Here is the next part in the running story of my leaving the LDS Church. This portion includes, in the attachment below, my reply to my former Elders Quorum president for the letter he sent me in response to my leaving letter. I emailed this document to him yesterday, and he sent me a quick message to acknowledge receipt and to let me know that he would get back to me. I'm a little ashamed because the reply ended up being almost like a sequel to my leaving letter.
Enjoy,
Shiggy
P.S. For those who need a recap, here is the history so far:
* An End to Cognitive Dissonance - A Leaving Story
Geez, Shiggy, thanks to you, I've gotten nothing done work-wise for the past hour!
I started reading your letter, got about four pages in, then looked down at the page count and nearly fell off my chair....28 to go??? But I couldn't stop reading. You had me spellbound. My hat is off to you!
Excellent thought process and development, concise on the difficult points, yet diplomatic....wow!
And I will forever remember that closed belief system is a suitable synonym for cult. I think I'll just call it CBS from now on.
The CBS of Mormonism. Kind of has a ring to it, don't you think?
Crime Dog:Geez, Shiggy, thanks to you, I've gotten nothing done work-wise for the past hour!
Ha ha ha. That doesn't surprise me to hear. I really wish the reply hadn't ended up being over half the size of my already quite long leaving letter. The poor guy's gonna take another month to reply to me.
But I couldn't stop reading. You had me spellbound. My hat is off to you!
Well, at least it was an enjoyable hour off from work, eh?
And I will forever remember that closed belief system is a suitable synonym for cult. I think I'll just call it CBS from now on.
Yeah, how'd you like that I quoted from one of your earlier posts and referred to you as an "acquaintance"? I didn't exactly want to say, "Yeah, so here's what this guy from Postmormon.org thinks about your letter, buddy boy!" I didn't think that would earn much credibility, but I still wanted him to hear what you had to say.
Did you also notice that I made use of the signature quotes from various people her on Postmormon.org. That was another nice touch.
And yeah, I did substitute "closed belief system" for "cult" since active Mormons really turn off when they hear that term used with their religion. I think CBS sounds good, though. We may have started a new acronym to fit alongside all the others, like TBM and such. From henceforth and forever . . .
Cult = closed belief system = CBS
So it is written, so let it be. "Eeeeexcellent, Smithers."
I am very impressed as to how well you have put things across in your replys.
They too, were civil and yet contradictory to themselves. Perhaps the greatest
lie is to ourselves isn't it? I would love to be a "fly on the wall" when you
ex-bishop and EQ Pres are in a room together discussing you..(smile)
Thank you for sharing this..it is good of you because afterall it is a personal
matter in many ways.
I have a feeling we have not heard the last of you...the way you write
and your intelligence could benefit those who only learn by recommendations.
My heart breaks for what you must have gone through in this process..to
study and believe and then acknowledge all the "I don't knows"..and pursue
the truth even though it shakes up the world around you. I feel that you
are seeing a world that many of us are trying to see...those horizons for
others are still far away. Thank you in any case for giving many of us
direction.
I would love to be a "fly on the wall" when you
ex-bishop and EQ Pres are in a room together discussing you..(smile)
Candygal
Discuss Shiggy? No way! He is now relegated to that class of people from the "other side of the wall," as in the M. Night Shyamalan film The Village. He has become one of Those We Do Not Speak Of. (Ending sentences with prepositions is cool in Shyamalan's world)
You see, the church is The Village. It's town fathers are the GA's. The perimeter that surrounds The Village and keeps its people safe is made of doctrines, endowments, and standard works, manned by the faithful, who sound the alarm should Those We Do Not Speak Of breach the defenses. Then everyone jumps down their cellars (Testimonies) until Those We Do Not Speak Of have gone away, and The Village is no longer in peril.
What the villagers do not know is that the perimeter is not real. It's only in their heads. Yes, there's a scary forest just beyond the perimeter, but in reality, it's not filled with danger, but with wildflowers, and trees, and butterflies, and squirrels, and deer. Those We Do Not Speak Of are harmless. They're just you and me, living our lives in truth and freedom from religious tyranny. The danger Those We Do Not Speak Of poses is phony - it doesn't really exist. Those red clad denizens of the dark are actually their own leaders and apologists. They know the truth but use lies to frighten and control them.
But it's for their own good, don't you understand? Some things that are true are not very useful. We must protect them from the real world! The Village is our safe place! Stay in The Village, and you can be with your family FOREVER! Go into the woods, and you will never, ever see them again!
So it's up to the few, brave truth-seekers to go into the forest, and learn of the truth, and bring it back to share with The Village, and......oh CRAP! Did I just spoil the movie for anybody? My bad.
Crime Dog,
You are great..and with all dramatics you have given truth straight
forward...I need to get out of the village...but wish that we could
sound out farther and faster...because "Those We Do Not Speak Of"
are some of the bestest people I know.
Thanks..
I will definitely think about it!! Working overtime today and already
have my bathing suit on underneith some shorts...ready for a swim...but
can I have pomegrant juice with vodka?? Beware, I do dumb things like
the "hokie pokie" when I drink! (smile) You guys are great!!
candygal:Get out of the water Crime Dog...and move on to a nice barbecue..I am on my way!!!
Better put your trunks back on, Crime-dude. The ladies are on their way.
You are not going to believe this, but <cue Twilight Zone music> as I was reading your post, my doorbell rang. It was a couple of my son's female friends, over to take a dip in the pool! I can't go out. Still working. Dammit! Where did put those stupid binoculars??
candygal: I would love to be a "fly on the wall" when you
ex-bishop and EQ Pres are in a room together discussing you..(smile)
Yeah, thanks but no thanks. It would probably be pretty annoying to hear the terms in which they spoke. "Shiggy just doesn't understand the true joy that the Saints have in this mortal realm of ours. He needs to be humbled and brought down low to feel the Holy Spirit of our Beloved Lord and Savior, even Jesus Christ. Let us now form a prayer circle to ask that he fall from his prideful perch." Okay wait, I made that last part up.
Thank you for sharing this..it is good of you because afterall it is a personal
matter in many ways.
Hey, I don't really care myself. I like to share. Somehow I think my former bishop and Elders Quorum president would be the ones surprised to know that their letters are posted all over the Internet, albeit anonymously.
I have a feeling we have not heard the last of you...the way you write
and your intelligence could benefit those who only learn by recommendations.
Well, truth be told, I do have a semi-secret project that I'm thinking about working on, something that I would want to be the ultimate pro-Truth missionary tool. I'm still trying to decide if I really want to do it, though. It'd be a long-term project, would take a nice chunk of time, and it could bring me infamy in active LDS circles. Not sure I'm ready for that.
My heart breaks for what you must have gone through in this process..to
study and believe and then acknowledge all the "I don't knows"..and pursue
the truth even though it shakes up the world around you.
Don't worry about me. I have happily stood by my decision the entire way because it is based on the Truth and not some flawed myth. Despite any consequences, I have absolutely no regrets, and the leaving experience wasn't really that bad. I think the reason for that is (1) my wife followed me immediately and (2) my long leaving letter shut up pretty much anyone who wanted to question my decision. The moral of the story: Write such long leaving letters that no one will bother you. Okay, just kidding.
Alright then...long words..long letters...that will work for me..I love to
write eventhough I accidently misspell things..I think faster than I can
type. But hey...keep your project going..what a waste if you do not do
what is kind of "your destiny"..those semi-secrets are what keeps the
world dark..others may need to understand your process..so keep sharing!
Candygal
Reply_to_EQ_President.pdf (File Size: 471KB - Downloads: 253)
