Joining Other Churches – My Experience

I had two Facebook friends decide to join other churches, one is still a member of the church (on the books) and one that used Quit Mormon. I have also joined Community of Christ through confirmation, not by baptism. I’m still technically on the books as well at the LDS church (I suppose).

My friends joining other churches got me thinking about why I joined another church. I did it through confirmation, mainly because I didn’t think baptism was not required as I am already baptized. At the time, I was confirmed, I had a lot of reasons why I wanted to formally join another church. I mainly wanted to give a friend and mentor, who is very advanced in age, a chance to confirm me and I was unhappy with the LDS Utah culture. It felt right at the time, but after a year and half, I made a mistake.

I asked one of my friends about his pending church membership. Some of his reasons were familiar (he wants to help, feels at home, kids like it there, ect). As someone who has joined another church, I think he is making a mistake. I have since learned that the Gospel is an adventure, full of inspired discovery and awesome experiences. When I joined Community of Christ, my adventure was over. I turned into “one of them” and was just doing tasks and not learning anything. I got involved in church politics, started to see that the “leaders” were not all their cracked up to be and the social media organization of the church is not for me. My friend might have another experience, but the I am familiar with the church he is choosing and don’t think it will be much different than Community of Christ. Maybe I am judging, but it is really something to hear reasons that were the same as when I took the plunge.

While I still go to Community of Christ many Sundays during the month, I have refound my home in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Not because it is the one-true-church, has the exclusive rights to God, interesting meetings on Sunday and all those resources.. it is home. I value my membership in the church, maybe for the first time in a long time. I don’t have a testimony of a lot of things TBM members have, but I do have a testimony of second, third or 100th chances in life. I have a long way to go until I am healed, but I think it is possible. I don’t need support from the church, special meetings with leaders or anything other than to be left alone. There is no fixing me, I carry my cross everywhere. Real friendship and kindness will make my cross lighter but nothing else.

My advice, in case someone is thinking about joining another organization (or resigning) is to wait a bit longer. Your experiences can change your mind quickly. I had my Quit Mormon app filled out but I never sent it. I now participate full knowing that the church is not perfect, has bad PR, toxic Utah culture, leadership doesn’t understand today’s problems, unfortunate attitudes in the individual members, ect.. There is still many reasons to participate in Sunday church at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, even if it is all on your own terms. I’m hoping that God is patient with me and give me protection against distractions and people who want to interfere.