Hi, where would be the best place to send the resignation letter in the UK? To the local bishop, or UK church offices Membership Records in Solihull, England, or to Salt Lake Member Records Division?

Which is the easiest route, if one exists? I just want to get this over with ASAP and feel the freedom.

Hi AbeThunderwolff. Welcome to Ex-Mormon Forums.

I would send it to all of the above. Make it out to the Salt Lake office, but cc: the UK office and your local leadership, Bishop and Stake President. If you cover all the bases, that just might do it.

Thanks.

So, to be sure (because I want to get this right first time), when they get the letter, is my membership terminated? If so, do I just ignore further contact, except for the requested confirmation letter?

If they do send you back your letter, telling you that it's a local matter, then you do need to contact a Bishop and ask him to fill out the paperwork and get it sent in. Legally you don't have to, and shouldn't have to, but if you don't, then they will simply sit on it and it will never be completed. You will always be marked as simply being inactive.

But if you're at the mercy of waiting for a bishop to do the paperwork to end a membership, wouldn't that mean that the resignation letter doesn't have immediate effect, as those templates suggest?

Legally they do have immediate effect, but unfortunately the Church doesn't always care so much about the law.

Well, I'll give it a shot in the morning and see how it goes. I hope they're reasonable about it and just let me go. That's probably expecting a lot, though!

That's why I say to just cover all your bases. Legally we're right, but they play by their own rules. So if you just want out seamlessly, I discovered that it's best to just let them have the game and do it their way. Then it should be done as quickly as possible. Their point-of-view is that they've gotta do it by the book.

In the US, once the LDS Church receives your resignation, you are officially no longer a member, regardless of what they do. That is because of prior case law. In the UK, I'm sure it is different. So I'd cover all bases. Send your resignation to your local leaders, the US Church Corporate offices, and the UK Corporate offices.

Corporate Corporate Corporate. Just one big Corporation with the greatest employee plan of them all... Your employees pay YOU and all you have to do is PROMISE them heaven, and threaten to take that away if they don't pay.

Thanks RainFeather, Infymus. Every bit of info helps.

Interesting point about case law. Well I'm gonna hold fire until I know exactly what my rights are in this, including the church's obligations under English law, should a problem arise.

I phoned a free legal advice line the other day, and a lady I spoke with said they'd never had this type of issue put to them before; someone trying to resign from a church that makes it a bureaucratic process to officially leave. Though she said it might fall under public law.

Hi Abe

I'm in the UK and have resigned. I sent my letter to Bishop, Stake Pres and Solihull. My Stake Pres got my letter first and called my Bishop about it who had no idea (hadn't gotten my letter yet.) The Solihull offices said I needed to get in touch with my Bishop.

I don't know where we stand in the law but it would make sense that, as soon as they get the letter, that should be it and, as far as you are concerned, they just need to do what you ask of them. When it comes down to it I think LDS are the only group that ask that you quit officially via letter. Any other religion just figures that if you ain't showing up then you don't consider yourself a member.

They do keep your details though as I have recieved mail posted to my old address and old name. I made a follow up call once I recieved my last letter just to make sure...although I'm pretty sure I got their version of the Work Experience kid as the person seemed confused and answered in the affermative way too quickly. I didn't even hear any key taps!

Good luck with your quest!
Lillith

Hi Lillith,

it sounds like your resignation was pretty straightforward, except for the dodgy office chimp you spoke to in a follow up call.

I've found the bishop's home address, I just need to find who the stake president is now, and his address. It's taken some searching though, as there's often some nosey git at the church who wants to know who's asking before they'll consider finding or giving the info. And I don't want my dad to find out what I'm doing yet until it's all complete, as he's a total believer; or old friends coming round trying to save me from myself.

What was the Solihull address you sent your letter to?

Is this the right address?

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints,
Membership Records,
Freepost BM 3079,
Solihull,
Birmingham,
B91 3BR.

-
Cheers,
Abe.

I went onto the Church website and made an account for myself. I'd never even been to the ward in the town that I currently live in, so I'd no idea who to contact. But my entire ward list was there. I just e-mailed the Bishop, the Stake President's Executive Secretary (since the Stake President's e-mail address bounced back), and the Ward Clerk, and went from there.

Honestly Abe, I don't recall. I do remember I googled the address. I know my parentswould have had the details but I wasn't prepared to ask until I had set the ball rolling. I sent the Bishops & Stake Pres letter to the actual building for want of home address. Put 'Private & Confidential' on the front so, hopefully, that is how it will be treated.

If your parent(s) are still very active there is a chance they will be told of your letter. Mine where even though I was in my 20's and an adult by anyones standard. I had my bases covered by sending them a personal letter at the same time explaning myself. I felt I owed them that much and so there was no shock when the Bishop asked them all about it. They would have been devistated otherwise. I listened to my Still Small Voice on that one - funny how I have always had that...I don't think the LDS religion has a monopoly on that

The account & ward search functions are only for participating stakes in US & Canada on the main site at the moment.

As for the Still Small Voice, Lillith; after having only mentioned a fraction of what I'd found to my dad in a friendly discussion, my SSV now fully agrees with me that someone so staunch just wouldn't understand this decision (and maybe pass it off as mere rebellion caused by 'the adversary', or influence from my mom (which isn't true, though she helped!)) and that since I was born into the church, pulled along with the LDS tide, I didn't have a say in it from the start anyway, so why bother?

Though, I will have to explain to my dad at some point, as he's bound to be contacted by one of the bigwigs, even though I'm an adult and have my own life now. But until then, I don't feel I owe him any special explanation.

I hope it all works out for the best for you Abe. Let me know if I can be of any further help.

I'm confident it will now. Cheers Lillith!