The following people have officially either resigned their membership from the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or have been excommunicated. We hereby publicly release the Strengthening The Members Committee, Visiting Teachers, Home Teachers, Bishop and Stake President from their duties.

Please add yourself to The Black Sheep Roster by filling in the text box at the bottom of this page.

For suggestions on resigning your church membership click MormonNoMore.com.

Deanna - April 2004

I joined the church when I was 18 and left just before my 28th birthday. I left the church because I felt that it is a dishonest institution and that it did not represent itself fairly to me when I was baptized or had questions. I was Relief Society President of a YSA ward when I resigned. You may view my exit story here: exmormon.org/boards/w-agora/view.php

Marilyn Johnson - June 8, 2006

Had struggled with the unbelievable dogma of Mormonism since childhood, but kept on trying to believe. Was angered periodically by the racism, sexism, disengenuousness(mostly in changing its history, changing its doctrine and pretending it had never taught the old doctrine, lies, mind games and manipulation, etc. etc. Wrote letters to GAs about the above and received at least one arrogant reply. Then my beautiful daughter "came out" and I felt I couldn't love and support her and "the church" at the same time, since "the church" was actively persecuting GLBT folks. So I became inactive, joined another church (UU) and in June, 2006, sent in my resignation letter.

Joseph, Jaylen, Evan, Kaden, Morales, Liam, Stephanie, Sariah and Rachel Morales - 2/16/2008

Our family of 9 left all at the same time.

Bill Lander - May 19, 2006

My mom joined in the Toronto area in her "vulnerable" menopausal years. My Dad followed her out of fear of losing her. They coerced my a the age of 13. They alienated themselves from their community. It was a town of 8000. They stayed in the church til they died. I finally stood up for myself when I was 19 after spending a year at BYU. I couldn't fake it any more. What did it for me was going to University and becoming an adult yet, that feeling was quashed by an administrator telling me to get a haircut. My parents were like children trapped by a bunch of mono-toned old men in a belief system filled with darkness and hope. My parents are gone and so is the mormon influence in all of thier childrens lives. Hopefully religion and for that matter spirituality have no more control over the choices I and my family make in our lives.

Clark of 39 years - January 30, 2005

While studying Church History and Doctrine to increase my testimony while I was disfellowshipped (reason not important), to my great dismay I found the whole thing to be made up. In face, as soon as Mormonism fell, Christianity fell right behind it. The Catholics made the whole thing up! Did Jesus really even exist? If so, he was a guy, maybe a great teacher, but certainly not "divine". So, I left. My wife is still a TBM, but my kids are too lazy to care either way. (We believe in Freedom here!)

I DO believe in a Supreme Being, a "god", that must have orchestrated this beautiful Earth and all the complicated creatures and plant life. I do believe in eternal progression to be able to do the same thing eventually. However, Science explains it just as easily as Religion. I am in the corner of Jonathan Livingston Seagull. If you haven't read it, you really should. It's a very short read with Buddhist overtones, written by Richard Bach, a Buddhist. Remember, Buddhism is NOT a religion, but a philosophy of life.

There's something miraculous and wonderful about life and the hereafter, but it isn't covered by Christianity, Mormonism, Islam, Hinduism, Taoism, or any of the other -isms!

Just be the best you can be, because that is innate, and see where it takes you. Forgive others for stupid mistakes and hope you'll be forgiven in turn. In the words of E.T., "be good" and everything will be "just fine"!

Elizabeth - May 2007

I left activity in the Church back in the early 1980's. I found out the LDS Church lied about everything. My honesty and integrity meant more to me than appearances. Of course the Mormons believed I was guilty of some gross sinfulness, but I never felt a need to do the "official resignation" until recently.

This year, when Mitt Romney entered the Presidential race, my Mormonism once again became and issue. Active members accused me of dishonesty for calling myself a "Mormon" when I obviously didn't believe the claims or tenets of the "church." Because I didn't want to appear dishones by claiming to be mormon, I sent my letter in, in April and it became official in May of 2007.

I was born into and raised a six generation LDS family in a small entirely LDS community in Southern Utah. Mormonism was more than a religion - it was my way of life, my culture. Now they have even stripped me of my identity. Damn them all to bloody hell! Unless I am a "true" believer then my family were not pioneers, I never experience canning fruit, quilting, food supplies, sacrifice, farming, community, culture or ancestors who committed murder in the name of God. Since I am no longer LDS, I can no longer be me.

Stuart Bodie - January 2007

Cognitive dissonance...mental gymnastics...intellectual integrity...freedom...true happiness.

Shiggy Diggit - July 2007

My family and I willingly left the LDS Church during March 2007, and I received confirmation during July 2007 that our resignation (name removal) was processed to completion.

I was raised in the Church--served a mission, graduated from BYU at the top of my class, married in the temple, and so on. I've had doubts about the Church's truthfulness for a long time, though, and I finally decided to leave this year. Thankfully, my wife decided to follow me.

For everyone's enjoyment, follow the link below to a copy of my rather elaborate leaving letter, which details my story and reasons for leaving. As of today, the letter has been used to notify my extended family members, various ward members (including the bishop), and also friends and acquaintances.

www.postmormon.org/exp_e/index.php/discussions/viewthread/2589/

Any comments or feedback are welcome either here or at shiggydiggit-REMOVE-THIS-PART@hotmail.com.

Harvey L. Tilden - Spring 2005

After forty-one years of membership in the LDS church, I resigned my membership in February of 2005, and had same confirmed by LDS Member Records in a letter dated April 21, 2005. I had struggled for years with the utter falsity of many LDS claims; the implausibility of its core doctrines; its craven submission to every neofascist political campaign in the second half of the Twentieth Century; and its cruel, mindless, relentless homophobia.

Although overjoyed to be free, I regret the effort I made on the LDS church's behalf to enslave others. I regret the judgmentalism to which I succumbed (and even embraced) for so long, and the precious time lost to true enlightenment while I participated in endless, repetitive, mind-numbing meetings and brainwashing sessions. I regret valuing the LDS church above my family, and I regret perhaps most of all the time wasted in the cultish temples so revered by Mormons.

I met many wonderful people in the LDS church, and a few of them remain my friends; but I trust very few because I know where their ultimate loyalty lies. But nothing can diminish my joy and appreciation of the freedom of thought and action that I now cherish. As a teenager I loved and was energised by the songs of the Civil Rights movement ... "Oh, Freedom! Oh, Freedom! Oh, freedom over me! And before I'd be a slave, I'd be buried in my grave - go home to my Lord, and be free!"

Good luck to all of us in this, a sanctified and growing Exodus!

Jenny Abbot, 10/25/2004. I discovered the truth about Joseph Smith, Brigham Young and the rest of the LDS church's history. I have immense gratitude for people such as the Tanners, Richard Packham, and Kathy Worthington for their dedication in helping others break free of the cult's mind control.

Heidi Abbott (also known as Hasani), September 2, 1999 - The Reader's Digest Version --- after a lifetime of trying to "make" myself believe the doctrine, I finally decided to trust my heart and instincts.

Adam and Sheryl and 4 children, we were officially resigned on December 1, 2003. Sheryl came upon the truth at www.exmormon.org while researching a temple marriage lesson for Young Womens. Reasons? Temple ceremony/Masonic ceremony, Book of Abraham, The First Vision problems, Joseph Smith's greediness with money and women, editing of D & C, Book of Mormon problems etc. So many things that can't be listed here. We felt the need to resign so we could NOT be counted in the Morg's deceptive numbers game!

Ami Adkins and children, San Diego - mailed official (signed, notarized, and registered receipt mail) resignation letter to SLC Records office July 28, 2005; forever known hereafter as AMI'S INDEPENDENCE DAY! I have been unhappy in that church for 25 years and finally decided I'd had enough. When I realized I did not believe one single thing that church teaches or preaches, not to mention I greatly feared the damage the indoctrination was doing to my kids; I wrote out the letter and mailed it two days later. We're done. End of story. I truly feel free.

Jeffrey Francis Allred,Aug 30 2002 On behalf of my ancestor Solomon Allred, one of the original 4 Allred brothers, I Jeff Allred, his kinsman, I do revoke, and recant his baptism of the dead, I send the curse back to all those who baptised him against his will, a religion and faith that he would have abhorred. His good Allred name has been brought to an open and public shame, his descendents gone apostate, gone a whoring after Joseph Smith and Brigham Young. May their eyes be opened and their hearts reconcilled to the true God of their ancestor.

Joseph Almond, September 1, 1999, After being denied restoration of my Priesthood blessings following 19 years out of the church, then one year of faithfulness, I was so crushed and in pain that I came home, got on the internet search engine to see if there were any others who had experienced such devastation.

Typed in "ex-Mormon" then I spent the next 4 very long days, reading 107 stories of others who were out of the Church for various reasons. (Recovery from Mormonism)

What a shock!

I discovered, for the first time, that there were several First Visions; that the Book of Abraham was fabricated; that the accurate history of the church was being hidden and denied; that the front the Church maintains is just a facade: that there is turmoil and strife which necessitates excommunications in order to control damages.

It was less than a week later when I shared the salient points with my wife (a 1 year convert), and we both wrote joint letters requesting that our names be removed.

Now, we are at peace. Greatly disturbed at all we've learned, but thankful that we are out.

We are free. Joseph Almond and Shirley E. Almond

Dev and Carl Amos plus six or our eight children, 1999, Mesa, AZ We officially had our family's names removed in 1999. My husband Carl, and 6 of our 8 children also. We were active members, and had a son serve a mission!

Our Reasons for our quick departure: The people suck! The atmosphere sucks! And it very loudly dawned on us that where EVER the TRUE Spirit of Christ is would NEVER suck!

Gary Anderson, (Feb 2001) After six years of thoughtful research, I couldn't put the Genie back into the bottle. Integrity then dictated that I resign my membership.

Ross Anderson, My resignation was about 15 years ago. I don't know the date. I left because of coverups, changes and inconsistencies in history and doctrine. I went on to find a personal faith based on God's grace and love rather than guilt and expectations. I took the step of formal name removal because I am now a Christian pastor and I wanted to leave on my terms. I didn't want the church to initiate something against me for apostacy because of my public position.

Ann and Wallace, We left in spirit in April 2001, but made it offical Aug. 31, 2003, taking our two young children with us. We are free and happy and our lives are better than ever before. Happy are we! Our reason? Mormonism made us miserable.

Anonymous woman's viewpoint - 1995

I left the church in 1995, I have found myself wishing that my parents had never had me baptized at the age of eight because I was never given a CHOICE if I wanted to become a Mormon or not.

I was taught about the War In Heaven and how Satan wanted to MAKE PEOPLE BE GOOD and I later found out that this is what the Mormon church is doing to their members. They are following Satan's plan and not the plan of our Savior Jesus Christ. There is no such thing as Free Agency in the LDS church. I found out that Their Way or the Highway.

I hated the thought of HAVING to attend my assigned ward and was not given a CHOICE in which ward I wanted to attend. The only way I could be a member of another ward was to MOVE to another location. I think the LDS church could easily be sued for this practice. The expense and other problems of moving is certainly not an easy task.

For anyone who is wondering what ward they are assigned to they can find out on Mormon.org.

All of the LDS buildings say VISITORS WELCOME and it is an absolute LIE for anyone who wants to attend more than a few times. Try it if you do not believe me and you will find out fast that you are asked to leave.

I was never given a CHOICE and therefore I wanted to have my name removed from the Mormon church. I strongly believe that everyone should have a choice in all of life's decisions.

I was never given a choice if I wanted to attend Young Women's or Relief Society when I became 18 years of age. The only way out of having to attend Relief Society was to teach in one of the other programs such as the nursery, Primary or Young women's.

I did NOT have a CHOICE if I wanted to have Visiting Teachers IF I I did not want to be in their circle of the REBELLIOUS SISTERS gossip.

I did not leave the church because of the teachings but I left because of my lack of being able to make choices for myself.

