Alcohol and Christianity: A Response
As those familiar with my story already know, I was raised Mormon. For the first twenty-five or so years of my life, I believed a prophet of God had commanded his people to not drink alcohol, coffee, or tea. — This commandment is called the Word of Wisdom in Mormonism. — Further, because of how heavily the Word of Wisdom is taught to children and teenagers in the LDS Church, my worldview placed drinking alcohol or coffee as a sign of rebellion against God and a very bad sin. Read more...
Nostalgic Heresies
My post-Mormon experience has been much easier than most. My transition out of the Mormon faith and into orthodox Christianity, unlike many, saw no family conflict and no lost relationships. By God’s immeasurable grace, I left the Mormon church with no external negative consequences to speak of. My status as a post-Mormon has been a personal struggle of healing and theological recentering. Though less frequent in the last while, I am still hit with moments where I realize my otherness in a Christian context. Read more...
My Call to Ministry
The path to ministry God set before me was indeed mysterious. I was raised in the Mormon church, but always felt that something wasn’t right. For the longest I assumed it was my lack of faith and sinfulness that prevented me from being able to believe the things I should. When I left home for university I stopped attending church and, though I still considered myself a Mormon, started exploring different options. Read more...
Essay in Answer to ¶310,2a UMC Discipline 2012
The path to ministry God set before me was indeed mysterious, but now – looking back – clear and obvious. God in his mercy saved me from the dark, uncertain lands of my youth. He offered me his only son, Jesus Christ, and filled me with his Holy Spirit. He nurtured me through his Holy Word and the saints of his Church. The joy in my life is now totally incomprehensible to my old self. Read more...
LDS Resignation Letter
Member Records Division, LDS Church 50 E North Temple Rm 1372 SLC UT 84150-5310 Dear Friend, I, Michael Wayne Arnold, herewith voluntarily and with full knowledge of the consequences, present my formal resignation from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, effective immediately. I therefore request you to make the necessary changes in the church membership records to indicate that I am no longer a member and remove my name permanently and completely from the membership rolls of the church. Read more...
