Further Light and Knowledge

For the legal eagle types.

If I am asked by a court or Law Enforcement Officer:
Are you a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?

What would be a legal and truthful answer?, considering that I have had nothing to do with TSCC for at least 5 years but I have not sent a resignation letter to TSCC?

Would I be lying to a court if I said "No-I am not a member of that church!"

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CW

The universe likes to laugh at us

Most organizations drop you from their rolls once you stop paying your dues. I haven’t attend church, or paid tithing or fast offerings for seven years. If someone asks (and they do) I feel that I am being truthful in saying that I am no longer a member.

Yes.

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He never said it would be worth it; He only said it would be easy.

As I am mostly inactive, I attend maybe once a quarter now.

I would say. I am at best a marginal member. Nearly inactive.

Like Sunstoned mentioned, once you quit paying dues ( or tithes in Mormonism ) you are dropped from the rolls. I used to be a member of the Elks, but once my dues lapsed, I was dropped.

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TG and happy to be so.

This also happens for the Presbyterians. They are charged (or their budget is determined) by how many active members they have. So if they have people on the rolls who are not active, it makes them look bad. If you haven't attended in a year, you're dropped.

btw - every so often on various message boards I hear about people who haven't been into an LDS church in twenty five years but are then contacted.

Is there a valid reason for that question to be asked in court? Would it be like asking someone if they were a Democrat? Would asking that question be considered religious discrimination?

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my blog

for this type of question you need a Clintonesque answer. "I am not involved with the mormon church" works nicely. Don't use jingoistic terms like "active" or legally definable terms like "membership." You are better off using language that allows you to seemingly deny membership, while allowing you the chance to define your exact meaning at a later date if it becomes necessary.

I bill in six minute incriments. I will email you my bill.

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I would be agnostic, but I have a commitment problem.

I was thinking "I do not consider myself a member" would work. Then, if they asked you to clarify, you could say that you are probably still on the official rolls, but you never go and repudiate the doctrine.

You'd need to say both. If you just say you repudiate the doctrine, they might assume you were Daniel Peterson.

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I reject your reality and substitute a Star Trek episode of my own choosing.

You two are good.

In another twist on being a member, when becoming a member I was never told how I can resign, how to resign is in the CHI, but I am not to have access to it or read it.

So if I solemnly testify that I am not a member, who is to decide? I think a Judge would have to let it go at that - if the person says they aren't a member, then they aren't a member.

The missioinaries dropped by on the weekend. They wanted to see me, not DW, so I guess they thought about re-activating me. I told them to get an appointment. I guess they will talk to DW next Sunday. She doesn't want them over either so I will be surprised if I see them again. If they do visit, I just may ask them how do I resign my church membership? so that they do not have to waste their time boring me.

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CW

The universe likes to laugh at us

No non-mormon person would call you a liar if you said you were not a member. A religion is something you self-identify, you get to decide what you are, it is irrelevant whether or not they have your name on a list of members.
I tell people all the time I am no longer Mormon, even though I have not gone to the trouble of having them remove my name.