People Resigned from the Mormon Church Over Homophobic Policy

“I was slammed for three hours”, he said.

“If Prop 8 was a line in the sand, this is the Berlin Wall”, said the person, who spoke on condition they not be named.

During the church’s early years, resignations occurred even within the inner circle of leaders under founder Joseph Smith, though many were later welcomed back to the church. Other members of the church marched directly down to a local mailbox to post their resignation.

The group’s Facebook page indicated that more than 2,000 Mormons may have been planning to resign.

From independent Christian Churches, who have literally threatened to kill or exile us, to the Catholic Church, who for years declared us “intrinsically disordered”, we thought we’d heard it all. Another kick in the stomach.

In one poll, 197 of 278 people said they hadn’t believed in years, while 14 said they were active Mormons. It felt like a death of someone close to me. I absolutely can not remain silent any longer. I’m sorry to offend any believers. “Now, they can’t. For them to be castigated and cast aside because of me being trans, that’s not right”. We dont want to support them because they dont support us.

“The fact that it affects children really upset people”, Mark Naugle, an attorney handling the resignation letters, told CNN.

Thousands of members of the Mormon church have resigned en-masse today to protest new rules meaning children of LGBT couples can not be baptized until they are adults.

About the new policies, he said, “It’s coming out of place of love for these children. All children may receive priesthood blessings of healing and spiritual guidance”.

In an interview with NPR’s Michel Martin on Weekend All Things Considered this Sunday, Mitch Mayne, an openly gay Mormon, explained why leaving the church is not a step to be taken lightly.

In response to concerns from members, LDS Church spokesperson Michael Otterson said in a news release Friday that the rules are meant to prevent young children from being caught in a spiritual tug-of-war between teachings at home and church.

Resigning from the Mormon Church, it seems, is much more complicated than not showing up on Sundays – and, for those deeply involved in the Mormon community and its way of life, can have far-reaching ramifications.

In protest of this new ban hundreds of families are cutting ties with the Church, no longer wanting their name associated with it, according to NBC News. “It’s core doctrine. It’s a central idea that we can be sealed together as a family and live together eternally”, Gordon said.

Meanwhile, Mormons, former Mormons, and members of the LGBT community have protested the church’s decision at various rallies. There are approximately 15 million Mormons worldwide.

At least 650 demonstrators plan to gather on Saturday at a park across the street from the headquarters complex of the Utah-based church, said organizer Lauren Elise McNamara.