@hakima said
I am the eldest of eight siblings raised in the Mormon church. My parents determined to provide us with as much of a diverse opportunity to know and explore our own minds and consciences as possible. We had regular discussions around the dinner table about religious ideas and were free to speak our minds. To date, exactly half of us have left the church, but not one is shunned ...[text shortened]... apada or the Bhagavadgita. I find tgat I glean from each as much as I bring when I open their pages.
I had heard that shunning was a part of the theology -- I guess that I must stand partially corrected! I am glad that you did not experience any of this, but
this is why there are people who say that shunning is a common enough occurrence -- so your statement "No where in Mormon theology nor policy is there any indication that families should shun those who choose to leave[/i] is not an entirely accurate statement, either.
So, I took a look, and it is:
A parade of anti-Christs, anti-Mormons, and apostate groups have appeared on the scene. Many are still among us and have released new floods of lies and false accusations. These faith-killers and testimony-thieves use personal contacts, the printed word, electronic media, and other means of communication to sow doubts and to disturb the peace of true believers…Avoid those who would tear down your faith. Faith-killers are to be shunned. The seeds which they plant in the minds and hearts of men grow like cancer and eat away the Spirit.
Carlos E. Asay, General Conference, October 1981
Drugs, drink, pornographic materials, and subculture associations are also escape routes. …Shun those who would build themselves by destroying others.
Marvin J. Ashton, General Conference, 1988 (though this seems less clear if the quotation is being used in a way that is a definitive command.)
Here:
Contextualization: "During the temple interview, this question is asked of the member, "Do you support, affiliate with, or agree with any group or individual whose teachings or practices are contrary to or oppose those accepted by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?" The answer to this question must be "No," or the member will fail the interview. Some members feel that to answer this question they must avoid contact with certain people. This can lead to shunning those people."
Quotation:
Essential to your success and happiness is the advice "Choose your friends with caution." We tend to become like those whom we admire, and they are usually our friends. We should associate with those who, like us, are planning not for temporary convenience, shallow goals, or narrow ambition—but rather with those who value the things that matter most, even eternal objectives.
Thomas S. Monson, General Conference, 2005
A Reddit post from "Ex-Mormon" is simply entitled:
"Shunning in Mormonism *is* officially taught (though only selectively enforced.)"
https://www.reddit.com/r/exmormon/comments/5oj2eh/shunning_in_mormonism_is_officially_taught_though/
Here is another article that involves the concept of shunning:
In my own exodus from Mormonism the culture of shunning quickly became apparent, from formerly close siblings who quit communicating with me, to a bishop who encouraged my (now ex) wife to divorce me. Within weeks of leaving, very few ward members would even talk to me. Several times, when I was grocery shopping, a ward member would see me, turn around and go the other way. It was heart rending. This is not an uncommon occurrence as reported to me by many of my ex-Mormon friends.
https://transitioningfrommormonism.blogspot.com/2015/10/mormonism-culture-of-shunning.html
List:
http://www.mormonthink.com/QUOTES/shunning.htm
Some more illumination on this:
Conflict between Mormon and Biblical teachings
16 May '19 03:30
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