"When we don't think we need to hear the voice of warning, that's when we need to hear it the most."

--Something from Bednar's talk last Tuesday in Rexburg.

I had this thought: what if there are reasons to feel safe and/or no real or good reason to indulge in specious worrying? Worry anyway, I guess? Constantly be on the look out for a new angle that the "enemy" will try next.

The church literally encourages paranoia.

Not every sense of security is a false one. Sometimes the realistic factors can all be known and you can enjoy your evening knowing there is no significant danger or imporant thing being left undone.

It sounds rather pitiful actually. Like, please everybody, don't turn us off and just live your lives! The end of the world really is coming!

Fear is a powerful tool of control.

I worry that a TBM sibling lives in a state of fear. Before I came out as a disbeliever, she would always ask me if I thought certain events at the time were signs of the times. Both of our Patriarchal Blessings suggests the 2nd coming would occur while we were raising our kids. She took hers seriously. She's got a crew of 6 kids now. No millienium of peace is in sight. Hopefully, she won't keep having kids in hopes that the 2nd coming will be soon and the prophecies will come true that she will raise her kids during thr millenium!!

The "fear of retribution" is one of the key indicators of cult like practices.

I think you are all right.

Fear is the tool they use to keep people in the church.