The Mormons Strike Back, disciplining an out of line author:
After an exhausting six-hour disciplinary hearing Sunday, Mormon leaders temporarily suspended Grant H. Palmer's membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Palmer, a longtime Mormon educator, was asked to defend himself on charges of apostasy stemming from his 2002 book, An Insider's View of Mormon Origins, which challenged traditional beliefs about the church's history.
The all-male priesthood leaders in his Willow Creek Sandy LDS stake could have excommunicated the 64-year-old author, but chose instead a lesser punishment - to "disfellowship" him - which means he may not enter the temple, serve in a church position, give a talk, partake of the weekly sacrament or offer a public prayer. This typically lasts about a year, but the length will be determined by his LDS stake president, Keith Adams, who may also spell out more conditions of the suspension in a letter sometime later this week. Palmer has the right to appeal the decision to higher church authorities.
What shocking things did Palmer write in his book (which has sold a staggering 3,000 copies):
In the book, Palmer argues that the faith's scripture, The Book of Mormon, reflects LDS founder Joseph Smith's own 19th-century environment, not ancient America as Mormons believe. He further suggests that Smith embellished his divine revelations to respond to critics and to stabilize the church.
This is in dispute somehow? Had Palmer concluded otherwise he would have been disfellowshiped by the historical community.
2 comments:
Interesting how most of those you hear about losing the Mormon faith are those who dare to meddle in its history.
- Mitch
What's funny is that the book was sold for two years in LDS-owned stores before anyone realized that it wasn't completely in line with church teachings.
This whole episode is a setback for the LDS hierarchy as they try to convince the world that they are a "Christian" church and not a Scientology-like cult. The two are similar, because the Book of Mormon has about as much historical relevance as Dianetics by L. Ron Hubbard.
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