For Zee and anyone else who attends Church to keep the peace

[_LDSToronto]

I forget where I've mentioned my status (chat, Facebook, MD&D, etc) but, to clear up confusion, I haven't gone to church since November, 2011, and my wife hasn't gone since June, 2011. I will happily answer any questions you may have - my church exit was an experience that is somewhat 'spiritual', if you will.


H.

Ah, OK! So you and your wife exited close to the same time. She BEFORE you! Wow! Yes, I would like to hear more about this.

Would you mind posting your exit story in Terrestrial? What motivated your wife to leave and you to follow?

Thanks, LDST!

I will, but it will have to wait till the weekend. Every week out of eight my work is stressful, and this happens to be that week. So my brain is not is a storytelling mood. But if you are patient, I will get to it and post my exit.

H.

[_Equality]

Yea but ask BC if they limit people who sleep during sacrament meeting.

I wonder if bcspace's Bishop has instructed the Ward Clerk not to count people who are sleeping or not paying attention in Sacrament meeting as "not attending" for purposes of preparing the attendance reports that go to SLC. Somehow, I doubt it, considering that those reports are used to determine funding for local units.

[_Maxrep]

It's useless for a NOM to think he or she can hide without consequence. We've actually had Regional and Stake leadership meetings on this issue.

I am a NOM and I am on the stake high council. Maybe your stake. Who knows.

Doh....did BC just get trumped?

Look BC, we know you want to play the part of the hard ass hall monitor on the forum, but you're not like this in person.

In 2008 our ward had 254 members. We are at 150 today. I attend on my terms. The regular members are just thrilled to see another body enter the building, and another car in the optimistically large but mostly vacant parking lot.

Want to feel like a celebrity in your ward? Just start abbreviating your attendance, turn down a calling, tell your home teachers your not up for them visiting, etc. After Sacrement meeting( I show up just as it ends) A few guys and myself go shopping at the local farmers market. Half the ward probably know this, and a quarter are probably jealous. The party that puts in the least amount of effort into a relationship, controls the relationship.

They beg for members to clean the building, beg for temple attenders, beg for missionary referrals, beg for speakers....."Please" is not the magic word - "No" wins hands down. The more you say "no", the more they eat from your hand.

When you do decide to show up for church, don't slink inside with your tail between your legs like you've been a bad dog. You are now in control of the relationship! Head up! I cannot tell you the number of beaming smiling faces that approach me now that I come once a month.

[_moksha]

BCSpace must go to some apostate church I've never heard of.

It is possible that some LDS Stakes may indeed have meetings about NOMS. I imagine this item is on the agenda right after the Chicken is offered up on the Altar. You might watch for any High Priests in your ward on their way home from late Sunday meetings with a stray feather in their hair.

[_why me]

I'm in a similar situation - inactive, no belief, but I have an older son who may serve a mission. If I am denied any privilege that I want (temple attendance, participate in the ordinance, anything), you can rest assured I won't:

1. Pay for a single thing - suits, flights, the $500 a month it costs to serve
2. Sign any document required
3. Keep quiet - I'll go to the local media, I will go to law, I will bear testimony in church about how s****y the church is.

Easy peasy.

H.

You knew the rules, toronto. So, you have no belief and you wish to attend the temple and participate in the ordinances? Rules are rules. And since he is your son and wishes to go to on a mission, you will pay or you will disappoint your son.

I have two daughters who served missions. I paid every month for 36 months and both my daughters are very appreciative. And I am glad that I helped them to do something that they wanted to do.

[_why me]

And why will the NOM family not be able to attend the temple?

I always find it interesting that some members want their cake and eat it too. Nom's can go if they pass the temple recommend questions. If not, they are out. All knew the rules and most likely this NOM family knew the rules when they were active members and had no problem with some people being denied a recommend. But...when circumstances change a foul is called.

People need to grow up and accept that they are not automatically entitled.

[_why me]

That is right. I won't have to sign anything. But I would still be a pain in the ass.

H.

And the feelings of you son in all this? His he forgotten? You knew the rules when you joined the church. You shouldn't punish your son for your own actions and beliefs.

[_LDSToronto]

I'm in a similar situation - inactive, no belief, but I have an older son who may serve a mission. If I am denied any privilege that I want (temple attendance, participate in the ordinance, anything), you can rest assured I won't:

1. Pay for a single thing - suits, flights, the $500 a month it costs to serve
2. Sign any document required
3. Keep quiet - I'll go to the local media, I will go to law, I will bear testimony in church about how s****y the church is.

Easy peasy.

H.

You knew the rules, toronto. So, you have no belief and you wish to attend the temple and participate in the ordinances? Rules are rules. And since he is your son and wishes to go to on a mission, you will pay or you will disappoint your son.

Ha! You don't know me very well if you think I'd pay $12,000 for my son to preach a religion I don't believe in without getting what I want out of the deal.

The same goes for temple weddings. I'm not paying for a temple wedding if I'm not allowed to attend the wedding. My kids all know this.

H.

[_LDSToronto]

That is right. I won't have to sign anything. But I would still be a pain in the ass.

H.

And the feelings of you son in all this? His he forgotten? You knew the rules when you joined the church. You shouldn't punish your son for your own actions and beliefs.

I love my kids, all of them, without restriction or condition.That doesn't mean I kowtow to Mormonism. I have no respect for the religion or what it does to people and so any support I give my son with respect to a mission, I view as support given to the church to spread it's lies.

Thus, I don't feel any shame or guilt telling the local leadership that if my son wants to serve a mission then I expect to participate in any of the customs, traditions, and ordinances that I desire. Or the church can pay for my son to serve themselves.

H.

[_Drifting]

I'm in a similar situation - inactive, no belief, but I have an older son who may serve a mission. If I am denied any privilege that I want (temple attendance, participate in the ordinance, anything), you can rest assured I won't:

1. Pay for a single thing - suits, flights, the $500 a month it costs to serve
2. Sign any document required
3. Keep quiet - I'll go to the local media, I will go to law, I will bear testimony in church about how s****y the church is.

Easy peasy.

H.

You knew the rules, toronto. So, you have no belief and you wish to attend the temple and participate in the ordinances? Rules are rules. And since he is your son and wishes to go to on a mission, you will pay or you will disappoint your son.

I have two daughters who served missions. I paid every month for 36 months and both my daughters are very appreciative. And I am glad that I helped them to do something that they wanted to do.

Do people know the 'rules' before signing up I wonder?
- Does an 8 year old really have the wherewithall to make a considered decision about secret handshakes and financial committments before saying "Yes Mommy I want to be baptised like Jesus"?
- Does an investigator get informed that, if any of their children go on missions that they will be expected to fund it and an estimate of how much that will cost?
- Is the Church's disciplinary process explained before baptism?

No, the Church tells people as little as possible before trying to commit them to being baptised.
And even less about what goes on in the Temple. You are asked in the Temple to commit to certain things before you have any idea what those certain things are. That's called a con job.