Editor's comment: Eric recently wrote a letter to John Dehlin, the creator of Mormon Stories.org and producer of Why They Leave. Eric states that he wrote to Mr. Dehlin after watching Why They Leave.

John,

Great job on your presentation, it hit home.

I was LDS for 30+ years.

It was a series of deaths that got me thinking and I wanted to really know God. I longed for relationship and understanding. It was the Bible that ultimately led me to a genuine relationship with Jesus Christ. As I entered into the process of learning who God is, and what is my relationship to Him, I ran into challenges. First, a few things that did not line up, then more and then a flood. Everything I had been taught seemed to be a lie. "Just read your Book of Mormon and pray about it," they would say at church, while my heart was breaking. I clung to the Bible and decided to read, well, because it came first. I wanted to understand it before I "mixed" it with foreign scripture.

I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior and left the LDS religion behind. In 2001 I resigned for my family of 6. This caused a stir.

The cost was very great. My LDS family on both sides rejected me and began a campaign to separate myself from my family. The bishop told my wife that we were unequally yoked. Her father said he would do everything in his power to see that I wouldn't be able to take his daughter out of the LDS church. Her sister, who lived across the street, continuously worked against our marriage, they took her to education week to educate her…we have 4 children. Her sister openly told her to divorce me. My life was devoted to my family and my children and I was working to save my family, and establish a Christian home centered on the Word of God. Our door said on it, "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

In 2002 I received a call at work, my dad had been killed. I went out of town to take care of his affairs, and while away, our LDS family consulted with my wife and they took a vote, each one explaining why they thought that I must go.

While grieving the death of my father, I returned home to discover changed titles, divorce, changed locks on my shop and home. I was quickly replaced. The new guy was living in my home before I could get my things. I became homeless for awhile. That was quite humbling. There was the legal experience. I did not see it coming and it came like a freight train. Very little left of what had been. Pretty thoroughly destroyed.

They seemed to take full advantage of the fact I was grieving, hurting, humiliated, in survival mode, and still spinning. Brutal.

Despite the situation, God placed Christians in my path, at every step of the way. God said, "I will never leave you or forsake you." Although sometimes it seemed like I could not bear another minute, I was hungry, I missed my children, I took water bottle baths, every step I took was "legally recorded" and a legal letter sent. If found at fault I would get a threat letter. These came nearly every day. Court, contempt accusations, etc.

I made a commitment to take the high road, despite how ugly things got. I had to let go and let God it seemed, everyday.

I found myself reaching up to touch bottom.

Later on, I was on my $100 bed (missing singing with my 4 children) in an apartment, wanting to be angry with God. I said, "but you are all I have……….and I will trust you."

Since that time, God has done a work in me.

I now have a heart of compassion for my LDS brothers and sisters. I have a boldness to share the truth in love, and to share the gift that God has given to us despite ourselves. I teach about the time between the Old Testament and the New Testament and ask the question, "Of the things that Jesus Christ accomplished in his walk, at the cross and through his resurrection…..What Changed enough that it required a restoration?"

Jesus Christ is the foundation upon which I now stand. The Church, to me, is the body of Christ for whom He died, all those who get hold of the Gospel "Good News."

Religions of man are merely man's perceptions of God's expectations, nothing more.

A good church is a place where the Word is taught in truth. There is no technical "only true church" (organization). These types breed corruption and deception. The body of Christ is not a group who builds on the idea that they are right and everyone else is wrong.

Jesus, gave everyone of us a blank check. The "gospel" is spreading this good news. When we hear the good news, we can either cash the check or rip it up.

If you have not as yet, I suggest that you read the a Bible that prints Jesus' words in red. A million times if you have to. But until you understand.

Jesus is sufficient.

Eric