Can You Get Excommunicated From The Mormon Church

So, you’re wondering if you can get excommunicated from the Mormon Church. It sounds like a dramatic plot from a medieval movie, right? Like being banished from a kingdom for stealing the king’s crown. But in real life, it’s more like getting a very stern, very official timeout from a club you didn’t even know had bouncers.

First, let’s clear the air: excommunication is a real thing in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. But it’s not something that happens because you forgot to bring a casserole to the potluck. It’s reserved for the big stuff—think of it as the church’s version of a nuclear option.

What Actually Gets You the Boot?

The process isn’t just a “you’re out” slap on the wrist. It involves a formal church disciplinary council, which sounds scarier than it is. Imagine a meeting where three to twelve local leaders sit around a table, like a very polite courtroom with a folding table and a pitcher of water.

You don’t get excommunicated for skipping Sunday School or wearing flip-flops to church. No, you have to do something serious—like committing a crime, denying core beliefs in a public way, or having a major moral fumble that affects your membership. It’s the difference between getting a parking ticket and getting your driver’s license revoked.

The Everyday Analogy

Let me tell you a story. My friend once got really into a hobby—raising exotic chickens. He was so obsessed that he stopped coming to church, started arguing online about how chickens were the true path to enlightenment, and even tried to baptize one in the baptismal font (don’t ask). That’s the kind of thing that gets attention.

But did he get excommunicated? No way. The bishop just called him in for a chat, they laughed about the chicken baptism, and my friend promised to keep his chickens out of the chapel. The moral: the church is surprisingly patient. You have to really, really mess up—like, publicly announce you’re starting your own religion mess up—to get the boot.

The Three Strikes Policy (Sort Of)

There’s no official three-strikes rule, but the church has a list of “where’s the line” behaviors. Murder, child abuse, polygamy (ironic, I know, since their history), and publicly rejecting Jesus while still claiming membership are top offenses. It’s like the Voldemort rules of the church—you cannot say the name, or you’ll be expelled.

Top Mormon church leader excommunicated - CNN Video

But here’s the funny part: most people who leave the church just quietly resign or drift away. They don’t get excommunicated; they just stop showing up. It’s like breaking up with a gym membership—you just stop paying, but they don’t ban you from the parking lot. Excommunication is for people who make a spectacle of leaving.

The "Oops, I Sinned" Factor

I once knew a guy who cheated on his taxes and got really drunk at a wedding. He worried for months he’d be excommunicated. He wasn’t. The bishop just told him to do community service and avoid weddings for a while. The church’s attitude is: “We’re here to help, not to hunt you down with pitchforks.”

Think of it like this: excommunication is the church’s way of saying, “You’ve crossed a line that makes our official relationship impossible.” It’s like when your favorite coffee shop bans you for throwing a latte at the barista. You can still buy coffee elsewhere, but you’re not welcome at that counter anymore.

The Aftermath: Can You Come Back?

Yes, you can! Excommunication isn’t eternal banishment. It’s a severe pause, not a permanent delete. You can be rebaptized after a year or more of proving you’ve changed your ways. It’s like a really long, really boring timeout that ends with a baptism and a lot of apologies.

Mormon ex-bishop excommunicated for criticizing church’s practice of

In the meantime, you’re still allowed to attend church (just not take the sacrament or hold a calling). You’re basically a church ghost—you’re there, but you’re not really part of the team. It’s awkward, like being the only person at a party who isn’t wearing a costume.

The Bottom Line for Everyday Mormons

Unless you’re planning a public meltdown on TikTok where you denounce the prophet while setting fire to a Book of Mormon, you’re probably fine. Most Mormons, even the messy ones, never get excommunicated. The process is designed for extreme cases, not for people who just struggle with faith or life.

So relax. Forget about the chicken baptism, the missed meetings, and the occasional swear word. The church is a group of humans trying to figure things out, and they’d rather have you inside the tent, even if you’re a little messy. Excommunication? That’s for the Fraudsters and the Ex-Prophets—the people who make the news. For the rest of us, it’s just a Tuesday.

And if you’re still worried, just don’t baptize a chicken. That’s my advice.