My wife and I have met w/ my stake president twice now (6/29 and 8/7). At this point he's still trying to decide whether or not to hold a disciplinary council. My guess is that he'll notify me within the next week or so that he will be holding a council....but I won't know for sure until I hear from him. One thing I can say for sure is that this is taking a loooooong time for him to decide.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/19/2014 04:58PM by johndehlin.
In those meetings are you being asked to bear your testimony?
When I was getting called in a lot, they always wanted to carefully listen to my testimony.
My last meeting did not consist of a testimony due to the huge argument we had. And I quit CES and the church that day.
I'm not being critical, but really want to know. I was a convert and there was huge relief and rejoicing when I quit the church. Do you stay in because of your background and all your relatives?
Ken - Yes. I was asked to share my testimony (or un-testimony) as part of my two interviews. It was a bit frustrating, because I feel like he really didn't want to listen to understand.
Anyway, how did you feel about that testimony thing? Sounds like they are asking you to perform. Were you insulted?
In the Air Force, we had periodic drug testings and had to pee into a bottle with a couple of people watching. That's what your testimony thing reminds me of, somehow.
He is emphatic that he is acting alone. I have no way of knowing...though there's some evidence to the contrary (I will likely share later). What I will say is that it feels like this is taking FOREVER....
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/20/2014 06:53PM by johndehlin.
You might have a point there with three outspoken indivudals being called to court at the same time by independent stake councils, bishoprics in different parts of the country.
Hell of a coincidence. I suspect you have more than that, but it is enough for me. Unlike you, I give no benefit of the doubt to Mormon motives, nor do I give credibility to Mormon explanations, especially when they are not uniform and from the top.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 08/20/2014 08:27PM by gentlestrength.
Thank you for standing tall with your principles! I admire how you've stayed true for your beliefs including your desire to remain LDS. Very best wishes for you and for your family.
Sound like SP (and the church) is somewhat stuck between a rock and a hard place on this one...probably regretting initiating the action and publicity too. I don't see any way that they can come out of this positively.
Surely it would also be concerning that a SP is struggling so much with making a decision when they're supposed to simply rely on revelation. God must be a little confused on this one too.
John, I wish you and your family well on your journey, whatever the outcome and whatever motivation you may have, be true to you first..or better said by Polonius, "To thine own self be true"
If I was John Dehlin, I would be building an invisible fort around my family. TSCC is damned if they do and damned if they don't. The best way out for them, is to make John so uncomfortable that he resigns. They already know how much abuse he can take, so I think they'll go after his wife and kids. The way they manipulated Mormon women in the face of the Ordain Women movement (which was reminiscent of the ERA) shows that they have no problem finding women who will do their dirty work. I think they will release "The Mean Girls".
I went through a long drawn out situation with my bish and sp. They both insisted that it was them, and them alone making decisions. I didn't believe that for a minute.
A YEAR down the road....
I'm in the sp's office. Someone knocked on the door and he had to step out for a minute. Under a file folder on his desk was a stack of about 30 letters from SLC.
A perfect example of lying for the lord. It was that day I went home, got online, and landed on How to stay Mormon. I didn't.
John, can you comment on John Larson's statement that this ex proceeding is the worst PR thing the church could possibly have done and therefore could not have been orchestrated by Salt Lake?