This is one of the questions I started asking right before I left the church. What good is the Gift of the Holy Ghost if it leaves you when you need it most, ie when you're sinning? I've already mentioned before that I struggled with porn and MB since I was 11. I was open and honest with my church leaders and with my wife before we got married. The one thing I would hear often from Bishops, Stake Presidents and pretty much everyone who would teach on the topic is that when you're sinning, the spirit leaves. My Bishops would tell me that I didn't have the Spirit with me because if my addiction. My wife had it with her, although she sinned, she wasn't guilty of a sin 2nd only to murder, so she could have the spirit and be able to make wise decisions. My Bishop had the spirit because of his righteous life. But I, the addict who needed the Spirit the most did not because of my addiction. The problem with that is that those teachings taught me not to trust myself. I couldn't ever trust myself as long as I was not perfect. So I never did really trust myself and that's one big reason why I struggled with it so much.

I did eventually learn for myself that God was always with me and talking to me, especially when I needed Him/Her/It/They most! When I realized that, it began to change my life.

Another thing they would say when I was feeling prompted to do something other than what they thought was right is, that I was getting that answer from the wrong source. I reject that notion. I remember when I was on my mission, there was more than one time when I would meet someone, have them read the BoM and pray about it. They would receive some sort of an answer that it was right, and then their Evangelical Pastor would tell them that it was the Devil answering their prayer and not God... So I ask this to any Bishop, Pastor or any other person caught up in dogma, Why in the HELL would a loving God, when I'm praying to God for an answer, allow the Devil to answer it instead? Exactly. He wouldn't!!!

At this point, I have a great relationship with God even though I don't know what He/She/It/They are, but I reject religion and especially dogma!

Thanks for letting me vent once again!

When I was doing my REAL investigation of the Mormon religion, at the request of my then-GF, I told her that I didn't feel the warm fuzzy feeling anymore when I asked God if her church was true. She told me that because I had allowed doubt into my mind, the Holy Ghost wouldn't answer me! Well then, what the heck is the point of it then? Its WHOLE JOB is supposedly to tell you what is true, but if you actually try to rationally examine the "truth," it bolts?? If its only there to confirm what you already believe, then how is their "Holy Ghost" different from what every other religion experiences?

The fact is, Mormons manipulate your emotions and feelings, and then they try to convince you that your own emotions and feelings are actually God talking to you, and then they tell you what it is he's saying to you! Its such a scam!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/30/2013 11:12PM by nickname.

You've got it right.

I wish there was a way to like a post here. You hit it right on the nail. Thanks Nickname

I always thought the same thing. When I started to realize that I was feeling the spirit when I clearly should not have been I think was when I started to realize something was up.

Also, I'm sure you have figured it out OP, but in case not, chances are you are not addicted to porn/MB. I bought that lie for years and even went to ARP for it. I now realize, I am not addicted to it. I am a normal adult male.

Thanks albertasaurus, my opinion on MB and Porn has changed quite a bit since leaving the church. I see nothing wrong with it when people want to do it every once in a while or as a couple. But as for me... well, when someone has major issues that they don't want to deal with, and they use something else to numb those issues instead of dealing with them... that is when it's an addiction. Having left the church, I realized my issues were not about porn and MB, they were about issues I was running from. So that is where my focus is now... how I can deal with those issues to lead a happier and healthier life. The healthier I get... the more I see religion for what it is!

The Holy Ghost HATES genitals! If you touch any or see any, he is outta there.

That’s probably because he doesn’t have any.

:-0