“One might ask, ‘If the gospel is so wonderful, why would anyone leave?’ Sometimes we assume it is because they have been offended or lazy or sinful. Actually, it is not that simple. In fact, there is not just one reason that applies to the variety of situations. Some of our dear members struggle for years with the question whether they should separate themselves from the Church.”

Dieter F. Uchtdorf, LDS General Conference, “Come, Join with Us” (Salt Lake City, UT: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 5 October 2013), 22.

“Don’t you dare bail. I am so furious with people who leave this church. I don’t know whether ‘furious’ is a good apostolic word. But I am. What on earth kind of conviction is that? What kind of patty-cake, taffy-pull experience is that? As if none of this ever mattered; as if nothing in our contemporary life mattered; as if this is all just supposed to be just exactly the way I want it? And answer every one of my questions and pursue this and occupy that and defy this – and then maybe I’ll be a Latter-Day Saint. Well, there’s too much Irish in me for that.”

Jeffrey R. Holland, Fireside Event (Tempe, AZ: Soundcloud secondrescue Audio, 2016). 31:34-32:27.