President R. Conrad Schultz
Portland Oregon Temple
13600 SW Kruse Oaks Boulevard
Lake Oswego, OR 97035-8602

Dear Sir,

I am writing to inform you of my decision to permanently resign as a member of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. In making this choice I ask that my name be removed from any and all Church records. I also publicly renounce my membership and disavow any and all titles of authority (including those involving the priesthood).

The decision by the LDS Church to involve themselves in the business of lobbying and imposing your own morals upon the people of California with your support of Proposition 8 is only the most recent example of your disregard for the First Amendment. Thomas Jefferson was well aware of the need for a “wall of separation” between church and state in his speech to the Danbury Baptists in 1802. This idea is as relevant today as it was when John Locke first conceived it. These United States were founded on the notion of freedom of and from religion.

The very notion that the Church, whose members were once subjected to tyranny and oppression by the State would gladly join to oppress and rescind the rights of a group of people is repugnant and beyond my comprehensions. It sickens me to recall that I once called you brethren, shared worship with you. I find incongruity that my gay hands have blessed and prepared the sacrament of which LDS member partook as spiritual nourishment. Do you not find irony in the fact I was deemed righteous enough to share in the miracle of transubstantion but not righteous enough to share a legal union with my mate?

Tell me please, how your actions are in compliance with the teachings of Joseph Smith when he wrote:

“We declare that from principle and policy, we favor:
The absolute separation of church and state;
No domination of the state by the church;
No church interference with the functions of the state;
No state interference with the functions of the church, or with
the free exercise of religion;
The absolute freedom of the individual from the domination of
ecclesiastical authority in political affairs;
The equality of all churches before the law.”

There are few better examples of “the domination of ecclesiastical authority in political affairs” than spending in excess of $25 million dollars to overturn the established law of the land.

Regardless of how entrenched you may be in opposition to social change, a recurring theme in LDS history, you are in morally wrong in your attempts to legislate social behavior. This is the anthesis of the very freedoms you hold so dear.

As a former LDS member I know a good deal of your secrets, the vile contempt of your leaders towards homosexuality, Spencer W. Kimball writing in Crime Against Nature, stated that:

“Homosexuality is an ugly sin, repugnant to those who find no temptation in it.”

And also that “Perhaps as an extension of homosexual practices, men and women have sunk even to seeking sexual satisfaction from animals. …”

There is perhaps no clear illustration of LDS beliefs towards gay and lesbian people than when Kimball wrote:

“All such deviations from normal, proper heterosexual relationships are not merely unnatural but wrong in the sight of God. Like adultery, incest, and bestiality they carried the death penalty under the Mosaic law. … The law is less severe now, and so regrettably is the community’s attitude to those grave sins”

The only possible explanation for your actions; is that you do not believe in my rights or the rights of gays and lesbian people. You wish to deny us civil protections under the law by publicly debasing and striping us of our dignity. Only when we as a society demonize a group of people as ‘the other’ can we rationalize our own intolerance and abuse towards them.

Unfortunately I would have thought that the LDS church would have learned this painful lesson from your own bloody history. Sadly this does not appear to be so.

Regards,

Bruce Henry Cavnor, Jr.

Cc: President Henry B. Eyring

It breaks my heart that as I was just making my way back to the Church that I had to hear proposition 8 talked about in sacrament meeting more than anything else. I don’t kid myself into thinking that my letter or my newfound disillusionment will in any way change what the Church does or how it runs itself. All I can really say is that I was raised to believe that the constitution of the United States of America is ordained by God, including the separation of church and state. The LDS church blatantly ignored their own teaching in the Nov. 4 election and I truly do not wish to be part of that hypocrisy.

I have been an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints since I was born. I was baptized at the age of 8, received my Eagle badge at age 16, went on a mission to Alabama when I was 20 and served as Assistant to the President on my Mission, was married in the Salt Lake Temple in May of 1990. I came out to my wife in November of 1999 and have lived true to my feelings of being gay ever since. I met the man of my dreams in 2001 and we have been together ever since. we plan on marrying soon but due to the illegal and unethical actions of the LDS church I am removing my name from their records. I was born GAY! This was not a choice, when did you decide to be straight? Please accept this letter as my insistance that my name be removed immediately from your records.
Sincerely, Dave Atkinson

I stopped attending the Mormon church in 2000, when political lessons, sermons, and letters about proposition 22 were more common than the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I did not resign at that time because most of my family remain devout Mormons and I did not want to cause them distress. However, with the Mormon Chruch’s direct advocacy for proposition 8, and the stripping of civil rights from California citizens, I find that I need to do more than merely disassociate.

