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For some reason, I had the thought this morning that I should post links to a few posts on my personal blog about members who leave. I hope that thought was inspired for someone, even though I am NOTadvocating leaving as a general action: “
The Atonement Covers Those Who Leave and Those Whom We Drive Away” ( http://thingsofmysoul.blogspot.com/2013/09/the-atonement-covers-those-who-leave.html “
Truly Loving Those Who Leave” ( http://thingsofmysoul.blogspot.com/2010/03/truly-loving-those-who-leave.html “
We Can’t Judge People Who Leave the LDS Church, Even if We Think We Understand Them” ( http://thingsofmysoul.blogspot.com/2013/10/we-cant-judge-people-who-leave-lds.html It is time to get to work and I will try and read these tonight, but just the titles seem wonderful. This is easier to do (to love people who leave) when you separate out the Lord’s love and gospel principles from the church. Leaving the church doesn’t deny people God’s love. Why should we be any different and withhold love?
I just think the church is important to help my kids practice the gospel principles, and I stay involved for my own reasons. When I see the wonderful, good people outside the church, I am reminded that the church is not all that matters. It is just how I do it. And I’m far from better than others who do it different.
Quote:11 We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.
I had a much older coworker back when I was a teenager (nowhere near Utah) and also once I returned from my mission. She was a lady that had some spunk and could make waves if you poked her. And what poked her most when someone was mistreated. She was (and is) a true Christian. More than once I know she (and her husband) have opened up their home for someone down on their luck. They not only gave them a place to stay and food to eat, but they helped raise their spirits even more – including giving some “tough love” at times when that is what the person needed. I compared how she lived vs. the majority of the members of the church. To this day I have not found many members that were Christian as she was deep down in her heart. It made it easy for me to see that member = good, non-member = somehow less than optimal was BS.
She even stood up for Mormons! Some “traveling preacher” got up in church and was railing on the Mormons and she stood up, gave a second for everyone to see her – including the preacher, then she flipped him off and walked out. What a missionary she was!
Thanks for the posts. Small thread jack here – but it fits. Today’s Twitter by Elder Dale Renlund
Quote:We can stand firm in our beliefs and have a loving relationship with those who hold differing opinions. It is never an either-or choice.
Has anyone else noticed that when people leave the church organization, they also leave friends behind? I have had a few friends leave the church…and they severed all contact with me and our other friends in the ward.
Do you think they realize how hurtful that is to us left behind? We are left confused and just so hurt.
Maybe they need an article on “How to love your LDS friends when you leave the church”
Friendship goes both ways too. When our family left, no one really approached us either. I personally felt like I was a person with a communicable disease.
We still received Home Teachers. I can’t remember if my wife saw Visiting Teachers.
Frankly, I was expecting someone would come and give us a “come to Jesus” talk.
Or, at least ask me, what the “hell” is going on?
Some of these people I knew for 8+ years.
Like MM says, when I stopped going to church I felt as though I was the one who was being left out. I recognize that people often don’t know what to say and that even sometimes it’s a sort of lose/lose situation because no matter what they do it could be seen as the wrong thing. I never really thought about it from the other perspective – those that were left at church who were my “friends.” Nevertheless, I think I discovered two things during my period of inactivity: 1. I know who my friends at church really are.
2. (related to 1) The “church” in general is much more concerned with programs than individuals (although there are individuals who are concerned with individuals).
I agree. the titles of these posts are emotionally stirring. And they further value of “A Place to Belong”.
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