Posted by:
SusieQ#1
(
)
Date: October 18, 2010 01:37PM
As long as a member is on their roster, they are part of the church membership and subject to contact.
This is not just another church. I have described it (as I experienced it as a young adult convert) as a: generational, cultural, religious, traditional, familial, social tribe as that is how it functions. It doesn't just function in this life, they believe it functions in an after life. This is important as it's the basis,core for the strong connections.
Putting that into context, that means that once a member, always a member. Leaving, or not attending does not remove their connection to the individual, especially if the family is active believing LDS.
The only way to stop contact as a member is to remove the member's name from their active rolls. That can be done by resigning their membership. Short of that, it's open season!
Typically, when children arrive the familial pressure to resume traditional ordinances, etc, (blessings, baptism, etc.) become so intense, the member succumbs and changes their mind about any prior ideas or commitments.
My suggestion is to be very, very clear before getting married, about what will happen in the marriage regarding the LDS Church, and children.
Some prefer to resign, others do not.
It's a very difficult decision for many as it means they are, in essence: they are leaving their tribe, and their place in the family.