sarahJane

Hi All Advice needed I've just returned to the church, i'm thinking.. Do I should tell those I know who are ex members and active in anti mormon "ministries" , that I have returned to the church?, or keep quite, as they are the ones who originally influenced me to leave? I don't want to put myself in a situation I am not ready to handle. But also I don't want to keep my return to the church secret from them either. A great number of people I have been friends with over the last 10 years are in this catagory, they will become aware that I have returned from other people eventually,( I know that there are some less active members of my ward who are in contact with them.) I think it may be best if they heard it from me, and I didn't appear to be hiding it from them. I hope there may be others out there who are thinking of returning to the church that may be helped and encouraged by knowing others have returned. Do I give myself some time, or go ahead and tell everyone now? I am not around other church members during the week,I'm very much on my own, but I see people every day who would try and get me to leave the church if they were aware I'd gone back. I'm very aware of my weaknesses, and my testimony is very new but growing. Hence my hesitation. If anyone has any thoughts on this, any advice, I would be grateful. Thanks

Hello I am re- indroducing myself, my name's Sarah-Jane, I joined this site / posted in April, but have spent most of the time, reading rather than posting. At the time I joined the forums, I indroduced myself as a former member,I had just started attending the church again after going through several different denominations from Evangelical to Catholic. After several negative and traumatic events in my life, I decided to take another look at the church I left 10 years earlier...I went back to my former ward, and got a very warm and loving welcome by all. I am very grateful and so happy to now be re- indroducing myself as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints again! I was baptised and confirmed on wednesday evening (Sep 22) by the Bishop of my ward. just a few days short of the 20th anniversary of my original baptism.:-)

I had my gall baldder out 16 years ago, in my early 20's, with keyhole surgery, I was up and about quite quickly.

If you write a letter to your Bishop,and a copy to your Stake president, stating that you want your name removed from the records. You should get a reply, and an invitation to discuss the matter with your Bishop. This is so the Bishop can ensure that you understand what the implications are for you if you resign your membership. Then it will be forwarded to the Stake President. I went through the name removal process 10 years ago, I had first letter, I decided to attend a meeting with the Bishop to discuss my reasons for wanting to resign. Then I had a second letter from the Stake president aknowledging my request, and that my request would be carried out in 30 days, if he did not hear from me. Shortly after this I had another letter to confirm that my name had been removed as I requested, I also recieved infomation about who I should contact in the future if I wanted to become a member of the church again and that I would have to be rebaptised. The whole process took at least 18 months from my first request until I recieved formal notification that I was no longer a member. I hope you find happiness in your chosen path, whatever decsion you make. I was so sure I was doing the right thing then, and for several years after, but 10 years on now and i'm on my way back. SJ

Hello all I am a former member of the church. I have been a practising Christian in various churches since then. I have just attended a meeting in my old ward, the first in a decade. I've decided to take a fresh look at the church, after doing some study for a while online. Its the first time that I have seriously contemplated rejoining the church. I was very nervous about going today, but everyone there were so welcoming, and pleased to see me. I am really glad I went. I am hoping that I can find some help here with my study of gospel topics, and work through some questions, as they arise. It would be good to hear from anyone who has been in a similar position as me, and have made there way back. Any help, advice , support most welcome. Sarah-Jane