Posted by:
DebbiePA
(
)
Date: July 02, 2014 10:50PM
So I was on my front porch painting a few nights ago (in a tank top and shorts), when who should walk by but the friendly neighborhood missionaries. Elder A said "Excuse me, mam, but do you know of any of your neighbors who have recently lost a loved one or are grieving? We want to offer them a message of hope." I said, "As a matter of fact, I'm an Ex-Mormon and I won't be giving you the name of anybody like that, even if I knew one."
Of course they were somewhat taken aback, but then we got to chatting. They wondered how long I had lived here, and I told them going on 7 years. Apparently I was off the radar (until now at least) because I resigned from the church and the house I used to live in was sold.
I told them who my ex was, and they said they had heard of him, and I told them I had been out of the church since about 2001 and all my kids were out as well (I really tried not to gloat). We chatted about people in the branch and how the boundaries had changed. The first branch I went to has been completely dissolved and now the boundaries for both that one and the one I was going to when I quit are a lot larger. And they say the church is growing! HA!
Anyway, I made it a point to mention I was married in the temple and asked them if they knew J.M.S., who was my bridesmaid and J.S.S. who was a friend and a few other people. A lot of my Mormon friends have moved to Utah cause their kids went to YBU and ended up staying out there so they moved to be close to them.
They did get around to asking me why I left. I told them it was too long to get into but suffice it to say that when I joined I didn't know much about the church and the more I learned the less I believed it. I said I was in for a good 20 years and gave it my best shot, but it just wasn't for me. I also made it a point to mention that my ex is probably still a believer, but he just bought a house with his much-younger girlfriend. And if I know her, she's NOT waiting for marriage.
They asked me about the painting and if I wanted help and I said thanks, but no. Before they left, I said..."So, the church has a lot going on right now with the Kate Kelly and John Dehlin thing." Elder B said, "Yes, they've been excommunicated. The church will always have the forces of Satan to fight against." I said I preferred to think of it as the church changing with the times. Then I told them that I was around when the blacks got the priesthood ("long before you guys were born") and that many people in the church fought against that, too. I told them that several of the GAs were against blacks getting the priesthood and they seemed not to know that. I said, "It's all sociology...it's change and growth. Every church has to go through it, even the Mormons."
And then they went their merry way. I have a feeling they may be back. I kind of hope so. I'm in the mood to de-convert a missionary.