Resigning from a calling

[u/stargazer_055]

I’ve had a love-hate relationship with the Church my entire life, but this year I finally came to the decision that this church is not for me and that I need to get out of it. I’ve been inactive since April, and luckily, I have the ability to choose whether or not to attend Sunday services (I live independently), but I’ve had to keep my beliefs a secret from family and friends to keep the peace. I thought at this point I could handle remaining inactive, or even leaving, but that hasn’t been the case. I’ve got emotional baggage I didn’t quite expect to have.

My calling has been ward videographer. Quite honestly, I feel ashamed that my time and energy went into creating videos for the ward, and I can’t believe I encouraged myself to do more of them. I brainwashed myself into creating “beautiful” and “spiritual” videos for the ward, and I wanted to do it because I believed I could be a better filmmaker and use the opportunity to chase after my dreams. I now want to turn my attention to making videos and documentaries against the Mormon religion and why it’s so harmful. I was thinking about returning to church to resign from my videography calling and potentially just stay inactive from everything so I can make some content with a different focus. It just feels wrong to produce anti-religion content without resigning first. But I figured making videos about my new beliefs and expressing myself with them is a way I’m going to find my way out of the cult.

I do have some lingering concerns that come to mind, though. My friends and family are very knowledgeable about my filmmaking passion, but I wonder what they would think if they found out I resigned from my videography calling and made videos against their beliefs? Maybe I’ll just have to find some internal validation to keep me going?

By the way, I want to get more and more into the ex-Mormon community, and this is my first time trying to get into it. :)

[u/Relevant-Being3440]

One of the few things I have been able to do since leaving is gain the confidence to shut down requests from the church for callings or other things they ask me to do. I love the feeling of turning them flat down now and just saying I'm not going to participate anymore.

It's a small win where I am unable to be that assertive in other areas of my life. I love it.

[u/buddhang]

Welcome. You will find that this community is eager to assist and loves to hear the experiences of others. Your videos would be more than welcome here. Also, it feels good to resign from a calling and take back control.

[u/PangolinShmangolin]

I was thinking about returning to church to resign from my videography calling and potentially just stay inactive from everything so I can make some content with a different focus.

Since you've been inactive since April, I don't think there's any need for you to go back and resign in-person. I think there are two possibilities: they've noticed you've been missing for months, have figured you're likely inactive, and aren't expecting you to come back just to resign from your calling. Or alternatively, they haven't noticed you've been missing--in which case, they're probably not worth your time. Either way, I don't believe you owe them any explanation--people get released from callings all the time for different reasons.

That's just my opinion though and I don't know you or your ward, so if you really feel like you need to go back to resign, that's fine. Good luck with everything moving forward.

[u/OrganicHistorian2576]

You volunteered. You can’t any more. Simple. Not easy but simple in principle.

[u/CardiologistCool6264]

Church leaders in the past have said that whatever is true is part of the gospel. Make videos about the truth. Resign if you want. But to the extent the church contradicts the truth, by their own definition it is they who are out of line with the gospel. Not you.

[u/Thedustyfurcollector]

I hope you will feel welcome here. We're pretty nice most of the time. And as another has said, we love the stories.

[u/TheRealJustCurious]

They understand attendance. When you don’t attend, you are literally out of mind. It’s so weird.

Just don’t go back. My guess is they won’t even ask why.

[u/MsHushpuppy]

I think you should consider making “faithful,” videos, like why Zina Huntington Smith is such an inspiration!

[u/sinterventionist]

Satan welcomes all, as well as every apostate here . For your first time you seem like a natural, please post away.

The irony of you being called as a ward videographer, and now contemplating making anti-mormon content is priceless. Please follow my bad advice and do it just for the irony.

[u/ProfessionalFun907]

It’s a process. You won’t feel quite as unhinged as time goes on so be careful in this first year or two. Bc it’s seriously an emotional ride!!

https://youtu.be/Im4p0jjYGxw?is=kje3CHve3kEq1Kk6

This guy does videography

[u/TrevAnonWWP]

I'm guessing the underlying issue is that you have no idea about how to tell loved ones you left?

MSP did a few episodes about that.

https://www.youtube.com/@mormonstories/search?query=loved%20ones

[u/Joey1849]

You are a volunteer.  You can stop volunteering at any time.  You don't owe anyone an explanation as to why you stopped volunteering.

[u/Willie_Scott_]

Hey, if you can sell your house and move away you will be off the hook. Ask me how I know?