One Way to Rethink that Guilt Trip for Leaving the Church

Sadly, it seems that when someone chooses to leave the church, not only are they are blamed for being weak or deceived, but those people important to them also blame themselves for not doing enough to keep that person in the church. This goes right back to the root teaching of Mormonism that works are necessary. If enough isn't done, then people aren't saved.

I have a new perspective now. I believe God works in each person individually to bring them around. We are not responsible to save anyone else--that's God's job and that's why we have Jesus. God also works in us to help others. 

I'm personally relieved and very grateful to lay down my guilt and let God do the work and take the credit.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.

Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him."

John 3:16-17, NRSV

Are We All a "Royal Priesthood"?

Image from Wikimedia Commons, user Ariely, CC 3.0 unported

Women in the LDS church can heave a sigh of relief: they will probably never have to conduct a sacrament meeting or preside at a stake conference. They don't have to ask a blessing on the bread and water served as communion, or pass it around to the members. They won't have to baptize anyone, perform a marriage, or direct a funeral. They don't have to lead a prayer in the temple prayer circle or pretend to be Jesus at the veil. I know several LDS women that are content to be left out of these things: they don't want the responsibility of holding the priesthood and doing what is expected of the men who do.

There are some male members that for one reason or another never obtained the priesthood or never progressed to a higher level of priesthood. These male members are looked down upon as though something is wrong with them.

Would either of these two groups, women and men with less priesthood, be astonished to know that they actually are priests of God after all?

No need for approval of earthly church leaders or laying on of hands or finishing any checklist of rules...if only Mormons would consult and believe their Bibles they would see this:

1 Peter 2

King James Version (KJV)

⁵ Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

⁹ But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;

Revelation 1:5-6

King James Version (KJV)

⁵ And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

⁶ And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

And our great High Priest is Jesus:

Hebrews 4:14

King James Version (KJV)

¹⁴ Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.