The three hour block system meetings were very boring. I wanted to learn more about Jesus Christ and I seldom even heard His name. I heard Him mentioned in the Sacrament Hymns and at the end of prayers and in some of the testimonies in Fast and Testimony meetings.

I normally only heard the words usually "I know that Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God I also heard that President Hinkley is also a true prophet of God followed by I know that the LDS church is the only TRUE church and is the only religion with the Fullness of the Gospel.

Scott Applegate, 1997 The church isn't what it claims to be, based on the evidence. I'm not bitter or vindictive--just a lot wiser than I used to be... I let myself be led around by emotions that everyone told me was "the spirit." When I began using my brain, I was told I must have "lost the spirit." The spirit = blind faith, and they were right--I lost it (on purpose).

A.Arakelian, Count me in also. I was resigned in 2004. There was no reason to be counted under this disingenuous corporation's membership anymore.

Jim Ashurst, Excommunicated About 1975, or 76, don't remember for sure - I left Utah and the church on my 18th birthday when I enlisted in the Air Force. Every time I'd move somewhere it seemed like pretty soon here were the MO's calling to have their home teachers over. I kept telling them I didn't want them over. Finally one time in Phoenix, AZ this deputation of half dozen or so brain dead MO's showed up at my apartment and demanded that I have my home teaching lesson right then or write a letter asking to be Ex'd. I wrote the letter and was duly tried (didn't attend) and got a letter saying among other things that I no longer had the right to tithe. What a shame.

Arnold Astels, March 13th - 2002. I couldn't take the mental gymnastics anymore.

Mr & Mrs Aumann , October 2002 My husband and I were inactive for various reasons. Because my husband and I were disabled and he is also legally blind, the LDS church would shun and allinate us. Also when they helped us move, the brethren decided in order to be easy on them, to throw away a box that had my only copies of wedding pictures and an antique stuffed animail I could never get back. I researched for several hours and found it. There was alot they were not telling me or practicing themselves. What is this elite club of rich families that used us as church points. What finally "took the cake" was when a certain visiting teacher verbally abused us in public. That is my story about the Mass Franklin Ward. Baaa...

T. Robert Axelson, 1980 (Jonathan, through a veil... very darkly) excommunicated for being a homosexual, rejoined to please my mother in 1996, had my name removed 1998 because I realized that church could never accept me as I am (they don't even tell the truth about who *they* are [!]) and my mother had to, no matter what. Families are forever? Not even! And, don't get me started on the "gay thing". Subscribe to a gayexmormon list!

Jenny B , July 2001 - What a crock the LDS organization is...I'm sorry I didn't figure it out sooner.

Eugene S. Barnes, 12/13/1996. Early Christmas present that year. I left because of GD (Goofy Doctrine), and I didn't want to be part of a cult and a fraud.

Helen Ashford-Barnes,12/13/1996. Early Christmas present that year. I couldn't make the Church true even though I danced their dance and sang their song. When we stopped going we considered ourselves no longer members. However I dragged my feet making it official and said, "let them think what they want". When I began to realize that leaving my name there was an indication I condone the doctrines, policies, and practices of the Church we sent our request. Thank you Gene for waiting 18 years for me to be willing to request my name be removed. We sent the invitation to repent and come back to the Church back to them. How dare they call us to repentance for not believing a false Church.

Robert Baumgardner, 1989 I found my heart, my brain, and developed a sense of humor.

Kristopher Bell, 1998 Found I couldn't believe in the existence of God, (which kind of precluded me from being a Mormon!). Also, the guilt, shame and social pressure that accompanies the Morg was just too much to bear.

Ben, official resignation April 2002: My fiancee was about to blindly follow me into the Mormon church. Feeling the need to verify that what I had been brought up to believe was true, I investigated the church from the point of view of an outsider. It did not take long to realize that the church is indeed a fabrication. www.lds-mormon.com was a great non-biased resource for me.

Ben Benson, 2000 The world is older than 6,000 years. It’s more like 4 billion. Evolution is fact and has actual evidence in its favor in every field of science unlike creationism. The world was never flooded to the highest peak. The story of Noah and millions of species on an ark is ludicrous. Donkeys don’t talk. Language doesn’t stem from a tower built too tall. Native american DNA proves the Book of Mormon false and stupid. Prayer doesn't grow limbs back. Our generation can now read and understand Egyptian unlike Joseph Smith. It’s amazing the crap believed by so many. Fairies are just as likely as Elohim or Allah.

Wendy and Gerald Berg and three children - April 1, 2005

We received our official letter dated April Fools day. We thought this telling of how big of a fraud we discovered the church to be. What led us to the truth was discovering DNA evidence and how it proves that the American indians are from Asia. mormonscripturestudies.com/bomor/twm/ This article was written by a Mormon using BYU research and was our ticket out. We have never been happier and are never going back.

Mary Jane Bigley, AKA MJB, I left many times, finally resigned in December of 2002. Received my official letter in June of 2003.

It's just not true. What other reasons are needed?

Bill , I mentally left the church in 1995. I am not anti-mormon as much as I am anti-ignorance. My family is still mormon so I still have patience with relatives who label me apostate or inactive. I love mormons but don't like mormonism. My web page explains in detail why I am not a mormon anymore at, www.geocities.com/exmormon2000.

Justin Bill - 1995

I did not know that having my name removed was an option, so I requested an excommunication. I am living a normal, healthy life without any church involvement.

Kelly Jean Blanpied - 11/15/1999

I left Mormonism 21 years ago to see how the rest of the world lived and realized how much I love *reality* ;) Twenty-one years later, November 15, 1999, I rec'd a delightful present informing me that I am no longer a member. I was prompted to take action on paper for the bigotry exhibited over the LDS Church's political activities regarding the Knight initiative in CA. The freedom I feel from this patriarchal cult is, after 21 years, more palpable than I expected. It feels GOOOOOD!

Bob - 1980

I left the church in 1980, after 19 years and a Melchizedek Priesthood holder. Their claims were lies, and their weaknesses were hidden. Joseph Smith, I am convinced, was a charlatan. I left and have never regreted my decision. But never forget that Mormonism has been called a soul-destroying religion. Those who leave are usually leaving in a state of spiritual chaos. Often they turn against all organized religion. I would urge everyone to stay away and avoid this damnable church at all costs.

Stuart Bodie - January 2007

Cognitive dissonance...mental gymnastics...intellectual integrity...freedom...true happiness.

Ken Bolingbroke - March 2001

Official resignation March 2001, unofficially sometime in 1999. I trustingly believed everything I was taught, and worked hard at my various callings, but when I got around to investigating the church for myself, I found it had no substance.

Luke Bonner - I was born into a Mormon family. Well, actually I was adopted and became a Mormon at the ripe age of 1 month old. I gave up on the church when I was around 12 or 13, and I've not been to church in 2 years. My dad's a Stake President, so that wasn't fun.

But anyways, on with the story. I haven't actually resigned from the church, for one reason. I was adopted, and I find it easier to deal with my parents if I'm "still on the rolls." I actually sent in a letter, but being that my dad's a Stake President, it was intercepted and sent to him. He and my mother begged me not to remove my name, as it will nullify our "eternal bonds."

I find this very thought to be at the same time ridiculous and repulsive. How the F*CK can anyone continue to believe a church when it's, apparently, based on paperwork. It's as if God somehow relies on membership records of the church to keep track of who's together for eternity. Riiight. All-knowing, I guess, eh? Sacred covenenants are only sacred on paper!

Anyway I decided not to take my name off the roster for the sake of my parents. I figure if it makes them happier in their delusion, why not? Besides, my dad gave me his car shortly after that conversation. And there's no way for me to get my name off the rosters without him finding out - he's the one I'd have to go through to get it done, and even if I found a way around that, he'd be the first to know. And he'd probably take his car back. Either way, I told him I don't want to be contacted by missionaries, and apparently he has the clout to make that happen. So, everyone wins.

Put simply, as far as I know and feel, I'm not a member. As far as "God" (and my parents) knows, I am.

Hey, if they're right (HA!), maybe I'll get into heaven on some sort of weird paperwork loophole!

Signed and whatnot, Luke Bonner.

John Botts, February 2002. I haven't attended Mormon church or believed in any Mormon doctrines for nearly 20 years. Yet, they seemed to track me down wherever I moved. I decided to make it official so they can no longer claim me as one of their supposed 11 million members.

I see the Mormon church as a cult founded on outright fraud. Joseph Smith's "translation" of ordinary Egyptian funeral texts into the "Book of Abraham" settled any doubt I may have had regarding its untruthfullness.

I don't believe any God requires you to know a secret handshake or secret name to get into heaven.

I am sad to see the Mormon church control and deaden the lives of many of my family members.

I'm so glad to be OUT.

Larry & Tammy Braithwaite We left the Mormon Church in September 1992 after having 35 years of 300% full time membership.

While serving as assistant supervisors in the Manti Utah Temple for two years we had the opportunity to see from the inside what the Mormon Church was not. We spent several thousand dollars in our research and found the Church to be totally false and wrote a book with our experiences called A Mormon Odyssey..Journey to the Center of my Soul. The book is free online at exmormon.org.

We have helped thousands in the past 10 years leave the Mormon Church those who were questioning and needing answers via the Internet, our Book and word of mouth. We now live a very, very happy and peaceful life with no more "pay, pray and obey". Finally we are out of the Mormon prison, thanks to Joseph Smith the false prophet.

Kerry Brinkerhoff - 1997 - I along with my wifeLinda and five children Jonathan, Jeremy, Kara,Jessica and Katrina left the Mormon Church in 1997.Mainly we left because we chose to follow theteachings of Christ as found in the Bible, instead of the Christ created by Joseph Smith and Mormonism. Or to put it bluntly, we see Joseph Smith as anti-Christ.

Camile (Clawson) Brown - July, 1984. I was raised and baptised Mormon by my grandparents (he: a life-long alchoholic and twice a bishop!) At 16 years old I finally had the backbone to stand up to my grandmother and tell her- no more seminary, no more hypocrisy, no more endless meetings, peer pressure and people with that small town mentality always gossiping and watching eachother for slip-ups! I am now part of the (happily!) heathen portion of the family tree. You'll see us at family get togethers- we're the ones in the kitchen mixing drinks, taking smoke breaks out on the back porch and laughing at how deluded we were.

Margie and Mike Brown, March 29, 1995 I (Margie) could not get out fast enough after we went to the temple and I read "The Miracle of Forgiveness". That is one hideous book. My husband did not care if his name stayed on the membership records or not, but he officially got out for me.

Michael A. Brown aka D.C.vd, 29 July 2004 While reading the local newspaper I read about DNA - Loosing a Lost Tribe by Simon Southerton. Being half native (Inupiat, Alaskan Native) I was outraged! So, I resigned! Those bastards lied to me, I thought I was Jewish! lol

Bug61 - 1993'ish

I have been excommunicated from the LDS church twice. Once in 1982 for the reason of having an extra marital affair. Second in about 1993 because I chose to be. I could not be a hypocrite any longer.

Dennis Bunnell, Patricia Bunnell aka Patricia Stead, Kody Bunnell, Dustin Bunnell, Devin Bunnell - Feb 1991, Reason? Just that....REASON. After "reasoning" with doctrine that condradicted itself, we finally found that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was/is a cult.

Larry Burgess - August 1996

Age 61. Joined "the Church" at age 13 in Alaska. Momma married a Mormon...and after a relentless missionary campaign I prayed about the Joseph Smith Story (pamphlet) and received a positive "spiritual witness."

Served a mission to Chile '64 - '66. Married in the Manti Temple to the girl who waited. Raised 6 great children. Stopped believing in "the Church" at age 32. Became deeply involved in reading Mormon History, diaries, etc. Appalled at the lies and deception about the Church's past. Felt very angry for a long time.

