The Stepping Away Part

Church 1 Minute

The easy part of stepping away from an organization I’ve been involved with my entire life is the stepping away part.

The more challenging part is removing the remnants of dogma that have cluttered my mind for so many years. My brain is like a Windows XP registry that’s seen beliefs and convictions come and go, but never fully taking steps to remove the old junk as I’ve gained new knowledge and insight. 

Tonight I asked Kim and Luca if they believed people are inherently moral or do they require a parent, church, or someone else to teach them to be good human beings. We all agreed that we believe most people are born with a natural tendency to do good to others.

Yesterday the LDS church decided to excommunicate a women who started a group asking to hold the priesthood. Today some men and women in the same church took to Facebook and their blogs to celebrate her banishment from the church.

I wonder what I ever had in common with there people I once shared an organized religion with. Remember we all share this planet, and there’s more than one journey that leads to happiness.

I have a wonderful support system in Kim and my friends, many of which have reached out to me offering support. If you’re worried about my children or want to call me to repentance please save your energy and respect my decision. I promise to respect yours.

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5 thoughts on “The Stepping Away Part”

  1. I share many of your concerns though haven’t stepped away–not yet. The tether is too strong. Today a prayer for those so blinded in self-righteousness that they cast stones at one who was cast out. The disconnect is disconcerting.

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    1. Thank you for the comment, Carole. I know what you mean about the tether. It’s strong, no doubt.

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  2. It has been interesting following your journey via your blog and twitter while I am reading Nicole Hardy’s book. You have obviously followed different paths but in the end made the same decision. I can see how difficult the decision would be and how it may take years to let go of what you knew and believed for so many years. I would tell you the same thing I tell people who are grieving over losing someone they love – we all grieve differently and you need to give yourself permission to do it your way. It sounds like you have a great support system. Use them. Love them. If you follow your heart you will be okay.

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    1. Thanks Colby and that’s good advice. I’m interested to hear what you think about Hard’s book once you finish. I could relate to much of it.

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      1. I actually listened to the book rather than read it and I think I got more out of it that way. Usually books read by the author are richer and this was no exception. I loved how candid she was about her thoughts and feelings about dating. I felt she was gentle but at the same time truthful about the Mormon church which I liked. I’m sure there are other books that are more critical of the church (I’ve read one – Under the Banner of Heaven) and they may have their place, but I enjoyed her point of view. It made it easier for me to understand how difficult it was for her to leave the church. If she only had negative feelings about the church it would have been much easier to walk away. I’ve been recommending it to everyone.

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