Finally making the first step.

[beefche]

Good question, Dahlia. I haven't thought about excommunication.

Bini, if you have concerns for you or your hubby being excommunicated, then I really, really, REALLY think you need to let those worries/concerns go out the window.

I've never seen or heard (I've served as a missionary and in various ward leadership positions) of someone who was inactive coming back to church and then getting excommunicated solely based on that. Those people that I know who were excommunicated had typically been one who was active and usually endowed and committed serious sins.

The fact that you and your husband are not endowed, never have been, and have been inactive practically your whole adult life will not be a factor of your membership. You are simply a family who has not attended church in several years, likely don't remember some basic doctrine (nothing to be ashamed of...it's just a by-product of not attending to churchy things for so long), and feels a little nervous/awkward/scared to begin attending again.

Your ward will welcome you. Focus on the joyful event of seeing your family together, blessing your sweet daughter, and enjoying the Spirit. If, in the future, the bishop wants to see you and your husband, don't panic. It's very, very common for a bishop to meet with a couple who are re-activating to get to know them and find out how he can help you.

[estradling75]

Good question, Dahlia. I haven't thought about excommunication.

Another way to look at it would be to realize you are coming out of a self imposed excommunication/disfellowshipment. Sure it wasn't official but just about everything a Bishop would want to see from someone that was officially done he is going to also see in someone fighting their way back from inactivity.

Just like with them he is going monitor your progress and step up your involvement through callings and temple blessing depending on how you are progressing. Once you can see it from this view point, then you can understand how rare it would be for a bishop to decide to follow up with an official action. The bishop is not there to punish, he is there to help you find the way back.

[Bini]

We made it!

So on Sunday Jan 8 my husband and I attended church for the first time in years. Wow, what an amazing experience. We had our daughter blessed by my father and DH held the mic. I had my eyes closed the entire time taking it all into heart but afterwards I could see how emotional DH was. We also got to hear my father's testimony which struck strong chords in both of us. My history with my father has been rocky since I abandoned the gospel as a youth and finally left home at seventeen. We are still awkward around each other but I'd be lying if I said I didn't know he loved me. While I did receive a few odd stares from the "old gang" of people that remember me from way back when, I did feel a peace and comfort I hadn't felt in a long time. And my husband confided in me that he felt it too. We were also blessed to have my husband's parents come to our daughter's blessing. They are also inactive but felt honoured to be apart of our and our daughter's special day. We felt honoured to have them there with us too. I did end up recording the blessing on my iPhone, not sure if that was appropriate but I didn't want to chance missing parts of it. I'll be getting it down on paper and put away in baby's cedar chest. I'll have to post pictures later of her in her blessing dress :] Thanks for the good wishes and support guys.

[Vort]

Those "odd stares from the 'old gang'" may actually have been surprise and happiness at seeing you coupled with an unsureness of how to go say hi to you. I expect the stares to decrease and the "hi"s to increase for you next week.

[Jennarator]

COngrats, Bini! Hope this is the start of something amazing for you and your husband and daughter. Glad you enjoyed it.

[applepansy]

Congratulations Bini! I'm excited for you.

Its appropriate to record a baby blessing. :)

[classylady]

So, Bini, how did it go?

[beefche]

Scroll up, classylady. Bini posted an update.

[classylady]

Scroll up, classylady. Bini posted an update.

Oops. Missed her post. Thank you

[lafrenieredianne1]

Congratulations Bini & family....Your story is similar to mine in that I became inactive for 30 years but felt a great tug in my heart to return to full activation 10 years ago. I left behind my habits (words of wisdom) issues and returned with my head up. This is why we go to church....to partake of the sacrament and renew the covenants we made when we were baptized, not one of us are perfect but we are all equal in the eyes of the Lord. It matters not where you are on the strait & narrow path as long as you are on it.

When we(in-actives) left the church, our HF and our parents would have been disappointed but would never have locked us out of their home or be excommunicated from our Church; what kind of loving parent would do that do their child. Read the parable of the Prodical Son in the Bible.

Your dad would have shed tears of joy when he was able to bless his grandaughter last Sunday. You have made the best decision of your lives and pray you will have a kind & caring Bishopric and members in your ward. Just remember, no one is there to judge you for none of us are worthy to take upon the judgement of others. There is only one who has paid the ultimate price who will be the judge for all mankind.

I'm very happy for you....may you find peace and comfort as you embrace the Gospel of Jesus Christ in your lives and strive to one day go to the temple to be sealed as a family. I just did a few months ago....I waited a lifetime for this joyous moment.

[Bini]

Rockies, thank you for sharing your personal story. It is very inspirational.