Most of my hostility is gone about all those years as a mental slave to Mormonism. Managed to stay married to my wife, who continues to this day to be a true believer -- now 38 years -- but had to put up with a whole world of hurt during the growing-up years of the children. Wife would try to force it down their throats, but I was always there to allow the freedom of choice that Mormons say they believe in but don't! 5 of the 6 chose mental freedom, along with DAD.

I am, however, still angry at the "general authorities" who must know the whole thing is a sham, but continue to mislead the weak minded.

Would be glad to hear from anyone who remembers me from missionary days, etc.

Nicole Cannon - June 10,1998 - To think for myself, to act for myself, and not fear the Mormon Thought Police (MTP) is in itself enough reason to rejoice that I (finally) have my real sense of free agency back.

Charlene - 2002

I had discovered too much racism, sexism, and dishonesty to remain in the Church after attending BYU for 2 years (mid '90's), but I didn't officially resign because I had a brother on a mission and I wanted to still have contact with him. I knew that he could be in trouble for associating with an exmorm.

A few years passed and I finally decided it was time. In January of 2002 I sent in my resignation. It was denied with a letter from Salt Lake saying I would have to go and meet with my bishop and stake president. I decided to use the SLC Winter Olympics as a bargaining tool. I wrote back saying that I knew the Church claimed to believe in "obeying the laws of the land" and that in our Constitution it guaranteed religious freedom. By not allowing me to leave, they were violating that.

I threatened that if they didn't remove me from their records immediately, I would take action. I said that at a time when the whole world is looking at Salt Lake and the Church, I was sure they didn't want bad publicity. I said I would contact every media outlet I could and hire an attorney. Within a week after sending the letter I got one back saying my name had been removed!

Christina - I was baptized into the Morg in 1989. I realized two years later that Mormonism wasn't what it portrayed itself to be...that in fact, it was a pseudo-Christian cult! Now I "know" that I was baptized...rather throughly as they dunked me a good three times (talk about your being "legalistic")...however, when I phoned Salt Lake City to verify that my name was "removed" from church records, they could find no record whatsoever of me ever having being a Mormon. A very helpful person in the record department assured me that no one was ever "removed" from the Mormon church's records...just a mark was placed by their name...meaning that they were "removed" and not to be contacted. Basically the church keeps track of every one of us ex-Mormons (I wonder if I can call myself that since by the grace of God, it turns out that I wasn't a Mormon in the first place....can I get my tithing back since it was made under a false premise???) and to me that is a scary thought. Why are they keeping track of us?

In closing, I just want to bear you my testimony that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (otherwise known as the Mormons) is NOT a Christian church. Nor is it God's "restored" church on earth. It is a cult! Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormonism, was NOT a prophet of God. He was a charlatan, a fraud, an adulterer, and a dirty old man! He will burn in hell for all eternity (2nd Peter 2) for the gigantic fraud of Mormonism that he perpetrated! The Book of Mormon is NOT another testimony of Jesus Christ...it is a complete work of fiction, and a poorly written one at that...except for the plagiarized bits of course. Gordon B. Hinckley is NOT a prophet of God. He sits at the head of a church that is leading souls to hell, and unless he repents, he will share the fate of Joseph Smith. The Mormon doctrine of "eternal progression" is a damnable lie: God has NEVER been a man, and we can never become "God"...there is ONLY ONE God. Finally, Jesus Christ is NOT the brother of Satan. Nor was he born of a physical relationship between God and the virgin Mary.

Clark of 39 years - January 30, 2005

While studying Church History and Doctrine to increase my testimony while I was disfellowshipped (reason not important), to my great dismay I found the whole thing to be made up. In face, as soon as Mormonism fell, Christianity fell right behind it. The Catholics made the whole thing up! Did Jesus really even exist? If so, he was a guy, maybe a great teacher, but certainly not "divine". So, I left. My wife is still a TBM, but my kids are too lazy to care either way. (We believe in Freedom here!)

I DO believe in a Supreme Being, a "god", that must have orchestrated this beautiful Earth and all the complicated creatures and plant life. I do believe in eternal progression to be able to do the same thing eventually. However, Science explains it just as easily as Religion. I am in the corner of Jonathan Livingston Seagull. If you haven't read it, you really should. It's a very short read with Buddhist overtones, written by Richard Bach, a Buddhist. Remember, Buddhism is NOT a religion, but a philosophy of life.

There's something miraculous and wonderful about life and the hereafter, but it isn't covered by Christianity, Mormonism, Islam, Hinduism, Taoism, or any of the other -isms!

Just be the best you can be, because that is innate, and see where it takes you. Forgive others for stupid mistakes and hope you'll be forgiven in turn. In the words of E.T., "be good" and everything will be "just fine"!

Bill Clark - Nov, 1999 - I spent my whole life (well 36 years) trying to believe it was my fault the church was wrong. I finally GOT IT. I was told I was not living up to the church, when in reality mormonism could not live up to my standards of integrity.

Gary Alan Clark aka new name Seth, 1983, The Mormon Church is an parasitic organism with a life and survival instinct all its own. It feeds off the resources and productivity of its duped and clueless membership -- sad beings too weak and disoriented to run their own lives -- and whose actual health and happiness are of no consequence whatsoever to the Church's insatiable appetite for wealth and power.

Steven Clark, 1994, Realized that the only truth about Mormonism would be found in the Articles of Incorporation instead of the Articles of Faith.

Tom Clark (aka TLC) - Deactivated circa 1985. Formally resigned in 2001. Left the church for one reason and one reason only; Mormonism's beliefs, teachings and practices concerning homosexuality. My experience has been that one cannot be both homosexual and Mormon. I had always considered name removal an unnecessary formality but finally got to the point where I no longer wanted to be associated in any way, shape or form with Mormonism and took the steps to resign my membership. It's one of the greatest gifts I've ever given myself.

My story and others like mine can be found at my website: http://www.GayMormonStories.com

Linda Clyde - February 1992.

I was born and raised in the Mormon Church here in Salt Lake City. I basically "left" when I was fifteen, after my older sister got pregnant out of wedlock and the bishop started treating our family badly, almost as if it were my Dad's fault he couldn't control his teenage daughters.

I was baptized in 1970 when I was eight, and what I remember most is being scared to death. There was a feeling of trepidation that I couldn't explain at that age. I just knew that it was something I really didn't want to do, even though I knew I didn't have a choice. Being raised in a Mormon family, getting baptized was something that was a given.

Throughout my formative years, I suppose I might have had the same questions and/or doubts every Mormon has experienced. One question I had asked many times was, how is it that there are Mormons, Catholics, Lutherans, Baptists, Presbyterians, all religions out there, who all say that they believe in God, and yet the LDS Church makes the bold (and arrogant) claim that they are the only "True Church." I never did get an answer other than to "pray on it."

In junior high, I was baptized for the dead over 120 times. In high school, I dropped out of seminary in my sophomore year because it bored me silly, and I had more fun hanging out with all my non-Mormon friends and my non-Mormon boy friend (who has been my husband now for nearly 22 years).

Again no real answers to questions that deserved real answers. So, I remained completely inactive since high school. I'd go periodically, when nieces and nephews were blessed, but that was the extent of being active.

All this time, I felt like, hey, I know if I go back now, I'll have to confess to the bishop everything that's none of his business to begin with, and because of anything I'd done that had made me impure and unworthy, I'd never get into the celestial kingdom anyway, so why try anymore? This didn't mean that I didn't, deep down, want to, I just thought it would be just plain impossible.

In 1990, my sister (the one who got pregnant out of wedlock when we were teenagers) accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Savior. At the time, I thought, girl what are you into now? And I certainly didn't want anything to do with whatever she was involved in. We are and always have been close, and so when my phone would ring, I knew it was her and what she wanted.

Every other word was "Jesus this" and "Jesus that" and for me, it was "Joseph Smith this" and Joseph Smith that." It wasn't long before she gave me a book called, "Mormonism, Mama & Me" written by a sweet elderly woman named Thelma "Granny" Geer. I told my sister straight up that if it disrespected the LDS Church in any way then I woould not read the book.

But I started reading it, with an open mind and open heart, and I realized that the author wasn't putting the church down at all. She talked about being a fourth-generation Mormon and all that and how she came to Jesus through the scriptures in the Bible. I only got about a third of the way through the book before I realized that I was wrong about the LDS Church, I was lied to (they have lied to ALL of their members; most of all they lie to themselves), and I had to get out of it permanently, whether I had been inactive for many years or not.

I had no intention of putting my salvation in the hands of a Latter-Day prophet, for any reason. One of the first things I did before making any steps was to get on my knees and ask for God's forgiveness for having been involved in their web of lies and deceit, and He answered me, letting me know that He knew me when I was baptized at the age of eight, and that He knew I had virtually NO choice in the matter. Most of all, I was forgiven, and from that day forth, I was His and nothing would ever change that.

I found the material to get my name off the membership list, and I have never felt more free. The day I put my letter of resignation in the mail I felt a twinge of doubt, but I knew it was only Satan bothering me but he couldn't stop me from doing it. I'm thankful I got out of it, and that I never did baptize my own two (now grown) children.

Unfortunately, my daughter was baptized into the LDS Church before she was married, and it broke my heart; she did it for her husband, but she found out quickly how bad things are, and is completely inactive as is her husband. They have two boys whom I hope they don't torture by forcing them to be baptized, too.

I found this website purely by accident, and what a Godsend. I have found many aspects of it very amusing. What a great format to be able to tell others the how & why of our escape from truly the worst church I've ever known or had the misfortune to be involved in. Thanks!

Linda in Salt Lake City.

Coleen, March 1981...I was raised in the church. I first noticed something was wrong when being baptised and confirmed didn't make me feel any different or change my life for the better. I first knew I didn't believe in the church after my high school psychology teacher challenged us to study our own religions. The question was whether we believed because we had been programed that way or if our beliefs stood up to our own scrutiny. I read all the scriptures, several doctrine books and asked questions.

I decided all the books conflicted with each other on doctrine and were anti-American, anti-woman and basically inconsistent with what I felt was right. When I became pregnant with my son, I gave the church one last chance. When I refused to give him up for adoption, the bishop said I would be excommunicated or disfellowshipped. He made it clear it was for keeping my baby and not for fornication. I decided to save them the trouble and had my name taken off the records. I've never regretted my decision.

Ted Cox, November 2000 - For me, it came down to two possibilities: 1) A racist God made the decision to deny black-skinned people equal opportunites in holding the priesthhod, or 2) Brigham Young wasn't a prohpet and wasn't recieving revelation from God when he claimed that blacks were a fallen, degenerate race, and that they would NEVER recieve the priesthood in this life. The second possibility made more sense to me.

Lona Crain, 1990 (requested in March, removed in June, never rec'd letter but confirmed recently by phone w/G. Dodge).After 30 years of utter misery ( was a convert at age 18) and abt 10 of severe depression, decided it would make more sense to have some happiness on earth before going to hell than to endure 40 more years of hell on earth before going to hell (because God knew what I thought of his rotten plan). Not out two months before I saw what an incredible crock of doodoo I'd fallen for. Beat myself over the head for the next 9 or so years for being so amazingly stupid as to have wasted my life in this revolting cult. Then discovered ex.mormon list and found I was one of many and they were great. Life is good. Now if only my 3 terrific kids & their families were free..... (Oh, major burrs under saddle of mormonism were demands for mindless obedience & rampant sexism. Epiphany occurred in fabric store between Sat. sessions of conference when I realized that I had far more respect & admiration for Gloria Steinem than for Ezra T.)

Sandra Crain-Gilkeson, 1996, Left the church to escape the blatant deceit,and sexism.

Mike Crook, May 14, 2004

Much to the chagrin of my TBM wife, I decided to leave the church after 16 years of membership; I'd joined when I was nine, and lived with my parents in Las Vegas. I decided that the church just wasn't for me; the sudden about-face the church did after 1978, combined with the numerous contradictions that exist between the Church's works and the Bible, was the reasoning for it. Therefore, I sent in my request not only to my Stake President, but directly to Salt Lake. I threatened legal action when they slowed down on it, and I was removed on Friday, May 14, 2004, and I personally spoke with Mr. Dodge to confirm that fact.

