Jul 10, 2012 -- 3:54PM, li47 wrote:

It's a silly protocol, IMO. When I submitted my resignation, I contacted Member Records in SLC. They in turn contacted the bishop or whoever of the ward I was baptized in, who in turn sent whatever records they had of me to SLC who in turn sent them to the local head guy. At this point, 2 or 3 months had gone by. The local guy phoned me at some point, and after an uncomfortable conversation (moreso for him than me, I think) he said he would forward my "request" to the stake president for "approval" (or not, presumably). Now, understand that I hadn't "requested" anything. My letter was very clear that I had resigned and that I was notifying them of that as a courtesy, as I thought they would want to remove a non-member from their membership rolls. I found that a little perplexing, just as I found the whole need for a conversation with the local guy perplexing. There was nothing said in our conversation that wasn't clearly outlined in my letter. I actually felt a little sorry for him - he clearly didn't know what to say to me, and I could tell he was relieved to get off the phone. Anyway, some months later I received word from Greg Dodge in Member Records that my name had been removed. Now, if my name was removed from the records in SLC, as it appears they were (obviously records aren't only kept at the local level) it seems to me it would have been far more efficient to just do the deed there, and then to inform the locals to modify their records accordingly.

If you'll recall, the church maintains a lay ministry from which the clergy and congregational officials are called.

This means that strict protocols have to be kept concerning membership records, so as to prevent people from claiming authority or ordinations that they don't actually have.

A side-effect of this is what you noted when it comes to resignations: the church is trying to make absolutely certain that things are legitimate and not someone just playing a sick joke on them.

If after 50 days (enough time for the mail to process) you have not received your confirmation letter, call LDS Corporate Membership Records and inquire politely as to why you have not received confirmation. Explain the number of days that have passed. If you have been contacted, harassed or otherwise threatened with church courts, contacting Membership records should immediately stop these actions.

When I resigned, after 45 days I contacted Membership records again. Greg Dodge was very polite and contacted my Stake President and facilitated the paperwork. I received my confirmation letter shortly thereafter.

 To inquire on your Resignation Status, contact Membership Records:
Member Records Division, LDS Church 50 E North Temple Rm 1372 SLC UT 84150-5310
801-240-2053 - Phone 801-240-1565 - Fax 1-800-453-3860 ext 22053 - Toll Free
Difficulties with resigning?

Member Records now has a voice mail system and it is sometimes difficult to get through to a real person. Faxes seem to work, but actually talking to a real person can be more satisfying and they will usually tell you they will call the stake president or bishop about the situation. You can just talk to whichever clerk answers the phone, or you could try asking for Gregory Dodge. On letters from member records they list Mr. Dodge as the supervisor of the 'Member and Statistical Records Division'. Feel free to call often until you get results.

www.mormonresignation.com/resign_process...

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If the LDS Corporation holds a court and excommunicates you after you have sent your resignation letter, you have legal grounds to sue. Do not let them hold a "Court Of Love" for you - resign now.
In 1985 the Mormon Church excommunicated Norman Hancock AFTER he submitted a letter of resignation to the church. Hancock filed an $18 million lawsuit against the church, saying a person has a right to voluntarily resign from a church. The suit was settled out of court and the settlement was sealed. An account on line reports that Hancock filed the suit himself, without the aid of a lawyer, after studying the Guinn case. The same account says that church lawyers started discussing with Hancock just how much money he wanted, but he told them he didn't want their money, that what he wanted was to have his name cleared. Church representatives agreed to change the records such that there would no longer be any record of an excommunication: the records would show that he resigned.
The Hancock case shows that the church is willing to settle out of court when someone sues because the church excommunicates them after they've resigned their membership.