Officially leaving Mormonism
Ever since before completing my service as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I knew that I would someday resign from the church and have my name removed from its membership rolls. I had read about the process over at Mormon No More, and knew I would submit my resignation someday.
The first year after my mission was a little spiritually and emotionally rocky for me. The internal debate still waged on. It wasn’t as severe as when I was a missionary due to the church not being a priority in my life. However, I still continued to argue both for an against the church, its validity, and its benefits. Eventually, I found a community of people on PostMormon.org who let me know that I wasn’t alone in this struggle. My discussions with these people helped me tremendously. I realized that I did not believe in or agree with many doctrines and practices of the church. It just wasn’t the true church it claimed to be.
On the 18th of November I mailed my resignation to the member records division of the church, requesting that my name be removed from their records as I no longer considered myself a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. My letter read, in part:
I understand the seriousness of this request. I’m fully aware that this request cancels the effects of baptism and confirmation, withdraws my priesthood, and revokes my temple blessings as prescribed by the doctrine and practices of the church. However, it is my firm belief that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is not the true church.
Evidence of the church being in conflict with what I believe God represents is most apparent in the past and current discriminations of African Americans, women, and homosexuals. In addition, the culture of the church is one that discriminates against those who hold views contrary to the dogma, doctrine, traditions, and practices of the church. I can not be a member of a church which does not accept the diversity that exists throughout the world, nor do I believe any such church to be representative God, from which that diversity springs. These inconsistencies are far from being all inclusive; however, a statement covering all evidence which contradicts the church’s claim of validity would take far more time and much more room than is needed for this letter.
On December 12th, I was mailed a reply from Gregory Dodge, manager of member and statistical records acknowledging my request and letting me know that the request was forwarded to local leadership for proper handling. While mailing my letter directly to the church records division legally separates myself from the church, there are institutional procedures the church follows.
Yesterday afternoon I received a phone call from the branch president of my singles branch letting me know he had received my request and confirming that removing my name from the rolls of the church was indeed my desire, and that I understood the effect of my request and the requirements I would need to meet in order to return to the church as a member. I confirmed my desire to removed, and we ended the call amicably.
According to my understanding, I’ll receive a letter informing me that my request to be removed from the rolls of the church has been honored.
I don’t feel conflicted about this decision. In fact, there is very little emotion attached to it at all. I’ve known in my heart for a long time now that I’m not a member of the church. The resignation just makes the separation official. Now I’ll be able to say that I’m not a member, and not have to think, or even sometimes say, that I’m a member on paper only. This is a good step for me. This is progress.
Christmas is a good time to take inventory of your life, and share with friends and loved ones the triumphs and challenges of the ending year, and the hopes for the next.
