A Monster, A Dangerous Man

The Hero Has to Be a Monster

Part of spiritual development is to recognize the Satanic tendencies that characterize you and to fully wrestle with them and to integrate them. That's the thing. It's not so much to cast them away. It's to transmute them. And you can see the difference between people who've done that and people who haven't, at least to some degree, because people who haven't integrated the shadow at all are naive. . . [See Video Below]
 

A Good Man is a Dangerous Man

A harmless man is not a good man. A good man is a very very dangerous man, who has that voluntarily under control . . . [See Video Below]

Governing Ourselves, Part 2.5 [Anonymous Bishop Blog]

On January 26, 2024, I began a private conversation with my friend Aaron Bishop about his involvement in a recent women’s council. It appears he would rather discuss his issues with me in public on his Anonymous Bishop blog, so I will answer his concerns in public. As Aaron advocates, I hope this post will help hold my friends accountable. 

When witnesses (friends, brothers, sisters, spouses, children) try to sustain us by making us aware of a personal failure that may be disrupting the peace of the community, thus causing harm and contention, it would be a shame if we disregarded the courage of those witnesses and refused to be humble enough to repent. 

The result of that unwillingness to repent, and the result of not agreeing upon “first principles” and the law of witnesses, to hold each other accountable, will obviously be a source for jarrings and contentions and strifes and violence. Anonymous Bishop Governing Ourselves Part 1

I will give context to the situation according to my understanding. In January 2024 a women’s council was called because women had concerns about a man’s behavior. If you are not already familiar with the women’s role and responsibilities in the priesthood as revealed by the Lord, refer to our February 2, 2024 post.

I do not have an issue with women calling a conference when a man’s worthiness to function in the priesthood is called into question. Here are the concerns I have with this January 2024 conference:

• The women voted (majority rule) to keep their names hidden from the man being called into question.

• The man requested to come to the conference that was called on his behalf, but was not allowed. 

• The names and testimonies of witnesses were kept hidden from the man. At this point, he still does not know what was witnessed against him.

• Some of the women on the council were acquainted with the man, but the conference was not held in the man’s home fellowship or in private at a general conference.

• The man was not allowed to call witnesses to speak on his behalf.

• The man was not allowed to speak at the conference but only to respond in writing to questions posed by the organizers. Because the man was not present, the rest of the women on the council were not allowed to ask the man additional questions.

• It is unclear whether the man’s response to the accusations were read during the conference.

• During the conference, additional accusations were made against the man, and he was given no opportunity to respond to these additional charges. 

• Women on the council, who spoke in opposition to the process being used by the organizers, were kicked off the women’s council until they profusely apologized for speaking against the organizers’ process. Once the women have been called to participate, I do not believe it is appropriate to remove women from the council because they have a different opinion than the organizers. There is a reason the vote is to be unanimous.

In the comment below, I believe Aaron is speaking about me not being respectful of the process of this council. Yet his comments seem to be directed toward the man who was on trial.

Anonymous Bishop Blog - Governing Ourselves, Part 2 . . . Apparently Cowdery was presented with the final charges against him 3 days before the council convened and was only able to write a letter in response that was read by Edward Partridge. His letter is very interesting and although the charges led to his excommunication, in this letter he too is seemingly respectful of the council process. At least in this letter he doesn’t make threatening and slanderous statements, calling witnesses cowards and mocking and taunting the members of the Council. One of the charges however is that he had in fact wrote an insulting letter to council member Thomas Marsh previously in response to the court being held for him. The letter included insults to the whole council and became evidence against Cowdery and one of the grounds for his excommunication. Here’s Cowdery’s non-insulting letter and his defense for charges against him. . .

I was concerned when I became aware of how the organizers of this conference were disregarding the instructions of the Lord. Three days prior to the conference, I contacted the conference organizers. “Organizer #1” was not willing to take a call from me until the conference was over. I talked to “Organizer #2” on the phone, and she was persuaded by my comments.

Aaron seems to be saying that Cowdery is more virtuous than the man on trial (January 2024) because the 2024 man sent, “threatening and slanderous statements, calling witnesses cowards and mocking and taunting the members of the Council.”  I think Aaron is giving credit to the man for the message I sent to three women on the council. Here’s the message:

[Organizer #1], since you have no time to talk to me until after the women's council is over, I will text you the same message I gave to [Organizer #2]. I will also text [woman on council] this message. If there are other women on the council, in addition to the three of you, please share this message with them.

You cannot have a women's council of 3 women [three women mentioned above]. You have to have 12 women. There is no legitimacy to Phantom women. And if you decide to revoke [the man’s] certificate, all of the women on the council will need to sign some type of certificate representing the outcome of the council. There is no reason to meet unless the women are willing to make their identities known.

It takes courage to be on one of these councils. I realize it is a difficult assignment. That doesn't excuse you and give you permission to remain anonymous.

I do not have an issue with you, calling a council for [the man]. But we do not have secret councils, and hide our identities from the man who is being called into question. You have an obligation to tell him who is on the council. If I were [the man], I would not respond until a council of 12 women with real names comes forth with questions.

