In this episode Peter and Mary Danzig discuss Peter’s removal from the Orchestra at Temple Square because of his letter to the editor opposing professor Jeffrey Nielson’s termination from BYU (over Dr. Nielson’s public support of gay marriage). They also discuss his local church leadership’s request for silence, the threats of church discipline, his and Mary’s ultimate decision to resign from the LDS Church, and Craig Jessop’s resignation as Director of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
The music from this episode was played live during the interview. For more about the Danzig’s music, check out their web site here.
John, thank you for bringing the Danzigs to Mormon Stories.
To Peter and Mary I just want to say that your story and music touched me deeply. And ending with “Everything is Holy” seemed to just bring everything together. I heard that song many times before, but it was only the context of your story — your thoughts, and the expression of your lives that I finally got it.
I hope to hear more from you.
I am truly saddened by this whole experience. Not living in the Salt Lake Valley, I missed the story originally. I would add several thoughts on what Mary and Peter said in this episode.
Peter’s use of the phrase “intellectual tyranny” is most aptly described, as he reported later, as ‘unrighteous dominion.’
As he talked of his leaders’ demand that he recant, I am reminded of Martin Luther’s response to the demand to recant: ‘Here I Stand.’ Kudos for standing your ground. I truly believe there will be a time when this testament will be called upon.
We, humans, can giggle at the thought of the Holy Roman Church condemning men to death because they believed the earth was round, yet here we are, yet again, concocting religious dogma around our thin understanding of the human condition.
Christ truly sought out those who were the rejects of society because the leadership of the ‘church’ had rejected Him. I believe the same is true today. Christ will buoy up the spirits of people like Peter and Mary when ‘those how have professed to know His name and have not known Him’ attempt to crush any light that doesn’t emanate from them.
I pray the Peter and May can find joy in their relationship with their Savior unencumbered by ‘middlemen.’
I was also very touched by Peter and Mary’s story, and wish every member of the church could hear this. Their experience with the church abuse and advice for those struggling with a family member questioning the church or homosexual issues, is invaluable. They made so many excellent points throughout all of the podcasts.
I appreciated how positive and respectful they remain toward the church, despite the abuse of authority they endured. They were very fair to the people they discussed by always pointing out the other person’s point of view and good intentions of their leaders if they had to share something unflattering. They would tell both sides of the story on each experience. It made their sincerity and integrity shine through.
What a loss to the Mormon church. How can they so easily dispense of talented and dedicated members like this?
Mary made a good point by bringing up how a charity would never treat someone the way the LDS church does over a disagreement, when that person had been faithfully donating large sums of money to their organization.
It sounds like Peter was determined to make himself a martyr. He wanted to be the victim. In my personal opinion, it sounds like he really pushed for the church to take action against him, but they weren’t willing to do that. When the church didn’t have a disciplinary council against him, he wanted to force the card to get the full dramatic effect of his actions, so he resigned. This is just another example of a couple that chose to be offended (probably more than was needed). Yeah, I feel bad that they were released from the Orchestra on Temple Square, but Peter should have never used the Orchestra to lend credence to his own personal opinion in the SL Trib. My point is, if you want to leave the Church, just leave. Don’t turn it into some overly-dramatic experience.
“My point is, if you want to leave the Church, just leave. Don’t turn it into some overly-dramatic experience.”
What a ridiculous comment. Why not use the publicity of a resignation to bring attention to something you beleive is wrong? It’s hilarious that you and many other Mormons expect your critics to just slink away quietly.
“chose to be offended”
Again, dead wrong. They left because they disagreed fundamentally with the church. You sure have “drunk the Kool-aid.”