Hi, my name is Doug, and I’m not a Mormon. :)

[Reluctant Watchman]

We mailed our letter to SLC on a Friday afternoon. By Tuesday morning I received a text from my stake president. He said he considered me a friend and hoped that I'd still be his friend. His text struck me as odd. I did thank him for helping me come closer to God, but our last correspondence was not of the friendly type. I sent him a video showing how the jab was killing people. He called me to repentance from supposedly calling the PSRs liars and deceivers. Then he doubled down and called me to repentance for encouraging people to go against the counsel of these men. "Safe and effective" was all that mattered. That email was over 2 1/2 years ago. Not a peep since that email. So yeah, kind of odd that he'd reach out and ask if we could still be friends. I thought friends cared about and conversed with each other...

While I'm not surprised, the communication culture of the church is broken when you don't believe all of their doctrines.

I’m surprised he didn’t tell you he “loved you” like so many say lying through their teeth with their practiced feminine smile thinking it disarms their victims.
In all sincerity though, thank you for your thoughtful post. My journey out started during Covid too and while I asked for a release from my stake calling, told my bishopric member I won’t be renewing my temple rec, the next shoe to drop will be us telling the bishop, whom we like a lot and have been good friends with, that we don’t give the church any tithing and haven’t for the past 2 yrs. Not sure what he’ll say/do as it’s out of my control, I’m kind of looking forward to educating him on the why’s. I’m also trying to prepare myself for complete rejection from him and others esp now that they’re pushing the communist dogma of only listening to their approved messages & messengers. Don’t know how much of conference he heard though since he was enjoying his sons college fb game (as was I - let’s go Blue!)

It’s funny you mention the word “love” in relation to the email exchange I referenced. Any guesses as to how many times he said he loved me? Three. 3X!!! in that single email.

it also sounds like you’ve had a fun journey. All experiences shall be for our good. And good for you in being honest and authentic in your beliefs. As I noted in my essay, most members have to put on a false persona when they come to church, or they are simply ignorant of Christ’s teachings and how they contradict many of the church dogmas. You really begin to find out the genuinely good people on this planet when you disagree, yet can still have truly good intentions and love each other without conditions.

[Reluctant Watchman]

For full transparency, I do believe that love should be a motivating factor when we are striving to help our friends and family learn or unlearn good and bad behavior. Christ did teach us to let our light (Christ and his teachings) so shine. It is often human behavior to share those things that we become passionate about. And what better cause than that of Christ and his role as Savior?

[CMajor]

Brilliant I say. By withdrawing your membership the Church cannot punish you. That is their greatest weapon, excommunication if you start thinking for yourself or receiving counsel from Jesus directly. It is the Church's greatest fear. By being proactive you have taken the wind out of their sails.

The strongest spirits were saved for this day because they would find themselves going against the flow. The flow being the church where we are surrounded by family and friends, and at some point we need to choose. Following Jesus or Babylon.

[Reluctant Watchman]

Brilliant I say. By withdrawing your membership the Church cannot punish you. That is their greatest weapon, excommunication if you start thinking for yourself or receiving counsel from Jesus directly. It is the Church's greatest fear. By being proactive you have taken the wind out of their sails.

The strongest spirits were saved for this day because they would find themselves going against the flow. The flow being the church where we are surrounded by family and friends, and at some point we need to choose. Following Jesus or Babylon.

The culture of excommunicating a person for simply having a desire to be vocal about the possible wayward nature of an organization led by imperfect people is baffling. But I get it, any challenge their authority is top priority.

And yes, I do believe that many strong spirits are going against the flow these days. Some remain in churches, others do not.

[Reluctant Watchman]

I added this to another thread. It seems applicable here as well. From an essay I'm writing on Trust:

"I’ve told many friends that I’d be back in the church pews this coming Sunday if the church leaders taught one simple principle. I’d be right by their side if leaders taught that the only way we are to know if their words are true is through the Spirit of personal revelation and that there may be occasions when they can lead us astray. That is all it would take. And why, you might ask? Because then we could start to have a dialogue. We could then ask questions and make our voices heard without the fear of reprisal. We could express the thoughts and feelings of our heart and what the Lord has taught us, and not simply trusting the arm of flesh."

[Reluctant Watchman]

Adding this for future reference. If you want to have your name removed and keep a copy of your notarized letter, you can scan a copy (after notarizing it) and send it to the following email: [email protected]

My friend did this and the church signed her resignation letter the same day.