Aaron, if you are willing, it might be wise to talk about our differences in private. I agree with you. We are no different than those who also sought to follow God but failed. It looks like we have chosen to put our own foolishness on display.

***When making comments, please use your real name. We get to own our words. Anonymous comments from unknown people will not be posted.***

A Time to be Known, A Time to be Anonymous

From whom do we seek our rewards?

A Time to Be Known

Having a name is important. Witnesses' names are known. Those who are willing to develop the faith necessary for salvation are those willing to lay it all on the altar. The kingdom of Heaven can only be obtained through sacrifice. This includes sacrificing your reputation, honor, recognition, and the esteem of men. You cannot pretend to witness and hide under an anonymous pseudonym. No one slips through the pearly gates incognito. 

The kind of persecution which produces the “kingdom of Heaven” is martyrdom. Originally the word “martyr” meant “witness”. . . but so many of the early Christian witnesses were killed that it came to have the modern meaning of “one who dies for their faith.” Martyrs were seen in John’s vision below the altar of God. . . This means they were holy because of their sacrifice, the Heavenly altar being a symbol of them having shed their blood as witnesses. . . Blessed are those who are willing to endure persecution for His name’s sake. For they are those who are willing to develop faith which cannot be obtained in any other way. It is through the sacrifice of all things that faith necessary for salvation is developed. Glossary Martyr

• And blessed are all they who are persecuted for my name’s sake, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven. And blessed are ye when men shall revile you, and persecute, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake, for ye shall have great joy and be exceeding glad, for great shall be your reward in Heaven; for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you. 3 Nephi 5:19

A Time to be Anonymous

Do alms in secret. Anonymous good deeds bring the Father’s reward.

• And it came to pass as Jesus taught his disciples, he said unto them, Take heed that you do not your alms before men to be seen of them; otherwise, you have no reward of your Father who is in Heaven. Therefore, when you do alms, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Truly I say unto you, they have their reward. But when you do alms, let it be unto you as your left hand not knowing what your right hand does, that your alms may be in secret, and your Father who sees in secret himself shall reward you openly. Matthew 3:27

Remaining Anonymous Makes Sense

Why would you want to be a disciple of Jesus, openly bare record of truth, and be willing

to receive the consequences when . . .

• You could stand in the fire as Abinadi attested. Mosiah 9:5

• Your head might be on the chopping block as John the Baptist affirmed. Mark 3:11

• You could lose the association of friends and family as Amulek proved. Alma 10:16

• You might be stoned to death as Stephen verified Acts 4:10

• You will ultimately hang on a cross as Jesus demonstrated John 10:12-15

And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea moreover, of bonds and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented, of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. Hebrews 1:49

Yup! Remaining anonymous makes sense! 

Questions on Sustaining and Signing Priesthood Certificates

God invites all of us to be curious, ask questions, and study our questions out in our mind before coming to Him for answers. I don’t believe He just lays it all out without me also putting forth effort to figure out the answers. After I have pondered a question and struggled to understand, I am very grateful for God’s answers.

• . . . Ask of God. Ask and it shall be given you, seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you; for everyone that asks, receives; and he that seeks, finds; and to him that knocks, it shall be opened. [emphasis added] Matthew 3:42

Behold, you have not understood; you have supposed that I would give it unto you when you took no thought save it was to ask me. But behold, I say unto you that you must study it out in your mind, then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right, I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right. But if it be not right, you shall have no such feelings, but you shall have a stupor of thought that shall cause you to forget the thing which is wrong. Therefore, you cannot write that which is sacred save it be given you from me.  [emphasis added] JSH 3:26

After working with women’s councils for the last seven years, I have questions about the rights and responsibilities associated with signing a man’s priesthood certificate. The Lord has given us instructions on how to vote to sustain a man and sign his certificate. He has also revealed how to remove a man’s certificate when his priesthood is called into question. 

“For any who would like to qualify to minister outside his family, he must meet in a community and obtain a sustaining vote of a minimum of seven women. When that is done, all seven who vote to sustain should sign a certificate. . . If the man is married, his wife must be among the seven women. If his wife will not sustain him, he is unworthy to provide priesthood service for the fellowship. . .If a man’s worthiness to function is called into question, then a conference can be convened to deal with the question. . . Removal should be by unanimous vote of the women present, with at least 12 votes against a man to end his authority to act in the fellowship community. . .” Preserving the Restoration, pg. 510-511

Question: If a woman wants to remove her signature from a man’s priesthood certificate after she has signed it, how is this to be done?

I’ve talked to men and women about this question, and most believe the only way a woman can remove her signature from a man’s priesthood certificate is to remove the man’s certificate. This does not make sense to me. A woman might want to remove her signature from a certificate, and it has nothing to do with the man’s worthiness to hold priesthood. Here are just a few reasons a woman might want to remove her signature without removing the man’s certificate.

