Windy Sydney

I came across some of this information this morning and I thought it was worth sharing.

There seems to be tons of proof that Joseph Smith claimed the angel Moroni appeared to him in a dream in stead of an angelic visitation that is now claimed by the church... here are some of the quotes listed on rethinkingMormonism...

Martin Harris, one of the three witnesses to the Book of Mormon:
"Consequently long before the idea of a Golden Bible entered their minds, in their excursions for money-digging, which I believe usually occurred in the night, that they might conceal from others the knowledge of the place, where they struck their treasures, Jo used to be usually their guide, putting into a hat a peculiar stone he had through which he looked to decide where they should begin to dig."

"It was after one of these night excursions, that Jo, while he lay upon his bed, had a remarkable dream. An angel of God seemed to approach him, clad in celestial splendor." Reference: Testimonies of Book of Mormon Witnesses, John Clark, Gleanings (1842), p.226 "Martin Harris Interview"

Letter of Testimony, 26 Nov. 1830, Parley P. Pratt: "This new gospel was found in Ontario Co., N.Y. and was discovered by an Angel of Light, appearing in a dream to a man by the name of Smith" Reference: Letter from Amherst, Ohio, 26 Nov. 1830, "BEWARE OF IMPOSTERS," The Telegraph. Reprinted in The Reflector (Palmyra NY), 14 Feb. 1831. Also see Early Mormonism: Correspondence and a New History by Dale Morgan (Signature Books, 1986)

Family living with Smith: A cousin of Emma, who stayed with Emma and Joseph Smith during the dictation of the Book of Mormon reported "the statement that the prophet Joseph Smith made in our hearing, at the commencement of his translating his book, in Harmony (in 1828-1829), as to the manner of his finding the plates, was as follows... He said that by a dream he was informed by a ghost." Reference: Photocopy of letter, Photocopy in fd 8, box 149, H. Michael Marquardt Papers, Manuscripts Division, J. Willard Marriott Library, University of Utah. Also see Mormon History, A New Chapter, by Joseph Lewis and Hiel Lewis and Early Mormon Documents, Volume 2.

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If you are as upset about the Church's involvement in the recent California election and want to see their tax exempt status taken away, please check out this link and sign.

Thanks to my friend on PostMormon.org (and this blog) for bringing this to my attention!!!

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I just read some comments from a couple of amazing women who I love very much.

They let me know that they, too, were angry, frustrated, sad, hurt, and dismayed by the outcome of Proposition 8 in California.

When I heard the news this morning, my heart sunk. I had a lot emotionally invested in this fight, and I am not alone. There are so many people that are hurting right now because the voters in California decided that discrimination is okay...

Ugh.

Humanity took a huge hit last night.

One thing I do know, is that we won't stop fighting or speaking out about this. We will keep at this, write our leaders, open conversations with our friends and family and share our opinions on the issue. We won't give up. Not until everyone in this country is equal.

I will never forget being a part of this courageous fight. I was honored to work with Andrew Callahan, Peter and Mary Danzig, and everyone else who spoke out against the church and their role in this issue. At times, we were one family, fighting for a common goal...

The day I met others in Salt Lake City to hand deliver the hundreds of letters that had been sent to the SigningForSomething.org website is a day I will remember until the day I die. It is one of the most important things I ever have been a part of. I remember walking across the street to church headquarters crying and shaking (while trying to take photos...). We all felt the emotion of the moment. Even if others didn't have the chance to be there, they were represented by the letters they wrote. For one brief moment, we mattered.

Regardless of the outcome, we were heard. We didn't hide in the corner and become part of the problem, we fought like hell for what we believed was right.


The reason I chose these photos from the signingforsomething.org delivery is because the future is not set in stone. This young girl will be our age eventually, and she will understand the importance of equality and standing for something. Her generation will make their mark, and I hope by then the world will be ready for a little more acceptance and love.

