25 years ago today - 25 years ago - Sep 25, 1993-Saturday

[Leonard Arrington]
Yesterday was one of the saddest days in my life. Lavina Fielding Anderson, one of our closest friends since 1972, was notified that she had been excommunicated for apostasy. Here is a person that we know personally to be one of the most devout, believing Mormons, who was excommunicated because she is compiling a list of incidents in which Mormons, especially women, were badly treated by bishops, stake presidents, regional representatives, and general authorities. And publishing the list without names. We feel especially strongly of this mistreatment because in my own memoirs I record some instances of my own run-ins with church authorities, and if I should publish it they will probably excommunicate me. If they can do it to Lavina, they can do it to me. Mike Quinn will probably be excommunicated this coming week. Our information is that Elder [Boyd K.] Packer is behind this purge. Why don't the older Brethren speak out to halt this business. It is shameful. Fortunately, historians always have the last word.

[Source: Confessions of a Mormon historian : the diaries of Leonard J. Arrington, 1971-1997, Gary James Bergera, editor, Signature Books, 2018]

No comments:

Post a Comment