John Dehlin — appeal

I think it’s already been pointed out that his objection that none of the high council spoke up for him is a misunderstanding on his part. They are there to be sure he’s treated fairly but not take his side. I don’t think he’s woken to the fact that the train has left the station.

I’ve mentioned before that I’m not keen on Dehlin’s capriciousness, his sudden changes of course, back and forth etc… but he did not deserve to be excommunicated. I do not think he is trying to damage the church – he should have been allowed to stay.

(Edit to add – some link that, there was a link at the bottom about “everything you want to know about scissoring”! 😯 )

I think it’s already been pointed out that his objection that none of the high council spoke up for him is a misunderstanding on his part. They are there to be sure he’s treated fairly but not take his side. I don’t think he’s woken to the fact that the train has left the station.

I agree with this.

I also remember in the Infants on Thrones interview of JD, he knew this excommunication was inevitable and he was more candid…kind of admitted he knew the church was false but tried to play a certain tone in his podcasts to keep from scaring others away and keep some people listening to the things he was trying to get across about stuff he thought faithful members should know.

By admitting that…to me it shows he is not neutral, and I don’t think ever was. But that’s OK. He did good work.

I downloaded and listened to JD’s podcasts for a couple years on my morning commute. It was the first opportunity I had to understanding myself in relationship to the church and it was a relief to know I wasn’t alone. I always need help putting my thoughts into words. In several hours I learned more than I had learned in several years. I understood more. It never affected my gospel testimony negatively. It helped me realize that man administers this church and therefore is subject to imperfections and mistakes. It was liberating and I thank him for that. I emailed John looking for a definition of my issues at the time and his first reply started out with f… that s… and then a short but high spirited tyrade. I was taken back a bit but I coul see more clearly where he was spiritually. Some of the dialog in his podcasts I felt were questionable like one guest who said something like …all the crap President Hinkley spews… and nothing was said about it. I didn’t think the prophet should be talked about that way in that setting without feedback or lines being drawn. On another occasion JD made it clear that he was Mormon by virtue of family and social relationship with the church. I must say there are many members who put the social parts of the church ahead of the gospel. I think it’s even used to attract potentials. Disingenuous IMO. JD also declares man’s fingerprints to be all over the writings in the BOM. For as good hearted and sincere JD is I think he walked the path all on his own to where it got him.