My Israel

So it Begins

 So it began... One Sunday my wife and I were visited by our "Home Teacher" accompanied by the High Priest Group leader for the purpose of interrogating us regarding our testimony. Apparently there had been reports of me teaching "Hebrew" stuff during home teaching and other times. It was common place for me to be accused of being a Jew in High Priest Group (I'm in good company as Yeshua was a Jew). During the "interview" I was even compared to Korihor! I had been called by my Bishop, in the past, the best home teacher in the stake! My High Priest Group leader told me I gave the most detailed home teaching reports he had ever seen. However, he asked me if I was going to continue teaching that Yehovah was actually God the Father and I told him I would only speak the truth as I knew it. He then released me of my responsibilities as a Home Teacher! My wife had already set up an appointment for the following Sunday to visit with the Bishop. I had been prompted by the Spirit to see this all the way through to the top in hopes that, as William Tyndale exclaimed while he was being burned at the stake, "Lord! Open the King of England's eyes." But in my case the President of the Church's eyes...

We met the following Sunday separately with the Bishop. While my wife had made an appointment for us after church that day, I was again summoned to the Bishop's office before meetings. I was again interrogated by the Bishop and one of his counselors. I was asked directly what my intentions were in regards to my membership in the church. I stated that at that point I still desired to continue as a member of the church. They then asked me why I had told others I was expecting to be before a disciplinary council. I responded that I knew that some of my current beliefs were in conflict with the doctrines of the church. They then inquired about how I would voice my beliefs and I related that I would share what I believe with others. This is where the conversation took a turn I did not expect.

The church has always taught we should look for truth wherever we can find it. They encourage us to seek out the best books and seek learning not only spiritual, but secular learning. I have taken this to heart and I am the only one in my family to earn a baccalaureate degree. I also hold a master's degree. I took to heart the teaching, to look for truth wherever it can be found. I continue to look for learning opportunities anywhere I can find them.

So I was shocked when after I related that I would share what I believe with others, I was told, you will not share your beliefs in this building that are contrary to the gospel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, this is not a public place, this is a private entity. Those who are welcome here are not those who will do that (share my beliefs that are contrary to church teachings). I was further directed that if this is my intent, the stake president directs me to go to lds.org and ask to have my name removed from the records of the church. (There is NO way to submit a request to have your name removed on the official church website. This is only done by submitting a signed letter to local priesthood leadership of the unit to which you are currently assigned, more on this later) The stake president had no intention of holding a disciplinary council and give me an audience. Of course he told me in not so many words I was welcome there, but I could not speak anything contrary to the teachings of the Church. I was then directed not to defame the good name of the Church, by keeping my beliefs to myself. He then asked why I was there if I did not believe all the doctrines of the Church. I explained I believed many of the doctrines of the church, he then cut me off and said it is not a smorgasbord, you can't pick and choose what you want to follow. I was then directed not to bear my testimony that day. I was then told that I could not teach false doctrine even in the home of another member. I was then asked to turn over the keys to the building that I held as a result of the calling I had recently been released from. He closed by saying they want me here, they love me and you've got questions and he had faith I would eventually become settled with my questions. His counselor even said I was the one that taught him how to home teach properly. He concluded by telling me that he hoped that when the apostle came to visit that his spirit would touch mine and I would receive an apostolic witness that would resolve my questions. (A member of the Quorum of the twelve apostles was coming to address our stake in the next couple weeks)

After meetings that day we had the appointment my wife had made with the Bishop. She began by explaining some of the struggles she had had over the years as a member of the church in regards to difficulty with callings as a result of her learning disability and the sacrifices she made because I was not there to help her much raising the children because of my military duties and church callings. She bore testimony of her belief in Christ and feelings she had had in the temple. She also outlined some of the struggles she had raising our children, for example as a result of drug abuse with two of our sons. There was some discussion of her understanding of the scriptures and further discussion regarding her feelings in some of her temple experiences. She also shared her feelings regarding her father's murder by her uncle. She turned in her temple recommend and explained that she no longer was wearing her garments and that she no longer believes what is taught in the temple. He then asked what her intentions were in regards to the church. She stated she wanted to partake of the sacrament, but that was about it. He then asked why she wanted to partake in the sacrament. She said to remember her covenants. He asked what those covenants were and she was not able to answer. He explained about the sacrament and how it leads to the temple. She explained she did so for over 35 years and it was like a habit. He said it was dangerous to partake of the sacrament in such circumstances. He further explained the temple and the sacrament are interconnected. You can't have one without the other. He said you can't teach what you don't believe. He did explain his feelings regarding the workings of the Holy Ghost. He then explained that there are more questions that could fill the building and we may not have answers to all of them, but we can rely on our feelings. He then related his feelings about the temple and talked about miracles that have happened there and how special the temple is. He explained that she has agency to choose to continue worshiping with them or not. He said that sacrament and the temple are reserved for members like you until you choose not to be. If you do not believe in the temple and the endowment you should not partake of the sacrament. He expressed his love and stated she was welcome there. He continued to say our friends are here why would you leave them and deny them your presence. My wife said I don't know about that. He then asked are your friends going to harm you? She responded not the real true friends that really care about me. He then explained that disciplinary councils are part of the repentance process and is initiated by the member. The only time the church initiates action is to protect the good name of the church or you injure the innocent. He gave examples of a member picketing in front of the church building with lies about the church or someone taking advantage of a widow or another innocent person or otherwise. He explained that I had not done anything to this level. My wife asked if I was required to remove my name from the rolls of the church. He said that would be my decision. With all this said, he asked if we would continue to meet with them. She replied, "I do not know."