Mormon bloggers unite behind Kelly, Dehlin

Religion • Ordain Women founder explains why she went public, pens piece for London newspaper.

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Here are more developments surrounding the LDS Church disciplinary actions threatening Ordain Women founder Kate Kelly and Mormon blogger John Dehlin:

• LDS bloggers issue statement of support • More than 70 Mormon bloggers, representing a dozen or more websites, have signed a document, "Room for All in This Church," calling for "clemency" in the upcoming disciplinary councils for Kelly and Dehlin.

"The issues in Mormon doctrine, history and practice highlighted by those facing church discipline are much larger than any one individual," the statement reads. "We pray that a spirit of clemency will guide the words and actions of everyone — especially those who bear the heavy responsibility of ecclesiastical discipline of church members and that the words of President [Dieter F.] Uchtdorf [second counselor in faith's governing First Presidency] will hold sway: "Regardless of your circumstances, your personal history, or the strength of your testimony, there is room for you in this church."

• Kelly goes on KUER's Radio West • "A lot of people are asking me why I came forward [with the news of my disciplinary hearing]. My stake president said in an email, if I [didn't] come forward and tell people that I am not a member in good standing, he would. ... What to him and others that is so threatening is that this [Ordain Women movement] is coming from a very faithful, devout perspective. This is maybe where John and I are very different. I love John and I support him, but I have never made any claim against truth claims of the church. ... The most threatening thing about Ordain Women to people in the church is that it is coming from faithful, devout, courageous, wonderful women and that's more threatening than anything could be."

• Kelly writes in London's Guardian newspaper • "For me it is because of my faith — and not in spite of it — that I have a desire to stand up for myself and my sisters. I have been taught a vision of a truly cooperative future where men and women are complete equals. ... Knowing that our Heavenly Parents are both male and female teaches me that our potential as women is limitless. However, I do not see that eternal equality reflected in the contemporary church."