It's OK to resign.

[Northwestcoug]

The core items I mentioned before are black and white. Even SU gets it. They are like pregnancy -- you either are or you aren't. It's my main point and you keep side-stepping it.

Let's focus on The Book of Mormon. It's either from an ancient record or a modern creation. If your point is that a lack of DNA evidence or animals / objects mentioned in the BoM are not part of the historical record or whatever criticism are "cracks", then here is how I deal with that. I've not abandoned ship to your cracks (using your mixed metaphor). I'm convinced it's an ancient record based on both spiritual and intellectual experiences / knowledge, although my spiritual experiences alone are sufficient to convince me. I believe there is a valid explanation for the criticisms that may or may not be known yet. The evidence to support it may exist but it hasn't been found yet or maybe Joseph Smith used English words in a generic way to describe BoM things or whatever. If it's an ancient record, it's an ancient record and a proper explanation exists.

What I don't get is how you can think there is some gray area with The BoM (or the other core items). How can you think it's a modern creation (meaning Joseph Smith was a con man) and be satisfied and motivated as a member of the Church?

There's a large chunk of the internet I'd recommend you stay away from.

[Bo Diddley]

There's a large chunk of the internet I'd recommend you stay away from.

It's called CougarStadium.

[LadyinBlue]

I was at a friends house today who had sent in her resignation letter last week. Today, she received a very short letter in reply from the church membership office stating that these things were now handled on a local level, and either her bishop or stake president would be contacting her. Is this new is resignation usually handled like this?

[Northwestcoug]

It's called CougarStadium.

[Commando]

I was at a friends house today who had sent in her resignation letter last week. Today, she received a very short letter in reply from the church membership office stating that these things were now handled on a local level, and either her bishop or stake president would be contacting her. Is this new is resignation usually handled like this?

Yes

I just want you to all know that it's easy to resign your membership in the LDS Church.

All you have to do is email your bishop. If your bishop is responsible, you'll recieve your letter confirming your resignation within a few days.

Good people like SeattleUte should just go ahead and take care of this so their name is no longer in any way associated with the Church's discriminatory policies. It's also a much deserved vote of no confidence for the current leadership.

[Bo Diddley]

I was at a friends house today who had sent in her resignation letter last week. Today, she received a very short letter in reply from the church membership office stating that these things were now handled on a local level, and either her bishop or stake president would be contacting her. Is this new is resignation usually handled like this?

Holy sleeper cell, Batman!

Edit: Longtime listener, first time caller.

[Sullyute]

It's called CougarStadium.

lol.

[Jeff Lebowski]

The core items I mentioned before are black and white. Even SU gets it. They are like pregnancy -- you either are or you aren't. It's my main point and you keep side-stepping it.

Let's focus on The Book of Mormon. It's either from an ancient record or a modern creation. If your point is that a lack of DNA evidence or animals / objects mentioned in the BoM are not part of the historical record or whatever criticism are "cracks", then here is how I deal with that. I've not abandoned ship to your cracks (using your mixed metaphor). I'm convinced it's an ancient record based on both spiritual and intellectual experiences / knowledge, although my spiritual experiences alone are sufficient to convince me. I believe there is a valid explanation for the criticisms that may or may not be known yet. The evidence to support it may exist but it hasn't been found yet or maybe Joseph Smith used English words in a generic way to describe BoM things or whatever. If it's an ancient record, it's an ancient record and a proper explanation exists.

What I don't get is how you can think there is some gray area with The BoM (or the other core items). How can you think it's a modern creation (meaning Joseph Smith was a con man) and be satisfied and motivated as a member of the Church?

You are making lots of assumptions. Rest assured that I am very happy and motivated as a member of the church.

[Sullyute]

I think you're just trolling.

I get the opposite vibe. I think he is sincere and trying to understand how/why people here stay (ala Levin's thread to the intelligentsia of the board).

Obviously there are more options for the Book of Mormon than either ancient/modern; authentic/forgery.

I fully agree with you here.

[LadyinBlue]

Long time lurker, I originally came for the BYU to the Big 12 insider news

Obviously I won't be contributing much, but told my friend someone here may have some insight on resignation policy and if it has recently changed.

(In reply to Bo Diddly. Sorry, again with the not contributing much!)

[Crockett]

Obviously there are more options for the Book of Mormon than either ancient/modern.

Please enlighten this sheltered soul.

[Bo Diddley]

Long time lurker, I originally came for the BYU to the Big 12 insider news

Obviously I won't be contributing much, but told my friend someone here may have some insight on resignation policy and if it has recently changed.

(In reply to Bo Diddly. Sorry, again with the not contributing much!)

Came for the articles, stayed for the party!

[Crockett]

Long time lurker ... told my friend someone here may have some insight on resignation policy and if it has recently changed.

Wow, OP vindicated.

[Moliere]

de jure

[BigFatMeanie]

Clever. But what do you have a testimony of then?

If I really thought it was a man-made sham I'd be gone. (SU, that's not an invitation.)

I have a testimony of the BoM as the word of God, same as you do. Whether there were actual gold plates or not isn't really important to me. It's also not important to me whether there was actually a burning bush on Sinai, or whether Lot's wife was literally turned into salt, or whether John really saw an actual "dragon".

I believe the BoM comes from God. Because I believe the BoM is of God, the delivery vehicle for the book, whether it came from literal plates of gold written on by ancients that lived and breathed, or whether it came from the inspiration of Joseph's mind, and I suspect it's the latter, is not important to me.