I anticipate that it will take about fifteen minutes for the information in support of the allegation that will be presented to the council. I ask you not to interrupt for fifteen minutes. You will be afforded 45 minutes after that or 45 minutes to give your response. We will not interrupt you or your witness, Patty. Patty thank you for being here. Remember, you are not here to question the council, but to give your response. Brother Powell will account for the time allotted for this whole council. He’s the one who will be taking care of that.

Let me begin by quoting from the church handbook of instructions. Bishops and Stake Presidents have a responsibility to help members overcome transgression through repentance. This responsibility includes counseling individual members as needed and helping them in their efforts to repent. In some circumstances, it requires administering church discipline. The term Church discipline refers to restrictions and conditions of repentance placed on a person…. Leaders administer Church discipline in a spirit of love so it can bless the life of the transgressor. To do this, leaders must be guided and inspired by the Lord…. Formal Church discipline is administered in a disciplinary council and can affect a member’s standing in the Church. The purposes of Church discipline are (1) to save the souls of the transgressors, (2) to protect the innocent, and (3) to safeguard the purity, Integrity, and good name of the Church. God does not overlook sin, and His servants cannot ignore evidence of serious transgressions.

A disciplinary council must be held when evidence suggests that a member may have committed any of the following transgressions. Apostasy – As used here, apostasy refers to members who repeatedly act in clear, open, and deliberate public opposition to the Church or its leaders. Priesthood leaders must take disciplinary action against apostates to protect Church members. The Savior taught the Nephites that they should continue to minister to a transgressor, “but if he repent not he shall not be numbered among my people, that he may not destroy my people”

Sam evidence suggests that you have, among other things, encouraged others to vote opposed to church leaders. And organized more than one public action that expressed opposition to the church or its leaders.

First. you’ve encouraged others to vote opposed to church leaders. Evidence is publicly available and I will be quoting your own words – using your own words.

March 12, 2017 – I quote: [Words are actually taken from a post dated March 9, 2017] Take responsibility for destroying the lds church…. Your sustaining vote upholds the violation of Christ’s law of common consent…. No favors are done for the apostles by simply saluting everytime they ask for a vote. Rather, we are putting them in danger of the corrupting influence of unfettered power…. Follow Jesus by Voting Opposed There is only one way that this beautiful part of the restoration will be restored to its rightful place. It up to us to take it into our hands and to lift them in opposition to the continued disobedience of the Savior’s Law of Common Consent. Go to conference, in your home, in your chapel, or in Salt Lake City, and vote to have our rights and privileges of consent restored.

[Words here are actually taken from a post dated March 26, 2017] The use of the wording: “sustain” or “opposed” – the words of Christ should be used “approve” or “disapprove” I don’t oppose, I disapprove….

Consider voting in disapproval, April 1st. When the disapproval vote is called for, raise your hand in your home and Church or at conference. Send an email to your bishop and stake president informing them of your vote. If so inclined, record your name on the common consent register. At this moment, 330 members have publicly registered their disapproval. It’s that simple.

May 18, 2017. [Words here actually taken from a blog post dated May 15, 2017 ] There have been two intentions behind my blogs, the Talkeria and the voting opposed initiative. #1: to help the church. #2: to help people. I’ve decided to drop #1 and advance #2 to #1. The good ship, Zion leaves a plenitude of damage in its wake. Damage to real live human beings. I’m turning away from helping the corporate church and turning exclusively toward helping those being beaten up by the boat.

September 23rd “Invitation to Vote Opposed–Together. On September 30th, the semiannual voting session of General conference will be held. Since April 2016, I have voted opposed at six different conferences at the general stake and ward levels…. At April’s general conference three of us to called out our opposing votes in the presence of 21,000 others who compliantly raised their sustaining hands…. This general conference, I plan to vote publicly…. I will be voting in plain sight on facebook live. I invite you to join me… live at my office… join facebook live on my facebook page… add your name to the common consent register – a record of those who disapprove. This has been live for 12 months. There are now 442 members who have openly cast their vote of disapproval. … Disregard for the law of common consent. This is a law from God, plainly taught in our scriptures, doctrine and pronouncements by prophets and apostles. Currently our top leadership is disobeying this commandment, and they are leading the entire church to follow that same disobedience. Closed quote.

Second. You have organized more than one public action that expressed opposition to the church or its leaders. Evidence is publicly available and I’ll be using your own words.

July 27, 2018 blog. I quote: One week ago today I met with my stake president. He had received personal revelation that it was urgent to give me a message…. “Walk away, Sam. walk away.

July 12, 2018 email – I quote: “My next action is planned for July 28th and 29th….. It’s an action that the church has never faced before. It will draw every bit as much attention as the march. In fact, it will have a bigger impact. Millions of people…. Preparations have been quietly underway for the past few weeks…. This action will be completely peaceful and legal and huge….

July 27th, 2018 blog. I quote: “One week ago today I met with my stake president. He received personal revelation that it was urgent to give me a message…. walk away Sam walk away. He asked me to seriously consider it. I said I would. After our meeting. I carefully deliberated within a few days my decision was firm…. I chose not to walk away. Rather, I would move full steam ahead with preparation for the action on July 28th and 29th…. I didn’t want to give the church advanced warning this time. In all our storied history, this would be the first time they’ve ever faced this type of action.

Quoting in the dialogue in the blog. Sam (I described all the elements of the action) Supporter: that has the potential to cause a real PR nightmare for the church. Sam: that’s what I’m counting on….

Obviously I have left out the PR nightmare, nightmare details… The coming action, nameless until Sunday, will be every bit as historic. This will be the first and maybe the only time this occurrence faces the church.

During the facebook live broadcast – I quote: “you have people you know who are considering joining the church. Please brief them of the danger to the children in the LDS church. This is probably not the optimal time for families with kids to join.”

August 19th, 2018 news conference address – quote: Our action will help the prophet release his revelation sooner than later…. The apostles had not made the changes that will offer full protection to our children….. As a result, the Mormon church remains the most unsafe institutional church for kids…. as an ordained bishop I challenge the Apostles… You are condoning immoral behavior, the world is listening…. The second challenge is the Samaritan challenge. I challenge the Apostles to be Samaritans, not the Priest in Christ’s parable. So far they have chosen to be priests…. Come out of your ivory tower… Apostles, though this policy you have harmed countless children…. You, dear Apostles, now understand. You are no longer innocent of the damage being done to our children. The next suicide from shame will be the laid at your feet. At this point, you have no excuse.

August 30th, 2018 – Deseret News. I quote: My contention is I’m not opposed to the church or its leaders” Young said Thursday, “I’m opposed to a policy.” However, he allowed, “I can see how someone can interpret what I’m doing as opposition to the Apostles”… During the strike he also characterized the church’s position as “insane,” called it “the most extreme, unsafe church in America,” said “I would not join the church today” and encouraged others not to join.

September 5th 2018, Salt Lake City news conference. [Transcript here] I quote (about the church): “A cold, heartless, money-making machine of an institution… I will not be defending my membership…. The real purpose of the disciplinary council will be to put the institution on trial” close quote.

Sam, That’s the evidence that I have. You will now be afforded 45 minutes to give your response and we won’t interrupt you or Patty [unintelligible] question the council [unintelligible] give a response. You previously identified Patty, and we appreciate you being here, as a witness [unintelligible] comment on the evidence and make any other statements you desire. As I mentioned earlier, Brother Powell will account for the time allotted. If you choose he can provide updates at fifteen minute intervals.