Ed Smart, the father of kidnapping victim Elizabeth Smart, has come out as gay and announced he is leaving the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and getting divorced from his wife.

"It was, as I’ve said, incredibly hard getting to this point, and I feel for so many that are struggling in my situation trying to make the decision of whether to come out or remain closeted the rest of their life," he told NBC News.

NBC obtained a letter Smart sent to friends and family through Facebook Messenger on Thursday, in which he said he was "finally acknowledging a part of me that I have struggled with most of my life and never wanted to accept."

He called the decision to live openly "a huge relief," while also noting it came with "its own set of challenges." He also took the opportunity to apologize to his wife, Lois, for the "excruciating pain" he was causing her.

Ed Smart, Elizabeth Smart, and Lois Smart in 2005.

He added that while his Mormon religion had been "a major part of my life and a great blessing," and said his faith was unwavering, he shared that "as an openly gay man, the Church is not a place where I find solace any longer."

He noted that he had "mostly watched in silence for years as many LGBTQ individuals both in and out of the Church have been victims of ridicule, shunning, rejection and outright humiliation," and that he could no longer deny he was "numbered among them."

Smart worked tirelessly to ensure his daughter came home safely after she was abducted from their family home in Salt Lake City, Utah, in 2002, when she was just 14. She was rescued nine months later.

"While I am deeply saddened by their separation, nothing could change my love and admiration for them both. Their decisions are very personal. As such, I will not pass judgment and rather am focusing on loving and supporting them and the other members of my family," Elizabeth Smart said in a statement.