f*cking mebership records

[smileyeagle1021]

Not at all. There's no requirement to shun disfellowshipped or excommunicated members, any more than there's one to shun non-members. Smiley is still Smiley, just not a member anymore (assuming the paperwork actually goes through).

well... there's what the rule book says and what actually happens... but I've been inactive for over a year now so it's not as if I have contact with that many people who would shun me... the few who are going to shun me for leaving the church already do so because I'm gay... so...

yeah... I'd settle for never getting those "we've noticed you've been gone a while, we want you to come back" calls... or having to fear church discipline (which even as an inactive member I'd be subject to if I didn't leave the church).

[RayvenQ]

What exactly is it they can do to discipline you if you don't eve go and aren't active, bad mouth you?

[jedimaster91]

Big Love shows a portion of an Endowment Ceremony? Go nuts.

From what I've seen, the members are making a bigger stink out of this than Church Leadership. Granted, I don't live in Utah, so I don't know if it's a bigger deal there. I for one am extremely offended that a TV show is waving around something I and most other members think of as sacred.

Smiley, I'm sorry you're having so much trouble with this. Kudos to you for recognizing your need to make the break. I've often wondered why some people make it clear they want no contact from the Church whatsoever, and yet don't request to have their names removed. Good luck.

[smileyeagle1021]

update

For those who are keeping track...
Membership Records FINALLY sent me confirmation that my membership has been removed and that the church will only contact me if I request further contact.
It's over... I no longer have to fear church trials for my choice to come out... no longer do I have to worry about people with the best of intentions continually trying to pull me back in... it's finished. Thank you God.

[Kiwi]

YAY well done Smiley!!!!!!

Im so glad its over for you, good on you for having the strength to fight this.

[SG15Z]

For those who are keeping track...
Membership Records FINALLY sent me confirmation that my membership has been removed and that the church will only contact me if I request further contact.
It's over... I no longer have to fear church trials for my choice to come out... no longer do I have to worry about people with the best of intentions continually trying to pull me back in... it's finished. Thank you God.

Yay!

Here I found a hot gay geek just for you! He's a little shy though, so don't scare him.

[LingualMonkey]

Awesome. Best case scenario achieved!

[Shpepper]

Yay for Smiley. I've been watching and hoping that the outcome would end up being the one you wanted.

[PepperElf]

*hugs teh smiley*

yay.

i felt bad about all the stress they were putting you through.

are you sure they're not a branch of AOL?

[Bella_Vixen]

Congrats!

are you sure they're not a branch of AOL?

Am I the only person, with the possible exception of Becks, that DOESN'T hate AOL?

[Sliceanddice]

first yeah smiley!!!

second damnit now i should try to get my membership removed...
unlike you i havent been in just about 6 years.
because when i was 13 and feeling suicidal and realise that the fact i never looked at boys and was alway looking for girls might mean im gay, i tried to turn to the church. but since im shy i first looked through the youth handbook for some ideas, and say that they believe homosexuality is unnatural and that if you believe you may be gay you need to counsiled until you are cured and you can be a full fledge member. and since im a woman i kept hearing you have to go to college and get job training even if you never use it.
it suddenly clicked.

i am only expected to marry some man and produce lots and lots of mormon babys. im not expected to work unless the husband loses his job or we have more than 4 but less than 8 kids. that me being attracted to women meant they had less mormon babys to their credit.

also i may have been confused and depressed thinking something was wrong with me but i have never! believed that homosexuality can be cured. i was hoping to find that the church was alittle bit more excepting so if i talked with the bishop i wouldn't be going straight into lets save your soul and into lets see if we can help you.

[smileyeagle1021]

slice, you may want to go about the process... as I've discovered it can be a royal pain, but it can also be a relief to no longer have to be told you have to decide between your faith and your sexuality.
People may be surprised to find out that I converted to the church. I knew I was gay, but I did not want to be gay, I was very insecure with my sexuality. The missionaries promised that if I did everything I was supposed to do, God would give me the strength to solve my problems. Giving credit, they did not lie... I did everything I was supposed to do, tried to give up who I was... and by doing so realized how important it was to be true to who I was and gave me the ability to become secure in my sexuality. It wasn't the outcome either side expected, but truly God gave me the experiences and strength to solve my problem. So really, you will not hear me say bad things about the church, I know in the long run I will be better off for having joined... I was just irritated that they made such a big deal about me leaving when it was clear that neither of us had use for each other anymore.

[Broomjockey]

Am I the only person, with the possible exception of Becks, that DOESN'T hate AOL?

Probably. The running joke my friends have is a riff on their old slogan. "AOL: So easy to use, no wonder it's #1 among people who can't tie their own shoes." I know it's the only service some people can get in their area, but that doesn't mean I have to like the company.

[SG15Z]

Am I the only person, with the possible exception of Becks, that DOESN'T hate AOL?

That's a very good possibility.

[PepperElf]

Am I the only person, with the possible exception of Becks, that DOESN'T hate AOL?

perhaps.
Smiley's issue just reminded me of those horror stories of people trying to leave AOL, only to have the company refuse to let them go. (personal experience on this one too)