Mormons Quit Church in Mass Resignation Ceremony

[Hissyspit]

Source: Reuters

Mormons quit church in mass resignation ceremony

Sat Jun 30, 2012 9:07 p.m.
By Jennifer Dobner

SALT LAKE CITY (Reuters) - A group of about 150 Mormons quit their church in a mass resignation ceremony in Salt Lake City on Saturday in a rare display of defiance ending decades of disagreement for some over issues ranging from polygamy to gay marriage.

Participants from Utah, Arizona, Idaho and elsewhere gathered in a public park to sign a "Declaration of Independence from Mormonism."

"This feels awesome," said Alison Lucas, from West Jordan, Utah, who took part in the rally amid soaring temperatures. "I don't know if I would have had the courage except in a group."

The Utah-based Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is known for its culture of obedience, and the mass ceremony was a seldom-seen act of collective revolt.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSBRE86000N20120701?irpc=932

[Mira]

1. WOW - this could not come at a better time for all of America. n/t

[Voice for Peace]

9. hopefully they are progressive Obama supporters

and the media will seize on the stories, as one after another
they tell their bizarre tales about Mormonism and why Romney is
dangerous and insane.

[kestrel91316]

13. Sadly, since there is mention of the dispute involving polygamy,

I suspect this is Mormon FUNDIES leaving in a huff.

Polygamy is not done in the mainstream LDS church now. No official would ever condone it. It may go on unofficially, but never as part of open church policy.

[roguevalley]

16. this is a massive thing for a mormon, especially a utah mormon. they don't even

allow magazines shown that don't have modest pictures on the cover. This is a lifestyle as well as a religion and for anyone to quit let alone publically, its massive.

[FreeState]

33. "they don't even allow magazines shown that don't have modest pictures on the cover"

What? Can you give an example?

[roguevalley]

49. they put cover things in front of women's magazines that have bare

arms and such at the grocery store. Truly.

[FreeState]

54. I lived in Utah for 10 years - I saw that all the time

You must be thinking of some other state because I even baught porn in Utah.

[roguevalley]

56. you can buy it. that isn't the thing. They do have the covers over the covers. They

do the same here in some parts of alaska. Utah has the highest rate of porn consumption in america.

[MADem]

27. I think these guys might be more liberal than your average Mormon...

Among the reasons cited by those resigning are the church's political activism against gay marriage and doctrinal teachings that conflict with scientific findings or are perceived as racist or sexist.

Others cite inconsistencies in the Mormons' explanation of its own history, including the practice of polygamy. The church renounced plural marriage over a century ago as Utah was seeking statehood.

Asked about the resignations, a church spokesman said the church loves and respects each member.

"People make their own decisions about the direction they will follow in life," spokesman Michael Purdy said in an email. "While there are very few who take this action, it is sad to see someone choose to leave. We wish them well."

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-06-30/news/sns-rt-us-usa-utah-mormonsbre86000n-20120630_1_mormon-culture-church-spokesman-president-brigham-young

[kestrel91316]

30. Oh I missed all that, lol. They appear to be liberal. OF COURSE they

are being excommunicated. There is zero tolerance for open liberalism in the LDS.

[FrodosPet]

46. Leave the church? How dare they!

Now in the Church of $cientology, you are ostracized and "dead agented" for your treason!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientology_controversies#.22Dead_agenting.22

[AZSharksfan]

45. It wasn't

I was there and quoted in the Reuters article and none of us were fundamentalists. The reporter asked me what issues I talked about with the bishop initially and it included polygamy and polyandry and the way they are taught versus the way it actually went down. Polygamy is still part of the mainstream church, it is still in the mormon scriptures and still believed to be necessary to be a polygamist in heaven. It is still practiced in a way also - when a wife dies the husband can remarry and be sealed to the new wife, so he is technically sealed to multiple women. A couple of the church apostles are in this situation.

