‘THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS ‘wenn wanD SALT LAKE EAGLE GATE STAKE CONFIDENTIAL Ginger Lenore Phillips January 6,2002 a Dear Ginger, Tks the order of the Church to convey to you a written notice ofthe oval decision given to you atthe disciplinary council held in your behalf on January 2, 2002. Accordingly, you are hereby notified that ‘the decision of the council was that you were excommunicated, for conduct contrary to the laws and ‘order of the Church. ‘You were informed what it means to be excommunicated: “A person who is excommunicated is no longer a member of the Church... A person who is excommunicated does not enjay any privileges of Church membership. He may not wear temple garments or pay tithes or offerings. He may attend public Church meetings ifhis conductis orderly, but may’ not sive a tak, offer a public prayer, partake of the sacrament, oF pasticipatein the sustaining of Church officers, “fa person shows true repentance and satisfies the conditions imposed while hes excommunicated, he may be readmited by baptism.” (Church Handbok of lnstrctons, pp. 9495)" Im addition to these restrictions regarding Church privilege the council imposed the following conditions 1. Work toward readmission to the Church: Show true repentance including satisfying the conditions imposed while you are excommunicated so tat you may be readmitted by baptism. ‘There s usually at least one year between excommunication and readanission by baptism, ‘As we did verbally in the council, we commend you for coming forward voluntarily to confess: ‘your transgression and for the progress you have made toward sincere remorse for the trans ‘gression itself and toward full contrition, Ini so doing you are fulfilling the first condition of repentance necessary to obtain forgiveness, ‘viz confession as set forth by the Lord in the Doctrine and Covenants: "By this ye may know if a man repenteth of his sins ~ behold, he will confess them and ‘forsake them.” (D&C 58:13)Ginger Phillips 2 January 6, 2002 Because of the promiscuous pattern and magnitude of your transgressions, you have been ex communicated in accordance with the Law of the Church as set forth inthe foty-second section ofthe Doctrine & Covenants, (See D&C 42:22-25) The action was taken in love not because we forgive not, having not compassion, but that we may be justified in the eyes ofthe law, that we ‘may not offend him whos our lavegiver. (Gee D&C 64:13) As apart of the Lord's cleansing process you have now been granted a period during which you may demonstrate your desire and ability to comply withthe secondl condition inelttded. inthe verse cited above, namely that you forsake your sins. ‘The principle that true repent- ance involves complete forsaking of our sins is st forth by President Joseph F.Smith in the following: “True repentance is not only sorow for sins and humble penitence and contrition before God, but it involves the necessity of turning away from them, a discontinuance of al evil practices and deeds, a thorough reformation of life, a vital change from evil to good, from vice to virtue, from datkness to light. Not only so, but to make restitution, so far a8 possible, forall the ‘wrongs we have done, to pay our debts, and restore to God and man their rights ~that which is due them from us. This i true repentance, and the exercise of the will and all the powers of body and mind is demanded to complete this glorious work of repentance; then God will accept i.” (Joseph F. Smith, Joumal of Discourses, volume 19 p- 190) Forgiveness comes from the Lond, not ftom the bishop or the ward disciplinary council. The following principle, stated so beautifully by Elder Daniel H. Wells, should have cleep meaning toall of wsas we repent and seek Forgiveness, “No man can get a greater evidence ofthe Lord's having forgiven him his sins, than the knowledge that he has actually tured away from therm and that he is living in obedience tothe principles ofthe holy Gospel.” (Elder Daniel H, Wells journal of Discourses, volume 18,p. 100), 22 Avoid even the appearance of evil You were instructed to break of any persona contact ‘vith individuals with whom you have transgressed which might lead to further tanseression You were also admonished to make decisions in advance in order to avoid getting into compromising sitzations in the future. This will help you slay on the “Lord's side of the line”, in keeping with the account of Elder Grorge A. Smith’s counsel to his posterity as recounted by his grandson, President George Albert Smith: “My grandfather used to say to his Family, “There is a ine of demarcation well defined between the Lord’steritory and the devil's tertory. Ifyou stay on the Lord’s sie of the ine you will be under His influence and will have no desire to do wrong: but if you cross to the devil's side of that line one inch you are in the tempter’ power and if he is successful, you will nat be able to think or even reason