If you’re up for excommunication, you don’t get a lawyer. Instead, you face a "disciplinary council" composed of local male leaders who are usually accountants and dentists by day. Imagine being judged by the Dad Joke Championship committee. They’ll ask you to repent, and if you refuse, they’ll pull the trigger. One bishop in Utah reportedly held a council over a bingo night scandal. I’m not joking—bingo. Heaven takes its gambling very seriously.
Mormon ex-bishop excommunicated for criticizing church’s practice of
The council itself is a secret affair. No press, no Instagram live. You can bring a "support person," but they can’t speak—basically a silent emotional support llama. If you confess, they might just slap you on the wrist with a "formal probation." That’s like being grounded by God, but you still get to attend church and feel supremely awkward.
The Celebrity Excommunications
Mormons love a good celebrity scandal. In the 80s, Sonia Johnson was excommunicated for supporting the Equal Rights Amendment. She said, "God is a feminist," and the Church said, "Nah, God’s a moderate Republican." More recently, John Dehlin, a Mormon blogger, got the boot for criticizing Church leadership on his podcast. His crime? Asking too many questions. The Church didn't appreciate his "doubting your doubts" approach—ironic, since they literally teach you to ask God if the Book of Mormon is true. Touché.
Perhaps the most famous excommunication was Grant H. Palmer, a historian who wrote a book questioning Joseph Smith’s magic underwear—I mean, seer stones. The Church didn’t just excommunicate him; they basically said, "Don’t let the celestial door hit you on the way out." Yet, he remained friendly with general authorities, because Mormons are masters of the passive-aggressive potluck game.
Mormon woman facing excommunication to hold vigil | Fox News
