An examination of the facts gleaned from Chad Hardy’s Blog concerning his excommunication and the publication of the Men on a Mission calendar

To put all of these events in context you might read the following stories:

http://www.chadhardy.com/byu/

http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=148&sid=18254980

If you read Mr. Hardy’s blog carefully the following chain of events unfold. It seems what happened is Mr. Hardy was going to graduate around 2002, but the university found he was short one class. At that time Mr. Hardy apparently left BYU and moved to Las Vegas. It is unclear when Hardy finished his one class to complete his degree, but it must have been some time in 2008 as he was set to graduate that year and it is unlikely he would have waited long after completing the course. However, July 16, 2008 he was excommunicated. He was set to graduate in August of 2008. The news of the excommunication reached the Honor Code office or Registrar at the time he was proceeding to graduate. His diploma was withheld before he received it in September of 2008.

So the question becomes what happened between 2002 and 2008 when he left BYU full time and needed to complete his final course? It’s an awkward situation because questions about what he was doing in his personal life really should not be open to public debate, except he has forced people to ask these questions by pointing fingers at the LDS Church and BYU. He has made his private life a public spectacle.

Trying to sort through this situation I read every message Hardy posted on his blog: emails from his stake president, excommunication letter, messages to and from BYU, letters from his lawyers, etc. I’ve been thinking about the facts. Here’s what I’ve gleaned from the documents he willingly posted to public view on his blog:

1. Hardy failed to graduate on time because he was short of credit.
2. Between 2002 and 2008 he stopped wearing the temple garment, stopped paying tithing, and stopped attending priesthood meeting.
3. His stake president requested a discussion with him regarding his spiritual standing and the publication of the calendar, Men on a Mission.
4. Privately Mr. Hardy’s stake president confided to him that someone who wished to remain anonymous accused Mr. Hardy of living with and sleeping with his girlfriend Heather. Mr. Hardy denied the accusations.
5. Mr. Hardy was excommunicated for “conduct unbecoming a member of the Church.” Because the stake president cannot publicly disclose the reasons why Hardy was being excommunicated the ambiguous terms were used in the excommunication letter. However, during the disciplinary council all of the reasons for Hardy’s membership being called into question should have been clearly outlined. That is one of the purposes of the council. If they were not clearly stated, then Hardy should appeal the council’s decision.
6. Mr. Hardy’s legal efforts failed to secure his diploma. Reason: BYU’s policy is excommunication explicitly violates the honor code. Hardy’s excommunication clearly occurred before his graduation. Otherwise how could they have withheld his diploma. Besides the facts show he was excommunicated July 16 and graduation was in August. His excommunication clearly occurred before his graduation.
7. Mr. Hardy’s appeal by review to the dean of students failed to secure his diploma. Reason: The dean of student life directly asked Mr. Hardy to resolve the important issue. Was he living the honor code between 2002 and 2008? It appears that more than once Hardy declined to answer the question. Because Hardy would not clarify the issue, the dean of student life could not resolve that his situation was any different than what the excommunication directly implied–he was in violation of the honor code but did want to admit it.
8. Alone Hardy’s publication of the calendars is not grounds for excommunication.
9. According to statements on his blog, Hardy could have but never has appealed his excommunication.
10. Logically, if he is innocent of moral transgression and the publication of the calendars is the sole reason for his excommunication, an appeal would go favorably for him.
11. In an attempt to dispel erroneous statements, the LDS Church announced in the LDS Newsroom that Mr. Hardy was not excommunicated solely for his involvement in the publication of the calendars.
12. Conclusion: There remains significant doubt that Mr. Hardy was excommunicated solely because of the calendars.

Most likely, Hardy’s excommunication occurred because of a. details that emerged in interviews with Mr. Hardy and his stake president, b. details that emerged between the stake president and the anonymous person who reported the alleged sexual immorality between Hardy and his girlfriend, c. his involvement with the publication of the calendars, d. his failure to pay tithing, wear the temple garment, and attend to priesthood duties. Based on the facts, Hardy’s involvement in the publication of the calendars played only a part in his excommunication. However, because excommunication is a private matter, the stake president and the LDS Church will not publish a full disclosure of all of the reasons why he was excommunicated. Therefore, the public cannot determine the full list of reasons for Hardy’s dismissal from the Church. Mr. Hardy’s failure to appeal his excommunication leaves room for doubt that he is confident his appeal would overturn the decision. Furthermore, based on the facts, it is apparent that his appeal would not overturn the decision because the calendar is not the central issue. More important are the issues regarding his moral standing and why he stopped paying tithing, wearing the garment, and fulfilling his priesthood duties. Answers to that question are not public knowledge and Hardy himself would not provide that information to the dean of student life when he had the chance to clear his name and win his appeal to receive his diploma. Furthermore, he would not clear his name by appealing the excommunication.

Lesson to be learned. Mr. Hardy signed the honor code. Had he lived it, he would have his diploma. His actions show that he has failed to live the honor code. It is a shame he is blaming the Church and BYU for his misdeeds. I sincerely hope he is able to resolve his concerns and move forward in life.