So even though it is only symbolic, I formally resign from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, effective immediately. I withdraw my consent to being treated as a member and as such am no longer subject to church rules, policies, beliefs and discipline.

As I am no longer a member, I want my name permanently and completely removed from the membership rolls of the church. If at all possible I would like my name to be expunged from the record so there is no trace of it left. If that is not possible, I would like for a notation to be placed by my name that states that I also refuse consent to any post mortem baptism ritual after my death. I expect this matter to be handled promptly, with respect and with full confidentiality.

It turns my stomach that the Mormon church felt compelled to impose their moral views onto the constitution of California, that they were willing to promote grotesque lies in order to strip Californian’s of their civil rights. That the priesthood, the power to act in the name of Jesus Christ, was used to disenfranchise and abuse families is unconscionable!

The Mormon church stood in judgment on families–what sort of families are best, which are not ideal, and which families are so far from their divine understanding of family, that they must be disallowed and disbanded in the state of California. I was raised in an “ideal” mormon family–a rightous biological father as the head of our family, a subservient mother popping out as many babies as was physically possible, and 11 children muddling through without enough attention, time, money, access to education and adequate medical and dental care. You could really tweak your idea of what constitutes and ideal family!

God’s view on homosexuality as expressed by Mormon prophets and leaders has changed so many times that the Mormon church has no credibility on this subject. From G.Q.Cannon advocating the utter destruction of homosexuals to B.K. Packer not ruling out violence as a defense against someone who is gay to now “not condoning violence against homosexuals.” From adamantly proclaiming that “God does not make people that way” to now “stating that the Church doesn’t have a position on the causes…”Those are scientific questions.” From being certain that homosexuality was caused by pornography, masturbation, and selfishness, to now saying, “…who can say?” From assuring homosexuals that they can “overcome and return to normal happy living” to now asking them to remain celibate. Mormon prophets claim to have a direct line of communication to God. Is God changing His mind? Did the Mormon prophets forget to consult God before stating his will? Given all of the doctrinal changes that have already occurred with regard to homosexuality, one can only assume that the prophet will get it right about 20 years after the rest of the country, i.e. Spencer w. Kimball and preisthood for all worthy males in 1978, 21 years after the first civil rights bill was signed… Hey maybe they will figure out that women can be true equals too.

I chose to wait for my last parent to pass before resigning. I think it is a choice one has to make when the time is right for the individual and their family.
For me, I did not wish to run the risk of the church entangling my mother in an emotional seesaw.

My last parent both of whom I loved dearly and will always cherish, passed this year.

Now is the time for me to resign.
—
To answer the question: Where are we going?

For myself, I have chosen a path of personal connection to god as I was taught, but without the participation in the churches of this world that are constructs of man.

When I feel the need for fellowship or group participation, I will go and share light, love and joy with people like, Quakers, Unitarians and other groups that do not look down on or discriminate against people because of their race gender or orientation.

Each day, I walk with god and I thank the divine for the precious and joyous gift of this life. My moral compass is founded in love and expressed through compassion.

The personal journey is scary sometimes, but it has such rewards and such moments of profound insight and understanding of creation, I can not walk any other path.

My choice is to recognize my fears and to face them, not let them rule my life.
—
I would offer this advice:
Any church, group or other structure that seeks to deliver you, or uses fear in any of its forms to entice you into conformity is a danger to your soul and the path of those who would seek truth, love and communication with god.

Let this letter serve as my official resignation of my faith as a Latter Day Saint. Although my faith in the church hasn’t been practiced for somet time, I now no longer want any affiliation with the church. I haven’t been active since I was in Seminary in high school, and with news of the recent events I now have been reminded why I quit beleiving so long ago. “Free Agency” is what the LDS religion teaches….it is choice…it is a gift. Iv’e been taught this since Primary. At this time I choose to practice my “free agency”. I ask the Latter Day Saints that pay their tithing (10% of their income) so diligently. . . . What they think funded Prop 8? Choose The Right!

