Records of excommunication

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brianwoodward77
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Records of excommunication

Post by brianwoodward77 »

Is there a way to determine if someone has been excommunicated and then rebaptized into the church? A member of my ward is going through a faith crisis and wants to know if her father was actually excommunicated many years ago.

Thank you
russellhltn
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Re: Records of excommunication

Post by russellhltn »

Not that I'm aware of. Even if it was possible, I doubt if the church would give out the information to anyone except the father's bishop or stake president.

Imperfect things happen even in the true church because people are imperfect. Her faith should not be dependent on church leaders always doing the right thing.

Personally, I'd focus on helping her get her testimony though her own experiences and prayers.
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sbradshaw
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Re: Records of excommunication

Post by sbradshaw »

If her father is deceased, she may be able to get information from FamilySearch.

Examples:
https://community.familysearch.org/en/d ... ommunicted
https://community.familysearch.org/en/d ... i-find-out

If her father is still living, she's unlikely to be able to get information from official Church records, for privacy reasons.
Samuel Bradshaw • If you desire to serve God, you are called to the work.
russellhltn
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Re: Records of excommunication

Post by russellhltn »

sbradshaw wrote: Mon Nov 29, 2021 9:34 am If her father is deceased, she may be able to get information from FamilySearch.
I suspect that would only be if he died while excommunicated. OP indicated that if he was excommunicated, he was later rebaptized.

On the membership records of the living, a rebaptism and restoration of blessings will restore the membership record to as it was before. Meaning the original baptism and ordinance dates, leaving no indication that they had been excommunicated. I'd be surprised that would change when they died.
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BrianEdwards
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Re: Records of excommunication

Post by BrianEdwards »

I sympathize with your member's heartfelt desire to know this, I'm sure it's truly meaningful during their faith crisis. However, from the father's perspective, I think it would be incorrect for the Church to share this information. Imagine somebody who worked to get their membership restored, and to get to that state where the Lord says about their sins that He will "remember them no more" -- to have others be able to access his past membership status without his permission. He of course can share with whomever he wants while alive, and if he shared with nobody before passing, then I'm not sure how proper it would be to share after death.

Of course the Church at some level does "remember", since while alive a member's Bishop or Stake President may have a need for this info if subsequent membership councils are needed. But this is only provided by HQ for approved situations, and unlikely for a family member who wants "to know".

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