The cause is so important that even a young girl knows it. If she can see it, why can't everyone else? What are people so afraid of? Why don't they get it?

To all those out there who are broken down over this, please remember that we achieved a huge part of our goal... to make sure that everyone out there knew that we thought this was wrong. I want to personally thank everyone who sent in their letters, signed the petitions, started conversations with friends and family, and most of all, thanks to all who cared.

We did make a difference.

Andee

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Well, another American election has come and gone. Soon, the signs that litter homes and businesses will end up in recycling (hopefully not the landfill), negative campaign ads will stop trying to convince us that so-and-so is bestest friends with a terrorist or that same sex marriage would force schools to teach sex in kindergarten, and maybe... just maybe... Elizabeth Hasslebeck might just slow down on the religious conservative crap that comes out of her mouth on The View. Although, it is quite amusing when Barbara Walters looks at her and says, "Do you believe everything the republicans tell you?" It makes for good television.

Obama wins! I am glad Obama won. I want our troops home, and I want to stop wondering if the economy will be better. I want change, and we should get it. It wont happen right away, but it will happen.

Today was interesting at work. All the republican co-workers were pouting and making jokes like, "They won't call it the white house any more... they will call it the first crib!" I went out of my way to make sure they knew I was not smiling. I am sick of the constant comments about how democrats are ruining the country and how "Obama is Satan in disguise!" One of these days I am going to lose my temper, and it ain't gonna be pretty.

Proposition 8 passed in California and I am broken hearted. When I checked the internet and read that, I could have cried... and I almost did. It saddens me that those ads the church put out with tons of lies got them the results they wished for.

My heart hurts.

Andee

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Oh, I have told the tales of the conversations that take place in the break room, but today's conversation just might take the cake.

I was sitting down to a nice warm bowl of maple and brown sugar oatmeal (with extra brown sugar!) and trying peacefully to read my novel. No luck.

Everyone was pumped from voting, and they all took turns making sure the other people voted for McCain. I really don't care to know who everyone voted for... I think it's one of those things that should just kind of be quiet... especially at work. But thats just me, I guess.

Anyway, everyone was sitting around the break room table wearing their individual "I voted" stickers and talking about their candidate of choice. Then they started in on Obama. Here are some of the quotes I overheard:

"I am just so worried if he wins!"

"I know, I have started praying for the strength to get through things if he wins the election."

"If he wins, he will take away our guns!"

I kept my mouth shut the entire time, not wanting to get into a situation where they would gang up on the only democrat in the state of Utah... but I couldn't stop myself after I heard this quote:

"You know, Obama already has his cabinet picked out. You can't even pronounce one of the people's name, and the others... well... lets just say it will be 'colorful.'"

I looked right at this a-hole and said, "SO WHAT?"

I could not believe that this guy had a problem with skin color. It's two-thousand-fucking-eight for Christ's sake!

It's times like these when I wish I had my own car, I could go out for lunch instead of losing all respect for the people I work with.

Andee

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Check out these comments I got today... good fun.

I'm sorry, I wasn't sure whether I should call you Andee or Sydney. My mistake. :)

As for proving that the Mormon Church is true.....I can't prove it any more than I can prove that you actually have a brain. Can you see it, can you hear it, can you feel it, can you touch it, can you taste it? No, you can't, therefore you can't prove that you have a brain. I don't have any more proof that you actually have a brain than you have proof that the Church is not true. It seems to me that you resent the Church for some reason and find every possible way that you can think of to tear it down, yet you cannot. I am STILL waiting for actual proof that it isn't true.

I can prove I have a brain. I can go to the hospital and get a cat scan. Pretty damn simple.