Tracy Crookston, November 29, 2000 The exciting, intriguing, and captivating account of my leaving Mormonism can be read at mormonism/testimonies.

The short account is as follows; After 26 years as an active, faithful Mormon, I learned the truth when I was serving as Relief Society president. The truth being, of course, that the LDS Church is not true. Its history has been revised, the doctrines have been changed, and the leadership has lied about it; but most importantly, Mormonism is not Biblical! The Bible HAS INDEED been translated correctly (see "The New Evidence That Demands a Verdict" by Josh McDowell). I have learned that Christianity is a rational belief and I now have a satisfying personal relationship with Jesus of the Bible (as opposed to the Mormon Jesus who was conceived through intercourse between God and Mary). He has given me the peace that passes all understanding and joy in my life regardless of external circumstances.

I now spend my time speaking publically to church groups about the differences between Mormonism and Christianity and I try to help those coming out of cults adjust to REAL life. Praise God I'm free! Woo hoo!

Jay Crosby, excommunicated in 1975 for apostasy and teaching doctrines contrary to the Mormon Church. Guilty as charged I say!! Twenty-five years ago I first went through the Salt Lake Temple. It was a great fizzle for me. There was nothing inspiring, and it mostly seemed like a lot of mumbo-jumbo. I played along, though, not wishing to seem unspiritual.

A year later I ran into a man who told me Mormonism was false. I was challenged by what he said, and bound and determined to prove him wrong. In short, he devastated my every argument with FACTS. I could no longer believe I was in the true church.

When I went to the leaders of the Church, local and general, I was rebuffed with comments like, "There are some questions better left unasked," and "There is information that is essential, information that is useful, and information that is dangerous."

Certainly, the truth is dangerous to Mormonism.

The most important question, the one I couldn't get away from, and the one I hope and pray everyone reading this will ask themselves honestly--irrespective of their affiliation--is this: Can I just leave?

Can you? Whatever group you might belong to, whether a church, a club, a lodge, whatever--Can you just leave? Or, will you be shunned, humiliated, defamed, excommunicated or otherwise defrocked? Will you suffer loss of reputation? Will you be badgered and hounded to your dying day?

Or can you just exercise your right to pack up and go somewhere else?

It is an extremely critical question. And the answer in Mormonism is an emphatic NO.

That in and of itself is sufficient reason to bail!

Cynthia - 1988

I left in 1988... lost my faith much earlier. Also, because of the non-logic of Mormon life, it was difficult to formulate what bothered me about the church. I am a much different person since I left. AND much happier.

I am enjoying your site. I look at one topic every day. When I decided to leave the Mormons, I had to be secretive. I did not know anyone else who was "losing their faith." I am so grateful to find that I am not the only one.

Dorene Erickson Heiner (now Cunningham) , resigned from the LDS church in 1998. All four of my children also left within the next year.

I was challenged by Christians to study Mormon history and doctrines that were not available to me as a good Mormon. I graduated from BYU, where I was taught how to do objective research, so I entered the task with an open, objective mind. I was devastated to learn that I had been worshiping a false God, honoring dishonest and immoral men as "prophets", and perpetuating these lies to so many others.

Since the most important thing to me was being "right" with God, I left the church after 6 months of study, prayer and fasting. My husband of 17 years quickly divorced me--he was the Bishop of our Ward at the time I left. I have never been happier since accepting the true Jesus Christ into my life. Praise God for pulling my family out of the deceptive, eternally devastating cult of Mormonism.

Julia Cutler-June,, 2004...still waiting for our öfficial letter from the Church. They had a deadline of June 30th and they blew it! Guess who's gonna get a lawsuit.

I grew up in Utah...my whole extended family is still Temple Mormons. My husband, my two kids and I kept getting tired of doing, doing, doing, and never getting anywhere by kissing the butt of the LDS Gestapo organization. I knew I could never earn my salvation or be a "goddess" their way, and I didn't wan't to try anymore. So we left...YAY!!!!!Guess what, yáll? I found Jesus! I have great Christian friends that helped me to see that Jesus loves me, and died on the cross for my sins..I don't have to be a 100% Visiting Teacher, or pay tithing out the wazoo for the Gen.Authorities Limos to get to heaven! I just had to admit I was a sinner, and give my sins to Jesus. After all, he already paid for them! My life now is awesome, and I give all the glory to God!

Besides, who wants to belong to a church founded by a pedophile? Update - May 2005

Just to let you all know we FINALLY recieved notification from Bro. Dodge that our memberships were removed. We waited a year for our letter, and when I finally wrote again asking what was going on, I recieved a terse note from Bro. Dodge stating they'd removed our names over a year ago in May of 2004, at the request of our former Branch President.

Nice that they bothered to tell US....(can't uyou hear the dripping sarcasm???) but I cannot describe the feeling of joy and release. It's over! Praise God! It's worth it.

If you haven't heard from them KEEP BUGGING THEM. Bug Salt Lake. Bug your former bishops and Stake Presidents with threats of lawsuits and turning to liberal newspapers that hate religion (such as the Washington Post or the Baltimore Sun in our area) work well, too.

Since we are military, I threatened to have the missionaries banned from the Army base we live on, claiming they are harrassing people. Don't be nice. This is war, big time. Let them know a cult wrapped in satanic spiritual priestcraft is unacceptable in your life. Especially if you are a born again believer, such as I am. I realized my name is written on the Lamb's book of life. I could not tolerate having my name on the records of that shameful cult as well. Good luck!! It does happen. I am living proof it does! Be persistent!

Pascale Dauphinais-Bujold, (Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada): Officially resigned June 2004 because the LDS-church rejected my husband (a non-member) and I + tried to break-up our marriage + this church is so full of bullshit that it sends shivers up my spine so... I AM SO PROUD TO BE FREE OF IT THAT I COULD BURST, HOORAY FOR FREEDOM!

David - June 14,2005 - I felt that they could not give me the right info. Such as what is grace, they said it was something we had to work for. Have you ever asked a mormon why they don't read the Holy Bible.

Most will tell you because we read the Book of Mormon that is where you find the answers to your prayers. Not only that when you ask for help from the bishop you have to go work off hours first. When the wife and I have asked the Bishop to help with the rent, he had. The last time I asked for help with the rent I was told that the help was not coming from Salt Lake it was being done through the ward itself.

The bishop stopped by to pay a visit to the wife, and after the conversation we, the bishop and I, walked to his car and he told me to leave my wife. I told him that I could not do that as she is a part of my life that God had for the both of us.

I have always felt that the LDS Church was hiding something because every time I asked a question about the truth about the church they wouldn't tell me, therefore I didn't ask them anymore. I knew in my heart that my Heavenly Father would come and tell me myself. If I have to be lied to then I don't need the church.

Tea Davidson, I sent my letter of resignation Feb.28,2003. I loved it and loved it for many years but after an honest talk with my husband dropped it. I realized it wasn't true and it was too controlling. I was YW president at the time.

Emily Davis, December 1, 2004 After reading, in depth, the history of the church, I found many inconsistencies that I couldn't just let slide (the first vision, for one). I noticed that the church hid a lot of its history, as what I read was VERY new to me (i.e. the fact that JS had over 30 wives). I think my major reasons for leaving, though, were: 1) Polygamy being practiced when there REALLY was NO need for it, 2) the church's treatment of women, and 3) The Mountain Meadows Massacre (the fact that they killed children and INFANTS was enough for me to break all ties to mormonism).

Also, the way my family treats me during times of personal distress does NOT match up with the so-called teachings of the church and/or the teachings of Jesus, whom they profess to follow. Unconditional love does not exist in many mormon families... unless, of course, you stay a good, little mormon and don't make a single mistake in your life. Right. Because living in a bubble is SOOO much better than living in the real world. *sarcasm*

JoAnn Davis (AKA "catnip") - 5 February 2005 - Missionaries appeared on my front porch at a time in my life when I was terribly vulnerable. I have to admit that the friends who came into my life when I joined the church in 1987 helped me to stay afloat when it seemed like I was chained to the Titanic.

I didn't care much for the doctrine itself - I thought it was a crock from the get-go, but I figured that I was the one with the problem, since everybody else seemed so sure about it. This sentiment was reinforced when I went to the temple. This mumbo-jumbo was supposed to be "holy" and "sacred??"

Looking back, I believe now that the only reason that I was supposed to be in the church was to meet the love of my life, whom I probably wouldn't have met anywhere else. We were married in 1991 and are more in love than ever. My "other half" no longer attends TSCC (The So-Called Church) but has not resigned.

I sent my resignation letter to SLC in December of 2004 and got my letter of termination of membership in February of 2005. I now attend a New-Age, New Thought church that promotes spiritual growth rather than retarding it.

Deanna - April 2004

I joined the church when I was 18 and left just before my 28th birthday. I left the church because I felt that it is a dishonest institution and that it did not represent itself fairly to me when I was baptized or had questions. I was Relief Society President of a YSA ward when I resigned. You may view my exit story here: exmormon.org/boards/w-agora/view.php

Rebecca M. de Haan, 1998, I left, because when I started to think for myself I saw that that church is a big, enormous, horrible hoax.

Jim Densley, March 1999, I recieved my exit letter in March, 1999,and I celebrated! It was a relief to cut the ties that bind. I saw the errors in the LDS doctrine and the oppressive hierarchy, and how it robbed people of life. Specifically, my own life. Leaving core beliefs, even knowing those beliefs are wrong, was very difficult. Although my view had grown beyond the narrow, Mormon perspective, I still found the decision took extensive thought and debate within my own mind.

Finally, I decided that I could not lend my name to an institution that I believe does more harm than good. I could not be passive, simply ignoring my latent membership. Acting under my own free will to end my membership was empowering, beneficial and a focal point for optimistic change. I recommend extraction from oppression. Give no quarter, lend not even your name to those who would keep you in chains.

Del.Ici.Ous - Dec 1, 2006

My GM got me into it. Then she left for a 3 month trip to Utah leaving me in Michigan to think for myself finally and then I was out. :P

Giordan Q. Del Rosario, 11 January 2001; I served a regular LDS Mission at 19 to see for myself if I believed the Church was true. I knew there was something quite wrong with the LDS Church (too conservative, racist, etc.), and decided to give an LDS mission an honest try, but during my mission, I didn't feel the LDS leaders were inspired, but merely reacted (with or against) according to the times they lived in.

January 2001 (Date of official resignation from the LDS Church when I gave a letter to the bishop)

I realized early on as a teenager that there were really a lot of things hypocritical and wrong with the LDS Church. I left the LDS Church after faithfully serving the "required" two-year LDS proselyting mission at 19-21 in 1997-1999 so that no one in the LDS Church can doubt my sincerity and honesty. After a period of difficulty adjusting back to college life and academics, a close family member's death, and a period of debilitating depression that lasted about nine months, I stumbled upon http://www.exmormon.org/ in September 2000, and from researching there and other exmormon websites, my journey out of Mormonism began.

Shiggy Diggit - July 2007

My family and I willingly left the LDS Church during March 2007, and I received confirmation during July 2007 that our resignation (name removal) was processed to completion.

I was raised in the Church--served a mission, graduated from BYU at the top of my class, married in the temple, and so on. I've had doubts about the Church's truthfulness for a long time, though, and I finally decided to leave this year. Thankfully, my wife decided to follow me.

For everyone's enjoyment, follow the link below to a copy of my rather elaborate leaving letter, which details my story and reasons for leaving. As of today, the letter has been used to notify my extended family members, various ward members (including the bishop), and also friends and acquaintances.

www.postmormon.org/exp_e/index.php/discussions/viewthread/2589/

Any comments or feedback are welcome either here or at shiggydiggit-REMOVE-THIS-PART@hotmail.com.

