I cannot read the small font of letter that was uploaded, so going off comments made by Ashley on Court TV, that HD alludes to other members of the Daybell family (parents, siblings?) that believed in Chad, and not what she and her husband saw as dangerous and false teaching.
I wish I could find a transcript of the letter. Apparently it is exclusive to Court TV.
As it already exists on Twitter via CourtTV, here's a copy of the text, names respectfully snipped by me to protect the privacy of those persons (HD, the stake president, and the woman who emailed this). It is my interpretation that the email is a forward from HD. The woman who sent this email to adult female members of the ward (local congregation) adds her comments below the url to the talk referred to in the email at "Dear Ward Sisters...". Please note that the email was shared from an unknown source to CourtTV's Chanley Shá Painter most likely without the knowledge or approval of those who wrote or originally disseminated it
https://twitter.com/ChanleyCourtTV/status/1295930259670433793.
*******************The email in its entirety*************
To my sweet friends,
I am forwarding an email on to you at the request of President [
SBM]. He has asked that we, along with the [
SBM] Stake Bishoprics, High Counselors, Elder's Quorum Presidencies, Young Women Presidencies and Primary Presidencies, study the talk Stand Forever given at BYU by Elder Lawrence Corbridge. I am very familiar with this talk. My son Isaac brought it to my attention about a year ago after he had studied it. He thought it would be helpful to me, it was. I am grateful for President [
SBM]'s request to study this talk, and for me, to study again this timely message. It was needed when it was originally given, it is needed even more now.
Along with President [
SBM]'s email, I would like to share some of my own thoughts as well as apologize for my silence the last many months. I haven't written emails or contacted you as I normally would do and I'm sorry for that. I am going to be very honest in this email and express some thoughts and feelings I have been experiencing for not just months but years now. Please be patient with me as I try to express what I'm thinking in these words as I am not a great writer.
As I have had many long talks with my good husband concerning the horrible events that have transpired in our extended family, we have both felt we have been punched in the gut and kicked in the teeth. Only now as we are receiving professional counseling and working through this day by day, are we starting to feel like we can finally catch our breath and some days even smile. That maybe one day this won't consume so much of our energy and we can wake up in the morning with happier thoughts. I hope I never step my bounds and say things that could offend anyone concerning this situation, but because I have first hand knowledge and know what the details have been for awhile, I am going to share some things that I should have been even more vocal about than I was the last several years. I am not going to be vague and hope you get my message. I'm going to be direct and honest. Don't get me wrong, had anyone told me even a few years ago that the tragedies that have unfolded the last year would happen in my family, I would have never believed it. But here we are and it is our reality. I have racked my brain over and over wondering how it got this bad. How my relative could believe in ideas that go directly against the doctrines of our church and come to church each week as though all was well. That he could get others to believe those teachings and follow him. That those teachings could ultimately lead to the death of innocent people. My head still spins. How can we prevent being so deceived?
I would like to share some ideas reinforcing points Elder Corbridge makes in his teachings. I will add my thoughts to his.
First, please refer to the section in Elder Corbridge's talk, Deception Is a Sign of Our Time. He quotes JS-Matthew 1:22. "For in those days there shall also arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders, insomuch, that, if possible, they shall deceive the very elect, who are the elect according to the covenant." Isn't it interesting that Joseph Smith's translation from Matthew adds that last bit, "who are the elect according to the covenant." That is you and that is me. Temple recommend holders, members under covenant. In my studying the Book of Mormon and the example of Korihor, as an anti Christ he taught that there was no Christ. No life after death, no consequence for sin. Would that teaching work on any of our fellow members of the church trying to do good and follow Christ? Temple going, covenant keeping folks who want to keep the commandments? For heaven's sake no! Satan can't fool us with such obvious falsehoods, that is ridiculous!
Satan has been around for a very long time. He has had a lot of practice in how to deceive God's children. He is the master deceiver. His tactics of old aren't going to work on members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Here is what I have observed in my discussions with my relative and how his belief system evolved over time. It wasn't even considered that there is no Christ but that you can become so good following Christ that you can be given further light and knowledge. Through that further light and knowledge, you will find truth in others dreams, visions and visitations. You can be given more than the "average" member of the church. If you are righteous enough, you can be given more understanding and even authority to discern gifts and abilities in others that the Savior wants you to have so you can assist in His second coming. The Church Brethren know these things they just can't tell you right now so there are others who have the ability to see what is coming and can tell you. Elder Corbridge warns, "There are some who, without authority, lay claim to visions, dreams, and visitations to right the ship, guide us to a higher path, or prepare the Church for the end of the world. Others are deceived by false spirits."
