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Show The Daily Utah Chronicle, Friday, December 7, 1979 Page Four r Expulsion r to cause Our Christmas gift to you questions continued from page three The LDS Church, in its press release, has carefully glossed over and avoided the real issue in the case. For example, Jeffrey Willis, the Mormon bishop who presided over the trial, was quoted as stating to Johnson:. "You have publicly taught that the church is dedicated to impos-in- g the prophet's moral directives upon all Americans when it is the doctrine of the church that all people are free to choose for themselves those moral directives dictated by their own consciences." If all peoplearefreetochoose, why do church authorities ALrVU tell their faithful, in no uncertain terms, se the ERA? There doesn't seem to be too much room for free choice to me. What will be the ultimate, long-terconsequences of the Johnson excommunication? That question is difficult to answer, but, if those who question and criticize in the future are treated the same way, the Mormon Church will become "heaven on earth" for political conserva-tive- s m and an agonizing nightmare for liberals and intellectuals. A church thus divided will not flourish. Churches are private institutions continued from page three Some have predicted that hoards of members will leave the church. Sonia Johnson's' trial was nothing as church trials go, except for the media exposure she Friday, December 7, from 8 AM to 6 PM Just for you. ..a special 20 off sale on everything in the Bookstore except textbooks, selected calculators, cameras and those items advertised in the December 6 Chronicle. Merry Christmas. ..from the Bookstore. Refreshments Free gift wrapping with $5.00 purchase The Health Science branch joins the Bookstore in the sale. For Your Dec. 7th More... So Much A Bookstore and Shopping Convenience: - Dec. 21st Store Hours: 8 AM to 6 PM, Mon thru Fri. 10 AM to 3 PM, Saturday . Phone 581-632- 5 successfully sought. If her excommunication is a crisis for the church, it's a minor one; it does not compare with the real challenges and opposition the church has endured during its history. When Joseph Smith was killed by a mob, his enemies assumed the young church would fall with its charismatic leader. It didn't. A church that expects to remain dynamic and main150-ye- ar tain high standards can't allow its members to flout and pervert its doctrines, attack its leadership and undermine its programs. Repentence is a doctrine, of love; for certain offenses, the only way to achieve repen- tence and forgiveness is through excommunication and a sincere, humble struggle to regain church membership. Church lead- ers, who serve without pay, are committed to helping each member work out his or her salvation through the gosjx'l the church teaches. Mormons who campaign for the ERA ratification probably needn't fear excommunication. But members who act as Johnson has whether the issue is the ERA or something else-sh- ould ant icipate the consqequenu's. |