Larry DiLucchio - A Grant, After serving in the Church for thirty years and having been excommunicated by an abusive Stake President when we pointed out he was persecuting a member for personal reasons, I chose not to resubmit to this inane insanity after the man was removed and I and many others he excommunicated were found to have done nothing warranting that action. The dimented man in question had apparrently been promised in his partriarchal blessing he would accomplish great deeds for the church, but only under extreme opposition.

This precluded any chance on his part he could be wrong, When I joined the Church at age 21, I did so to have a family...the rest I just figured would be sorted out in the millineum to steal a phrase.

For those willing to abandon critical thinking skills in regard to religious issues, for those who believe women are second class citizens, and for those who want to believe the Church's version of its history, rather than the accounts of people alive in those times, fare thee well. The hypocracy of always having to twist the facts so they are "right" is a bit too much for me! It is a cult. It is fiction. I'd rather trust in God.

Laura Di Nunno, officially out May 29, 2000 - There were many reasons why I left, First vision stories, J. Smith's lack of credibility, Book of Mormon changes, Book of Abraham, polygamy, Masonry and so forth. What made me write my letter was seeing a poster, that my niece had, of Egyptian gods and goddesses and what they meant. I saw the alligator and what it meant. I thought about what Joseph said it meant and I laughed. What a joke, I thought. I decided at that point that I didn't think the joke was funny and I didn't want to be a part of it anymore. It was, literally, the last straw.

Thomas E. Donofrio), 1-1-02, Read 'em and weep. www.post-mormons.com

Adrienne Alice Doyle ), Resigned October 2002, official confirmation of resignation March 13, 2003. I left after being in for a year, was in an emotionally abusive marriage and after filing for divorce, there was NO WAY I was going to stay in the cult. Now I'm enjoying life Morg-free, and to further piss off them and my ex, I got myself ordained as a minister so I can do SCA wedding ceremonies that are legally recognized in California.

Joe Done - 8 February 2000 - I became inactive in 1981, once I realized the racist doctrine of the church was still intact. The 1978 change in policy to allow descendents of Native Africans full participation was window dressing for political and public relations, similar to the disingenuous 1890 manifesto against the practice of polygamy. The belief of white purity and supremacy is alive and well in church doctrine and culture. It turns out though, as bad as this is, this is one of the more benign problems produced by church systemic, organizational deception.

Happily, my wife soon followed me into inactivity twenty years ago but did not wish to have her name removed. Interestingly, after my name removal, the home teacher called and asked if they could continue visiting. I told him I had no problem with that but I was not the member and he should talk to my member-wife. I handed her the phone and she told him unequivocally, no. Also, my children have subsequently withdrawn from activity.

I did an in-depth study and completed a 150 page document in October of 1999 which contains four sections; my personal philosophy, problems with Mormon doctrine, a rational examination of the Old Testament and scholarly reviews of the New Testament. I wrote it mainly to explain reasons I left the church to my children, grandchildren and whoever is interested. I mailed the document to the Bishop, Stake President and First Presidency along with my letter of resignation. If anyone reading this would like to read the document, I would be happy to attach it to an email.

My personal belief changed from believing Mormon to Atheist resulting from my study, however during the past several years I have undertaken a study of the afterlife and have found what I interpret as convincing evidence of an afterlife supported by multiple-independent testimonies from sources of high integrity, and scientifically based parallels. I totally reject the hateful god of the Old Testament and the puerile god of Mormon doctrine. I lean more toward a spiritual organization and reality which encompasses everything that is. email: j_done@msn.com

Edu Men - 2000

Finally I got my life on track!. It coast me leaving BYU, lossing a couple of jobs, moving to another country, and now I am on top of the game baby!.

And to think that those bastard professors at BYU said I would never finish a PhD!, Now I get better research than they do!. Loosers

Sincerely:

Mr. I have published in top scientific journals.

Gary Myles Edwards (formerly Gary Edward Church) Resigned April '89, now agnostic/atheist. Less than 2 months of speech therapy enabled me to overcome the stutter that over 20 years of fasting and prayer did not.

The 'ask in faith' cowplop we are fed over the pulpit. If our prayers are not answered the general response is either we lack faith or have a secret unconfessed sin. I'm gay, for years my continued stutter in light of that 'unconfessed sin' was further evidence of The One True Church and gawd's judgement upon me. That despite being a virgin (virgin no mo!!!), the extent of my 'sin' at the time was limited to 'impure thoughts' and the M word.

Elizabeth - May 2007

I left activity in the Church back in the early 1980's. I found out the LDS Church lied about everything. My honesty and integrity meant more to me than appearances. Of course the Mormons believed I was guilty of some gross sinfulness, but I never felt a need to do the "official resignation" until recently.

This year, when Mitt Romney entered the Presidential race, my Mormonism once again became and issue. Active members accused me of dishonesty for calling myself a "Mormon" when I obviously didn't believe the claims or tenets of the "church." Because I didn't want to appear dishones by claiming to be mormon, I sent my letter in, in April and it became official in May of 2007.

I was born into and raised a six generation LDS family in a small entirely LDS community in Southern Utah. Mormonism was more than a religion - it was my way of life, my culture. Now they have even stripped me of my identity. Damn them all to bloody hell! Unless I am a "true" believer then my family were not pioneers, I never experience canning fruit, quilting, food supplies, sacrifice, farming, community, culture or ancestors who committed murder in the name of God. Since I am no longer LDS, I can no longer be me.

Richard and Dawn Elliott, We were both born and raised LDS. We both ran away from home young. He at 16 because he wanted to work. He eventually joined the Marines. I ran away at 11 and never went back. I was sent to a catholic convent, then a girls home, then I joined the Navy. We met in 2000 and both have found our own Christianity and it does not equal the affects that we have seen with MOrgs.

I, Dawn, say MOrgs because there are many types of LDS and I was raised among the worst, straight-assed BLUE LODGED (ALL WHITE) Masonites who are NOW the LEGAL OWNERS of Salt Lake City.

We both have written formal letters of removal but have received nothing. I am now writing another and final one. I shall call the Bishop each time a henchman comes to my door, with a shrilly response of harrassment. Until we receive our letter of confirmation of release.

Lance Ensign - May 3, 2006

I think the event that most influenced my decision to resign my membership in the Mormon church was discovering that well-meaning family members had quietly disclosed my current place of residence to the nearest local ward. They did it out of 'good' intentions (the definition of 'good' among Church members at times leaves me scratching my head) but it struck me as rather devious and creepy.

After my family stealth-informed the local ward of my whereabouts I received both phone calls and letters inviting me to attend. I didn't respond well to these intrusions and I know it left my family thinking, "We may have misjudged the level of his depraved state of apostasy here."

Yet in the months and years following, family and other Church members continued to 'misjudge' my unbelief, so I have resigned my membership from the Church so that such errors of judgement won't occur in the future.

For the record, I'd like to state that I am an atheist, a naturalist, and a strong believer in reason accompanied by use of the scientific method. I have no need to hate or malign or harass the Church or its individual members, but I'm glad to be out of it and I'm happy it's a part of my past--and not my present or future.

Incidentally, it took the Church a while to process my name removal. Although I informed them I'd resigned on May 3, 2006 they removed my name from their records on August 18, 2006. Apparently their idea of a 'thirty-day waiting period' is somewhat flexible.

Arza Evans - December 7th 2003

I am a retired economics professor living in ST. George, Utah. I am also the blacksheep of my family. I am the only one who is not a TBM. I spent two years of my life and all of my college money going on an LDS mission. I have also served in many church positions including three bishoprics and as a temple worker.

About age forty, I started to do some serious research into church history in order to strengthen my testimony. It was heartbreaking to learn of the deception, abuse of power, and immorality of Joseph Smith, Brigham Young and other early church leaders. For twenty years I continued my research and compiled it into a book entitled THE KEYSTONE OF MORMONISM. This book is what got me excommunicated. I also established a website: keystonebooks.com.

I am happier out of the church, except for the trouble it has caused with my family. They are not interested in anything that I have learned. They don't want me to talk with them or their children. They seem to love the darkness.

Darrick Evenson, I joined the Church on the last day of 1978, then went inactive for 17 month due to anti-Mormonism, then returned and served a mission. I wrote a defense of the Church (_The Gainsayers_) which was written in 1985, but not published until 1989 (still in most LDS bookstores). Many things bothered me about the Church; especially that the Office of The First Presidency was now DENYING it ever taught the Curse of Cain doctrine!

Hinckley REALLY wants to change history to make the Church look better to the World. I saw too much hypocrisy in the Church. Too much love of wealth and materialism. These things were not of God. I went totally inactive in 1989. After the Hofmann episode I really didn't believe the Church was divinely-guided anymore.

I began to see, however, that the 1890-91 prophecies of Joseph Smith were fulfilled in Baha'u'llah; founder of the Baha'i Faith. I became an official Baha'i in 1994, and officially resigned from the Church in 1996. In case you're curious: The 1890-91 Prophecies of Joseph Smith: Christ Returns In His Glory

Nicky F - Free on 26th June 2001

I was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for almost half my lifetime. I served in the Relief Society, Primary and the Young Womens Organisations within the Church, and I served a full time mission.

Two years ago I began searching for answers to some questions I had; important questions. Things that mattered to me. I grew tired of hearing that I had no right to be questioning, that simply by doing so I was offending God and on the road to personal apostacy. I had already grown tired of hearing that "whenever the leaders have spoken, the thinking has been done". I had heard all too often that we needed the express approval of Joseph Smith to gain exaltation! I wondered where Jesus figured in all of this, because His role in Mormonism is second-fiddle to Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, et al.

I learned for myself that Mormonism is a lie. A cult. Anti-Christian. When I was investigating the Church back in 1977, had I known then even HALF of what I know now, I never would have been baptised.

The real history of the Mormon church makes me sick to my stomach, and the way the leaders lie, deceive and abuse the members appalls me.

The Mormon Church is NOT what it claims to be and teaches false doctrine. There is no room for Jesus Christ within this shadowy and sinister organisation fronted by lying, deceitful, dishonest, money-grabbing, soul-destroying, mentally abusive con men - far from the prophets and apostles they claim to be! The Mormon cult brainwashes its members, forcing them to live like mindless automatons who are not permitted to question anything, and can read only "authorised" church church books and magazines. These men expect members to hand over 10% of their income with absolutely no explanation of where it goes, and to serve the church with absolute and total loyalty, at the expense of family. The entire leadership is a dynasty of liars - every single one of them placing himself over and above Jesus Christ.

Only within the last two years did I learn that there are NINE versions of the 'First Vision' and that Joseph Smith BOASTED that He was greater than Christ. As an endowed member I attended the temple many, many times during my membership but saw only when it was pointed out that when Adam asks Lucifer about the apron he is wearing, Lucifer replies that it is a symbol of his power and priesthoods...and then everyone stands and puts on their apron! As a tribute to Lucifer???? Also, Adam claims he is using the 'true order of prayer' yet he is answered by...Lucifer.

Mormonism is evil. What it teaches is evil. It wounds the spirit, breaks the heart, and destroys lives. As soon as I woke up to reality I left, and am now dedicated to teaching the truth about this horrendous cult.

Windy Lynn Farnsworth, February 1998 - I began to have doubts about the truth of the church when the Joseph Smith papyrus was discovered and returned to the church. The church published an article in the Deseret News about the discovery. I first read Nibley's book, then discovered what legitimate scholars said about it. I found out that Smith's translation was totally false. I also began to boubt the validity of the Book of Mormon when the scientific community uncovered a growing body of evidence of the Asian origin of the native American peoples. I felt that the church must be able to pass academic scrutiny. It didn't, so I left.

Loren Vincent Fay - Resigned from LDS membership in 1993 after the folks in Utah were exed for being intellectuals, feminists or gay supporters so I decided it was time to exit the church when I heard of that. When I went to give my "Gay Mormon Story" talk at the Boston Sunstone Symposium that fall, I was told that about 200 others had also resigned for that reason as well. By the way, my session had standing room only and I was surprized that so many people wanted to hear my story.

