Roughly twenty years ago, I requested termination of my membership with the LDS Church. The recent change in nomenclature to withdrawal of membership is misleading when a request is made by a member to terminate membership.
In my case, I withdrew. While I don’t know for certain, it is likely that the disciplinary “court” that convened to hear my case chose to excommunicate me for at least one of my litany of sins, rather than choose the honesty of repeating any of the list of reasons I, a high priest with vast leadership experience, gave the brethren at the time. The apostles cannot seem to keep themselves from asserting dominance by “withdrawing” membership and requiring that a sin be attached. I find the new terminology demeaning. Or maybe laughable.
Regardless of what my status is called, I am happy, without the “pain, shame and anger” in the title of the piece.
Perhaps Russ and Co. should re-read Doctrine and Covenants 121:37-42. To paraphrase, this passage points out that power corrupts and that influence should be exerted by persuasion, gentleness and love. (If you want a good laugh, read a few verses further. In my opinion, this new definition of termination of membership shows the brethren’s bowels are not full of mercy but the usual stuff, and this malodorous content spilled out onto the pages of the handbook.)
J. Joseph Perry, Millcreek