I love this group.  So many people freely expressing their opinions without
fearing the Gospel Doctrine Teacher's terrible glances.  This is a high.  It
is pushing and pulling me through a growing period in my life.  I am a flower
with much needed plant food now added to its water.  Thanks. 

There has been some discussion about why it is or isn't important to "resign"
from the church.  Last Tuesday I did so.........ALONE.  For several years I
considered it....had quit believing but still saw that glaring
shadow.......the one that says, "If you exit, you will wind up in outer
darkness..........ALONE."

I was haunted but I decided I was bigger than "it."  So, on THE lunch break,
I finally took my "papers".... notarized and certified and sent them out the
postoffice door destined for SLC........... ALONE!  I returned to my school
and spoke about what I had done to a favorite teacher.  He was interested and
it set off a deeper relationship/friendship.  Then, I spoke of it to a
neighbor, who rejoiced with me, another neighbor found out from
her.............he happened to have left the Jehovah Witness' 20 years ago
(he had been a minister in that cult.)  He shed a few tears and asked it we
could talk about this whole thing because he had always felt so
ALONE.........  And the list goes on.........I have multiplied friendships,
created deeper old relationships; many are expanding their love and minds
because of my "lunch hour dicision"................... as you can
SEE...........I was not banished to ALONENESS.  I am closer to the more
global concepts of this planet than ever before and that's a pretty cozy
scene. 

I used to be afraid that if I climbed all the way out of the box, the light
would be too bright.....I might wilt.  Instead, it's been empowering,
calming, healing and quite good company.  I am also consumed with the
knowledge that I am now part of deconstructing old constructs.  This is a new
day and it won't light up without new thinking.  Dear friends..........I
implore you to help take down this structure.  It won't fall unless your
letters get there.

Think.........if all of you (who haven't yet) on this site sent in your exits
, it would empower one or two of your good friends to do the same and so
forth.  We probably wouldn't see the entire collapse within our lifetimes but
we would be the match that sets the fire.  We are already trying to light it.
I say..........take it one or two or..............???steps farther and see
how it improves the ALONENESS that has already been hovering over us because
of this church/cult.  "Really leaving" is a potion sweet: powerful and
healing.  Yes..........some will yell, scream and leave you, but, you will
find your truth and that leads to finding "family/friends" that aren't
necessarily connected by blood or doctrine ("us" for example)..........you
won't be ALONE. 

It's more than "a piece of paper" (as I recall hearing at this
site exmormon.org)........it's about taking a lunch break (just one) to help build a more
loving and less fearful world.  Without all of you, I don't know when I may
have made it this far.  Congratulations for your bravery. 

Sherry in Long Beach