Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the News

[Green Monstah]

Other than pure speculation, the only thing I've seen on the internet is a rumor that a high-ranking church official was recently busted in Utah for soliciting a prostitute. But that's from an anonymous internet source, which is not really more credible than pure speculation.

[smokymountainrain]

If you want to protect his privacy it's probably best just to say "we won't be issuing comment on why". When you qualify it with "...but it wasn't apostasy" you've probably said too much.

couldn't agree more. including what it wasn't for seems a little defensive at best.

[jay santos]

Maybe he got exed because someone finally realized his child naming pattern.

Jerilyn, Jordan, Jennifer, Julie, Jared and Joseph

[Shaka]

I can picture some emeritus members of this forum as Mr. Buns and tapping the fingers of their hands together while saying, "YESSSSSSS".

[Jeff Lebowski]

From my FB feed. Sounds like he just slipped up somehow. Sorry, Grant Palmer and John Dehlin.

I don't know the author (friend of a friend), but this is a nice response.

You may have heard about the release and excommunication of Elder Hamula today. In the coming days, you are likely to hear a lot of speculation and rumors about this man. Before the world starts going down that road, let me tell you what I know about this man.

I have personally known Elder Hamula and his family for over 20 years. He was my mission president and he and his family continue to be close friends. We have stayed in contact over the years. Most recently my wife and I visited with Elder and Sister Hamula last month at a cafe in Provo after they concluded some training with new mission presidents and their spouses at the MTC.

In all my years of knowing him, I have never been more proud of him than I am now! I want to say that very emphatically. I love and am very proud of Elder Hamula!

He has a deep, abiding testimony of the Savior, the Gospel, and the atonement. The testimony, love, and concern for his fellow brothers and sisters that you see in him during his conference talks is real. I have always known him to be an inspired man with his eyes set on eternity. Is he human? Of course he is. Can he make mistakes? Logic says yes. However, everything that I know about this man is that he is far more concerned with the salvation of himself, his family, and the rest of the children of God than he is about how he may be perceived by people. I am sure that he is struggling with the emotions of what he is going through and feeling like he has let so many people down. However, he has a firm understanding of the Atonement and I am certain he feels relieved to be on the path to correct whatever mistake was made.

As you hear speculation about him in the coming days, I beg you to not engage. Instead, show him the same love and respect that he has for all of us. Encourage those who are speaking to withhold judgement. Instead, they could use that time to go back and listen to one of his conference talks or read one of his articles in the Ensign. Those represent who he really is! We have all done things we are not proud of and I will guarantee you that he would stand by your side through your own trials and healing process as he has stood by me through my difficult times.

The race is not over and I have every confidence that he will overcome through the Atonement of our Savior. He is an even bigger example to me today of not giving in to the adversary but instead taking responsibility and changing things when we make mistakes.

When the time comes, I plan to be there at his baptism to hug him and welcome him back!

If you feel so inclined, please share my post with others as a reminder to show mercy and compassion to him and his family at this time.

[Eddie]

How? If a woman is drunk, she cannot consent and you don't have sex with her. If you have sex it is a rape and it is not accidental.

From my FB feed. Sounds like he just slipped up somehow. Sorry, Grant Palmer and John Dehlin.

I don't know the author (friend of a friend), but this is a nice response.

That is a great response.

[SCcoug]

That is a great response.

Weird quote mashup.

[jay santos]

Must be something that's going to hit the papers. I think this is like BYU Honor Code punishment. They're not going to ex a GA unless it's related to misdeeds that hit the media. an arrest or a public scandal.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Must be something that's going to hit the papers. I think this is like BYU Honor Code punishment. They're not going to ex a GA unless it's related to misdeeds that hit the media. an arrest or a public scandal.

Elder Lyman begs to differ.

[Katy Lied]

Must be something that's going to hit the papers. I think this is like BYU Honor Code punishment. They're not going to ex a GA unless it's related to misdeeds that hit the media. an arrest or a public scandal.

I agree with this speculation.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Must be something that's going to hit the papers. I think this is like BYU Honor Code punishment. They're not going to ex a GA unless it's related to misdeeds that hit the media. an arrest or a public scandal.

I agree with this speculation.

Can you two clarify what you mean here? Specifically, can you give us examples of things he may have done that would normally result in a church court, but would not for a GA?

For the record: I am calling BS on this double standard you are implying.

[Green Monstah]

Elder Lyman begs to differ.

I'm not terribly familiar with the specifics, but it would be tough to say that threat or possibility of public disclosure played no role in his excommunication.

[Jeff Lebowski]

I'm not terribly familiar with the specifics, but it would be tough to say that threat or possibility of public disclosure played no role in his excommunication.

I guarantee you that a GA would be given a shorter leash on something like adultery than your average member.

EDIT: Furthermore, once you are GA, just about any church-court worthy incident is potentially a public scandal. Like I said, give me an example of how a GA would skate where a normal member would be exed. I think that is backwards.

[Green Monstah]

Can you two clarify what you mean here? Specifically, can you give us examples of things he may have done that would normally result in a church court, but would not for a GA?

For the record: I am calling BS on this double standard you are implying.

I feel like this is a discussion we've had before, but I'm fairly familiar with the Church's refusal to excommunicate a stake president who was a public figure who was having an affair with a member of his stake. The church was aware of it, his own children turned him in, and they were instructed to let the process play out.

While it's certainly possible that there were mitigating and unknown circumstances (even to this man's children), it certainly appeared to be an effort to protect the image of the Church.

[Jeff Lebowski]

I feel like this is a discussion we've had before, but I'm fairly familiar with the Church's refusal to excommunicate a stake president who was a public figure who was having an affair with a member of his stake. The church was aware of it, his own children turned him in, and they were instructed to let the process play out.

While it's certainly possible that there were mitigating and unknown circumstances (even to this man's children), it certainly appeared to be an effort to protect the image of the Church.

Stake presidents get exed all the time. See the recent case in Tooele.