September 21, 2006

Dear Bishop

Dear Bishop,

Please release me immediately from my calling in primary. While I have enjoyed the calling and the great sweetness of the kids and my fellow primary workers, I am no longer able to serve at this time.

I'd also like to request that nobody from the ward or stake contact me or my family members in any capacity beyond simple friendship. I don't want to become the next service project or the next assignment on your list of inactives who need a visit. I don't see that as an act of fellowship...I find it intrusive and rude, so hopefully my wishes will be respected and friendships will remain friendships without hidden assignments or agenda.

Thank you for honoring my wishes. I appreciate your kindness in this matter.

L

14 comments:

Sideon said...

A very nice letter.

Did you show J.? Would he be upset by the letter, or does he know it's going to happen?

Best of luck, SML. I wish you and your family the best.

*hugs*

Sister Mary Lisa said...

J. knows it's being mailed today, and I may show him as well. I didn't specifically tell him what my letter would say. We warned him he may not want to be at church this Sunday to avoid questions while it's fresh in people's minds.

It's hard to predict what they could do. They'd better leave him alone!

Thanks for your support.

Gigi said...

prayers for you.....big old romans 8:28 kinda prayers....

Cele said...

Good Luck and peace

Threads of the Divine said...

SML, Good letter, but you may have left a huge loophole. You basically give permission for them to still be friends. They can show up at your door step anytime with a plate of cookies just dropping by to say hi as a friend. Hopefully they won't abuse the situation. I'm sure things will work out. It's hard to do what you've done.

Sister Mary Lisa said...

Sideon, I told my son what I wrote yesterday, and advised him he may not want to be at church on Sunday. He asked, "What do I say if someone asks me about you or Sierra?" I told him to say, "Call my mom and ask her yourself. I'm not comfortable talking about my mom behind her back." He liked that.

Emily, Wrestler, Cele, Thanks for your comments and wishes of luck.

Simeon, I worried about that too, but felt I had little choice since my son may end up staying at church. Sigh. If someone acts persistent and it's not someone I ever had over before, (I actually have no friends at church who actually come over) I'll tell them to take me back off their list and don't visit like that anymore. Don't wanna be anyone's assignment. How lame.

Cele said...

Mary Lisa,

I am not, nor have ever been Mormon. But this morning I sat here and read the better half of your blogging from the past two weeks or so. My heart goes out to you.

At the age of 12 I suddenly was slapped in the face by the religion I had been raised in. My parents allowed me at that age to explore other religions and find the place I fit in. What an incredible gift.

The road before you will not be easy, but I am glad that you have embraced blogging to allow you the community of support and sounding you will need to survive. Keep you chin up girl, you will do just fine.

Sister Mary Lisa said...

Cele, thank you for the kind words. What religion slapped you in the face at age 12? That's hard....

:)

Cele said...

Presbyterian, and while at the time it seemed the church, it in truth was the message of the new minister. It was filled with condemnation, hate, and anger. To me God is love, Jesus is love, and we should be love.

Yes I do get anger in me, gosh I'm human, but I don't spew it to any congregation, especially not on Christmas morning.

I chose the Society of Friends. I feel there is a place for everybody, but it's like finding your prince, you have to kiss a lot of toads first.

SocietyVs said...

This letter, I am guessing, is a good-bye explanation to the church of why you are both 'out' and your good as is. Exactly as I thought would happen, I mean, closure is the turning of the page.

Sister Mary Lisa said...

Hi Societyvs, I didn't actually give them an explanation, but I know that the bishop already knows thanks to my friend who told the RS president that I was questioning my faith. So I feel like I don't really have to get into it. I'd just like to step back and I can't unless I write this letter.

Sideon said...

SML - it sure sounds like you've got a great relationship with your kids.

Your suggested response for him this Sunday is wonderful. Granted, there's not a one-response-fits-all kind of statement that will protect from passive aggressive Moism, but hey, that's what laxatives in the cookie or cupcake mix is for. :)

Kidding!

Sister Mary Lisa said...

Sideon, thanks for your thoughts. I always doubt my abilities as a parent, but figure my parents were pretty flawed and I survived so hopefully my kids will too in spite of my faults.

Got any good recipes? This may come in really handy someday!

LOL

skinnylittleblonde said...

Sister Mary Lisa~
I hope I don't offend here.

RE: ' I know that the bishop already knows thanks to my friend who told the RS president that I was questioning my faith '

It seems to me that you are more clearly defining your faith. :)
We all have individual divine principles that we live by, despite any canopies provided by churches and / or organized religions.