Note: The author has given
Faith and Reason Forum permission to
put his Resignation Letter on our website. To protect
identities we have left out personal
information (such as names, addresses and
date of birth, where applicable) of the
author, Bishop, and Stake President.
The addresses in Salt Lake City have
remained in the letter since they are
public record.
This letter is authentic (no additions or
deletions have been made) and bears
the truthful testimony of the author.
LETTER OF RESIGNATION
OF A FORMER MORMON
DATE:
Bishop _______
_____________
_____________
Via: certified Mail
Re: Membership of Resignation
This letter will serve to inform you that I wish to resign from membership in your
church, “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints”, and I henceforth deny and
renounce any and all connection thereunto.
I request that my name be immediately stricken from all Church records.
I insist that the Church record reflect that the only reason for termination is my
statement of resignation and not the result of any action initiated on the part of the
Church or its representatives.
I request a letter of confirmation to that effect be sent to me. Should it become
necessary, I will not hesitate to bring legal action against you personally and the
Church corporately, if anything is done or said to libel my good name or cause any loss
of reputation. Further, I will not hesitate to make this request and y our response
public.
I request this action be completed within 30 days from the above date.
This demand is made freely after much prayer, years of study, and with the full
understanding of the consequences of this act, as taught by the church. I take this
action after coming to the realization the LDS Church is in error in most of its teachings
and doctrine. I can no longer ignore the teaching of false doctrine, the revision and
redacting of Church history. I can no longer rely simply on that, “burning in the
bosom,” for my eternal salvation while ignoring biblical and historical truths. I can no
longer rely on obedience to the church’s teachings and ordinances. I can no longer put
on a “happy face,” and pretend that all is well when my studies reveal that I’ve been
trusting a lie.
My trust for eternal salvation is now in the free gift of the shed blood of Jesus. I can
no longer place my eternal destiny in the hands of any person claiming to be a latter-day prophet or membership in a church or priesthood. I have placed my life at the foot
of the cross and my name has now been recorded in “The Lamb’s Book of Life”
(Revelation 20:15, 21:27).
For your information, among the major issues that have lead me to take this action
are:
1. Joseph Smith was a false prophet having failed every test of validity of his claim
(Deuteronomy 18:20-22, and Galatians 1:8). His failed prophecies alone prove they
were not from God and that we should have no fear of Smith or his words. He is guilty
of leading people to another god, false prophecies, teaching false doctrine and lying.
2. The Church’s current version of Smith’s claim to have seen God and Jesus in bodily
form contradicts his original hand written version and Brigham Young’s account as
spoken from the pulpit of the tabernacle and recorded in the Church publication,
Journal of Discourses. This story did not evolve until well after Smith’s death and also
conflicts with the biblical nature of God.
3. The Book of Mormon is not of divine origin, but rather, a text Smith compiled from
the King James Bible and secular writings. Had the almighty God been involved in the
writing of this book, it would not have required constant revision and would not have
needed over 4,500 changes. God is not the author of confusion nor does His Word
change. Unfortunately the golden plates have disappeared as miraculously as they
appear, so translation from a language we have no other record of, can not be verified.
There is absolutely no trace or evidence to support the geography or existence of this
purported advance civilization. This evidence does not just completely vanish in just
1500 years.
4. The current version of Doctrine and Covenants has been rewritten, added to, and
whole sections deleted to suit the political goals of the Church and the protection of its
leaders. The Bible (and Book of Mormon), is very clear in stating God’s word does not
change. Likewise, the Pearl of Great Price and its claimed origin, including the Book
of Abraham, is pure fiction and not from God. Assuming that “truthfulness” is still a
requirement to obtain a Temple Recommend, should the “Church” or many of its
leaders (past and present), appear before you seeking a Recommend, you would have
no alternative but to deny that request were you to remain true to your calling.
5. A cornerstone, upon which the Church attempts to justify its existence, is the claim
to accept the King James Bible as God’s word, “as far as it is translated correctly.”
However, when asked numerous times to detail the verses that are not correct, no one
has been able to point to a single verse and explain the supposed translation error.
There are now in existence over 26,000 manuscripts from the 1st century available to
us, written in many languages and from many countries, all copies from the writings
of men who walked and talked with the Lord. Were there errors in translating these
early documents, it would seem very obvious and easily proven. Clearly, the Bible has
not been changed by “corrupt Priests and fat Jews” as Brigham Young Proclaimed.
Sadly the Church relies on the Bible only as a public relations tool in an effort to gain
unsuspecting prospects and seek credibility within main stream Christianity while
ignoring and perverting it’s Biblical truths.
6. I have come to realize that the god of the LDS temple ritual is Satan, who teaches
doctrine to Adam and Eve, and whose apron every patron wears, and to whom Adam
prayed and was answered, and to whom all temple patrons have cried,“Pay Lay Ale.”
These rituals were introduced to the Church by Smith six weeks following his initiation
into Free Masonry. The Temple rituals are not from God, but rather copied from
Masonry, which has its roots, and current practices rooted deep in the occult. My
Savior will not require me to meet him with some cloth veil, wearing secret underwear,
greeting Him with assorted hugs and hand shakes while chanting mystical secrets in
his ear in a futile effort to be found worthy to enter his presence. He paid the full price
of my admission with His shed blood.
7. I reject the origin and authority of the priesthood. The 3 who are sited as restoring
the priesthood, never held that office, nor would they have been eligible to hold it.
How could they convey something they do not possess? The need for a priesthood was
ended with the coming of Christ. He himself declared, “I am the only High Priest after
the order of Melchizedek.” Unto all men (and women), who believe on Jesus and
accept His gift of salvation, He has given all the authority and direct access to His
Throne.
8. Since becoming a Christian and born again through faith in Jesus Christ and that
alone, I have become increasingly aware that most Mormon doctrine is tainted or in
error. There are numerous false doctrines and teachings used by the Church to gain,
and retain control of the lives of its members. Eternal progression, the very nature of
God, polygamy, gospel restoration, blood atonement, the law of tithing to buy entrance
into the temple are but a few. Everyone teaching these false doctrines will one day be
required to stand in judgment before Christ as the Great White Throne of Judgment,
and account for their actions.
I have attained great peace of mind since coming to a personal knowledge of my Lord
and Savior, Jesus Christ. I now have the assurance that my eternal salvation is not
dependent upon my own futile attempts at righteousness, church membership, my
good works or religious rituals. I no longer have to wonder if, “I’ve done enough good”
to be found “worthy.” My salvation is now secure in Jesus because of the cross. He
has taken All my sins and paid my penalty with His shed blood on the cross.
I would personally encourage you to examine again the unchangeable words of God
that have helped me so much. The first eight chapters of the Book of Romans, the
Book of Galatians, the second chapter of the Book of Ephesians and the Book of John,
all very clearly spell out the errors of Mormonism and how man may be saved.
Salvation comes from a “Relationship,” not, “Membership.”
I pray that you also may receive His salvation, a salvation that can only come from a
complete trust in Jesus as your Savior, and for you to lead your family also into His
saving grace. Remember, “Salvation is of Grace, not of works, lest any man should
boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).
While this prayerful decision to renounce membership in the LDS church is
irrevocable, I would however, in Jesus name, welcome the opportunity to discuss the
reasons that led to this decision.
Submitted in the name of my Lord and my Savior, Jesus Christ.
Name
Address
D.O.B.:
Cc: President Thomas S. Monson
50 East North Temple