The next year I was called by the new ward bishop to ask if I understood the thing I was requesting. I said yes, as people like me had no future in the LDS church. As a self-accepting and respecting gay member, I would not have callings and would not advance in authoirity in the church, so would forever be "damned" by the teachings of the church.

I had already joined the gay MCC church and had been attending the 1 pm services there for two years and had stopped any financial support of the LDS when I came out to myself several years before that, because I didnt want to support a church that does not accept me as I am.

The September 1993 exes in Utah became the last straw that made me write that simple letter to resign my LDS membership.

Jennifer Fleischer, Date Varies - I first submitted my resignation Dec. 03, 1992 but was ignored until I threatened them 6 months later when I recieved my letter of resignation, 18 months after that I discovered my name HAD NOT BEEN REMOVED and I started the process over again. Finally freed April 1995. An ancient history major at the time, I sought to learn all I could of LDS doctrine only to find out the lies. The more I read, the more I discovered the fraud. The final straw came when I was learning Egyptian Hieroglyphs for school and came across the "Abraham Papyrus", it's easy to prove it false when you can actually read it.

Alex R. Flores - February 2007

I converted on July 9,2000 at the age of 19 in the Claremont Singles Ward.

I left because too much "letter of the law" BS was flooding the church with these crazy rules (no R rated movies - my first doubt about the church,underwear,certain ways you can have post marital sex,political philosophies,etc.) that focused more on obedience and less on charity. It's bad enough I was brainwashed but for the last two years I was heartwashed as well.

On Xmas day of last year, I was doing reasearch on R rated movies regarding the church and decided to click on RfM and it all became clear...I was duped. Well, I'm no longer duped now. I can finally drink caffeine and go to a theater (I've been renting on Netflix behind their backs) to see an R rated movie I have interest in.

Also, the 2nd thing that made me question the Morg was their Republican bias in everything.

Jeffrey Fogt, August 2002. I quit because I finally learned the truth--that simple. I went on a mission years ago (although I left early) and began to doubt the church there. Only in the last three years have I even paid enough attention to it to decide to have my name removed. I have my "exit letter" from church headquarters framed.

Terry Foss, 1998 - I finally was exced last summer! I had asked to be removed from the roles back in 1995 but they were sooooo slow. I raised Hell and in a few weeks I got my letter of excommunication.

Thomas W Foy - 1980.

I was ex'd in 1980 at age 28. I told my bishop I had gay inclinations but would not act on them. That was when President Kimball had a revelation that even if you had gay thoughts and were celibate you could still not be a member of the Church. By the time that doctrine eased somewhat it was too late-the Church had lost a devoted member in me. At that time I endured the unneccessary exile of excommunication and expulsion.

I have only recently begun to talk with a few LDS friends again, after 25 years. By now though, after those initial years of needless shame, I still don't have any hard feelings toward the Church itself, and I realize that any faith I have cannot be controlled by a bunch of old men. I served a mission to the Andes and graduated from BYU in 1972. I was a little too street smart to confess any gay feelings in either place, as I knew what happened to queers-I was not about to submit to their shock therapy.

Over the years I came out and became a proud and militant Gay man. I have shared a relationship with a wonderful man for over a decade, have cared for people with AIDS for 22 years as an RN. i have raised hell, proudly. I am very happy with my life despite what the "Bretheren" yanked from me. I knew too many great LDS guys whose lives were ruined (and a few ended) by the hatred of Church officials for me to ever forgive the Bretheren for their sins.

When I was ex'd I was told by another member "Your name is blotted out of the Lamb's book of life forever and ever". Now how would that make someone feel? Fortunately I found my way to spiritual and intellectual feedom. I am one of the lucky ones.

Read my story but do not weep, for I am content. Read it and condemn me if it makes you feel better, but your prejudice cannot harm me. And if you are of a like mind, rejoice in the freedom of another of your brothers.

Blessed Be!

Mike Freestone - 2005

I was raised Mormon, but my path to "apostasy" or True Peace and Joy was a long and drawn out one. It all started when I was twelve years old and the bishop had drilled me hard to see if I had a problem with masterbation... when, low and behold, this same bishop was excommunicated for committing adultery the following Sunday. I realized at a young age that I couldn't just trust somebody because they claimed to have some godly title bestowed upon them.

Years later, on my mission to Seattle, WA, I had a companion that discovered the church had lied to him. He gave me a few items regarding the "Book of Moron" that caused me to not read it for six months of my mission. Of course the brainwashing took over for a while and gave me temporary amnesia again.

I returned from my mission in March of 1990 but had attended the temple over thirty times prior to 1988 when all the freaky oaths were still around and with the other Freemasonry crap! It was a real shocker for me to read, just weeks after returning from the mission and atending the temple again, an article starting on the front page of the Arizona Republic by Steve Benson, which discussed what was taken out of the Secret ritual. I was suffering alot of confusion at this point but amazingly still claiming Joe was a prophet and proceded to attend Ricks and BYU. While attending college I had many callings in the church and began to see that most leaders were not inspired but fairly confused but claimed to have the power of discernment and the spirit -- what a crock of crap!

OK, there is much more to this story... but in brief, I resigned but my wife and six children still attend the cult of Mormonism.

It was only three years ago that I got sick and tired of being in the darkness and playing the brainwash game and actually said a prayer asking if the church was NOT true... a couple of days later somebody at work approached me out of the blue and said, "I have something you might want to read." It was "Mormonism: Shadow or Reality." I was laughing my head off when I saw how ridiculous the Mormon church was. I am still amazed at what I continue to discover about how dark and evil Joe Smith really was.

From SLC to Rome - 2001

7th generation Mo, RM, BYU grad, Temple Married, etc., etc...peeled back the LDS onion and found problem after problem, lie after lie, euphemism after euphemism....its all there if anyone has the courage to look...lost a testimony that I never had...found Jesus Christ by the grace of God through the Roman Catholic Church and I have never been happier. Praise be to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit...one God forever.

Harry & Marlie Galer - 10/14/2005

We resigned after 30 years of blind faith. Thanks to our son-in-law for his courage to seek light and knowledge we were able to seek after truth as well.

It took us a year to wake up and search for truth. We felt that our son-in-law was hiding an unresloved sin for many months before we finally figured out that he had left the church for other than "hidden sins." We have since apologized to him and we are both now official "non-members".

Our son remains faithful to that church and we respect his right to continue to believe that church, as he has come to respect his parents right to be apostates, a label that we wear proudly.

It was our branch president that helped us wake up when he suggested that it was our fault that our son-in-law had left the church, because we were not attending the temple often enough, in his opinion. After a brief WTF moment, we went home and began surfing the internet for further light and knowledge on the "real" history of the LDS church.

Richard Garrard, April 2000 - Proposition 22 and other LDS church political activities; their continued Orwellian changes to doctrine and history; my growing confidence in myself and unwillingness to live someone else's life, for another's approval. Also, I have found a far more valid identity as a humanist, which is fundamentally incompatible with the blind faith, conformity, irrationality, supernaturalism, inhumanity and tortured apologetics of Mormonism.

Gary , left the "church" around 1982, about 3 months after I joined. I was living in Conyers, Georgia and was searching for something and found the "church". It didn't take but about a month to realize that the people were freaks. They kept wanting more and more money and more and more of my time. I stopped going after a month and a month later I got a call asking why I wasn't attending. I just said the beliefs of the "church" were not consistent with mine. They asked if I wanted my name removed and I said yes. About a month after that 2 guys drove into my yard at night and got out of their car. I scared the shit out of them because I was sitting on my front porch with the lights out with a mini-14 assault rifle. Actually I was waiting for the assholes who kept destroying my mail box, but it was fun to see these geeks when I showed up out of the shadows with my rifle. They handed me my "get out of church free" letter and got the hell out of there. I must have laughed for an hou!

I wish I had kept the letter, but I lived in the country and burned all my trash, so it didn't last long. I have really enjoyed all the posts from other people who have had a close call with this cult.

Alan Geddes, June 12, 2002 joe smyth was a fraud. The book of mormon is a fake.

Rosa Gerth, In May, 2002 after 32 years as an active member, I received a letter from the LDS church, notifying me that I was no longer a member of that organization. (Translation: I was no longer one of the listed suckers!)

It all started when I wrote a letter to the first presidency, after asking the "knowlegeable" of the ward, with no luck, for explanations about the book of Abraham. (I had accidentally come across the fact that the translation of the facsimiles that we see on the book of Abraham do no match in any way the translation by egyptologists, even lds egyptologists.)

A month later, the bishop called me into his office and waved a letter at my face, which he said was from the first presidency. He informed me that he had been ordered or (counseled) to excomunicate me. Well, I went home that day and started the process of resignation from the lds church. Whay stand a trial when I had comitted no crime? I was in no mood and had no time for a trial, even the church kind of mock trial.

I guess serving a mission and working very hard in all of those "jobs" they oppress members to do was of no value, as well as the 25 years of marriage and three children I bore to my husband - he sided with the bishop and the members of the ward, who have ignored me in general, after 15 years of attending the same ward; for my husband threatens to divorce me at every opportunity. I guess he resigned from that "love" he used to claim he had for me the moment he knew I had resigned from the lds church. I haven't agreed to divorced him yet because of my children; my youngest child is l5 years old. By the way, my children never really liked the church. Now they hate it, for all the turmoil it brought to our lives.

The Bible says that we should know someting by the fruits that it bears. THESE are the LDS fruits.

Kristen Gilbert, February 18, 2003: I stopped attending at 18 and left at 26. The very little I knew about the LDS church didn't make sense and so I never did buy into it. Too much common sense, I guess.

Glen, I converted to the Moron church when I was a college student in Utah. I grew up overseas and became orphaned as a teenager. When I went to Utah to study, I met the Mormons. And their Missionaries. Very friendly people, always seemed happy, always ready to lend a hand. So, I took the baptismal plunge.

As time passed, I studied "scripture" and the church's literature. Being a Historian, and living in Utah, I ended up doing some college papers on Utah/Mormon history. I used a lot of original materials housed in the U. of Utah and in BYU - by the way, library officials at BYU at some point denied me access to library materials when someone realized what I was writing about -.

Through this study I came to the conclussion that "the church," its ideas and the way of life of its members are all a sham. It looked more as if this was a cult, led by some very charismatic individuals, and followed by a large number of ignorant and sheepish people.

Just a few months of receiving the Mormon "baptism" I sent a letter requesting the removal of my name from the records. A "bishop" called me and told me it could not be done. I sent another letter, and the church bureacrat responded that I would have to meet with him and other members of the "ward" to discuss "disciplinary action." I simply replied that I was getting a lawyer and taking "the Church" and all the "ward" and "stake" leadership to court. That I did not recognized any religious authority of any kind and that he and the "brethren" could all go to hell for all I cared. Amazingly, within one week I got a very professional letter from SLC, a two liner, stating that my name had been removed from their records.

I still have a few friends who are LDS and who every now and then ask me about "coming back." I am an Army war veteran (Iraq), been around the world, and can truly say that mormons are some of the oddest people I have ever met.

Oh, and, by the way, there ARE atheists in the foxholes! My war experience (infantry, front lines of the invasion) never, ever made me think for even one split second about "god." Or "Jesus." Or "Joseph." The only thing I cared was if my M16 was clean enough to light-up a crazed Saddam-fanatic . . . Editor's note: Glen, if you check this, please send in the date of your official resignation. Best wishes and thanks for serving in Iraq.

Greg G. Glover, February 27, 2002. I left because I am a true believer in God, Jesus and the Holy Ghost. You see, God told me to go and start my own church. It took me about four months to understand why but I now know. It is because He knows and I didn't that the mormon church is based on lies and that the leadership is made up of a large group of nonbelieveing business men.

My life was threatened by these poeple. I'm glad they are cowards and I'm glad that I payed them no attention. I received my confirmation letter in July 2002. It was dated June 21 2002.

Yes I truly believe. I believe that God speakes to me. I also believe He speaks to you.

