Posted on 02/23/2010 10:37:24 AM PST by Colofornian
PROVO, Utah -- Mormons need to lose their fear of talking about excommunication, says a student at the 12th Annual Religious Education Student Symposium.
Presenting his paper "Excommunication and 'He Who Must Not Be Named,'" Feb. 19 at Brigham Young University, Benjamin Tengelsen said excommunication is comparable to talking openly about Voldemort in the popular Harry Potter series.
"Noboby talks about him except Harry, who isn't afraid to say his name out loud," Tengelsen said. "We need to be like that. We need to lose our fear and be unafraid to talk about it."
As long as the subject of excommunication is a taboo topic, fear and misinformation hurt those involved, he said.
Tengelsen outlined the three purposes of church discipline or excommunication from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: to save the soul of the transgressor, to protect the innocent and to maintain the integrity, purity and good name of the church.
"To be excommunicated doesn't mean they are kicked out," he said. "They are still welcome at church meetings and activities with limited participation."
Tengelsen said there are symbolic lessons in the process, reminders that the Lord looks at the heart of the transgressor and remembers the sin no more once the sinner has truly repented.
Also, as people all do at the final judgment, there is an advocate for the one standing before the court.
"I like to think we'll have people rooting for us (at the final judgment)," Tengelsen said. "We know Christ will be pleading for us."
Tengelsen explained that in stake disciplinary hearings half of the high council is appointed to speak in behalf of the accused and that person is welcome to bring his or her own witnesses. The person judged also has the right to appeal the decision of the local council.
He said the rules are set up to be flexible and laid down so that the age, maturity, degree of repentance and public profile as well as the affected family of the individual whose membership is in question can be taken into account.
Tengelsen also pointed out that after someone who has been excommunicated is baptized again into the church, membership records only show the original baptism and ordination dates.
"It's an example of the promise we have that when we repent, God really does forget it," he said.
In conclusion let us summarize this grand key, these Fourteen Fundamentals in Following the Prophet, for our salvation depends on them.
1. The prophet is the only man who speaks for the Lord in everything.
2. The living prophet is more vital to us than the standard works.
3. The living prophet is more important to us than a dead prophet.
4. The prophet will never lead the church astray.
5. The prophet is not required to have any particular earthly training or credentials to speak on any subject or act on any matter at any time.
6. The prophet does not have to say Thus Saith the Lord, to give us scripture.
7. The prophet tells us what we need to know, not always what we want to know.
8. The prophet is not limited by mens reasoning.
9. The prophet can receive revelation on any matter, temporal or spiritual.
10. The prophet may advise on civic matters.
11. The two groups who have the greatest difficulty in following the prophet are the proud who are learned and the proud who are rich.
12. The prophet will not necessarily be popular with the world or the worldly.
13. The prophet and his counselors make up the First Presidencythe highest quorum in the Church.
14. The prophet and the presidencythe living prophet and the First Presidencyfollow them and be blessedreject them and suffer.
I testify that these fourteen fundamentals in following the living prophet are true. If we want to know how well we stand with the Lord then let us ask ourselves how well we stand with His mortal captainhow close do our lives harmonize with the Lords anointedthe living ProphetPresident of the Church, and with the Quorum of the First Presidency.
Ezra Taft Benson
(Address given Tuesday, February 26, 1980 at Brigham Young University)
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Oh you foolish Galatians!
WHO has bewitched you?
What the? I just realized, they are using nomenclature from the 15th century, interspersed with 18th century vernacular.
I have a thought on it but, as I was up all night, my mind ain’t a workin’ so wells.
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