THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS
ELDER DALLIN H. OAKS
47 EAST SOUTH TEMPLE STREET
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH 84150

Greetings. Thank you for taking the time to read this letter. I’m writing you because something you’ve taught is causing a problem. Nine years ago, because I embraced the teachings of 2 Nephi 32:5, I was judged and condemned as an apostate. And, your teachings haven’t helped my situation, but have caused that church leaders would continue to condemn me.

You’ve taught that there are two lines of communication from God, a “personal line” and a “priesthood line.” But, this contradicts 2 Nephi 32:5 which states that there’s only a personal line, that “if ye will enter in by the way and receive the Holy Ghost, it will show unto you all things what ye should do.”

Over the past nine years, I’ve written hundreds of letters to church leaders, and over the last year, I’ve written one letter, over and over again, sent every ten days to the First Presidency, asking that they would please either acknowledge or deny the truth of 2 Nephi 32:5.

Most letters have been ignored, some have been returned to me, un-opened, with the label, “refused,” and when I do get a response, the emphasis is entirely on the “priesthood line” of communication, where I’m simply instructed to obey church leaders.

My current stake president is aware of this letter writing. I’ve even asked him to acknowledge or deny the truth of 2 Nephi 32:5 and other scriptures which echo this same concept, but he won’t respond, mainly because of what you’ve taught.

Recently, he texted me, asking if his secretary could call me to set up yet another meeting. We’ve met many times, but we never see eye to eye. I waited to respond, until after the Holy Ghost had inspired me with what I should do, and a few days later, God spoke to me.

God said that I should ask President Bohne to first obtain a testimony of 2 Nephi 32:5, and then I would agree to meet with him. It’s now been over three weeks since I texted this to him, and he hasn’t responded.

Also, about a year ago, when my area authority seventy visited me, I asked if the church would honor the teachings of 2 Nephi 32:5 and other scriptures which echo this same concept. He said that the church would not honor these teachings, and he then urged me to obey the “priesthood line” of communication.

So, why won’t the church embrace 2 Nephi 32:5 and other scriptures which echo this same concept?

We read in D&C 50:10-25, that unless we’re personally enlightened by the Holy Ghost, we’re forbidden from accepting anything that’s presented to us as truth, that if we receive ideas in any other way, it’s not of God.

In JST Mark 9:40-48, we’re taught that we’re to stand on our own spiritual feet, that we’re to not trust those who are ordained to show us light, nor those who are the standard by which we are to walk.

In Romans 8:14, we’re taught that those who are led by the Spirit of God, are the sons of God.

In Matthew 7 and 3 Nephi 14, we’re taught “in all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them, for this is the law and the prophets.”

In other words, we’re not commanded to do as we’re told, but as we’re inspired to do.

In essence, the Golden Rule is exclusively about our “personal line” of communication.

In fact, the idea of a “priesthood line” of communication opposes the Golden Rule, for those who claim to receive revelation for others, are never doing unto them as they would have reciprocated back to them.

Course, there was a time when a “priesthood line” of communication governed the Lord’s people, when the Law of Moses was dictated and enforced. The Holy Ghost wasn’t present, so the people couldn’t govern themselves through a “personal line” of communication.

Then, the law was fulfilled. And, as Paul taught, a “new covenant” was introduced, not of the letter which killeth, but of the Spirit which giveth life. And, we read in Hebrews 10:6-10 that the new covenant is all about a “personal line” of communication writing God’s laws on our hearts.

We also have Christ asking his apostles to refrain from exercising authority over those in their care, and why would he ask such a thing, unless the “priesthood line” was done away with under the new covenant?

It makes sense to me why you, of all people, would emphasize a “priesthood line” of communication. You, have a background in law. A “priesthood line” of communication is all about establishing a legalistic governing system.

But, we read in Galatians 5:4 that those who seek to be justified by law have fallen from grace, and that the atonement of Christ is become of no effect on them.

Because I refused to be governed by church law, I was excommunicated as an apostate. There was a church position that wasn’t being written on my heart by the Holy Ghost, and so I questioned it, asking church leaders about it, and then they judged me as apostate for not accepting it as a law to me, and yet I was being governed by the Holy Ghost, which they considered apostasy.

Here’s another thing to think about. Love, is the fruit of the Spirit. At present, my heart is filled with love for others, even to the point that I rarely, if ever, feel anything but love. My wife, children, my bosses, those I supervise at work, and my other co-workers can verify this.

Do you feel only love for others? I’ve never met with a church leader who felt only love for others.

So, why aren’t church leaders filled with the Spirit, which is evidenced by they being filled with love?

Doesn’t the lack of love in the church stem from a focus on obedience to law, declared through “priesthood lines” of communication?

According to 2 Corinthians 3:6, legalistic systems “killeth” people spiritually.

According to 2 Corinthians 3:6, only our “personal line” of communication giveth life, which is the power by which our hearts and minds can be filled with love, enabling us to know God, who is love, which qualifies us for eternal life, because to know God, is to have eternal life according to scripture.

In teaching that there’s both a “priesthood line” and a “personal line” of communication, you’re leading members to believe in both law and grace, which contradict each other, the one leading to spiritual death or a complete disconnect from God, and the other to life or complete connection to God.

Anyway, I could go on and on and on regarding all this. I’m not sure what you will do with this information. I’ve been thinking about it for nine years. So, I can say much on the subject.

I’m reaching out to you, that you might experience what I feel in my heart, that you might have a heart filled with love for others, even for your enemies, and thus understand the amazingness of the new covenant, and thus be enabled and given a desire to lead others to experience the same.

I’m certain that your heart isn’t filled with only love for others, for if it were, you would only be led by your “personal line” of communication, and only want others to be led by their “personal lines.”

And, then you’d know that 2 Nephi 32:5 is true, as I know it’s true, that the Holy Ghost is meant to show us all things what we should do, so that all things we do are inspired of love, for anything that’s not according to the Spirit of God, is not of God and not of love, according to D&C 50:10-25.

It’s also interesting to note, that in Galatians 5:23 we’re taught that against the fruit of the Spirit, there is no law. There’s no need for a “priesthood line” of communication to declare and enforce law on those born of the Spirit.

You’ve accepted a calling to be an apostle of “Jesus Christ,” who was led exclusively by the Holy Ghost, so shouldn’t you follow in His footsteps, being completely governed by the Holy Ghost?

And, shouldn’t you lead others to experience the same?

Sincerely,

Aaron McMillan

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