Man, you really just dont get it! I feel soo sorry for you, because in the end you are the one whose going to be suffering from all your sins. Thats what the devil does to you. He makes you believe that wrong is right. That the inteligence you believe to have is all that you need. I will pray for you to repent sooner than later, so you wont find yourself in the presence of god wishing that mountains would cover you because you cant stand his presence. I don't know what made you not want to be a member of the church, but whatever it was, its not worth it. Open your eyes! Don't let the devil make you more miserable than you already are. Don't forget thats his goal on earth. To make everyone miserable like him.

~ Blanca

Yeah, *I* am the one who doesn't get it. Oh, and I can actually spell intelligence. It's called spell check, and if you want to pretend as if you are smart, you should use it. It might just make your argument a slight bit more compelling... then again, maybe not.

I find it fascinating that you take the time to dedicate such a strong portion of your life to this endeavor of showing the lies of the mormon church. I have been lied to many times by many people and organizations...but my typical reaction is to walk away. I find that there is no solace in proving to others that they are wrong about anything. As you read through the posts above how many people do you feel will have changed their minds?

And what value is it to you if they did? Have you rescued someone by showing that they have been living an lie? They wake in the morning and go about their daily lives believing and living (according to you) a lie...so what? many of them are happy in doing so. Why does it become your person duty or obligation to inform of it? and in the end to what net benefit of humanity is it that you do so? I'm not saying that you don't have the right...but I must confess that I am at a loss as to the why.

BTW, you have indicated that you have not lied...but that is not true either.

For example in one response to brother zip you make the statement that you must pay 10% of everything. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has no such requirement. It is 10% of your increase.

You make the statement that Joseph Smith got the temple endowment from the Mason's and then imply that it is therefore not from God. But this (to use 8 hours lunch's terminology) is a Fallacy of False Cause.

You say that the church teaches that Joseph Smith sat with plates open but that this is not true that he peers into a hat. What you don't state is that both are true. Furthermore, your implication is that by looking into a hat Joseph could not have been a prophet nor have translated the book. To which I say poppycock, no such implication is true. It is just as possible that Joseph is both a prophet and translated the book by looking into a hat as by any other means.

You also state that church lied to you by showing that picture.

What I must confess to enjoying the most (and you will have to forgive my arrogance here but I just can't not type this) Is that is seems to be perfectly okay of eighthour, Dutch and yourself to make fun of those who profess believe in the church but at that same time condemn a members who's post is not polite.

I also find that many of your statements are rather amusing.
"less than 1% of world is Mormon."
and your point is? At one point in time the Membership of the church was 6 people. If truth is based on percentage the Roman Catholic church is true and we should all join today.

Simply put, if proving that your church was true was...then you would have a ...lot more members...

I see. The part of actually getting people to READ the book and then to PRAY to God about it...that part is really easy. BTW, you also left of the part about "remember how merciful the Lord hath been to the children of men", about "pondering it in your heart", and about "asking with real intent."


Thank you for an enjoying read and may you find peace in your life...though as I mentioned above, I cannot fathom how this site will help you do so.

Wow, dude... the things you must have to tell yourself to keep the church true in your head must give you a killer headache. Whatevs....

Andee

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If you are interested in listening to the speech given by Steve Hassan, Releasing The Bonds: Empowering People To Think For Themselves, given at the 2008 Ex-Mormon Foundation Conference, click here! There are also other talks available from the conference. Lying for the Lord was another amazing speech that is worth your time, promise :)

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A friend of mine on PostMormon.org gave me permission to share a letter he wrote to his bishop about Proposition 8 and the blackmail tactics used in a recent letter meant to scare businesses into donating equal money to the Prop 8 campaign.

Here is his awesome letter:

Dear Bishop xxxxxxx,

Several days ago, the Yes on 8 campaign sent out letters to businesses that had donated substantial amounts to Equality California. These letters were sent via certified mail and signed by the Executive Committee of ProtectMarriage.com. In this letter, they have stated that they will publish any business that has donated to No on 8 unless they make an equal contribution to Yes on 8 to “correct the error” that these businesses made. Exactly what was their error?