• She hasn’t seen the man in a long time no longer associates with him

• She is no longer part of this covenant body of believers and does not want to associate herself or her name with us

• The man has left this covenant body of believers

• She is dead and can no longer openly signify support and approval

• She doesn’t feel comfortable with the man, but does not have physical evidence and/or desire to call a council to remove his certificate

• She just doesn’t want to continue openly signifying support and approval for this man

• The man does not want to be accountable to one or more of the women on his certificate

If I sustain a man and sign my name on his priesthood certificate, I believe this means “I openly signify support and approval.” Sustain suggests something ongoing. 

Sustain: To openly signify support and approval by vote or affirmation . . .  to support as true, legal, or just; or to allow or admit a proposal as valid. . . glossary of terms

If women are only authenticating a man’s priesthood certificate and do not need to continue sustaining the man, then I see no reason to remove a woman’s signature. It is a one time deal and lasts a lifetime. The woman does not need to stay in contact with, vouch for, or continue sustaining the man. Having a daily walk with the man is not implied or expected. But signing a priesthood certificate might mean more than authenticating a document (as when documents are notarized by a notary public). 

Question: What are women signifying when they sign a priesthood certificate?

Question: Is there an ongoing responsibility women have to the man or community after signing a priesthood certificate?  If so, what are the responsibilities of the woman? What is to be done if the responsibilities can no longer be fulfilled by the woman?

Question: What is the purpose and significance of obtaining a priesthood certificate?

If men are not held accountable in the community by requiring them to manifest their priesthood certificate prior to doing priesthood ordinances in the community, what are the reasons for having a certificate?

In the LDS church, we are given the opportunity every year to vote to sustain, oppose, or refrain from voting for our priesthood leaders. We can request our names be removed from the records of the LDS church. We can request to be released from an LDS calling, etc. Giving our sustaining vote is asked for and given on a regular basis.

Without removing a man’s certificate, a woman from this covenant body of believers currently has no release from signifying her sustaining vote for a man once she has signed his priesthood certificate. 

If a woman were to remove her name from a priesthood certificate, I do not believe it would invalidate the man’s certificate, assuming a minimum of seven women on his certificate are still intact. If he no longer has a minimum of seven women on his certificate, it seems reasonable that another woman’s signature could replace the one that was removed. 

Only if the wife were to remove her name from a man’s certificate, would it invalidate his certificate. I think a wife should have this prerogative. She knows her husband’s daily walk and knows his heart and struggles. If she withdraws her sustaining support, he should cease using his priesthood until that support has returned. I do not think it wise to drag personal and private marital problems before a council of 12 women. The wife should be allowed to privately withdraw support and return that support without drawing public attention to their problems. 

In discussing this idea with others, I have heard it said, “But what if the man has a crazy wife who manipulates him by sustaining and revoking just because they had an argument, etc.?” My answer to them is . . .  Sounds like the man has marital problems he needs to work out. It might be better for him to spend his time and attention at home working on his marriage than to go out and perform priesthood ordinances for others. 

I do not want to commit to sustaining any man in the priesthood for a lifetime. My husband is not opposed to my views. His is the only priesthood certificate I could invalidate by removing my sustaining vote. I do not impose these views on other women, and they are free to reason these issues out in their own mind. 

Possible Solutions:

• All priesthood certificates are renewed on a regular basis. This would cover situations where people flow out of each other’s lives, leave this covenant body of believers, or die. 

• A woman can request her signature be removed from a man’s certificate allowing his wife time to get another woman to take her place. Records of these requests should be kept in personal journals. This would cover situations where a woman just doesn’t feel comfortable sustaining a man. 

Question: If a man wants to be ordained to the priesthood but does not want to obtain a priesthood certificate so he can perform ordinances outside his family, does he need the sustaining vote of seven women?

“There are people coming from different faiths to associate with fellowships… [they] will  need to be sustained and ordained. They should understand something about  priesthood before being sustained. Once sustained, when ordaining someone to serve in  these fellowships ordain no one to an office, only confer priesthood. Let everyone be equal. Keep lines of authority. It will reckon through the one who confers the priesthood. But power can only come from Christ. 

First time ordinations (after April 2014) should be done within a fellowship. All who are ordained in these communities should keep a record of the line of authority and pass it down. Be prepared to defend those lines of authority using the records kept. All of the women who vote to sustain should not only sign the certificate, but also record it in  diaries or journals. Let records be kept so if anyone questions, there will be abundant witnesses and documentation.” Preserving the Restoration 512-513

The Lord has not yet revealed His mind and will on these questions. There are many different perspectives and opinions. If we pray together in humility and together meekly present our dispute to the Lord, and if we are contrite before Him, He will tell us His part. I am praying for an answer and would like to invite any who are willing to join with me in petitioning the Lord.

• Study to learn how to respect your brothers and sisters and to come together by precept, reason, and persuasion, rather than sharply disputing and wrongly condemning each other, causing anger. Take care how you invoke my name. Mankind has been controlled by the adversary through anger and jealousy, which has led to bloodshed and the misery of many souls. Even strong disagreements should not provoke anger, nor to invoke my name in vain as if I had part in your every dispute. Pray together in humility and together meekly present your dispute to me, and if you are contrite before me, I will tell you my part.

Share your perspective and opinions in the comments and let us come together by precept, reason, and persuasion.