How does one resign from the LDS Church?

          It's not as easy as you might think.  A simple request to be dropped from the membership rolls is not sufficient, because the precise wording of your letter is critical.  For an explanation of how to resign your membership and how to get your name removed from the Church rolls go to www.mormonnomore.com/.  

          I'm curious about the title of your book, "A Friendly Discussion."  Isn't that the same name as a pamphlet previously published by the LDS church?

          Yes and no.  The book's complete title is "A Friendly Discussion: Mormonism Pro and Con," which distinguishes the two.

          The pamphlet by Ben E. Rich, originally published in 1893, was for many years the most popular tract distributed by Mormon missionaries.  It was a fictional conversation between a missionary and a group of citizens on the veranda of a hotel in Tennessee, with the missionary, of course, convincing them of the truth of Mormonism.  The original title of my book, How to Talk to a Mormon, seemed rather confrontational, so I decided to borrow the title of Mr. Rich's tract, which seems more amiable.  I trust he wouldn't mind.       

         What about the claim that the Smithsonian Institution has used the Book of Mormon in its archeological research?

          Although the Church itself admits that this "urban myth" is false, it just won't die.  It's easy to see why --  it works!  Anyone seeking proof positive about the Book of Mormon would welcome evidence that the Smithsonian's archaeologists have found it useful.  I think most Mormons today realize the story is a hoax, but some missionaries still (either knowingly or unknowingly) repeat it as truth.  It's a powerful tool for conversion --  after all, it would certainly be "faith promoting" if it were true!

          What is the problem concerning women in the Book of Mormon?

          Women are almost totally absent from the Book of Mormon.  Twelve of the books in the Book of Mormon (Jacob, Enos, Jarom, Omni, Words of Mormon, Mosiah, Helaman, 3 Nephi, 4 Nephi, Mormon, Ether, and Moroni), cover in detail more than one thousand years of history, without mentioning even one woman!

          For further discussion of this amazing oddity see Chapter 3 of "A Friendly Discussion."        

          I don't want to leave the Church, but I am unable to accept many of the doctrines.  Is there any way to contact others who face the same dilemma?

          Yes.  New Order Mormons are those who no longer believe all of the doctrines of the LDS Church, but who want to maintain membership for cultural, social, or even spiritual reasons. New Order Mormons recognize both good and bad in the Church, and believe that the Church does not have to be perfect in order to remain useful. They seek the middle way to be Mormon.  Check their website at  www.newordermormon.org/

          What is the LDS teaching concerning homosexuality?

          In an interview with Larry King in 2004, church president Gordon B. Hinckley said: "Well, we're not anti-gay. We are pro-family. Let me put it that way. And we love these people and try to work with them and help them. We know they have a problem. We want to help them solve that problem." 

          In the past the way the Church tried to solve the problem was to encourage a person to change his or her sexual orientation through prayer, therapy, and sheer will power.  It rarely, if ever, worked.  There now seems to be more emphasis on changing behavior (encouraging celibacy)  rather than changing the individual's sexual orientation, although there is still an effort to extinguish or at least diminish homosexual inclinations.

          Affirmation is an organization of gay and lesbian Mormons (and ex-Mormons) formed to meet the needs of those experiencing frustration or alienation from family, friends, and the Church because of their sexual orientation.  Their website is at www.affirmation.org/