I was raised a Mormon. While my activity in the LDS church has waxed and waned over the years, I have never had a problem telling people I am an inactive Mormon, or an ex-patriot of “the church”. I have defended “Mormons” for their right to worship.

I have never been ashamed to be affiliated with the LDS church, even though I have long since been inactive and do not adhere to their doctrine. I am ashamed now. Now, I want no part of the LDS religion and I will not have my name associated with the LDS church.

The separation of church and state is as basic a principle to our freedom as is the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The LDS church has chosen too many times to use its money, power and the willingness of its members to follow blindly, to pass controversial legislation, as recently witnessed with proposition 8 in California. We have had to endure it for years in Utah and now we are seeing it spread to other states. All the while, the LDS church maintains its non-profit status while blatantly violating this charter with its donations to political causes.

I will no longer allow my name to be affiliated in any way with an organization that seeks to violate the fundamental principles that our constitution was founded upon, the basic human right to be free and to be happy. Therefore, I have formally asked the LDS church to remove me from their records as a member. For years, we tolerated blatant racism against LDS African Americans, while people from other ethnic backgrounds, with darker skin tones, were allowed to receive the “priesthood”. Somehow we were brainwashed into actually believing that God didn’t want African Americans to receive the priesthood because they are the descendents of Cain. Now, the LDS church has chosen to wage war against a group of people who simply want to be allowed to marry the one they love and to receive the same legal benefits of marriage that “straight” couples currently enjoy. Stating that “the church” isn’t against same sex couples, just that they want to protect the definition of “marriage” is as prejudicial as not allowing “blacks” to have the priesthood and is a slap in the face of any person who claims to think rationally. Racism, sexism, ageism, sexual orientationism are all sides of the same coin; singling out a particular group of people or individual and denying them basic rights based upon pre-conceived and uneducated beliefs as to the behavior and worthiness of that group or individual. The LDS church is against same sex marriage, plain and simple. They are not defending a definition; they are crusading against a particular group of people.

I hope my friends who have remained on the church records for years, even though emotionally they have left “the church” years ago, will join me, and many others, in making their separation from the church formal. In some small way, maybe we can help to break down this wall as well.

I welcome and encourage all points of view.

Sincerely,

Robert Shingleton

I left the church back in 2000 when the Mormon Church and the Christian Coalition sponsored Proposition 22 (the exact same wording as Proposition 8, only they weren’t asking for a Constitutional Amendment–Prop 22 was a pre-emptive strike on gay marriage, in case other states recognized a legal union of gay partners) in the State of California and 13 other states. My teenaged children and I studied the language in the proposition, and fasted and prayed about the Godliness of this so-called revelation by President Hinckley. I can truly testify that all 3 of us had profound spiritual experiences, in which “What would Jesus do?” became more than a trite phrase. Since the letter from the Prophet was read over the pulpit in Church, as a revelation from God, it shattered my entire belief in the Church, since the foundation of the Church is that we have a living prophet who communes with God. Apparently, we were getting our own revelation from a different God from the one the Prophet speaks to. We have not entered an LDS church building since then. However, we did not formally resign our memberships. Now that this ridiculous Prop 8 has again shown that the Church is gay-bashing and breaking the first and only commandment Jesus taught, which is LOVE ONE ANOTHER, we will all resign our memberships as soon as possible! This Prop 8 is pure hatred, and NOT what Jesus would do. We are horrified by this action, and certain that the State Supreme Court will uphold their earlier finding of unconstitutionality, so that loving gay partners can enjoy the blessings of marriage. I am glad that other members are finally voicing their disgust of the way the Church’s actions have embarrassed us all. I’m even reluctant to tell people that I graduated from BYU, and married in the LDS temple! So, we will be sending our resignations because of Prop 22 eight years ago, and Prop 8, the most current hateful act by the Church. How is it possible for the Church to keep their tax-exempt status after publicly admitting that it financed this mean-spirited legal action? What about separation of Church and State? it’s wrong, wrong, wrong and unconstitutional to mess with our Freedom of Religion, by legally limiting the rights that all citizens are guaranteed under the US Constitution!

