My Full Name*
DOB: Censored*
My Street Address
My City, State, Zip
April 5, 2010
Member Records Division, LDS Church 50 E North Temple Room 1372
SLC UT 84150-5310
I am writing this letter to inform you of my formal resignation from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. My resignation is effective immediately. I hereby withdraw my consent to being treated as a member and I withdraw my consent to being subject to church rules, policies, beliefs and 'discipline'. As I am no longer a member, I want my name permanently and completely removed from the membership rolls of the church.
I have made the decision to resign my membership after much research, thought, and consideration over the last ten years. Further, I am aware that, according to LDS policy and doctrine, my resignation cancels all blessings, baptisms, ordinations, promises, covenants, and hope of exaltation. I understand that I will be "readmitted to the church by baptism only after a thorough interview". (Quotes from the current Church Handbook of Instructions.)
My resignation should be processed immediately. I hereby waive any 'waiting periods'. I am not going to be dissuaded and I am not going to change my mind. I will consider any unnecessary delay to be a violation of my rights of free association and freedom of religion as guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution.
I also insist that my resignation be handled with respect for my privacy and full confidentiality. I insist that no church representative may discuss my resignation with any persons other than those church officers who are processing my resignation and name removal or those who must be informed in order to carry out their official church duties and to ensure that I am not contacted further. This is in accordance with LDS official policy (CHI pg. 130).
If any church official speaks of this matter outside of official channels, or if my resignation is not handled promptly, I will consider legal redress.
After today, the only contact I want from the church is a single letter of confirmation to let me know that I am no longer listed as a member of the church. Any additional contact will be considered by me to be unnecessary harassment and I will seek legal counsel as appropriate.
My reasons for resigning my membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints are too numerous and varied to be described sufficiently here. In addition, I don’t believe that there is any need for me to explain myself. But, I must register complaints regarding a few of the policies and activities of the church. I find the treatment of women, homosexuals, and racial minorities to be disgraceful and disgusting. That the church encourages its members to participate in the passing of legislation that legalizes discrimination (Proposition 8 in California and Proposition 1 in Maine) and in the prevention of passing of legislation that guarantees equality (Equal Rights Amendment) makes me ashamed to have ever associated with the church and its members. Church leadership would do well to remember that church headquarters are in a nation whose constitution guarantees separation of church and state and that the tax exempt status depends upon the church refraining from political activity. I fully support any and all movements to have this tax exempt status revoked.
My membership record may be under the last name ‘Husbands last name’, which is my husband’s last name. However, I never legally changed my name and any change in my church records was done without my knowledge or consent.
Sincerely,
My Signature
My full name
