Windy Sydney

Member Records Division, LDS Church
50 E North Temple Rm 1372
SLC UT 84150-5310
Mr. Monson,

My name is Andee *** ******, and I have been a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints my entire life.

I was born and raised in the state of Utah, a place that makes Mormonism seem normal. Nearly everyone in my life, including parents, relatives, family friends and even my school teachers could have promised that the church was true, the Book of Mormon was historical fact, and that Joseph Smith was a really swell guy.

I was taught to obey, trust and respect my church leaders. More times than I can count, I was told that all callings were inspired by God. We should trust the men that God chose to run the one true church.

I never questioned anything. It never occurred to me that everyone I knew and trusted could have it wrong. I knew they wouldn’t knowingly lie to me, so why would I question them? I assumed that they knew what was best, and that I should follow in their footsteps and be an active member of the church. It was a cozy feeling… knowing that we were the ones who had it right, and that all we had to do to be with our families forever was follow the rules and regulations the church set for us.

Sadly, I can no longer place my trust in these leaders. I don’t say that to offend you... as a matter of fact, I hope this letter doesn’t come across as angry or bitter. I hope it’s simply direct and honest.

Before I go into the reasons about why I can no longer place my trust into this leadership, I need to mention a couple things…

As a child, I was taught over and over again that people leave the church for one of a few reasons…

They were offended. This seems silly to me, and it always has. I could never walk away from my entire belief system because I didn’t get along with my bishop or some relief society lady made fun of my hair. I wish church members would give us a little credit for getting over the day to day disagreements that occur in everyday life. This might be a reason for someone to become inactive, but certainly no reason to drop the church completely and formally resign their membership.

They had sins they didn’t want to confess. Have to be honest here, Mr. Monson, this one really gets to me. For the record, I am a good person and I will always be a good person. I have a good sense of right and wrong, and the credit for that goes to the wonderful parents who raised me, not the church…

I don’t drink, I don’t smoke, I don’t do drugs. I have never stolen a car, talked a senior citizen out of their life savings, knocked over a convenience store or killed a man just to watch him die.

They wanted to sin and not feel guilty. I don’t need a church or a certain set of beliefs to keep myself honest, hard working or out of prison. I can make good decisions on my own. If someone needs a church in order to keep them in line, we are in a sad state.

There are literally hundreds of reasons why I cannot stay a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, but those reasons have nothing to do with an error or sin I have committed or want to commit.

I have been a member of this church for nearly 30 years, I went to Sacrament meetings, Sunday School, Young Women's, Girls camp... you name it, I was there. The church had more than enough time to teach me the correct version of Church history, but instead, I was taught a very different series of events that turn out to be 100% false.

Sexism.

There is no equality in an organization that forces women to constantly be subject to the authority of a male priesthood holder. There will be no equality until women can hold the same callings as men.

Gender determines your entire life if you are a member of this church, and it's very stifling to a young child figuring out what they want for their lives. If a young man doesn't want to go on a mission, he shouldn't be shamed into doing so just because he is male.

We should never have to look a little girl in the eye and sadly explain to her why God wouldn't want her to help pass the Sacrament, or why she would never be able to be a bishop. Mothers should be able to bless their own babies. We shouldn't have to have a male priesthood holder hanging around girls camp just in case we need a male's priesthood blessing. This is sexism, plain and simple, and the God I believe in would have no part of it.

Racism.

When I learned of the racist comments made by many former prophets and apostles, my heart sank. These men were supposed to be close to God, they were supposed to speak for Him. How could a prophet of God, or apostle, say these things?

"You may inquire of the intelligent of the world whether they can tell why the aborigines of this country are dark, loathsome, ignorant, and sunken into the depths of degradation ...When the Lord has a people, he makes covenants with them and gives unto them promises: then, if they transgress his law, change his ordinances, and break his covenants he has made with them, he will put a mark upon them, as in the case of the Lamanites and other portions of the house of Israel; but by-and-by they will become a white and delightsome people" (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses 7:336).

"And after the flood we are told that the curse that had been pronounced upon Cain was continued through Ham's wife, as he had married a wife of that seed. And why did it pass through the flood? because it was necessary that the devil should have a representation upon the earth as well as God;..." John Taylor, Journal of Discourses, Vol. 22, page 304

"And if any man mingle his seed with the seed of Cain the only way he could get rid of it or have Salvation would be to come forward and have his head cut off and spill his blood upon the ground- it would also take the life of his children."(Wilford Woodruff Journal)

"That negro race, for instance, have been placed under restrictions because of their attitude in the world of spirits, few will doubt. It cannot be looked upon as just that they should be deprived of the power of the Priesthood without it being a punishment for some act, or acts, performed before they were born." Joseph Fielding Smith, The Way to Perfection, page 43.

• A mother should never have to stand outside a temple and cry while her child marries.
• A young child should never have to be subject to "worthiness interviews" alone with a bishop behind a closed door.
• A church involved in politics should lose it's tax-exempt status.
• A young woman should never feel it her duty to marry a man just because he completed a mission and she is of a certain age.
• A person should never be taught that if they decide they don't believe in a certain religion and leave, that they will be damned to "outer darkness" for all eternity. Keeping people in your church through this type of fear is cult-like.
• Any member of your church should be able to find and read anything they want about your church without fear of being subject to church courts or other discipline. If you have nothing to hide, stop hiding it.