ExMormons
Sometimes, for a variety of reasons, a person who has been a member in good standing of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chooses to leave the Church and then hardens his or her heart against what he or she believed and practiced before. Termed “ex-Mormons” by some, including themselves, the Church has but one view towards them: one of love and open arms if the individual repents and desires to return to full fellowship in the Church. Even if a member of the Church is excommunicated for behavior which opposes the Savior’s teachings, the attitude of Church leaders is one of love and support, encouraging that person to repent of his or her sins and seek a return of all the blessings that are offered to all faithful members.
However, it is not uncommon for such individuals to harden their hearts against what they once knew to be the truth and to then try and find fault with former leaders, attacking the Church as a whole. When the Church was restored, the Lord gave several revelations warning His people against the dangers of apostasy. In the introduction to the Doctrine and Covenants, the Lord says, “And the day cometh that they who will not hear the voice of the Lord, neither the voice of his servants, neither give heed to the words of the prophets and apostles, shall be cut off from among the people; For they have strayed from mine ordinances, and have broken mine everlasting covenant” (Doctrine and Covenants 1:14–15).
Faith in and obedience to the current prophet of the Church is essential, because a core principle of the Church is that of continuing revelation. This principle teaches members of the Church that the prophet is the mouthpiece of the Lord, through which the Lord can communicate with us continuously. The chain of command in the Church is well defined, as is the specific area of stewardship for any given person. Bishops are over wards, stake presidents over groups of wards, then high councils, area seventies, apostles, and, finally, the prophet. If a person finds fault with his or her leaders, that individual is on the road to apostasy, because he or she is refusing to acknowledge the hand of the Lord in leaders’ stewardships.
Joseph Smith said, “That man who rises up to condemn others, finding fault with the Church, saying that they are out of the way, while he himself is righteous, then know assuredly, that that man is in the high road to apostasy; and if he does not repent, will apostatize, as God lives” (Doctrine and Covenants Student Manual, p134).
There can be many different reasons for individual apostasy, including but not limited to: personal sin without repentance, conflicts between Church members, faultfinding in leaders, assuming authority where there is none, and seeking revelation outside one’s sphere of responsibility. It is a too human trait to refuse to take responsibility for one’s own actions, and it is therefore infinitely easier to place blame for one’s unhappiness on anyone or everyone else.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints does not profess that its members are perfect, but the principles and organization of the Church are the Lord’s, and therefore are perfect. Those who leave the Church are always welcome to come back, provided they complete any necessary steps of repentance. The gospel of Jesus Christ is of love, forgiveness, and repentance.
