October 13, I had arrived home from work around 6 About 2 min later there was a knock at the door Ward Clerk: The bishop wants to meet with you at 7 Me: I can see him right now Ward clerk: He said 7 Me: I’m available right now Ward clerk steps away and calls the Bishop and says he will meet me at the church in 10 I go to the Bishops office, 1st counselor is also there They asked me whats going on I opened the flood gates and remained very calm I stated many but not all of my issues Told them about the statement from Joseph boasting (which they knew nothing about) I said that started me on my journey and I thought Joseph Smith was an ass. I was very polite about it Bishop was getting red in the face I asked him if he has raised his kids to believe in the rock in the hat translation He said no and I said “why not” 1st counselor kept calling me a hypocrite – he was obviously upset They both were not having a good night, however I was giddy inside, I was happy They asked me stop posting things on facebook that was not faith promoting / disrespectful to “the brethren” or further action would be taken I told the bishop that I would pull back As I should as I have put my TBM wife on center stage in our little community and she can’t deal with the attention I have brought upon our family. I recognize I wasn’t thinking of her before I open my yap Anyway, I got released from my calling as Sunday School teacher (Have not been back since) The next night, my wife and I were finally able to start talking calmly with one another. Through my entire transition she has made it clear she wants to know nothing. Even stated she did care if Joeseph Smith translated the BoM with a frog. She knows its true. I feel the need to try and show her more respect in her right to believe what she wants Then there was a knock at the door, it was the Ward Clerk asking my wife to go have a visit with the Bishop Long story short. Bishop told her that while talking to my he had an impression that something wasn’t right in my life to take me down this path. Bishop said he had a feeling that maybe I had a problem with Pornography W…T…F?!?! This pisses me off…. My wife told him “no he does not and just told them that many things aren’t sitting right with me and I am looking for answers. Jump ahead to last Sunday Nov 16th Sent my family off to church. Just enjoying my Sunday. Reading some Bible. Watching some TV. And there was a knock at the door It was the Stake President. I Invited him in. He came to apologize for the behavior of Bishop and 1st counselor. He said it was unacceptable behavior and this wasn’t the first time. I kept reiterating it was all good and I didn’t care. He said he doesn’t know what’s going on with me but he had heard something went down. I said, “let me tell you” We had a long discussion. It was pleasant. He has read much of what I have. The difference between us is. I grew up BIC. And I cannot wrap my head around being brought up believing it was one way and it was actually another. For him, he was a convert, and he wanted to know everything there was out there about the church before joining. And yes he teaches his children the rock in the hat. Now I cannot wrap my head around him believing all this stuff and he is OK with it…. Blows my mind….but good for him We both agreed that Utah Mormons are wound to tight and they are an odd sort. I grew up east coast He on the west coast. My wife walked in the front door from church…I think she went into shock seeing the visitor He told me I have the right the worship how I wish and hoped that I still keep Christ in my life. I pointed over to my huge red-letter pulpit bible. He basically gave me the thumbs up and went on his way. He approached the situation with love and an open mind. I have a lot of respect for this guy I still don’t know how he can believe in this crap though…
OK, maybe it's just the cynic in me... But my first thought on reading this was that the stake pres. was trying to undo the damage the idiot bishop had done in an effort to keep you from being angry at the church, and keep open the possibility of you coming back. I could be wrong, of course, but I've seen hundreds such stories.
I don't know how they believe that crap either. It takes willful dishonesty to do so, especially if you know about all the lies. Oh, well.
Funny thing is...when I was more of a believer, we used to chastise the SP (before he was a stake president) because if his kids didn't want to go to church He didn't make them. He always said he lets his kids make the choice. And I was like how in the hell do you give teenagers a choice. Kids need to be at church! I was passing judgment on this guy...when I shouldn't have. Most of his kids being grown now...I don't think they are all active. So I think he wasn't just saying stuff in hopes I come back. I really think he was sincere...but then again...who really knows
I did make it clear that I was never coming back :)
That is one of my big issues with the church. If you become inactive, leave and/or don't believe anymore, you must be sinning or "straying from the path of righteousness." Or better yet, you leave so you can freely sin. Oh puh-lease! And what nerve the bishop has to accuse you of a porn problem?!?! And to your wife! That is not okay. Sounds like he is doing some projecting of his own issues he struggles with.
I look forward to future updates on this story. Thanks for sharing.
It is amazing to me that you were released so soon after the Bishop was upset.It is amazing that President Monson met Hinckley in his business career and he just happened to become Prophet....
The bishop needs to be banned from being in the middle of your marriage.
When my husband and I left, that was one of the biggest light bulb moments. There had always been some church MALE interfering in our marriage. They had NO business being there. They tried in many subtle ways to end our marriage. They can all go screw themselves.
I gave an audible gasp when I read "Bishop told her that while talking to my he had an impression that something wasn’t right in my life to take me down this path. Bishop said he had a feeling that maybe I had a problem with Pornography".
I agree...the porn question was way out of bounds. I have never related to Mormons, even being BIC. It's always this moral superiority thing that just turns me off. Seriously, how dare they even ask that question. I might have had a more colorful response. I'll have to post my "confrontation" story sometime. I didn't handle it as gracefully as I should have.