesting and fighting against the Prophet. This is so that they are not heaping additional damnation on their soul, as we have covenanted with God to follow Him and His prophets. So, in that sense excommunication is an act of love, and it is part of the repentance process.
“excommunication can be the first giant step back, provided there follows a sincere submission to the Spirit and faith in the authenticity of God’s plan.”
Elder Robert L. Simpson
The end goal of every excommunication is that it spurs the member to true repentance and coming back and enjoying once again all the blessings that come with full fellowship and membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, namely the Covenants and blessings associated with them.
Christ does not take joy in damnation, He only takes joy in the salvation of souls. We know that we must repent of our sins to be saved. Therefore, in His Church, it is the same way, we seek not to damn souls, but to help them repent and come unto Christ. For some people, the best course to true repentance is excommunication.
“there is no habit, no addiction, no rebellion, no transgression, no apostasy, no crime exempted from the promise of complete forgiveness. That is the promise of the atonement of Christ.”
Boyd K. Packer
Please note. I am not a spokesperson for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, I am just a member trying to explain this topic so people better understand.
Phillip
Thursday 15th of November 2018
Please source where you got the idea that excommunication is..."dissolving and 'blotting out' the covenants they had entered into. In the eyes of God, it is as if that person never entered into those covenants."
Jeremy
Thursday 15th of November 2018
This is the source.
https://www.lds.org/ensign/1990/09/a-chance-to-start-over-church-disciplinary-councils-and-the-restoration-of-blessings?lang=eng
After coming back you must have your covenants reinstated, so therefore they were blotted out. But once you are reinstated it is as if excommunication never happened.
Anonymouse
Wednesday 14th of November 2018
The Church is infallible, but its followers are not. I was excommunicated because my Elder husband pimped me to his friend for cash. I was deemed to have 'cheated' on him. My husband was not even disfellowshipped, even though he abused me and our children. He even went to prison. After our divorce, (we were not Temple married/sealed) I remarried an old friend who adopted my children. I was told that the only way I could EVER come back into the church was to divorce my friend and remarry my ex.
My ex is now a High Priest in the Church. He is remarried (not in the Temple). Almost 40 years later, my friend/2nd husband and I moved 1300 miles away and started once again to attend Church. He re-baptized me, and we were married in the Temple last year. My adult children refuse to have anything to do with the Church because of the way they were treated and their 'father' was exonerated.
When members and priesthood holders use the Church, excommunication, and other precepts as clubs and swords to hold over members as they see fit, and reward their friends even when they are violent and abusive and display repetitive criminal behavior, they damage the Church as well as the futures of the children who are caught in the middle and see their abuser praised and lauded, while the decent man who raised them is shamed.
We have forgiven everyone and expect it all to come out in Judgement. My children cannot forgive and swear that they will never attend a church that treated their mother and adoptive father so shamefully. My heart cries for my children. I try to tell them that the Church is perfect, but Man is not - yet they say it is the men who make up the Church that cause it to be that way. I say woe betide the men who drove my children away from the truth by using their Priesthood as a stick.
Do you have an answer for my children?
Suziann
Sunday 23rd of December 2018
I know from personal experience that children must grieve as though it were a death in the family. To them their father died and so did their faith in justice. Everyone grieves differently and for unplanned amount of time. I learned that my children's anger and hate was killing them spiritually and physically. I felt inspired to really learn to forgive their father. Forgetting and condoning bad behavior isnt the same as fogiveness. When I finally turned it over to the Savior as the final judge in Israel I was able to feel free. It took many hours of study,prayer, fasting and temple attendance. When my children literally saw the change in my heart and the hatred and anger were replaced with compassion they were able to move on and forgive and heal also. Some have taken longer than others but that is okay. Express your love for them and Christ who literally can carry all burdens of the heart. PrayING for our enemies us an act of forgiveness and mercy. We cannot be forgiven if we cannot forgive. That is a just law of Heaven. I am delighted to see you are progressing in your eternal journey. May you continue to feel the Lord of our Father in Heavenues and the peace that his son can give you. It isn't easy but is worth it.
talan wilhelm
Wednesday 14th of November 2018
but it also says thou should not cast out isn't excommunication the one in the same as casting out by way of just the name it suggests so so how is that a act of love shouldn't you name it something less con-dimming then like "the chance of redemption" "Christs last chance " "the mission of onself"
Jeremy
Wednesday 14th of November 2018
No one is cast out, they are welcome to come to church meetings. And Satan is the one who has defined excommunication as something condemning, so no, Jesus should not choose a new word just because Satan has tried to hijack one.
Loved Child of God
Sunday 13th of August 2017
I was born into the church and never believed we were 'special' or better than other denominations. How unloving! Jesus is Love! God is Love! The Holy Spirit is Love! They are one and the same! Love does not judge and think we are better. I asked to be excommunicated as an adult. When THEY decided they would, and sent me notice, I felt a thousand pounds lift off my shoulders I did not even know was there! I believe the Bible! the whole thing, not just the parts the church has deemed translated correctly. God wrote the Bible! He breathed life into each and every one of us! We have a choice to love, hate, judge or be offended! OUR CHOICE! Why do the LDS people choose to disbelieve what the Bible says and that the gift of the Holy Spirit is from GOD not the church? It is a free gift for all who choose to follow the Bible and believe Jesus died for their sins, past present and future sins! He wants to have a relationship with us! to love and be loved!
Anonymous
Friday 23rd of June 2017
So with this. This may how it should be done, but from what I heat or is not like this. Especially for the LGBT community and especially for those that do not conform to the gender norm. It is used as a way to intimidate and shame. I have been hearing that if they don't get a divorce both would be exed. (Way to keep families together that are built on real love, not) so say it may be out of love but lately it's out of control.