I loved my Ward, as I knew those people for 30 years, but, as cl2 mentioned, I only went to church because I thought it was God's church. Once I found out it was a fraud, there really was no point. It's not a social club. It's a way of life, and you're expected to follow the rules.
No - I'd be more likely to go to another ward if we moved. Seeing the members attitudes change toward me when I dared to question their precious church - when I went inactive - was like watching Ana on the TV show "V" change from a beautiful woman to a horrifying, fang toothed serpent. After that, you can't buy Ana as a harmless "visitor" from outer space again, no matter how good an act she puts on. That's how I feel about my ward. I can be nice to the people in my ward, but I can never see them the same again.
You needn't go beyond your own ward to get bitten. The hardwood benches are crawling with ratfinks and snakes. Show a little individuality and they strike. You can lick your wounds in the bellhop's office as he threatens a court of "love." Take two callings and wash them down with guilt. You'll feel better in your mourning.
I'm long past any desire or need to be involved in organized religion of any sort. There is nothing the LDS Church could ever do to entice me to return. It's a little like thinking about going back to grade school as a student. It's beyond ridiculous.
It would take a big reformation, transparency, accountability to the membership, and other changes in policies and doctrine, also, acknowledgement from the leadership of the lies, and other horrible stuff during its history and current practics to make me even consider returning. I don't see this ever happening. In short, NO!!
... all the wards were turned into sports bars, the stake houses were turned into steak houses that serve beer AND they paid me a million-billion dollars to attend twice a year.
And note that I said "might"
This is the Gospel according to Timothy ... It doesn't matter how you get there if you don't know where you're going.
Back when I was becoming certain that the church was not true I still loved the church. I liked the Ward as my second home. It was the one place where I was treated like I mattered, and it was a place of refuge from home and work.
The hardest part of giving up the church was giving up my ward family, even as twofaced and fairweathered as they were. They were people that were safe to associate with. My previous circle of "friends" involved addiction and fear of raids.
One day when the Bishop had come to my house to attack me for my waning commitment and waxing defiance, I told him- you know, if our ward was to sever all ties to Salt Lake and disavow any association to Brigham Young, I would return tomorrow.
So that is what I was thinking about when I posted this here hypothetical question.
On the other hand, I know what CA Girl means about the masks coming off. The members of my ward love-bombed me when I entered the fold, but carpet-bombed me when I left.
Although I occasionally miss those associations, I know for a certainty that any reunion would be pleasant for about seven minutes.
The active people in my ward were at home in Mormonism because the church was as boring as they were. Without affiliation with the mother ship, they'd still be boring.
Besides, nothing any ward or the church would do would change me from an atheist.
nope. i'm an agnostic who seriously doubts there is anything after we die. religion offers nothing for us except slight warm fuzzies now & then. rather stay at home & play Lego Star Wars with my family eating donuts in our jammies now there are the warm fuzzies.