SALT LAKE CITY – Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who intend to leave the LDS Church plan to hand deliver letters of resignation at Temple Square during the same weekend as the LDS Church’s semi-annual General Conference.
Atheists of Utah and the national organization American Atheists are organizing the event, and they said in their press release “The event coincides with the semi-annual Mormon 2014 General Conference.”
American Atheists President David Silverman will speak at City Creek Park following the delivery of the letters and march around Temple Square, according to the release. Events are planned from 11:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Click here for more details.
“This is about supporting our members and others who want to leave the church but are afraid to do so,” stated Dan Ellis, President of Atheists of Utah, in the press release. “The goal of the event and the march around Temple Square is to let others know that there are plenty of people leaving the LDS Church, and that many of those former members are also atheists who are leading happy and fulfilling lives without religion.”
LDS Church Spokesman Cody Craynor issued the following statement in response to the issue.
“The real message of general conference is to follow Jesus Christ and we hope that others don’t use this religious gathering as a platform for activism.”
Atheists of Utah hosted a similar event in 2012, and they said this year they expect participation to exceed the estimated 100 people who attended in 2012.