Elizabeth Grand-Jenett, I was sitting in a church meeting in 1987. When it was over I went into the bishop's office. I told him that I would not be returning and that I did not believe in the JS story. I knew him, liked him as a person, and thought it would be a respectful act--to be truthful about why I would not return.

He said, "I understand that you do not believe it, but what about your kids?" HUH? Now why would I want to raise my kids to believe in something I did not believe? That seemed like an odd question.

If Joseph Smith had had only one strange incident happen in his life, such as having a visitation from an angel, he might have been more credible......but he decided to go for the gold:

Finding these plates and translating them, the plates disappearing? The goofy seer stones he presumably used to translate the book? the fact that a good chunk of the BoM is nearly identical to the Book of isaiah in the Bible? The Kinderhook plates? the ridiculous papyrus translation, his infidelity, becoming a "general", running for president, coming up with a temple ceremony that just happened to be the Masonic temple ceremony, trashing the printer's office who printed the truth about him, having a bunch of revelations that just happen to tell his followers that only he would receive revelations from God? calling those supposed revelations "DOCTRINE!?!" and on and on it goes......well, that's too many far out stories for me.

I left in 1986 I think. They did excommunicate me when I told them to leave me alone. I did not then nor do I now care if they have my name anywhere on their records.

I feel really sorry for all the people who still buy that load of crap. Probably just as sorry as they feel for me. I wish them luck. They are generally good hearted people, but so misled.

Van Thomas Gray, Jr. aka "albuqueerque" - April 2006.

I'm convinced that the only way anyone can believe in the mormon church is to hide in a bubble of ignorant complacency. Education trains one to think logically. As I researched church history, the unvarnished, un-whitewashed truth became apparent. Everything fit together and made sense; the church is a total lie. I laugh at how church apologists try to make sense of things. Their convoluted reasoning defies church doctrine (at least the doctrine taught last year, a decade ago, or a century ago - take your pick).

Kate and Simon Green plus five children - Left 2003, Resigned 2004 - After joining TSCC (The So Called Church) in 1994 we lived and breathed Mormonism for almost 10 yrs. Finally, after years of self loathing, guilt and a feeling that the joy had been completely sucked out of our lives we dug deep enough to discover the church was a load of BS and were able to leave as a family. One of the catalysts for the search for truth was knowing that our daughters were about to go into Young Womens and that once there, their individuality, beauty, intelligence and potential would all become stifled,lost and replaced by a manufactured falseness that would lead them into a submissive culture and a life of compromise. Although we thought we joined the church out of a sense of "family", in the end it was the love for our family that helped us to get out.

We had bought into the church beliefs so fully that we truly did worry that if we left, our lives would be terrible and our family would suffer. It didn't take long at all to realise that without the pressure and limitations of the church, life was better than we ever imagined. It's been 2 yrs now since we walked out together and our lives have the level of joy and fun that we used to crave as church members. Our family ties are closer, there is a much healthier balance amongst all of us....no more male priesthood power trips...justso many benefits I could fill pages!

We can look at our time in the church without the bitterness that we felt for a while early after leaving. As they say...everything has it's opposite, and without the misery and fear and limitations imposed on us by that god-awful organisation, we may never have appreciated how sweet life is without it. Not that I'd recommend joining a cult just to get see how great life can be once you escape it!! lol

Dennis and Janice Greenwood, November 3, 1996 - High Council Court excommunicated from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

DREAM OCTOBER 30, 1996 In my dream I saw the Stake President Bernards looking for me at Sam Wellers bookstore downtown Salt Lake City. He entered the front door as I was leaving the store, he looked right at me but he did not recognize me. He had a look of total frustration on his face. The spirit told me to cross the street and watch. I saw him ask for me, I also heard the complete conversation. As he left the store the spirit told me he is looking for you so he can excommunicate you from the church. He walked down the street. Then I awoke from the dream.

I awoke from this dream, and got up in the morning and got dressed. I had not been up for a hour when the Bishop called me and said that he would like to come over to talk with me and my wife that night. I had only been working for about a week in the construction business. I told him that it was a Wednesday and I had an art class to teach and my wife was busy with my daughter at a church young women's meeting that evening. He said okay he would try to get back with us later. I knew the reason why he wanted to talk with me. The dream I had last night, I said within myself that was sure quick, they sure don't waste time. I worked all day and went to teach my class and my wife and I came home about 9 o'clock p.m. about 9:30 there was a knock at the door, it was the Bishop, Stake President and a Counselor to the Stake President. The three men came in and we sat down to talk.

They ask me about my beliefs for the first time in three years. They ask if I believed and would follow Gordon B. Hinckley the Prophet of the Church, I said no, that I relayed upon revelation and followed Jesus Christ. I was asked why would I go through all the effort to get re-baptised into the Church and not believe in the Church doctrines. They asked my wife if she believed as I did and she said yes, she stood on her own. They asked me again, "Why would you go through all of this effort and not have my heart in the right place?"

I responded to their questions by what the spirit told me to say, "It was a test to show that they had not the spirit of God, for if they had the gift of the Holy Ghost they would have known my heart all a long." Their mouths dropped to the floor, my wife buried her face in her hands out of fear, and the Stake President pulled out of his pocket two letters already prepared to inform us of our excommunication court on Sunday November 3rd.

They knew before hand what they were going to do, the letters were typed and signed before they came over to our house. Not once did they try to come over and talk to us and say they had concerns over our membership in the church. Not once did they come over to try to help, or see if we needed help of any kind.

John H., left July 2003 My brother challenged me to find the difference between praying to a rock and God.

Over the months I watched a few blessings of the sick. When they got better it was seen as a miracle but it was always something that had a chance of happening all by itself. When they got worse I remember the excuses being - "not enough faith", or "unworthy" or that "God was testing them". No matter the outcome God was not allowed to fail. Every outcome was a success. But couldn't the same be said of a rock?

It dawned on me that there was no difference. This was the first of many mind tricks I realized I was using to fool myself.

Later I remember a general authority giving a talk about truth. He said in essence that you first must have faith. And if you continue your faith will increase. I changed the words in my mind to see if the logic held.

My version: "You first must have faith (which is gullibility). And if you continue being gullable your gullibility will increase!"

Another: "If you tell yourself it's true, you'll come to believe it."

Could these statements be said by Muslims or other religions - YES. What if the thing they had faith in was obviously false? Then their faith would not increase. What if your faith did not increase about something told to you by the Mormon church. Then you have the problem. This is the same kind of thinking as "praying to a rock".

I had found another stupid mind trick all by myself. Over the next few years all my superstitious beliefs were being replaced with real logic - the kind you find in Science and critical thinking textbooks. But I found that the Mormon church hates knowledge. You can ask all the questions you want until the questions become good questions. Then the church freaks out because they know they don't have good answeres. Wow - what a journey.

I finally got the courage to leave the church. I have lost friendships and closeness to my Mormon family, but it is much better than being stupid when I know better.

John Haake, June 2002, as an avid church history scholar I knew something was greatly amiss in the current church as compared with its origins. I unfortunatly took a detour through fundamentalist thinking before realizing the whole thing was just a big scam. I wish my family could have exited with me.

Desiree A. Hackett, 1999. I left the LDS Church mostly because I did not believe anymore that the Mormon church was the only true church. I was very disappointed in the doctrine and in a lot of the people that I met. I was even more disappointed that I could feel the promptings of the spirit and that I didn't get struck by lightning when I decided that I would never go back. Married a pagan and decided that I would rather spend an eternity in Hades with my hubby than to spend one day without him in Mormon Heaven...that was what triggered me actually sending in my exit letter.

Vivian Hadden I left the Mormon Church in 1986. I joined with my parents and most of my siblings when I was 13. I left because I was never worthy enough to get answers to my questions and I had to sneak into my stepdad's library to read his wall of LDS books, most of which I think, as a girl, he would have been very upset about. I finally had it when my daughter brought home the Godmakers. Took me awhile to read it as I was a pretty good Mormon and knew I shouldn't even touch anything that resembled anti-Mormon books.

I called for an appointment with the bishop of our ward, went in and when he asked why I no longer wanted to be a member, I told him hecause he could never be a god. After a few months with no 'excommunication' which they did give anyone who left, at that time, I published my intent in the local newspaper of my small town that had a very large Mormon membership. I got my letter pretty fast after that. I will always be greatful to my grandmother who took us kids to a Christian church when we were very young. What I learned there about Christ stuck. Praise the Lord for his mercy to me and my children. They are out of it too and very happily attending the churches of their choice. Christian churches, I might add.

Thank you for letting me share.

John Hagberger, Jan. 2005 I can't believe all the information available showing the church is a bunch of crap. The DNA evidence is as obvious as it gets. The Book of Abraham fiasco is heartbreakingly stupid. For years this and other information has been available. Can the Mormon church leaders be this stupid or have they been lying the entire time. I can't believe they are more nieve than the regular members. Shame on them for perpetuating half baked holy moronic stupidity! It gives me the ultimate body shivering creeps that I was part of it. Ahhhhh!

Kerry Hales, on or about 23 August, 2001 - I took the red pill.

Evelyn J. Hall, August 1993. I left because of many things. I had been baptized in 1952 "just in case the Mormon church was true," while still a Methodist. Married a Lutheran. The home teachers tracked us down. Dear Hubby wanted to leave Lutheran church and have all those great Mormon friends that "loved" us into the clutches. He got baptized 1961. Sent to SLC Temple May 29, 1962. Got sealed. Had 4 kids. Made them marry Mormons. 32 years later a Jehovah's Witness told me that the Book of Mormon was a myth and asked me how it could be quoting Jesus' exact words out of the New Testament in 600 B.C? Duh? Never thought of that one! Had a vision of the cross and what it stood for and meant and dream about Jesus telling me that he came for the "whole world not just a "select" group of people. One thing led to another and I resigned as did one daugher and our son became inactive. Two daughters and families are still active. Hard to be around them if anything "religious" comes up. Thanks for allowing me to vent!

Melissa Hannum - February 7th, 2007

I sent the "letter" of resignation. I joined the church back in September of 2005. Looking back I felt "rushed" to get baptized all on feelings and not logic. I believe I was a number in the missionaries monthly goal. The Home Teachers sucked - hardly ever visiting, Visiting Teaching sucked - they plain forgot me. I learned that no matter how good it sounds, people are going to let you down. So that made me start learning the history and other religions. I took what I want and left the rest. So no more organized religions or cults for me.

Boyd Tillman Hansen, year 2000. When you live in the dark you fail to see, when it becomes light, the truth is revealed.

Dave Harlan, (unofficial: October 21, 2001) (official: September 17, 2002) What was their deal? I don't think there is any certian way to get your name off the list. These guys should have done it earlier. Word to the wise people: if you are a non-member...DON'T EVER DATE ONE AND BE SERIOUS WITH HER, look at me. The church is a pack of lies as is the Bible, Book of Mormon, and the book known as "Do-what-Joseph-Smith-Hath-Written-Or-Else" (or known to the rest of those pack of liars the Doctrine and Covenants)

I'm a Deist and I'm very happy to be one. I'm a Deist...I thank Him, not ask Him.

Robin Harmon, August 2001 - no reason listed.

Bert Harris, 2004. DNA, DNA, DNA. It was difficult to see my cherished beliefs ripped apart by such eloquent science. The pain is still so real. But I have now come to the inescapable conclusion that the Lamanites never existed and all that entails. So I begin my exit letter tonight. How should I tell my parents? It will be like spiting in my mothers face. Oh well...brace yourself mom.

Pam Harris, February 16, 2002

Reason: I was not brought up in the church from infanthood and my belief in god and angels was pretty lackluster as a child. I would have rather rode my bike out on a country road than listen to biblical stories. So when my brother converted to Mormonism and returned home to my parents' house, he felt the need to draw us all into the fold. My mother fell into step and I was dragged along and at the age of eight, I was baptised into this distorted world of fallacies. As a child I saw a lot of inequality going on, between the sexes, between the races, between old Mormon families and recent converts, etc.