Those issues were not why I ultimately resigned, though, which were my objections to the church's teachings on homosexuality, race, and gender.

[MADem]

48. Hi! Thanks for posting that clarification --it is wonderful to hear a first-person account.

Welcome to DU, btw--hope we see more of you.

[goclark]

2. Amazing!

Finally, even if it's just a few -- simply amazing!

[freshwest]

4. I wonder which of the two groups was the majority, though?

One was progressive, the other regressive.

[alfredo]

38. Sometimes the act of a few brave souls emboldens others.

[XemaSab]

3. Sounds like some resigned because the church was too conservative

and some because the church was too liberal.

Sort of like Obama's supporters.

[MADem]

28. The Chicago Tribune coverage (see above) said it was because the church LIED about why they

had polygamy, not because anyone in the resigning group supported it.

I think all these people were of the liberal to moderate persuasion.

[freshwest]

31. Thanks for the clarification.

[Ken Burch]

5. My grandfather quit the Mormons(and was put through an excommunication

Last edited Sun Jul 1, 2012, 09:02 PM - Edit history (1)

in which he was told that he'd be unable to communicate with my grandmother in heaven as a result)because he felt the Mormons were a "men's only" church. This was a damn advanced thing for a millworker in Mill City, Oregon to do in the 1920's.

I think, in a way, he'd be with these people in spirit.

[Festivito]

14. Seem like a man who knew his communication would go on unhindered.

Both can soar in a son's affirmation of their own spirit.

And, from someone who can't dedicate the time and energy you do in good cause, I couldn't let your post go unanswered. Thanks for what you do.

[davidpdx]

17. Mill City Oregon

I'm from Oregon and didn't even know where that was. I thought the town I grew up in was small. Wow....

[Ken Burch]

19. It's in the Cascade foothills, as you drive towards the Santiam Pass

on the way to Sisters and Bend.

[davidpdx]

21. Yeah I saw that on the map

I've seen the turnoff from I-5 as I'm speeding back and forth between the southern and northern parts of the state.

[Rozlee]

32. Sort of like how the Catholic bishops are threatening to excommunicate

those in their congregations who support abortion rights and gay marriage. The world is progressing and these religious dinosaurs are in the bullseye of an impact event that is, in turn, threatening their own religious organizations. The Church is already shedding members, a half million estimated world-wide every year. Ten percent of the U.S. population are former Catholics and younger members are turning their faces away from the faith completely. It would be great if Mormons performed a mass exodus as well. But, they're not a just-on-Sunday religion. Their faith extends into every facet of their lives and they have a powerful social and professional networking system that rewards them with school and job referrals and recommendations that keep them connected in home life, work, college, and binds them together in a, well, cult-like fashion. But, most of us know that already from the comments I've seen posted here. Like one of my former supervisors who went to a convention in Utah once told us after a meeting with some Mormon contractors (who'd tried to convert him, natch), "Those people are spooky. They all have the same smile."

[Ken Burch]

42. And, how they DID excommunicate Father Roy Bourgeois, the leader of "SOA Watch"

Just because he took part in the ordination of a woman.

I think Benedict is trying to drive all the progressives out of the Church and make it into an institution that is just as personally and intellectually intolerant as Wahhabism-it's possible that he sees that as the only way to compete with that other faith.

[onehandle]

6. But Mormons are normal. The billboards that the church put up to support Rmoney say so. nt

[FreeState]

34. What billboards?

The only ones I have ever scene have been part of a PR campaign that has been going on for over 20 years (yes they update the messages on them and the imagery but they are part of an ongoing ad campaign)

[backscatter712]

7. Most excellent! I can't think of a better way to call out the Church of Morm^Hon on their bullshit!

I hope the news about this spreads!

[closeupready]

8. Good for them. K&R

nt

[cgnick]

10. The sad thing is that they will face persicution from church members. nt

[catrose]

29. True.

At a minimum in their social life and family relationships, but also if they are working for Mormons--and it's pretty hard not to in SLC.

