Civil Nations
Yesterday, in downtown Salt Lake City, a large group of people gathered to formally sever themselves from Mormonism. Their signed and notarized declarations were then sent to the First Presidency of the Church. The story was picked up by the New York Times. A part of that article stated:
“Some said they no longer felt any ties to the church, but others said resigning their faith had never been their first choice. They still had a brother who was a bishop, a father who goes to church every Sunday. One woman who refused to give her name, saying she did not want to antagonize her family, said she had waited until after her mother died to resign.”
If you recently (or not so recently) had your name removed from the records of the Church, I wish you well. You will be missed. To say that you experienced trauma and pain at several points in this journey is, I’m sure, an understatement. I hope you heal quickly. Furthermore, I’m told, by many that have taken this action, that they experienced a great deal of peace—a release of long held pressure almost the moment they severed the ties that bound them to the Church. I acknowledge your new-found peace. I respect you.
With that in mind, I elect to stay in the Church. I hope you wish me well. While I have questions, I have not experienced trauma and pain to this point in my journey. I hope you acknowledge my state of well-being. I experience a great deal of peace as a result of my membership in the Church—it is a long held treasure to me. I hope you can acknowledge my peace within the Church. I hope you can be happy for me.
What I appreciate about the nameless woman from the New York Times piece is that “she did not want to antagonize her family” even to the point of waiting “until after her mother died.” Her act was an act of simple kindness. Of course, you need not wait until someone near you dies to act upon your will and conscience. However, this woman showed an impressive sensitivity to those around her. In the face of her own struggles, she was remarkably kind to her mother. A desire to not antagonize at this intense and culturally strife-laden moment in time is quite remarkable.
Minimize or negate the antagonism. This may be a phrase for all parties to live by at this time. And once again to those that have left. Remember, please remember, you will be missed. And I hope your departure from the Church is not a departure from friends and family. Those relationships ought to persist regardless of other differences.
Here is the story from the New York Times should you choose to peruse it.
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