My Letter of Resignation from the LDS Church and Worthiness Interviews with Children

October 28, 2014

Member Records Division, LDS Church

50 E North Temple, Room 1372

SLC UT 84150-5310 

This letter is my formal resignation from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and it is effective immediately. Please remove the following name permanently and completely from the membership rolls of the church: 

[my name]

DOB: [   ]

Record Number [   ]

Also, waive the 30-day waiting/holding period. I am aware that the Church handbook says that resignations cancel the effects of baptism and suspends temple sealings and blessings. I continue to hold my baptism dear and reverently, but that is between God and me. I do not need the LDS Church’s recognition of it.

The LDS Church, as an entity, is neither kind nor honest.

There is to be no formal church contact/“fellowshipping”/missionary work with me. I still care for my LDS neighbors and hope to socialize and contribute in real service projects together.

The following isn’t the reason for leaving, but in case I have an audience, please, if you care at all about children and respect them, stop the one-on-one “worthiness” interviews with them. It is inappropriate for adults to be alone with other people’s children behind closed doors. And it’s even more inappropriate for those adults to ask personal questions to the children/youth (children often leave mortified). There is a reason why there is mandatory two-deep personages in the BSA, doctor’s offices, and schools, etc.: there are predators everywhere who take advantage of children. The LDS Church is no exception. One-on-one interviews give opportunity for ecclesiastical abuses, intimidation, and manipulation (whether intentional or unintentional) especially in the LDS church where children are indoctrinated to never say no to a leader, that he is the mouth-piece for God, and will never lead anyone astray. The church protects priesthood leaders more than they protect children.

I look forward to the final termination/confirmation letter from your offices.

Please send to:  [my address]

Most seriously,

________________________________

As of October 31, 2014, I legally was no longer a member of the LDS Church. It took a little longer for the Church to complete their own paperwork, but once they receive my letter in the mail, it was final. This website for the name removal process was very helpful: Mormon No More

When the items you have dutifully "put on a shelf" until you can ask about them in the afterlife become too heavy, when the cognitive dissonance causes you to ignore your own intuition and intelligence, and when you realize that your doubts shouldn't be doubted because they are actually forms of personal protection, please give yourself permission to read the objective information at mormonthink.com and cesletter.com  These are sites that will take LDS Church topics (current and past) and objectively look at both sides with verifiable resources (including Church resources).

From mormonthink.com home page:
"MormonThink is concerned with truth. As such, we attempt to correct misinformation about the LDS Church made by critics and defenders of the faith (including the Church itself). We present a range of perspectives and viewpoints, privileging those we believe are the most accurate, consistent and empirically valid."

The Community of Christ (formerly the Reformed LDS Church) shares the same founding history as the mainstream LDS Church, but their approach to the information found on these websites is vastly different. They embrace their history instead of trying to hide it or whitewash it or bully those who question it. They feel no need to dissolve their church. Rather, they take the good of it and make it better through their honesty.

Photo Credit: edenwithin.wordpress.com