Here is my Letter: (sent to Dodge and my Exec sec)
Name Addy Phone
Record Number: 000-0000-3440
Member Records Division, LDS Church 50 E North Temple Rm 1372 SLC UT 84150-5310
This letter is my formal resignation from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and it is effective immediately. I hereby withdraw my consent to being treated as a member and I withdraw my consent to being subject to church rules, policies, beliefs and 'discipline'. As I am no longer a member, I want my name permanently and completely expunged from the membership rolls of the church.
My resignation should be processed immediately, without any 'waiting periods' to include the 30 waiting period described in the instruction manual. I am not going to be dissuaded and I am not going to change my mind and have fully researched and prayed over this decision, and I am convinced that the story told by Joseph Smith is a fabrication. I also understand the consequences of these actions to include the cancelation of all ordinances. I expect this matter to be handled promptly, with respect and with full confidentiality and discussed with only those members who are handling this name removal. After today, the only contact I want from the church is a single letter of confirmation to let me know that I am no longer listed as a member of the church.
Furthermore I request record numbers 000-0000-3602 and 000-0000-3610 also be removed as both of my parents are non-members.
Failure to comply with these requests will result in legal action.
Sincerely, Silhoutette
Response:
"We forwarded you letter to the Bishop and Stake Pres. You name in this database is critical to your eternal salvation and they will contact you to handle this. We strongly urge you to reconsider and here is that stupid pamphlet!"
I sent mine in by email last week, mine said basically what yours did, no contact, etc. And I got a letter from them in the mail saying the same thing, they will forward my request to the locaal bishop, etc. The funny thing is that I never gave them my address in the email, but they knew where to send the letter. Spooky thing, that is.
When and how did this 'resignation' option begin? When I wanted my name taken off their records in 1972, I was told that it could only be done by excommunication.
Me too. I think it was the 90s. Someone in another church wanted to resign and was disciplined instead. They sued for slander and the courts said there had to be a way to resign.
>>Your name in this database is critical to your eternal salvation<<
Would a living god really require there to be a series of 1s and 0s sitting on an old IBM AS4000 in Salt Lake City in order for a person to receive eternal salvation. What if there is a system crash......OH THE HORROR, THE HUMANITY! Just imagine all those people damned to eternal hellfire because some sleepy COB database administrator forgot to upgrade the operating system and delayed a server replacement too long.
I resigned last spring, and that first letter came within a few days. It took about two months to get the final confirmation letter, since that step depends on the local bishop (and I imagine most of them are very busy). The good thing is you're legally resigned at this point and they're just doing busy work. :)