In no uncertain terms, this means Kelly must stop participating in Ordain Women if she wants to be re-baptized and re-confirmed into the Church. But that's probably not going to happen. "While we are deeply saddened by this decision, Kate is a part of us, and Ordain Women will continue," a spokeswoman from the group said.

Kelly's reaction was much less clinical. "Today is a tragic day for my family and me as we process the many ways this will impact us, both in this life and in the eternities," she wrote in a statement. "I love the gospel and the courage of its people. Don’t leave. Stay, and make things better."

Stay, and make things better—it matters for eternity. This is a remarkable sentiment: It illuminates, painfully, the challenge of trying to reconcile deeply held religious beliefs with strong convictions about women's rights. Kelly and the others involved with Ordain Women are clearly sincere about their faith; their mission is to help create "a religious community that better reflects the depth, breadth, and inclusiveness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, regardless of gender." This isn't just a feminist group pushing back against the anti-modern teachings of the LDS Church; its members are part of the faith, which means they believe that what happens on earth matters for all of eternity. Kate Kelly doesn't want to create a new church forged in her own image; she wants her church to follow the image of Christ. To her, that means greater inclusion of women, but at least right now, Mormon teachings on female participation aren't going to change.

It's worth noting that the Church has changed its teachings on other topics, though—race, for example. In 1852, 22 years after he helped establish the LDS Church, Brigham Young announced that men of black African descent could not become priests, although they could still be baptized. For more than a century, this was the official policy of Mormonism. That was until June of 1978, when then-President Spencer W. Kimball reported having a revelation saying that black men should be able to become priests. So the Church can change—but for now, it's not changing on this.

In a lot of ways, being excommunicated is an anti-modern experience, though not in the way you might think. As Kelly found out, being Mormon isn't just about an individual choosing Mormonism and believing in its precepts; the Mormon community also has to choose you. According to the LDS Church, and according to Kelly's own beliefs, she doesn't have the ability to think or choose her way into the Kingdom of Heaven; if she remains excommunicated, that will prevent her from being part of her community—forever. This isn't just a fight over feminism and politics in Mormonism. It's a tense conflict between the Church's core teachings and changing views on women in society—and one woman's eternal life.

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