Deborah Skousen- request for name removal on September 15, 2004. Membership officially ended 12/16/2004

In no way do I feel I am a black sheep, just one who could not go along with the extreme levels of abuse. My letter for name removal read:

Dear Sirs;

I would like my name removed from the records of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. My experience in the past thirty-two years has been very disappointing. I have had two children sexually assaulted, and pressure put on them not to speak of the sexual assaults, or financial support would be removed by (my ex spouse).

As a wife in the LDS church, the levels of emotional battering by the male head of household, which is condoned by church officials, is without conscience. (Sorry, cannot give next sentence). In good conscience, I cannot be associated with a body of people which condones the abuse of women and children. I have not attended church in the past twelve years, and the abuse I experience from (details removed).

Mr. Skousen’s associations with unsavory people, including, but not exclusive to, (name removed and details removed) drug dealers, who also spent time in federal prison, (additional details removed). In joint cooperation they worked in harassing their former wives. The Bishops in this area feel Mr. Skousen’s behavior is not only behavior of an LDS church member, but the behavior of a temple worthy individual. I cannot go along with the accepted levels of abuse, and dishonest behavior which is condoned. Please remove my name from your church records.

Sincerely,
Deborah Skousen

Needless to say, the experience has been horrible. My son and I spoke whether we should make this posting; he said "go ahead".

I have watched my family destroyed over the past decade. I have found very few, if any honest people. Most seem to just want to exploit. I watched my childrens lives turned up side down, and mine. I strongly disagree with the pressures to conform, and not to speak, or material items will be taken, and life disrupted. Maybe, it is because not everyone in my family was LDS, and I attended other faiths in my early childhood, that I could not submit to blackmail.

When I received a letter from a Bishop asking for permission for my ex to marry in the temple, I stuck copies of the note below on the spire of the temple gate, and also at the entry of the Stake Center.

The note reads as follows: Dated 7/28/99 "I had worked on Mr. Skousen’s car he told me he really wanted to get the children. Rob told me Mr. Skousen and his attorney Mr. Morris, a church member, was going to try and make people believe Debbie was insane. Then they would have her committed, and he would get his custody” note signed by Rob

Rob came to my home and told me of his conversation with Mr. Skousen, and wrote a note on the event.

Since marrying, I have never come across more cruel and dishonest people (*this is true). I will never consider myself a 'black sheep', just one that does not go along with exploitation, abuse, and cover-up. I also found where my ex had put papers in court stating one of his friends, who was going through a divorce, could not be sued for divorce, because when he married it was a BIGAMOUS marriage, and therefore the wife was entitled to nothing. This did not faze the church leaders either. Is this is how religious people behave? Guess, I think different.