Can you see how twisted that way of thinking is? It's a perfect example of the philosophies of men mingled with scripture. It's taking pieces of truth and mixing it with deceit. We are taught to seek further light and knowledge, to learn how to discern. We have been taught that we can receive revelation through dreams and visions. We've been taught to seek understanding and discover our spiritual abilities. So how can we get off course? It's the same story that's played over and over again through the history of time, it's just the details that change. It's pride. Satan knows how to play on our weaknesses and pride is one of the big ones. We might start out well intended in desiring to be our best selves but when we start to see ourselves as holier, more righteous or on a higher plane than others, that's when we can get off course.
Second, Elder Corbridge talks about knowledge. He quotes Joseph Smith, "Knowledge is necessary to life and godliness. Knowledge is revelation. Hear, all ye brethren, this grand key: knowledge is the power of God unto salvation." Elder Corbridge goes on to say and I love this, "You cannot be better than what you know. Most of us act based on our beliefs, especially what we believe to be in our self-interest. The problem is, we are sometimes wrong. Someone may believe it is wrong to lie yet lie on occasion, wrongly believing he will be better off if the truth is not known. He is just wrong. Someone may believe and even know that Jesus is the Christ and still deny Him not once but three times because of the mistaken belief that he would be better off appeasing the crowd. Peter wasn't evil. I am not sure he was even weak. He was just wrong."
I want to interject an idea here and add to Elder Corbridge's words. This has brought me a lot of comfort at times. I don't think it is coincidence that Peter denied Christ three times and then later, Christ asks Peter three times if Peter loved Him. It was as though unbeknownst to Peter, the Savior was forgiving him each time Peter declared his love, erasing those three denials with three declarations of love and loyalty. I like to think that in the Savior's amazing patience with my shortcomings, he is giving me opportunities to declare my love and loyalty to Him after moments of misgiving and doubt. He understands in my very mortal state that I get scared and my faith is tested. In His perfect state, He is able to love me and is loyal to me always. He understands when I have moments that I'm "just wrong" and helps me get things right again. When we have been deceived, the Savior can help us right our wrongs. There are members in our congregations who have been misled. As leadership in those congregations, I hope we can reach out and help any who may be struggling in their belief systems and show love and compassion in helping them work through their struggles.
Third, the section in Elder Corbridge's talk, Primary Questions and Secondary Questions is worth your time in study. He states, "There are primary questions and secondary questions. Answer the primary questions first. Not all questions are equal and not all truths are equal. The primary questions are the most important. Everything else is subordinate. There are only a few primary questions. I will mention four of them.
1-Is there a God who is our Father?
2-Is Jesus Christ the Son of God, the Savior of the world?
3-Was Joseph Smith a prophet?
4-Is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints the Kingdom of God on the earth?"
Sisters, I have questions. I have questions that I don't think will be answered anytime soon. I don't understand why a family member of mine has done what he has done. I don't understand why my husband and I were blamed and ostracized by our extended family in trying to warn and bring attention to the huge concerns we had about what was happening. I don't understand how we were so unbelievable and he was so believable. Beyond these questions, I have a lot of secondary questions that don't have answers. What I do know is that if I dwell on these things too long it weakens my faith. I'm trying each day to focus on the truths I have come to know. I do know I have a Father in Heaven who is very aware of me and my family. I do know I have a Savior who is with me and helping me, even if I don't see it until after the fact. I do know Joseph is a prophet who helped restore the gospel of Jesus Christ and President Nelson is my prophet today leading us in a continuing restoration. We are not done receiving revelation from our God to His church on the earth through His living prophet. I have faith and believe President Nelson when he says the best is yet to come.
I know these truths through personal revelation. From my Father and Heaven and Savior through the Holy Ghost to just me. No one needs to receive that for me. Not my husband, not my parents, not my neighbor, not my leaders, no one gets that for me but me.
Sorry this was long winded, I needed to get some things off my chest I guess. Please know of my love and concern for all of you and the sisters of your wards. There is a lot of hard stuff going on and I pray our women are doing okay. It's just a fact that if moms, wives and sisters are struggling the whole family seems to struggle. It's just the nature of our place in our families and homes. We are the heart. When the heart is hurting everything else hurts. I'm praying for all of you. I appreciate the prayers that have been given on our families behalf. We have felt the love and concern and it has strengthened us. If you feel so inclined and want to share this message with your sisters, please do. Be healthy and stay safe. All my love, [
SBM].
Stand Forever - Lawrence E. Corbridge - BYU Speeches
Dear Ward Sisters, President [
SBM] has asked that we read and study this talk. It has given me comfort and understanding. Perhaps our hearts and minds can start to heal and mend as we ponder upon these things. We are ever thankful for President [
SBM] and Sister Daybell. Our ward Relief Society is so grateful and thankful for all our sisters in this ward!! What an example of charity and kindness that has come forth. In spite of what the world may say it will not know of the love in this ward. We are looking forward to a time that we may be together again and hug one another! Much love to you! [
SBM]
*******************End of the email in its entirety*************
I hope this helps you
@Forever Young and others who are unable to view the text.
only curious because I saw some other cases that closed out and still open by MM and they listed some. All jmo
