I was saddened, therefore, but not surprised to learn that Bret was excommunicated from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints two weeks ago for apostasy. (One will be hard-pressed to find anything "apostate" in Bret's book -- or his life, for that matter.) I must confess I have read only to truth #39: "ABANDONING THE CHURCH AND ITS MEMBERS IS USUALLY NOT THE ANSWER. THE WHEAT MUST HOLD FAST TO THE PROPHECIES AND TEACHINGS RECORDED IN SCRIPTURE. THIS INCLUDES SERVING OTHERS WITH WISDOM, PATIENCE, AND LOVE." Bret's book is filled with the spirit of wisdom, patience and love! I have found nothing in it that isn't edifying, truthful, supportive of the LDS Church's mission, or pointing to salvation in Christ. I leave it to the reader to deduce, therefore, what it means when such works as these and "faithful" Latter-day Saints such as Bret Corbridge, Denver Snuffer, Tim Malone and others are branded as "apostates" and cast (or forced) from the Church. It is a terrible sign of apostasy, indeed.
I am still providing a copy of Bret's book, free of charge, to all who wish to read it. Just email me with your request.
Why is this happening so frequently? Are leaders wanting to be the only voices of "inspiration"?
ReplyDeleteI don't know, but Bret's book does a great job of presenting one possible explanation (see truths #38-39).
DeleteDo you have your copy?
I'd like to read it. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteAre your giving a hard copy book or PDF version? Thanks for this post and your blog!
ReplyDeleteA pdf. I just sent you a copy!
ReplyDeleteI'd like a copy please. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI need your email address, Aaron. Email me at wtcarter2@gmail.com
DeleteI have read Bret's book and I think it is wonderful. I raced through it the first time and now I'm really taking my time on each "truth." It is not "harsh" towards the "Church" but very truthful. However, I am not surprised by his ex-communication because anything that is contrary to tradition or not spoken of by the Brethren.... is not acceptable.... even if it is true. What a shame.
ReplyDeleteI wonder why the purge in the Church now? Hugh Nibley was openly critical of the nonsense going on in the Church during his life time. I remember being at BYU when he was asked to pray at graduation and the famous line: "as we stand here in the robes of the apostate priesthood." They didn't ask him to pray again.
I thought he was wonderful and I have many of his books. He was a no nonsense person. The Church had plenty of reason to excommunicate him because he called it like it was and I know they Church did not like it. Rodney Turner was another no nonsense religion professor that went against the grain. He was wonderful also.
We live in perilous times, in one way or another.... that is for sure!
Insightful Nana,
ReplyDeleteThis may just be my personal impression, but Hugh Nibley seems to have vanished down the memory hole. While he was alive he was celebrated, quoted, and admired, but no sooner was he gone than no one in authority ever seems to mention his name again. Nibley's name was once so ubiquitous that many members assumed he was a general authority. Today I think we'd be hard-pressed to find a member of the Millennial generation who has ever heard of him.
A shame, because he was one of the last great truth tellers in the church who was highly respected by pretty much everyone. (Except, I suspect, some in authority who had gotten their toes stepped on.)
I do believe that many in the hierarchy breathed a sigh of relief once he was gone, grateful he would no longer be around to remind the Saints that their true duty was in following the admonitions of Christ.
Reading this page was hard. I stumbled upon it while looking for something Bret had written a couple of years ago. I am blessed to call Bret my brother and I am so grateful that we chose this life to be in a family together. What saddens me the most, is that he chose not to tell any of his family that he had been excommunicated. I didn't know until I read it on this site. Is the shame of being ex'd so great that we hide it from our loved ones?
ReplyDeleteWhen did we become a church who's leaders are afraid to let us think for ourselves? Isn't it encouraged in the Bible, the Book of Mormon and in numerous teachings from the pulpit and other places that we are to seek our own answers? In fact, that is why Joseph Smith ended up praying in the Sacred Grove. So now, why, if we question, or look for our own truths among the teachings, that we are shunned, disfellowshipped or excommunicated? We are a church founded on Jesus-not on the bretheren. I fear that we are making a grave mistake in not encouraging our members to cultivate a relationship with the Lord. It seems like the leaders of the church just want us to blindly follow without actually working on our own testimony.
Sadly, I chose to leave the church 3 years ago. Not because I don't believe-but because I do believe. I have a strong and abiding testimony of the Book of Mormon and of the Gospel. I do not have faith in the leaders. So, I chose to leave before they excommunicated me.
As for Bret-no matter where he stands in his membership to the church-I know he will continue to speak the truths he wrote about in his book. I am honored to be his sister. I am grateful he was brave enough to publish this book. And I want to thank all of you for your kindness that you have shown him in your comments.
Funny how you apostates thirst after the so-called "truth" of other apostates.
ReplyDeleteFunny how no one else is hiding behind the name anonymous. What is so wrong about getting together informally and sharing truths that we've discovered with each other? Tell me what is apostate about these things will ya?
DeleteI have known Bret from the time I was 19 years old. He was a missionary in Charleston SC at the time and for whatever reason, Bret was the one missionary who had the knack to cause me to pick up the Book of Mormon and move forward through the repentance process and become active in the gospel of Jesus Christ. I have realized throughout my service in the church community and society that I have been the "odd" man out for standing on doctrines taught because I love the Lord. I do not go to church for social life and acceptance but for salvation through the ordinances available and the doctrine taught there, in the temple and at home through personal study.
ReplyDeleteBret loves the Lord too and I am certain he has followed what was revealed to him via the Holy Ghost through personal prayer and years of study. It is the way Bret has predominately operated. There is a purpose for what as happened to Bret and the Lord will see him and his family through. Now I am familiar with the apostles and prophets as well and they receive revelation for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and I have my testimony of them as well. As for me. I will continue to rely on personal revelation from the Holy Ghost above all else. That is the line I will walk. Sometimes the decisions I have made under that influence contradicted what was being taught by the brethren and I would wrestle with that but I ultimately followed the promptings without knowing the outcome and have always come out on top. Bret Corbridge may be excommunicated but it doesn't change my mind about him and his love to do the Lords will, according to his own personal revelations and the revealed scriptures through modern and ancient prophets. Nevertheless, I will continue to pray in behalf of the prophets, Bret and his family. All things will be revealed in there time and season. Until then I will wait upon the Lord and do my upmost to follow his lead living in His revealed gospel. The refiners fire is an interesting journey. ~MACK