It surprises me that the Yes on 8 campaign doesn’t know that donations made to Equality California is already public information? How else did they find the list so easily themselves? Did they honestly think that there would be a positive outcome of threatening businesses using scare tactics that have become so commonplace in their campaign? ProtectMarriage claims that many of these businesses clients support traditional marriage and by having their business names published, they will lose business. Do they not understand that this is blackmail? Of course they do.

If you take note to one of the letters that was sent out, you will notice that there are four signatures at the bottom. They are as follows: Ron Prentice, Yes on 8 campaign chair; Edward Dolesji, executive director of the California Catholic Conference; Andrew Pugno, attorney for the Yes on 8 campaign…and Mark Janssen, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

In the past three months, the church has used their members to fund millions of dollars into the Yes on 8 campaign, pressuring them to donate their time, energy, and money to the cause, while openly spreading lies and half-truths in an attempt to win support for the proposition. Let me ask this…has the increasingly large number of divorces and domestic disputes in America as well as around the world caused children to grow up outside the bounds of traditional marriage? Absolutely, so why has the church not called it’s members to these and other more worthwhile causes like the war on drugs? With the $26 Million Dollars raised, over 8,600 wells could be built in Africa or 6.5 Million mosquito nets purchased for the thousands of children dying of malaria every day.

I say, shame on Mark Jansson, and shame on President Monson for allowing the use of intimidation, blackmail, and extortion as their own propaganda tools. I have spoken with many members, like myself, who are appalled and offended with the attitude that the church has taken on this and other recent events. I am requesting that President Monson call Mark Jansson to repentance and a disciplinary council for “conduct unbecoming of a church member.” Blackmail and extortion violates not only the laws of the land, but basic principles of Christianity. Is this what Christ would do? The rationale behind Prop 8 is the equivalent to why white people didn’t want black people to drink from their drinking fountains or enter into interracial marriage, fear and bigotry. Has American society been utterly destroyed because of these changes in the past?

However, I think much damage has already been done by the church that is irrevocable. Personally, I find myself embarrassed with what the leaders have done and I know many other members who feel the same as I do. I think that many people’s eyes have been opened to the hypocrisy and bigoted propaganda of the church due to their involvement in Prop 8. I would ask that this be forwarded to the First Presidency and into the hands of Thomas S. Monson, but I know that will not happen as they sit behind an inviolable wall beyond the reach of the common member. However, I refuse to sit quietly while basic rights are being fought against. I have chosen the side of equality, what about President Monson and yourself?

Sincerely,

"Freeway"

I love the way Freeway was able to get the point across, and soon after he put this letter under his bishop's door, he received a phone call from the bishop asking for a meeting.

Oh, goody.

Here is a brief re-cap from Freeway himself about what happened at the meeting:

OK, so the bishop just left. We got pretty much to the point of the visit right away. He stated that the SP wanted him to come over even before the "under the door" letter arrived.

As we started to talk, he was really digging at where we stood with the church. I told him that we did not believe the church to be the one and only true church and that so much of the history of the church is white washed and dumbed down for the common member. We went back and forth as he kept trying to say the resources we had were anti-mormon, of course that is when we said that most of the things we read did in fact come from the church's current and past teachings.

I started talking about my mission and how I was forced to push Prop 22 propaganda down people's throats while tracting. He was a bit taken a back by that. He wasn't sure what to think... "You did that?" uhhh yeah. We talked about Prop 8 and our issues with it. I told him how I felt it was my duty to rectify what I had previously done on my mission, which was to enforce the church's bigotry.

We brought up some of the original topics such as Joseph and the Amazing Colored Peepstone. I mentioned how it was not a direct translation and surprisingly, he agreed. He stated that it was a translation of sorts, not from one language to another. Not sure what that means.