properly because you will have last the Spirit of the Lord”. When I have been tempted sometimes to do acertain thing, Ihave asked myself, ‘Which ofthe lineam Ton” If determined to be on the safe side, the Lord's sicle, Lwould do the thing every time. So when temptation comes think prayerfully about your problem and the influence of the Lord will aid you to decide wisely. There is safety for us only om the Lord's side ofthe line.” (George Albert Smith, The Way to Happiness and Safety, Hatook of the Restoration, p 605)Ginger 1. Phillips 3 January 6, 2002 ‘Strengthen your faith in Jesus Christ; Asa part ofthe terms anc conditions imposed on you by the coundl, you were instructed to engage in activities which will help you strengthen your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and become converted to His gospel Ifyou do the things which strengthen faith in Jesus Chit that will lead toward your conversion, ‘The elesents of true conversion include: + Hearing the message of the gospel. The Lord has told us thatthe message for this generation isin the Book of Mormon. You were counssled to study Une missionary discussions. the = Praying: You must speak with God in order to come to know him. You can leam about God through his seriptures, but you must speak to Him to deo Him. + Receiving a personal witness. That witness will ome by the power or influence ofthe Holy ‘Ghost, Because you are excomusnicated, you no longer enjoy the pit ofthe Holy Ghost, put you are not denied his power or influence, (ee Bible Dictionary, p. 704) + -Repenting, You must being your life into compliance with the principles ofthe gospel. The simplest outine of those principles is set forth inthe Lniorm System or Teaching the Gospct (Grtsionary discussions). As noted above, you were counseled to reseive those discussions from the full-time or stake ntissionaries. + Obeying. Coupling the knowledge you gain from the missionary discussions, the discussions for new members, and Gospel Principes (the manual for the gospel essentials Sondiay schoo! dass) with repentance andl continued obedience are the true fruits of conversion. Asyou do s9, the conversion you experience wil ead toa newness of life ‘and divine forgiveness by which the wourds of your spirit willbe healed. “You were counseled to othe following in order to implement that counsel and apply the principles outlined above to the-end that you strengthen your in the Lord Jesus Christ: the Tree of Lif, Lehi beheld a rod of iron, which represented the word of God. He saw that whoso would hearken unto the word of God, and would hold fast anto it, they would never perish: neither could the templations and the fiery darts of the adversary overpower them tunto blindness to lead them away to destruction." (1 Nephi 1525-24) ‘ray atleast every morning and evening, Use your mong prayers to share with your Heaveniy ‘Father your goals for the day and invoke his help in their accomplishment. Use your evening prayers to accountto Him for your progress and thank Him for His help. Fast at least each fast Sunday and in between as you need additional strength todo that which is rightand resist evi Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. Atlend Relief Society, Sunday School and Sacrament tneetings. Even though you cannot partake of the sacrament use the time to make an accounting, of your progress during the week past. Then set goals and seek the Lord's help For the week ahead.Ginger L. Phillips 4 January 6, 2002 e. _ Read the Relief Society lesson before you go to each meeting, that you may increase your under- standing of the doctrines ofthe gospel. £ Read your patriarchal blessing regularly that it may be a strength to you in your weakness and. may offer you encouragement in the hour of temptation, & Write in your journal regularly that you may note the help that you receive from the Lord and the progress that you make toward being reinstated. We believe and are sure that if you study the scriptures and follow the counsel we have outlined, the Lord will guide you and bless you that you may return to full fellowship and enjoyment ofthe blessings of the ordinances and covenants ofthe gospel. We are committed to help you along the path. It will require your full attention and effort too. As [indicated to you in the counsel, you may appeal the decision of the council in accordance with the following policy. “fa person who has been disciplined wants to appeal the decision, he should specify in writing the alleged errors or unfairness to the procedure or decision. ‘The person should present the appeal within 30 days to the presiding officer of the disciplinary council that made the decision... Ifthe stake or mission president presided over the council, he forwards the material tothe First Presidency” (CHL p- 101), May the Lord bless you and keep you is our humble prayer. We love you. He loves you, and we will work to help you achieve your righteous desires. Faithfully,