A Letter From Me

2009-6-10 05:44:00

I'm continuing to go through some old papers and thought I would publish a few more to the group that may be of interest.

My friends and associates in my local church were very surprised that I had been excommunicated so I decided to write them a letter. I sent a copy to everyone in the local ward [or parish] which consisted of a couple hundred members.

Here is the letter:

  

Dear Ward Members,

As you have probably heard I have been excommunicated from the Church.

After this event took place I thought it would probably be best not to contact the ward members as a whole for I did not want to cause any undue concern among you. I thought it best at this time not to send you out any unorthodox writings. However, now that several weeks have past I do get the impression that many of you have questions in mind as to what happened to me and it looks as if many are imagining the worst. Frankly, I am amazed that only one person in the ward thus far has approached me in any way as to my beliefs, and that was an emotional effort to set me straight.

Thus, because of many erroneous conceptions members have I concluded I would write you a brief letter explaining my position and why I was excommunicated.

One of the reasons I was excommunicated was because I believe in the following statement by Brigham Young:

"Perhaps it may make some of you stumble, were I to ask you a question - Does a man being a prophet in this church prove that he shall be president of it? I answer no! A man may be a prophet, seer and revelator, and it may have nothing to do with his being president of it." [Journal of Discourses (JD), Vol 1, Page 333.]

Also, I believe what he said in another place:

"Is this (the Spirit of prophesy) the privilege of every person? It is." (JD 3:389

Also I believe the words of Joseph Smith:

"No man is a minister of Jesus Christ without being a prophet." (History of the Church, Vol 3 Page 389.)

Also I believe in the Word of the Lord in the Doctrine and Covenants (D&C):

"And whatsoever they shall speak when moved upon by the Holy Ghost shall be scripture...." (D&C 68:4)

This scripture does not refer to the General Authorities only, but to all of the Lord's servants. Open your scriptures and read the whole thing.

Did you realize that only eight pages of the entire New Testament was written by the President of the Church. Mark and Luke who were junior companions in the mission field wrote two of the Gospels. If non general Authorities could write scripture in the past then why could it not happen again?

Because I believe that it can and that it has happened I was excommunicated from the church. Concerning a man who was wrongly excommunicated from the Church in Joseph Smith's day the Prophet said:

"I did not like the old man being called up for erring in doctrine. It sounds too much like the Methodists and not like the Latter-Day Saints. Methodists have creeds which a man must believe or be asked out of their church. I want the liberty of thinking and believing as I please. It feels so good not to be trammeled. IT DOES NOT PROVE THAT A MAN IS MAN IS NOT A GOOD MAN BECAUSE HE ERRS IN DOCTRINE." [Documentary History of the Church (DHC) 5:340].

Thus according to Joseph Smith one should not be asked out of the church because he errs in doctrine. Instead someone should step forward and show me from the scriptures where I am wrong. Just because I believe the scriptures the way they read and accept the answers the Lord gives me to my prayers -- is that any reason to ask me out and condemn me to hell as an apostate?

Concerning the scriptures Joseph Fielding Smith said:

"The Standard works judge the teachings of ALL men. It makes no difference what is written or about what anyone has said, if what has been said is in conflict with what the Lord has revealed, WE CAN SET IT ASIDE. My words and the teachings of any other member of the church, high or low, if they do not square with the revelations, we need not accept them. Let us have the matter clear. We have accepted the four standard works as the measuring yardsticks, or balances, by which we measure a man's doctrine.

"You CANNOT accept the books written by the general Authorities of the Church as standards in doctrine, only as far as they accord with the revealed word in the standard works.

"Every man who writes is responsible, not the church, for what he writes. If Joseph Fielding Smith writes something which is out of harmony with the revelations, then EVERY MEMBER OF THE CHURCH IS DUTY BOUND TO REJECT IT. If he writes that which is in perfect harmony with the revealed word of the Lord, then it should be accepted." (Doctrines Of Salvation, Vol 3; Page 203)

President Smith said that if we find things that the brethren have said that are not in harmony with the standard works then we are "duty bound" to reject it.

I feel that it is unfair to excommunicate a person for following a prophet's advice.

Concerning those who present false doctrines the Lord said:

"Call upon them to meet you both in public and in private; and inasmuch as ye are faithful their shame shall be made manifest. Wherefore let them bring forth their strong reasons against the Lord." (D&C 71:7-8)

If the Brethren feel that I am against the Lord then why not let me bring forth my strong reasons, for if I am wrong the scriptures tell us that they will be able to confound me.

No one has as yet confounded me or given me any scriptural proof that I am wrong and all are terrified at letting me express my views in public as the scriptures command.

To make the record clear I would like to tell all of you that I was found guilty of no sin. I have weaknesses like everyone else, but for none of these was I asked out of the church. I have always supported my leaders in everything they have asked me to do and paid my tithes and offerings and I have tried to live a moral life.

I wish to remain friends with all of you and want only the best feelings between us and I hope you continue to show my wife and children the consideration you have in the past. As of yet my children do not know of my excommunication so please do not mention it around them as it would break their little hearts, but even for them I cannot deny the testimony the Lord has given me just to stay in the church. I feel that to deny the Holy Ghost would bring me under great condemnation.

Sincerely,
Joe Dewey