DiscussMormonism.com

Hello All.

I believe many of you have heard my name this past few days. Since last Sunday I have both been in contact with the press and have also attempted to reach out to the LDS church to make a compromise. My philosophy on that is written in a blog, which can be found again from the link on the MormonThink site under “What’s New”.

As I have indicated on the Tuesday entry, I tried to work with the church, and my leaders have completely ignored me. Thus, I'm taking my fight to the media, and there, hope to encourage the LDS church to repeal their decision to discipline me over my free speech.

MormonThink will stay put. And if I can help it, I will remain a member of record as managing editor. I hope the LDS church can open the tent bigger. A diverse view of its history, doctrines and foundation will serve it better than a narrowly defined, regimented policy against thinking persons. After all, it itself cannot even decide where it stands officially on why it denied the priesthood to the blacks, whether or not the entire or any single group of Amerindians are Lamanites or just the other race that was here already. If they can change their press releases and Book of Mormon introductions to reflect their own lack of understanding (a.k.a ignorance) then I believe the membership tent can be widened to include members who contribute to sites like MormonThink. We really aren’t any more threat to them than FARMS or Richard Bushman who acknowledge many of the same issues. We just don’t get a royalty or paycheck for doing it.


I have simultaneously posted to MormonDiscussions, RfM, StayLDS, Postmormon and other forums, for completeness.

Good luck. I am impressed with your courage and integrity.

As Bob said, good luck.


It will be interesting to follow the Church's reaction to media involvement.

Since your name has been made public, can you also post the names of the local Church authorities who are conducting the proceedings?

Where is your post at MDD?

David,

I note that you have written publicly in several places.

Do you have strong feelings in either direction about members of this board pointing others to MormonThink?

How about if the "others" are Religion writers/columnists on various newspapers?

In other words, is more/wider publicity a help or a detriment to you at this stage?

Fence Sitter wrote:
Where is your post at MDD?

I'm not seeing it on the staylds site either?

Best of luck to you buddy.

Fence Sitter wrote:Where is your post at MDD?

I'm sure they already deleted it.

cwald wrote:I'm not seeing it on the staylds site either?

Maybe that one doesn't count. :-)

David,

The MormonThink website is a very well done and important resource for those seeking the truth about Mormonism.
in my opinion, it is by far the best resource available in terms of balance, clarity and accessibility.

My guess is that you will find that you have more support among members and concerned former members of the LDS Church than you might imagine.

You are doing the right thing - no doubt about it.

Thanks for posting and best of luck in your upcoming encounter.

David Twede wrote: Thus, I'm taking my fight to the media, and there, hope to encourage the LDS church to repeal their decision to discipline me over my free speech.

The issue isn't about "free speech". You are free to think, say, and publish whatever you like. That's why political parties allow, or don't allow, often depending on the circumstances, a "conscience vote". Every organisation has "requirements of membership", including religious organisations.

If you ever arrive at the stage where you feel you disagree with most of an organisation's statements of belief, purpose, or aims, then you should revise your participation in, or membership of, said organisation. Your free speech is unaffected.

RayAgostini wrote:The issue isn't about "free speech". You are free to think, say, and publish whatever you like. That's why political parties allow, or don't allow, often depending on the circumstances, a "conscience vote". Every organisation has "requirements of membership", including religious organisations.

If you ever arrive at the stage where you feel you disagree with most of an organisation's statements of belief, purpose, or aims, then you should revise your participation in, or membership of, said organisation. Your free speech is unaffected.

Ray,

This is what he said:

hope to encourage the LDS church to repeal their decision to discipline me over my free speech

In other words, he knows he has free speech. The question is, Will the LDS church discipline him over his free speech? Or will the LDS church invoke their freedom to remove him from associating with them?