Shunning by Decree
This video really hit me hard.
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Tldw: Man starts having doubts while serving as branch president in Europe concerning tithing and the poor. Then, President Nelson releases the Easter video of him getting the Covid-19 shot. This couple is opposed to the shot and that shook this man's faith. After a year or so of study, he decides to oppose the brethren during sustainings at stake conference. He gets called on the carpet by the stake president and the visiting area 70, Thomas Checketts. (Sorry, I had McConkie there. It was a late night.)
He tries to bear his testimony a week later at fast and testimony meeting and discuss the doubts that are bothering him, which a fair amount of people have done around the Church, and the bishopric counselor who was presiding shuts off the mic, apparently per the stake president. A month later, his brother is in town and goes with him to the next fast and testimony meeting. The brother decides to go up and testify to see if he can smooth things out, and as soon as he mentions who his brother is they shut the mic off again. Then, they escort them both out of the building surrounded by five or six elders.
They follow that up with a visit from the police and an unbelievably nasty letter from Kirton McKonkie telling him that not only can he not visit any church property, he basically cannot have contact with almost any church member in any way and that they will have him arrested if he does. The language of the letter is beyond aggressive.
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Words almost escape me at this point (that would be a miracle some might be praying for). What's the next step? Concentration camps? Sending the Danites to kill us? You think I'm being hyperbolic? Watch the video. There are many interesting details I didn't cover. The honesty and goodwill of this man and wife are so obvious.
In my opinion, this is really going to shake a lot of people because of the unbelievably petty, vindictive, nonsensical, and menacing nature of the Church's response. Want to look like a cult? Yup, that will do the trick.
I think it is very important to note that the Seventy who met with him after the stake conference is Thomas K. Checketts, a shareholder at Kirton McKonkie. In other words, this whole thing was obviously discussed at the highest levels including the leadership's reactions to this man and his brother at the fast and testimony meetings, and, of course, the letter to him.
Do you think those @$_-$&* in SLC would like to know who we are on this board? I'm pretty sure they would. I'm surprised I haven't been excommunicated already given how easy it would be to figure out who I am.
I quote Isaiah a lot, because his words always seem so relevant. Right now, Isaiah 66:5 seems appropriate:
Hear the word of Jehovah,
you who are vigilant for his word:
Your brethren who abhor you,
and exclude you because of my name, say,
Let Jehovah manifest his glory,
that we may see cause for your joy!
But it is they who shall suffer shame.