I became resistive and eventually my mother allowed me to become inactive. 30 years went by and I was pretty much left alone UNTIL the birth of my children and it seemed missionaries, elders and visiting teachers were at my doorstep, calling my home, mailing me sheets to update my current family status (funny thing is, they only had one sheet on me and a lot of misinformation...oh well, got to collect those tithes and keep the money-making machine running...to hell with anything factual).

I snapped. I made a decision to remove this beast from my life entirely (and that includes my brother) and I am much happier for it. I wouldn't go back for all the tea in China.

Gaylan Harrison, 1998, Don't agree with the history and doctrine. Also wanted to wear black underwear.

B. Hatfield, I decided I wanted to start living again.

Teresa Nielsen Hayden, formerly Teresa B. Nielsen, May 1980. You can read the long version here: http://nielsenhayden.com/GodandI.html

The short version: Because they lied. Because they acted like I was stupid, and expected me to go along with it, and blamed me when I didn't.

Because my wise, hard-working, and deeply spiritual Granny couldn't hold the priesthood, and my doofy 12-year-old brothers could. Because they told me that the boys in my ward somehow acquired a mysterious power and authority when they attained the priesthood -- only they were still the same boys I'd grown up with, and I knew better.

Because the boys got to be Boy Scouts, and have all kinds of nifty activities, and go to scout camp, but the girls at most got a few days at Camp Lo-Mia, and nothing the rest of the year. Because they told me that letting the boys win somehow constituted "supporting the priesthood."

Because the first time I had a run-in with Boyd K. Packer, I was barely in my teens, and he was speaking to the children and teenagers at a family reunion. He spoke against women working outside the home (which my mother and my grandmother and most of my aunts did), and suggested that those who did so were doing it for selfish and frivolous reasons (which I knew wasn't the case). Then he said that if women had to work outside the home, they should find occupations that didn't cause them to lose their femininity. I was stonkered by that one for ages. Lose your femininity? How? Where could I sign up? ...Years later, it occurred to me that women never talked about losing their femininity, but men talked about us losing it quite a lot. It came to me that what they meant was that we shouldn't behave in such a way as to make them feel like they'd lost their masculinity.

Tough noogies. Not our problem. Not my problem.

Why else? Because when I was still in elementary school, I could tell that the language in the Book of Mormon was an awkward imitation of the King James Version of the Bible.

Because I never thought it was all that miraculous that Joseph Smith had written the Book of Mormon. I loved science fiction, and I read everything I could find about the people who wrote it. Making up one book's worth of fake history is no big thing. I've grown up to be a professional science fiction editor, and I still think it's no big thing.

I still don't think it's an impressive book. If he'd gone to some good writing workshops Joseph might eventually have turned out a halfway decent novel, but The Book of Mormon isn't it.

Because the rest of the world's religions don't spend half their time sitting around telling each other how they believe all this stuff is true, yup-a-roonie, true true true. This is pathetic! Mormons bear their testimonies all the time because they're worried about believing, not because they believe.

Because God doesn't need to lie.

Dave & Julie Hawk and our 4 children received our discharge letters on Jan. 28, 2003. We left because we were tired of being the dishonesty in regards to the church's history, and the problems with the Book of Abraham, the DNA problem with the Book of Mormon, etc. And we don't believe we need to know secret handshakes to get to heaven!

Good to be out!

Helen(Helen, please email in the date of your official resignation from the LDS Church) I left for three reasons:

1. After a very sheltered upbringing in the church, I learned as an adult that a large majority of members do not keep the commandments; incest, adultery, divorce, etc. were just as common (no more, no less) than the non-Mormon society as a whole. By their fruits ye shall know them, and I found the fruits of Mormonism to be not much different than anyone else's fruits (with the notable exception of cigarettes and alcohol and prozac).

I detected a change in Utah Mormon attitudes regarding money and materialism. Utah's bankruptcy rate confirms this.

2. I never had a prayer answered despite what I had been promised if I kept the commandments. I basically became an agnostic.

3. The doctrine was just too unbelievable, and I include the Bible in this. I have to laugh at those who leave the church because they found the BOM to be unbelievable yet still believe in the Bible. The Bible is just as big a joke as the BOM.

Ross Hilder, 1998, I realized I didn't believe in the mormon god, so why would I want to spend the rest of my life trying to become one? Then I realized I already am god.

Chris Hofman, September 2001

Valerie S. Humphries and children:William F.J. Humpries, Kaitlin C. Humphries, Codi J.D. Humphries, July 1996 - Cause of Death: Mormonism

M Hughes - 1998

It feels good to be able to express to the world why I left the Mormon church. It began when I started questioning excommuniation at 16 years old. I was a very good kid who had never drank and was a virgin. But I felt so unworthy and imperfect in the church. I decided if I felt that bad in the church I should try it out of the church. So I left.

This was also after one day when I refused to go to the 3 hours of church and only to Sacrament. My dad said no and I had to go to all. So I went to none.

After Sacrament before class he came home to tell me that I was worthless, would never amount to anything, and so on. After he left me completely devastated, he went back to church to teach his class. I tried to take my life. That is why I then left.

I have never regretted that decision. But my family could not accept my decisions. I got married and they kept sending the church my new addresses so I had my records removed. The bishop warned me about my eternal condition. Do they not get what a cult the church is.

This weekend I went to my sister's wedding. Well, I stood outside the temple. I am not able to put my "sinful" eyes on their temple dresses.

My other sister who is a jack-Mormon said that she had heard that they bless your body parts in the temple. I decided to check on the Internet. I am disgusted on what I have read goes on in the temple. Why would you ever let a stranger touch your body and rub oil and water on your private parts. I have lost about all respect for my mom and sister. Kathy, Staci, you need to think for yourself.

I am so glad I have the emotional freedom to love my Savior in His perfect state who loves me for being the person that I am. That knows my heart fully and recognizes me for the loving person that I am. That died on the cross to atone for my sins so that I can be with him someday.

Blake & Betty Hyatt, April 1991, After many years of study into church history, we had to get out. The Mormon Church is just like a cat in a kitty litter box, covering up you know what.

Susan Hyatt, 1995, I had my name and all three of my children removed in 1995. Why? Well, who can believe that stuff?

Jake - January-2003

I left the church 3 years ago.I was a convinced Mormon out of convinced Mormon parents and even served a mission in Austria about 6 years ago.

About 4 years ago I met this girl Megan, things went well and we decided to get married. She was different from the other grey-Mormon girls. She was not a 600 pound slab of girl that's for sure.The relief society president and her husband kind of became her advisors. They told her a lot of stupid stuff like she is to sassy, they had something against me and things started to get worse everyday. She started being disstant.

I talked to the bishop and told him that they told her"you are beautifull and can do much better then him"He told me to forgive them and all that crap anyway he did not do anything. I was so angry and said things like this can't happen in a "real church" what is going on here?

I started studying about the church and doctrine and got scared about many beliefs that were "hush-hush". My testimony started to disintegrate. I found out that the church is a bussines feeding on peoples money. I took that wonderfull decision to get out of the church, then I fought with my family, told my girl-friend to get married to the relief society president and sent my papers. They all started "come back to church" and all that junk but nope.

Now I am free ,the church is in a "Bygone Age" a dark age. I got married last year to a non-Mormon (a normal woman) and I could say that I am still a missionary because the company that I work for has sent me 6 months to Croatia. I might be like a missionary but at least I am a free missionary.

Scott & Lynn Jenkins, 03/03/2003 After finding out some very interesting facts, we left as a family, at least the mormon church taught one thing very well. I never want to be controlled by any group again, such as who and when I can talk to someone.

Jennifer - 02/02/2002

I left the church after my parents got divorced, and the "Bishop" decided to blame my dad and accuse me of supporting his "immoral" descisions. I could not belive that any church of "GOD" could allow people to do this, especially when they are the "Chosen" of the flock. IT'S ALL BULLSHIT!

Carol Elaine Jensen , 6 October 1992 I removed my name because: "I submit that Jesus Christ IS God...for Isaiah 43:10 states...I further submit that I was repeatedly lied to by the LDS Church....”This dates back to the first discussion I was given...was told that Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon from the golden plates, when he in fact spend a majority of the time translating the plates with his face down in his hat....A second lie...was that Brigham Young did not teach the 'Adam-God Theory,'...I spent three bitter days in the BYU Library constantly affirming in numerous documents that Brigham Young indeed taught this and many more things that the 'brethren' of the LDS Church deny...'...the devil...for there is not truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”....Instead of trusting in my own abilities to earn acceptance with God (Temple attendance, Temple marriage, genealogy, etc.)

My trust is now in Jesus Christ. I cling to the message of Ephesia! ns 2:8-9...Jesus Christ has rescued me and set me free...I wish to be totally free of the bondage of satan and insist that my name be immediately taken off the rolls of the LDS Church at my request, for any other action would be to invite legal intervention."

Eric Jensen - November 14, 2004

Agnostic/Atheist. I've finally stood against the coercive brainwashing ways and declared no belief.

Jim and Cindy Jensen - May and October 2006

In 2001, Jim served as second counselor in the bishopric. He was released in 2002. When he was released, he told me he no longer believed and wasn't sure if he believed in God. He said he would no longer attend meetings, pay tithing, or attend the temple. He said it was ok if I wanted to. My son and I remained active for a couple of months after that. For 4 years even though inactive, I still wanted to believe. Jim never pressured me to quit and allowed me to find it on my own.

A google search for something unrelated to the LDS church led me to the Recovery from Mormonism board. The short topics turned my world upside down. I was devastated. For 2 weeks, I read and cried and read more. I did research every chance I got. After two weeks, I went to Jim and told him what I had found. He said he had also found the RfM board and knew the lds church was all a lie but that he had been waiting on me.

He resigned in May 2006 and got his official letter in August after the stake president sat on it. I resigned in October 2006 and got my letter in March of 2007, after numerous phones calls and threats of lawsuits because the stake president sat on it. I should have resigned when he did but I was afraid so he said he would go first.

Our ward never called, never visited, or love bombed us. It was as if we never existed. My fears were unfounded. It is a shame that we have that fear about leaving a church. We sure don't miss it.

I was a convert and my family was thrilled. Jim's family comes from pioneer stock so they were less than thrilled. When we told them, they basically did what the Ward did. We just don't exist for them. It's all about family you know, hah!

We are happier than we have ever been. Freedom is a wonderful thing.

Jessie - February 2006.

I finally made my decision to leave the church officially in November 2005. I had already left it emotionally (as much as I ever could considering the damage it's done). I am looking forward to starting my new life as a "normal" person.

Big John Johnson, I left the church in 2003. I served a mission, married in the temple, served as YM president and then EQ president. Then I found out about all the crap the church has been hiding.

Jennifer B. Johnson, Savannah Johnson, Sariah Johnson and J. Elijah Johnson - My name was already submitted to this list previously by my husband Lowell who left with me in July of 1998 and officially in Dec. of the same year. I submit my own entry now because my husband has rejoined the LDS since we moved to Las Vegas where I was quite surprised there were as many Mormons as there are.

I renew my assertions of Mormonism being false and will never grace the footsteps of a Mormon church again as will my children never do so. I only hope my husband will continue to study and realize the error of his ways. I continue to believe the Mormons are so great at fellowshipping and making you feel a needed part of the community because of the lack of spirituality involved in the whole process. They have to make up for it somehow.

When we left we were harrassed, threatened with eternal damnation, told our children would no longer be sealed to us (a threat I'm not sure they thought much about seeing as how if we no longer believed their crap.

Anyway our children were no longer sealed to us) and whatever other scare tactics they could use to get us to stay. I have no regret and have had none since July of 1998 at my decision and celebrate that I am no longer under the auspices of their mind control and pray daily for others to find their way out as well.

To those who think us ex-Mormons are whiners who can't move on with life are misinformed and don't understand the whole picture because they have either never experienced the effects of a cult or are still under the influence of the Mormon church and are not ready to face the prospect that it