Posted by:
thegame2017
(
)
Date: April 04, 2017 02:59PM
I left the Church in January of this year, after spending the last year (I was active for ten years) constantly arguing with one family in my branch and finding out the Church is not true. It was a sad ending...see previous post for the full story;
http://exmormon.org/phorum/read.php?2,1924917,1924917#msg-1924917I decided this week to clear out all of my Church books/dvds from my flat and hand them into local ward. Also, I still hold my temple recommend and a key to the ward I left (and the asshole new Branch President is constantly emailing asking for it back, I keep it just to annoy him haha). I decided to hand them back to the Stake President, and move on with life. I wanted to write a letter to him aswell, explaining why I have left and what this new branch president and his family are like. If anything it'll cause some upset and anger, which I enjoy doing! Take a look below at the body of the letter, names and wards have been deleted for privacy however. Really need to read the above post first to understand most of letter.
Please find enclosed my key to <branch> Chapel, and my Temple Recommend. I feel based on my self-imposed exile from Church and non-compliance with the ‘commandments’, I am no longer ‘worthy’ to hold it.
I have not had a chance to speak with you since I was released from my calling in <location> Branch, however I did speak with President <2nd counsellor>, and I am sure he relayed my comments to you. I will state, for the record, my feelings have not changed. The last year or so in the Branch was just plain awful. President <Branch President>, who I have an enormous amount of respect and love for, really tried. And I stayed out of loyalty to him, when I really wanted to ‘pack my bags and go’. Stake leaders may not see him as the ideal Branch President, because he’s not a ‘yes man’ and doesn’t go by the book, but he gets results and really knows how to make people feel welcome, reaching out to them. That’s what counts!! That’s how you find, teach and keep members.
The <asshole family> have caused endless amounts of damage since coming back, I don’t think you understand the scope of just how bad it is or how many no longer attend – you can add my name to that list. Calling him (well really, <adult daughter who is full of her own sh*t>, his balls rest in her purse), as Branch President is a huge mistake, I have no problem telling you that. They will kiss up to you because they believe that you are ‘important’. Every member is equal, nobody is better than anybody else. They just don’t get that. I believe that you have not seen the side of them we all know, the bullying, tantrum throwing, stuck in another century, better than you, holier than thou, social climbing, attention seeking morons that they are. And calling them to such a position that they are now in will only make that grow, and the Branch dwindle. As soon as the <former Branch President and family> decide to up sticks and attend <another ward>, kiss goodbye to everyone else in <branch>.
Missionary work and retention in <location> is now like stacking chairs on the titanic - pointless. There was a meeting where we discussed such matters, including a family with grown up kids who also had their own kids, ranging from young babies up to teenagers. What a blessing this family would have been to the Branch!! However at a social activity we held, they caused a few spills and crumbs, no big deal we tidied up. Of course, the <asshole family> were angry at them and caused a scene, they never came back. <New Branch President of asshole family> explained at the meeting “We don’t want people like that in the Church”. Who is he to say who can and can’t come? If that is his attitude, how can anyone comfortably investigate in <branch>?
It is more than that however, I feel members look down and talk badly of me now for a number of things – because I go clubbing, because I attend wrestling events on the ‘sabbath’, because I support Donald Trump (Hey, Utah voted for him!! Are you telling me all Mormons who voted are bad people?), for voting Conservative. The list goes on. I’m 29 years old, a qualified accountant in a good job, my own flat and car. I don’t need people telling me what I can and can’t do, or ‘judging’ me because of what I decide to do. If you can get that message across to your members, you might have more success. I know of many others who are fed up too.
I have no bad feelings toward a lot of members however, there are many good people who I do respect, and I praise them for their attitudes. However, I am staying away and enjoying life away from Church, based on what I described above and issues with doctrine aswell, which I won’t go into just now.
I hope this letter finds you well, and you take into account what I have said. I am confident that if you speak with other <Branch> members, they will tell you of similar feelings. Feel free to say Hi if you see me, I am not going to blank you.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/05/2017 07:49AM by thegame2017.