[Bozita]

11. Just wondering what Willard Rmoney will say about this.

I'm betting on crickets.

[davidpdx]

18. Crickets it will be

It wouldn't serve his purpose of getting elected and would harm him if he commented. They'll dance around it.

[Jack Rabbit]

36. . . . and crickets it should be

This is about the private religious beliefs of individuals. It's not a campaign issue.

[alfredo]

39. I wonder if Willard was the catalyst?

[Arugula Latte]

12. Anytime anyone walks away from religion it's a good thing.

And an angel gets its wings. Okay, not really for that last thing.

[gopiscrap]

15. That's interesting

I would have to have seen that!!!

[KatChatter]

20. But can one really quit the church?

I looked in to quitting the catholic church and you know what, you can't! Once you are baptized short of excommunication you are a member for life and they can and will count you as a member to make the numbers look good. I even asked to be excommunicated too to get out.

Granted I have not gone to church in well forever but I would like to be removed for the roles.

The LDS may be the same way, one can baptize dead people who were not even members.

I think churches should only count active members who attend weekly, the church attendance numbers in America would be much lower then people claim they are.

[FreeState]

35. You can have your name removed from the LDS church records

So yes it is possible to leave - but you do have to jump through some hoops to do it (write a letter and wait a month for a letter to come back saying if you dont do anything you will not be a member in 30 days. Its pretty simple actually.)

[hedgehog]

22. These people were very hurt by their church one way or another.

They are risking very much in leaving. I hope they find happiness on their journey.

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

23. Did Bill Maher Officiate?

[goclark]

43. Wow! That was funny! K

[Hubert Flottz]

24. I'd hate to be around when the repo man comes for their magic unterhose.

And their child wives!

[MADem]

25. "...known for its culture of obedience...."

What a phrase!

[Turbineguy]

26. I need another cup of coffee.

[L0oniX]

37. Stupid cult!

[alfredo]

40. The possessor of the golden plates is

Angel Moroni. Was Joseph Smith playing a joke on his marks?

[Jackpine Radical]

44. The term was not in common use in Smith's time. And of course there is no evidence

that he knew Greek, or even pretended to, although he did make up words & claim them to be Hebrew. For example, iirc, the old Mormon-founded town of Nauvoo, IL was so-named because Smith claimed Nauvoo was Hebrew for "Beautiful."


From the Online Etymology Dictionary--

moron
1910, from Gk. (Attic) moron, neut. of moros "foolish, dull" (probably cognate with Skt. murah "idiotic;" L. morus "foolish" is a loan-word from Greek). Adopted by the American Association for the Study of the Feeble-minded with a technical definition "adult with a mental age between 8 and 12;" used as an insult since 1922 and subsequently dropped from technical use. Linnæus had introduced morisis "idiocy."

[alfredo]

47. I stand corrected.

[grantcart]

50. Or both he and the angel knew what it would mean in the future

and both had a cynical sick sense of humor!

[alfredo]

53. Angel Moroni was the author of the Aristocrats joke.

[and-justice-for-all]

41. Good for them!! nt

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

51. My father and I got into a major argument over the issue of modern day Mormons.

I tried to tell him that there is an entire segment of the Mormon population that is NOT traditional, and is in fact very socially progressive. He dismissed me. Even became angry. He thinks that there is no such thing as a progressive Mormon. I countered but he just kept on in his defiance.

I can now send him this article.

Thanks!!

[leftyohiolib]

52. "Latter-day Saints is known for its culture of obedience". all religions are based on obedience

[EmeraldCityGrl]

55. I've read some of the ex-Mormon forums...

they not only despise Rmoney, they sometimes have an
unique perspective on what makes him tick. Many are
PTSD survivors from their experience in the organization.
To think those tactics, crafted and refined to cause such psychological
pain are done so by the current GOP candidate.