Today’s letter to my stake president and bishop. 

Subject: Me, my family and my livelihood have been threatened

Dear President______ and Bishop______,

Thanks for taking so much time to meet with me recently. 

During our meeting you referred to me as an apostate multiple times.  I hope you have rethought your charges.  If not, Handbook 1 specifies that a church court is mandatory and excommunication required…if I don’t “repent.”  I took that as a threat to my church membership, the loss of my priesthood and all the blessings associated with the gospel ordinances, including entering heaven with my family.  That’s a very serious threat. 

Apparently, your actions have inspired others to follow suit and offer up their own threats.  I frequently receive nasty messages from the ‘saints.’  Yesterday, a menacing email arrived that I expect you to address.  After all, you both are my pastors and should be concerned about my family’s safety. 

The messages came from this email address: thejustavenger@gmail.com.  The anonymous name, “The Just Avenger,” sets an ominous tone to what follows:

I hope you don’t get excommunicated.  I think Jezebel’s fate would be better.  You’ll never hold a temple recommend ever again.  And no, you are not helping children.  You’re probably a child molester and are covering your ass. 

The great thing about being a business owner is being an ex-business owner .  How’s your security system at work?  Sounds like an upgrade is in order.  Repent or lose . 

Jezebel’s fate?  Look it up and see what he’s threatening.  Lashing out to call me a child molester?  Threatening my business? 

He followed his initial threats with this:

You should be worried about the storm you created for your family and yourself. 

This makes me more than uncomfortable.  It has shaken my wife.  She asked me not to share any of this with our kids to avoid them being frightened. 

I don’t know if this man is in the ward or in the stake.  I have received very negative messages from former friends in our ward and stake.  Last summer, I was told, “Don’t expect to be welcomed back with open arms.”  This, by a ward member. 

No matter where this message comes from, here’s what I’m expecting from my Christ-like leaders. 

Send this man an email.  Let him know that making threats against a person’s life, livelihood or the well being of his family is not acceptable.  It has no place in the gospel of Jesus Christ.  It’s illegal.  Copy me on your communication.  Notify the 70’s that you serve under.  I expect the Church to officially respond to these threats and to copy me on their communications with the man making them. 

You are good men.  I fully anticipate that you and the Church will comply with my expectations.  If not, and my family, my livelihood or my property are harmed, I will view your silence as complicit. 

Thank you in advance for taking swift action,

Sam

P.S. I will be taking the threats made by ‘The Avenger’ to the Sugar Land police.  You ought to send it to the Church’s legal department, too. 

P.P.S Again, I invite you to join the cause to Protect Our Children.  The changes are going to be made.  It’s just a matter of time.  The Church’s good name will be enhanced by making them sooner rather than later.  Yesterday, another serving bishop messaged me that he has embraced the protocol that the petition is calling for.