Membership

As I read stories of others like me who've finally recognized and addressed their sense of cognitive dissonance within the LDS church, it seems that most paths lead to excommunication or individual resignation.

The thought that my path will lead me to some similar outcome makes me sad. I am proud of my Mormon heritage. I credit my noble parents with inspiring me to love and respect mankind, to seek learning, to value goodness, and to be true to my conscience in spite of opposition.

I feel so grateful to them, and to my progenitors who likewise chose to follow their consciences and seek what they understood to be a greater good, in spite of social rejection, trials and failures, and probably their own fair share of cognitive dissonance. I love my LDS friends, the most Christian of whom bring credit to themselves and the Church by continuing to love and show kindness towards me, in spite of their misgivings about my decision.

Someday I may find my name removed from the membership records, but a part of me will always be Mormon and fiercely proud of it.