Introduction

The meaning of words can be very important. Words can convey a lot of meaning. They can influence thought or stop it.¹ Apostasy is one such word. In modern Mormonism, once a person or belief has been defined as apostate, loyal members will avoid interacting with that person or thinking about the beliefs they hold. While scripture prescribes the identification of and treatment of apostates, scripture also shows that the mislabeling of true messengers as apostates has been a common occurrence that carries a heavy penalty. With such high stakes, an effort to understand the various definitions of apostasy is worthwhile.

The LDS church has defined apostasy in several public venues. Apostasy is defined on LDS.org as follows: “When individuals or groups of people turn away from the principles of the gospel, they are in a state of apostasy.”² “True to the Faith,” a book of short topical entries published by the church has the following definition for apostasy: “When individuals or groups of people turn away from the principles of the gospel, they are in a state of apostasy.”

Interestingly, the church has a very different private definition. The church’s private handbook distributed only to leaders states:

As used here apostasy refers to members who: Repeatedly act in clear, open and deliberate public opposition to the Church or its leaders. Persist in teaching as Church doctrine information that is not Church doctrine after they have been corrected by their bishop or a higher authority. Continue to follow the teachings of apostate sects (such as those that advocate plural marriage) after being corrected by their bishop or a higher authority. Formally join another church and advocate its teachings. (Handbook 1: 2010.)

Absent this description is any mention of Christ or his gospel. Instead, the charge is that of opposing the church, church leaders, or church doctrine, all of which have been shown in past instances to have been out of harmony with Christ and/or his gospel.

It is troubling that the private definition is the one that is used to charge and convict members of apostasy. The Oxford English Dictionary defines apostasy as the “abandonment or renunciation of one's religious faith or moral allegiance.” If the church prosecutes members as apostate whose only crime is to have opposed the church, church leaders, or church doctrine, doesn’t this mean that the church has defined their moral allegiance to the church and/or the brethren, and not to God?