I'd say it breaks down with active members that about 60 percent are LDS because of pride. They like being God's chosen, having all the answers, being considered special. Or possibly after a life time of Mormonism, their self-esteem is so deeply intertwined with the performances of Mormonism they can't visualize breaking free.

I'd say about 30 percent are there out of fear. They are afraid of God's wrath, of losing their family forever, of making a catastrophic mistake in their lives if they trust their own judgment or, like my TBM mom, they are afraid of the end-of-the-world and think the only safety is found in clinging to the church.

I'd say about 10 percent sincerely belief each and every word.

Or maybe it breaks down on an individual basis. I'd say I mostly liked being special and having the answers, mixed with sincere belief. I don't remember being too afraid. Anyway, what do you think - what is the ruling appeal in Mormonism?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/17/2013 02:17PM by CA girl.

Yeah, I'd say it was always a mix of those things. Individual basis. I believed (had a spiritual experience), I feared (thought that someday I would get in trouble for porn and masturbation), I was happy to be born into the True church (pride).

I was mormon because that's just the way it was. I wasn't particularly proud of being mormon, and hated the teachings that we were somehow chosen or elect (didn't make sense that a loving God would play favorites). I was full of guilt and self-loathing, but I wasn't really fearful of God - after all, I was pretty sure I was headed to the TK which was supposedly so awesome I would kill myself to get there if I knew. And I sure as hell didn't believe in it.

No, I was a mormon because my parents were mormon and they took me to church each week since I was born. I was a mormon because pretty much everybody I knew was mormon, and even though I knew intellectually that there were other options it never really occurred to me to pursue any of them, because why should I? I was a mormon because it was just a part of fabric of my existence, and until I got older I never saw any compelling reason to tear that fabric apart.

I would definitely say guilt is a huge contributor to it all. It was for me

Guilt didn't occur to me, except maybe as a form of fear. Fear of letting down your family or your spouse. If I felt guilty as a Mormon, I'd probably have been more likely to leave sooner.

All those are to be found in the average TBM. But they are all held up by deception. When I found out that Mormonism was a deception I wasn't afraid of anything. I lost my pride and became truly, mostly, humble. And the belief vanished instantly. The only reason more TBMs haven't left when they heard the truth is because they were deceived into believing the truth was a lie. Thus, they are twice deceived into believing not only the original lies but also the secondary lies that decry that truth is actually falsehood. I feel so sad for those who use the church as their ultimate source for truth and reliability. I guess they do it out of habit and indoctrination. They are doomed to repeat the folly of their parents.

I think it's different things for different people. In my case, I was probably mostly ruled by fear, guilt and wanting to please others.

As I sit here and think about this, I'd say that the majority of those who are asked to serve in high profile callings in the church (bishops, stake presidents and such) are mostly driven by pride.

What about peer pressure? I know lots of mormons who go to church every week because of the social and family pressure. It's not fear persay, it's more about not rocking the boat and going along to get along. Combined with a little intellectual laziness or just lack of curiosity, a desire to please can be enough. If you do a good job playing your role of peter priesthood/molly mormon, you are assured parts in the back, a circle of friends, and rules that make it so you never have to put to much thought into developing your authentic self and sense of morality. Questions-> answers. Ask you have to do is not look under the rug.

You're totally right, but I'd consider that as part of "fear". The people in those situations are scared of what their parents and friends would say. They're scared to see their loved ones upset. They fear if they do what they really want they'll start an argument or hurt others.

Many members are there to network. If they left, they would lose a large portion of their business and income. Maybe this would fall under fear.

I think it's a bit of everything for most people. Although if I had to estimate what the primary driving force is for mormons, I'd say probably 20% pride, 40% fear and 30% belief.

I think fear is usually a bigger driving force for people that were born into the church. They fear what will happen if they disobey. They're scared of disappointing their parents. They're scared of becoming the subject of ward gossip, and so on.

Well, you know how you need all three parts of the godhead... all of the above. Three distinct and separate ideals that are one in purpose and harmony

I think it's a combination of pride, guilt, and fear that keeps many people in Mormonism. Fear is probably the main reason inactive Mormons and NOM's don't resign, as they don't want to be completely shunned from their families.

I think that mormons truly think that they belong to the one and only true church, and that all others must become mormon to go to heaven.

This belief causes the members to either feel
1. superior
or
2. special. I think that those that feel superior will be mormons for life. I think those that just feel special (the victims), will get dissolutioned by those that feel superior (the victimizers)

There are a lot of assh*les in the mormon cult. That is why I left, because of toxic mormon controlling assh*les. That led me to study the church to see if others thought it was a cult. That studying led me to realize that the church was a fraud. And I'm the type that never thought I would never leave.

I didn't leave because of the people because I didn't see them behaving like jerks until after I started questioning. I left because of the lies but now, even if someone could convince me that I was wrong and the church was all it claimed to be, I wouldn't socialize with the people. Mormonism has a way of making people toxic - to use your word. So I my leaving experience was exactly the opposite of yours but both of us came to the same conclusion in the end.

Fear. Fear drives the false pride and self-righteousness. I feel fear drives the "sincere believers" as well.

It's just an inescapable product of a dualistic system. Set up an all-powerful god, who sets rules and horrible punishments for his children's failures, and you have--fear.

I think for the smug leaders it's pride, for the older members it's fear, & for the younger members it's pressure.

Fear. Pride is a coat of paint to make the fear more tolerable. Sincere belief is pretty far down on the list. If they really believed, they wouldn't be afraid it is a house of cards.

Fear of apostates. Fear of touching a wine bottle or coffee cup. Fear of "anti" sites. Fear of what the neighbors will say. Fear your darling children will dump Mormonism.

Fear as far as the eye can see.

How about just profoundly dense?

http://exmormon.org/phorum/read.php?2,1111145