http://www.lds.org/topics/first-vision-accounts?lang=eng

http://www.lds.org/topics/race-and-the-priesthood?lang=eng

http://www.lds.org/topics/book-of-mormon-translation?lang=eng

Dear friends,

The above links are new essays that have been published by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints discussing difficult church history. I would encourage all of my LDS friends to read these essays, in an effort to facilitate an understanding about the most common reason members leave the church--historical problems--and avoid the temptation to make faulty assumptions commonly made regarding past members and why they have left.

After many years of introspection, this past year (2013) my family and I left the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. It was one of the hardest decisions we have ever made. I will always remember with fondness my time spent in the LDS church, and I dearly love all of my LDS friends that I have made across the country over the years. My family and I are on a new path, continuing to learn about and love our Savior Jesus Christ. We continue to support our friends of different faiths on their individual journeys, and hope that you will do the same for us. May this new year be blessed for each and every one of you!

Awesome......

I actually may copy and use this on my own Facebook, with your permission of course.

Feel free :)

I have the utmost respect for you, Torn.

You are certainly brave. Good luck to you in your journey.

Thanks :)

Any feces yet?

A couple of dumbfounded replies ...can't understand why I would leave, want to know what made me question...apparently the first half of my post escaped them once they got to the part about me (gasp!) leaving the church. I have lots and lots of TBM friends friends across several states that will likely be shocked by this, but it will be interesting to see how many actually reply. Of the few that did, I got the standard "Gospel is perfect, men aren't" line of thinking. One even stated that nothing would be of benefit in reading the links because her testimony can not be shaken. I'm so tempted to reply "so, you're not going to read the essays, even though they are church approved?" But I'm trying hard to not be confrontational. Just hoping a few open minded, perhaps secretly wondering individuals will read through them and have some WTF moments :P.

People can be so frustrating. Even articles on lds.org are anti-mormon literature I guess. I wouldn't be surprised if you get some private messages from other doubters in your circle of friends.

Yes, they are if they're presented by a disenfranchised member. Same experience with my TBM wife. I gave her the essay links to read without any extra comments, and she said I'm a conspiracy theorist.

She's not going to read the essays because her testimony is really quite fragile and after she's sacrificed so much in this life to be a believer, she'd rather continue on in ignorance rather than confirm what she knows -- that the whole thing is a sham.

There . . .I fixed her statement for her.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/04/2014 03:15PM by Devoted Exmo.

I think that's adorable that someone would refuse to read essays posted on lds.org b/c they don't want their testimony challenged in any way. Does that even make sense? I would expect that response if you'd posted articles from anywhere else on the internet, no matter how academic or reputable the source, but lds.org? The church itself? Bizarre.

You can put anything in the same message as you coming out and the TBMs will forget everything else said. You could say "scientists have confirmed that an alien invasion will arrive tomorrow and wipe out earth. Oh, and I left the church." And they would just freak out about the church part.

Why don't you respectfully call them on it - that your links are on the church's sanctioned website?

Hate to pop the balloon here...

Torn, I bet most of your TBM friends would stay in The Cult even if TSM came out today and said it was all a sham.

The majority of TBMs would state that Satan got ahold of him.

I asked my TBM brother if the prophet said the church was false and resigned would he stay in the church?

He said he would stay and would feel sorry that a prophet lost his testimony.

Good luck with that one.

I have heard TBMs say this, too.

Sounds like when Warren Jeffs confessed to his brother in jail that he was not a prophet and never had been. It's even recorded on tape.

But of course, his sheeple still believe in him.

I just sent these to my TBM cousin in am email. We'll see I guess. I made sure that I told her that these were on the LDS web site so she will know that they are no anti-Mo.

Another family escapes in one piece! Congratulations and welcome to RFM.

I posted those 3 links to my facebook without any comments. My mom is on facebook right now who knows maybe she will read it.