X-ing out the MX
Forty years ago Wednesday, the church helped shoot down controversial plans to base a nuclear missile system in Utah’s West Desert.
In a detailed, descriptive and impassioned 700-word statement issued May 5, 1981, the governing First Presidency decried the arms buildup, the destabilizing nature of the proposed MX deployment, and the impact the weapons plan could have on the environment, the economy and all of humanity.
“By way of general observation, we repeat our warnings against the terrifying arms race in which the nations of the earth are presently engaged,” then-church President Spencer W. Kimball and his counselors wrote. “We deplore in particular the building of vast arsenals of nuclear weaponry.”
Jana Riess: LDS excommunication need not be present to ‘win.’ Just ask Natasha Helfer.
I find “excommunication” to be not only a theologically barbaric practice but also one of dubious utility. It doesn’t come from the example of Jesus. It also doesn’t work.
(Salt Lake Tribune archives)
Therapist Natasha Helfer had her membership withdrawn by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
By Jana Riess | Religion News Service
| April 23, 2021, 2:57 p.m.
Natasha Helfer, the Latter-day Saint therapist whose views on sexuality resulted in a disciplinary council Sunday, has been excommunicated from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
A Latter-day Saint sex therapist who has publicly and repeatedly opposed the church’s doctrines, policies and leaders on sexuality issues has had her membership from the faith withdrawn.
Mormon excommunication: Need not be present to win!
I find excommunication to be not only a theologically barbaric practice but also one of dubious utility. It doesn’t come from the example of Jesus. It also doesn’t work.
April 22, 2021
(RNS) Natasha Helfer, the Mormon therapist whose views on sexuality resulted in a disciplinary council on Sunday, has been excommunicated from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Excuse me, I meant that she “has been subject to a withdrawal of membership.” “Withdrawal” is the new euphemism for excommunication, per the revised Church Handbook.
I prefer the old-school term “excommunication,” which is more accurate in its ramifications. People who are expelled from the LDS Church can’t take the sacrament, so they are outside (ex)