We also brought up the fact that there is no transparency in the finanical records of the church. I asked him to show me the church's budget, but he replied was strictly confidential. When I asked him why, he said he was sure there were good reasons. Ha. I figure there are good reasons too. We also talked about the mall in SLC and the funding used for it, he assured us it wasn't from thithing, but he couldn't be sure. It sounded like one of GBH's "I don't know" statements.

He then decided to take a different approch and warn us of the dangers of not blessing our child and by not attending church. By doing so, we were breaking link for all of our future children and their children to be taught the gospel (brainwashed). Little did he know... that's the whole point! He probed us several times about blessing our baby. He even went as far as to say that if we died in a car accident, he wouldn't be blessed! After we told him that we didn't want to bless him in a church we didn't believe was true, he asked if we wanted to just put his name on the records. My kick ass wife said, "I'm not prepared to do that".

Also, I don't think that they are doing so well in our ward, he pushed us several times to pay tithing. Saying that we had to go to church and pay a full tithe in order to know if the church was true because God would only let us know if we were keeping the commandments. I replied with "Well, thats assuming the church is true," his face was priceless.

In the end, I think he pretty much understands that we aren't coming back. He left us saying that he hoped that we would think about the things he talked about (blessing our baby-gotta add to those numbers- and paying tithing) I don't think we will be doing either any time soon.

I love how the bishop did his best to get them to pay tithing. What the hell? You can only tell if the church is true if you pay your tithing? How flimsy is that? I actually laughed out loud when I read it, and roomie came out of his bedroom to see what was so funny.

Thanks to Freeway for letting me use the info. Very interesting :)

Andee

P.S. I have no idea what happened to the formatting on this article. I can't fix it, and I have spent tons of time trying. Sorry.

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I have never been a football fan. That might be because I waited tables at an insanely busy sports restaurant when I lived in Orlando. Football fans, drunk on their favorite domestic beer, screaming and yelling in the middle of a dining room surrounded by big screen televisions. I will never forget the experience of having a group of grown men cry and complain that their table wasn't good enough even though their game was up on all four walls of the restaurant and the table they moved to was right freaking next to the one they were seated at. Sports bring out the a-hole in some people. Just sayin.

My Dad tried to get me to love football as he did. My mom and brother love the game... it's just a group of men running into each other to me. Boring.

Anyway, as many people know, Steve Young who used to play for the San Francisco 49ers, is a Mormon. He has talked about his religion many times in the press, and given more fireside talks than any other person I am aware of... every time I flip on BYU Channel (by accident) Steve Young is talking about the one true church... blech...

Well, Steve Young and his wife, Barbara, have made a public statement about the church's involvement in the Proposition 8 battle. They made this statement yesterday...

"We believe all families matter and we do not believe in discrimination, therefore our family will vote against Proposition 8. It is unfair and it is wrong. Thanks."

They even put up signs in front of their home to show where their support lies!



Thank you Steve and Barbara! I wonder if Steve and Barbara Young will face the same disciplinary council courts that await Andrew Callahan and many others?

The Church considered him a star... not just a football star, but a church star. Kids loved this guy, and now he is speaking openly about how the church is wrong on this issue.

LOVE IT!!!!

Andee

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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.

I could list more, there are plenty of quotes that make my skin crawl, but in the interest of time I am sure you get my point. Again, the God I believe in would never... EVER... have someone like this speaking for Him.

I personally believe that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints owes people an explanation and an apology for the horrible things said by these past leaders. I doubt that will ever happen, because in order to do this, you would have to admit you were wrong. In order to admit you are wrong, you have to admit you CAN be wrong. In order to put this "behind us" as Gordon B. Hinkley mentioned on Larry King Live, you need to step up and own the mistakes and evils that were made.

Treasure Seeking.

Imagine my surprise when I learned that Joseph Smith translated the plates with the use of a rock and a hat. The story of the first vision and translation have been repeated to me hundreds of times since the time I was a fetus. Never once have any of my leaders told me the truth about how this really happened.