To Whom It May Concern:

I hereby formally resign from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. My resignation is effective immediately. I hereby withdraw and revoke my consent to being treated as a member and I withdraw and revoke my consent to being subject to Church rules, policies, beliefs and discipline. As I am no longer a member, I demand that my name be permanently, completely, and immediately removed from the membership rolls of the Church.

Although I have already been inactive for many years, the Church’s recent, embarrassing role in rejecting the basic humanity of my gay and lesbian brothers and sisters through California’s Proposition 8 likewise compels me to formally reject the Church as a misguided and decidedly un-Christian institution. I firmly believe that “God is love” (1 John 4:8, NIV), that we are commended to “love one another” (John 13:34), and that what “you did … to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.” (Matt. 25:40, NASB). In my considered view, the Church has engaged in a vulgar political campaign to strip a vulnerable and oppressed minority of its civil (and purely legal) rights and has thereby rejected the most fundamental and cherished commandments of the Son. What is even more distressing: through Prop. 8, the Church has been instrumental in collaterally destabilizing the civil rights of all minorities – including Mormons – since all minorities’ rights now appear to be subject to the whims of popular opinion. Surely the First Presidency could not believe that the Heavenly Father’s will actually included the legal destabilization of His Church?! To me there can be no more obvious evidence that the First Presidency is estranged from the counsel of the Holy Ghost.

These cynical and callous acts have demonstrated to me without a doubt that the Church has betrayed the Heavenly Father, that it has corrupted the Priesthood, and that it has risen in opposition to my earthly brothers and sisters. I cannot but further conclude that the Prophet is apostate and false, and that under his un-Christian stewardship, the Church will continue in a path of pain and darkness with which I want no association whatsoever.

For these reasons, with profound consideration and full examination of my conscience, and being of sound mind and fully resolved, I hereby renounce the Mormon faith and my baptism in the Church.

I have given this matter considerable thought. I understand what you consider the “seriousness” of and the “consequences” of my actions. I am aware that the Church handbook says that my resignation “cancels the effects of baptism and confirmation, withdraws the priesthood held by a male member and revokes temple blessings.” I also understand that I will be “readmitted to the church by baptism only after a thorough interview” (quotes from the current Church Handbook of Instructions) – although I flatly reject the possibility of such a reconciliation given the apostasy the Church has demonstrated and the obvious anguish that it has willfully inflicted on my fellow citizens.

I demand that my resignation be processed immediately, without any “waiting periods.” I will not be dissuaded and I will not change my mind. I demand that this matter be handled immediately, with respect and with full confidentiality.

After today, I want no further contact from the Church, other than a single letter confirming that I am no longer listed as a member of the Church. Personal or telephonic contact from the Church – be it by missionaries, bishops, Stake Presidents, teachers, relief society, elders, employees, or any other people representing the Church – is not welcome and will be regarded as harassment and intimidation.

This letter serves as an official declaration of my intent to resign from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, nullify my baptism, rescind any spiritual obligations, and inform you of my intent to publicly and consistently renounce the Church’s moral and divine authority at my convenience. I am firm in this decision, having invested immense thought and emotion in it. The reasons are as follows.

I assert that the General Authorities of the LDS church are either not divinely inspired or they choose to ignore their received revelation. Their actions are not those any God I am capable of believing in would have them act. There is no revelation behind the decision to stay tacit and compliant while our country tortures and engages in imperial wars only to rediscover a political voice against homosexuals committing themselves to loving relationships.

I assert that the General Authorities act in willfully dishonest and manipulative ways so as to consolidate their own power.

I assert that the Church is destructive to the natural and instinctual bonds of family. I assert that a mother’s love is hers to give. A father’s love is his to give. Not through any church medium. Not by any commandment from God and therefore dependent on Church interpretation.

I assert that the culture you foster is one of willful ignorance, suppression, and alienation between a human being and their expression of life.

By these reasons alone I am able to
send this letter with an absolute clear conscience and straight hand of purpose, without having to delve into the vagaries or arguments about the “truth” of the gospel. Your actions speak of what truth is behind your gospel

I expect my request to be treated with respect and expediency,