Soon after launching this blog (Jan 2010) I was sent a letter (in Feb) wherein the local church leaders postulated that I had been found to be in apostasy. (I so wish I kept this letter now!)
[ooh I just found an old post of mine where I had copied a couple of paragraphs from the letter -
"The Bishopric is considering formal disciplinary action in your behalf, including the possibility of disfellowshipment or excommunication, because you are reported to have been in apostacy.
You are invited to attend this disciplinary council to give your response and, if you wish, to provide witnesses and other evidence in your behalf. "]. ...I threw it out in disgust. Instead of attending the 'council of love' where my sinfulness and apostasizing ways would have been talked about at length in a room full of men in suits (no women present! just little old me representing for women) .. instead of subjecting myself to their 'love' I decided (after some advice from a friend) to write my exit letter.
I sent it by registered mail and received confirmation from Australia Post that the letter had been received by my bishop. I never received a response. Rockstar (DH), who had received the same letter as me about being an apostate, did receive a new letter informing him that his meeting with the leaders had been cancelled. I gather from all of this that the leaders knew that Rockstar had not written anything on the blog and thus they had nothing on him. I think they had only been calling him in because they view men as responsible for their (ownership implied here!) females behaviour!!! I think they were calling him in to assist in putting me back in 'my place'.
I waited for quite a few months; carrying on with my blog, negotiating relationships, trying to move on. Eventually I realised that the leaders had no intention of responding to my letter. I re-wrote it. Added some things, removed some things. I added a cover letter basically saying "Hey guys, I've already sent this once before but here it is again, please let me go!!!"
More months went by. Still no response.
Now it's just plain silly. I want out! why won't they respect my wishes? hell, they won't even communicate with me about it.
Today I came across this site. OK, so now I just need to send the letter to -
Member Records, LDS Church
50 E North Temple, Room 1372
Salt Lake City, UT 84150-5310
United States
...and hopefully they'll get the ball rolling. Plus, I just saw this paragraph on the same site -
"If you've said in your letter that it is your formal resignation from the church and that it is effective immediately, you become a non-member the minute they receive your letter. All the rest (see THE PROCESS) is just them jumping through their own hoops."
Aaaaaaah, phew! I am no longer a Mormon. As of February 2010 when I first sent my letter via registered post I wrote my own future, yay for that! If those men in suits need some hoop jumping practice then I guess they can knock themselves out, I know how stuffy it can get in that place, a bit of exercise will do them good :P
Will keep you updated on the response from Salt Lake City!