When I saw actual documentation about this, I realized for the first time that the church was keeping things from me. You were lying by omission, and you continue to do that to the believing members of your religion. There is no excuse for this.

Joseph Smith used this same seer stone, or peep stone, to find buried treasure. He was arrested and tried for fraud, and this is important because it shows his true character.

Polygamy.

Joseph Smith was never commanded by God to practice polygamy. This is laughable at best. Why in the world would God ask Joseph Smith to take on other wives, some as young as 14? I can't even come up with one good reason, Mr. Monson. It's no wonder that you hide this information from members of your church! Anyone would be as outraged and hurt as I was when I read this for the first time.

It was not common practice for girls as young as 14 to marry. Joseph Smith told these young girls that by marrying him they were saving their families for eternity. He also claimed that horrible things would happen if they didn't agree to the marriage.

Joseph Smith also married women who were already married to living men. He would send the men on missions, and then seal himself to their wives.

This is a far cry from the promises my leaders made to me that polygamy was just to keep the church growing, or to provide assistance to widows.

Joseph Smith isn't the man the church claims him to be. Not at all.

Proposition 8.

Recently, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has stepped into the political world and asked the members of it's church to donate their time, money and talents to Proposition 8 in California. This Proposition, if passed, will determine marriage to be between one man and one woman only.

I understand that the church feels it has a moral obligation to teach it's members what it feels is important about homosexuality, but when you take your beliefs and force them on the rest of the world, you are unbelievably out of line.

You don't have to like gay marriage, you don't have to love it. You don't have to participate in it, and you don't have to teach your members that you think it's okay. You also don't have the right to determine that for the rest of the people in the state of California or anywhere else.

The church's actions have saddened me to the point that I am ashamed to be a member. I am so ashamed, in fact, that I look back and wonder why I didn't see this church for what it truly was... one giant lie.

I have to tell you, from the bottom of my heart, that once I realized that I had been lied to, and that I had to inform my Mother that I couldn't in good conscience stay a member of this church, I feared the worst. The lies you taught my entire family could have cost me my entire family. Luckily for me, she is an amazing woman and ended up resigning long before I did.

The lies you tell hurt people. They tear families apart. They make people feel as if they will never be good enough. If you consider yourself a man of God, you should stand up and do the right thing.

• 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.

No matter what, there is a growing number of latter-day Saints who are ready to stand up and have their voices heard. I truly believe it's only a matter of time until more believing members walk away from your organization and learn the truth.

I refuse to stay quiet and watch you lie to people. I will continue to be active with SigningForSomething.org, my blog, and helping other Mormons who find themselves questioning everything they had ever been taught. It's a dark place to be, and I will be there for them.

My father gave me some fantastic advice about those I should trust when I was a little girl. He looked me right in the eye, and said, "Andee, would you buy a used car from that man?"

Mr. Monson, I couldn't buy a used car from you.

I can't trust anything you say.

This letter is my formal resignation from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and it is effective immediately. I hereby withdraw my consent to being treated as a member and I withdraw my consent to being subject to church rules, policies, beliefs and 'discipline'. As I am no longer a member, I want my name permanently and completely removed from the membership rolls of the church.

I have given this matter considerable thought. I understand what you consider the 'seriousness' and the 'consequences' of my actions. I am aware that the church handbook says that my resignation "cancels the effects of baptism and confirmation, withdraws the priesthood held by a male member and revokes temple blessings" I also understand that I will be "readmitted to the church by baptism only after a thorough interview". (quotes from the current Church Handbook of Instructions)

My resignation should be processed immediately, without any 'waiting periods'. I am not going to be dissuaded and I am not going to change my mind.

I expect this matter to be handled promptly, with respect and with full confidentiality.

After today, the only contact I want from the church is a single letter of confirmation to let me know that I am no longer listed as a member of the church.

Sincerely,
Andee *** ******

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