So I thought I might post something since some of you have asked why my family has exited the church. While it’s true that we’ve been in for what seems like eons or my entire life, my family has successfully exited and shows no signs of returning. Most have been baptized into Centennial Park and the group led by Ivan Nielson. Some have also considered the Kingstons, but to no avail.
In any case, here are some reasons why we left the FLDS Church.
1. Who you can and cannot talk to is regulated. The LDS Church puts up a front that they are family centered and "can be together forever." This belief is similar to the FLDS faith, but only if those family members are following the rules. The second they get out of line, they are removed from the community. While my family agreed that many of the young people in the community were wrong in their choices, that didn’t correctly justify why they had to be removed completely; especially when they were as young as 13 or 14. And once they were cut off, they were completely cut off.
2. The mismanagement of funds and the UEP. When you hear an elder get up in church saying they were short $3,000 and you donate $5,000 only to see them get up in church and say they were now only $1,000 short, you begin to wonder where your money went.
3. For many years, my father refused to question the prophet, but when you discover you prophet is getting hit up with several counts of sexual misconduct, you have to begin to wonder, "Are you being dealt the complete truth?"
4. When deeper inquiries of faith are responded to with hostility, you begin to wonder... if the church elders can’t defend their own doctrine, then why believe it?
5. When people begin making a dive to become the prophet and begin telling you all sorts of crazy things. I’ve heard everything from Warren resigned as prophet (impossible) to his brother, LeRoy, was now prophet to Wendell Nielson was the prophet to Willie Jessop is a prophet to now, where Elder Jessop is simply a "representative." It’s painful to see the pride and joy of your heart turn into so much turmoil.
6. When the FBI or Utah AG Office invites your family to a meeting about polygamy, you know two things: A. You didn’t keep the family secret very well and B. You know they are watching your every step.
7. If the FBI or AG Office isn’t watching your every step, the media is... and they’re taking pictures! If you’re lucky, you may just end up on the cover of some magazine with the nice large bolded letters like "CULT," "CRAZY," "POLYGAMOUS," or maybe even "CREEPY" next to your picture.
Overall, we are tired of the questions, intrusion, proselytizing (I know... weird), and lies, but most of all, we’re tired of defending church leaders from accusations we’ve never heard.
Somewhere along the way, we have to ask ourselves "Is the persecution worth it?" "Is this really worth not talking to a son or daughter?" "Am I exemplifying Christ’s example in my life through this decision?"
Since my family has left (slowly withdrawing since 2007), we have lost some family, but we have also regained some familiar faces. I hadn’t seen one of my sisters in years since she had chosen to be baptized into Centennial Park. This is only one example. This is also the only time I have seen my father cry tears of joy as he put his arms around his daughters and sons, nieces and nephews, that we had been ordered to never see or talk to.
I love my family very much and I wouldn’t change the choices I’ve made in all of this for the world. We’ve had our rocky roads like any family, and I’m sure we will have many more, but what is important is that we can face them as a family. We can pick and choose our family too, which is all the more reason to c-e-l-e-b-r-a-t-e!
In any case, here are some reasons why we left the FLDS Church.
1. Who you can and cannot talk to is regulated. The LDS Church puts up a front that they are family centered and "can be together forever." This belief is similar to the FLDS faith, but only if those family members are following the rules. The second they get out of line, they are removed from the community. While my family agreed that many of the young people in the community were wrong in their choices, that didn’t correctly justify why they had to be removed completely; especially when they were as young as 13 or 14. And once they were cut off, they were completely cut off.
2. The mismanagement of funds and the UEP. When you hear an elder get up in church saying they were short $3,000 and you donate $5,000 only to see them get up in church and say they were now only $1,000 short, you begin to wonder where your money went.
3. For many years, my father refused to question the prophet, but when you discover you prophet is getting hit up with several counts of sexual misconduct, you have to begin to wonder, "Are you being dealt the complete truth?"
4. When deeper inquiries of faith are responded to with hostility, you begin to wonder... if the church elders can’t defend their own doctrine, then why believe it?
5. When people begin making a dive to become the prophet and begin telling you all sorts of crazy things. I’ve heard everything from Warren resigned as prophet (impossible) to his brother, LeRoy, was now prophet to Wendell Nielson was the prophet to Willie Jessop is a prophet to now, where Elder Jessop is simply a "representative." It’s painful to see the pride and joy of your heart turn into so much turmoil.
6. When the FBI or Utah AG Office invites your family to a meeting about polygamy, you know two things: A. You didn’t keep the family secret very well and B. You know they are watching your every step.
7. If the FBI or AG Office isn’t watching your every step, the media is... and they’re taking pictures! If you’re lucky, you may just end up on the cover of some magazine with the nice large bolded letters like "CULT," "CRAZY," "POLYGAMOUS," or maybe even "CREEPY" next to your picture.
Overall, we are tired of the questions, intrusion, proselytizing (I know... weird), and lies, but most of all, we’re tired of defending church leaders from accusations we’ve never heard.
Somewhere along the way, we have to ask ourselves "Is the persecution worth it?" "Is this really worth not talking to a son or daughter?" "Am I exemplifying Christ’s example in my life through this decision?"
Since my family has left (slowly withdrawing since 2007), we have lost some family, but we have also regained some familiar faces. I hadn’t seen one of my sisters in years since she had chosen to be baptized into Centennial Park. This is only one example. This is also the only time I have seen my father cry tears of joy as he put his arms around his daughters and sons, nieces and nephews, that we had been ordered to never see or talk to.
I love my family very much and I wouldn’t change the choices I’ve made in all of this for the world. We’ve had our rocky roads like any family, and I’m sure we will have many more, but what is important is that we can face them as a family. We can pick and choose our family too, which is all the more reason to c-e-l-e-b-r-a-t-e!
