This past week the wife and I did a road trip and we listened to a 2012 Mormon Stories podcast Tom Phillips did. In the podcast Tom mentioned he and his wife were living in different countries for 6 years. His wife and grown children had chosen the church.

I felt so bad for Tom because they (his family) were shunning him. The podcast was about 4 years ago and I am curious if Tom is still separated, divorced or whatever. I am hoping he has someone in his life now that loves him.

I enjoyed his podcast but the shunning by his wife and children hit a nerve with me. I have a TBM brother that is shunning me because I disagree with the church's policy towards the children of gay parents.

If you read this Tom Phillips - I hope you have found someone that loves you and makes you want to live.

Single people don't want to live? I missed the memo on that one.

I know. That line took me back too.

Guess what? I know a hell of a lot more married people who are miserable than single people. Especially those of us in the over 50 crowd.

NormaRae Wrote:
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> I know. That line took me back too.
>
> Guess what? I know a hell of a lot more married
> people who are miserable than single people.
> Especially those of us in the over 50 crowd.


Absolutamente!.

I am far more happier and at peace as a single woman than many of the married people I know. Being married and alone is far more miserable than being single and LOVING IT!

I pity those who don't get how glorious being single can be.

I am sure his wife and children felt betrayed. There are two sides.

From your posting history, you appear to take the church's side a lot. Why is that?

How exactly is pointing out the betrayal members feel when a loved one leaves the church "taking the church's side?"

Because the OP was about years of shunning (or, as we now say, "disconnection") by wife & kids, seemingly with no end in sight. Granted, they no doubt felt some betrayal; still, does that justify that kind of extreme reaction? The above poster made no mention or acknowledgment of the shun, and the abrupt manner in which the post was phrased could be interpreted as tacitly condoning or defending it. Sure wasn't showing any sympathy for Tom.

"Taking the church's side" was more about the above poster's history. Review it yourself to see what I'm talking about. The first 2-3 pages, at least, have nothing negative about the church but a few that are positive. If you look at the totality of the posts, I think you'll get the sense of them, and this particular post does fit into the general pattern of not criticizing the church.

I can't imagine choosing a church over your own family. That is so sad.

He escaped TSCC with his integrity intact.

I don't know why marriage would provide any additional "happiness" for Tom or any other man who's scales have fallen from his eyes. I hope Tom is happy and moving on.

The betrayal Tom experienced from the cult is nowhere near the betrayal his wife gave him. I'm betting he recognized that and is in no hurry to repeat the mistake.

TBMs who shun their families are simply more devoted to a dead pedophile.

I found the 2012 podcast difficult to listen to. It was quite raw, and Toms pain evident. I understand he has moved forward and is happy.

blakballoon Wrote:
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> ...I understand he has moved forward and is happy.

...the best outcome of all...

Maybe his wife is also angry with him for telling the world that she has received the second annointing ceremony. He blew open her secret on that when he told his story. But I fault the church and not Tom for any distance between them and their marriage suffering. He has to do what he thinks is right for his life too.

Phillips wrote and appealed to apostle Jeffrey R. Holland to answer questions. Phillips posted those questions and Holland's failure or refusal to answer sincere questions.

It is the church leadership, and specifically Holland, who have failed miserably to answer tough questions that Phillips had. They have no answers. They hide behind apologists and anonymous unsigned ESSAYS. They are cowards plain and simple. They have ZERO ability to "open the heavens" and reveal anything - and they know it.

All TSCC wants is obedient, ignorant followers. They use fear and loss of eternal blessings if you defect. Hence, Phillips' family, still brainwashed with the Mormon lingo, chose to remain ignorant. Tom Phillips on the other hand chose facts, knowledge and integrity. The later over-rules the former!

I believe it was during the podcast Tom Phillips mentioned truth is important to him. My new goal is when TBM's ask why I left the church, I hope I can say because truth is more important to me than cussing them out which is really more likely to happen.

Didn't his wife pass away?

Seems I remember when he first started posting that his face crisis coincided with his wife's terminal illness.

Or am I remembering something else??

Thanks for the concern and comments.

OP (themaster) asked:-
<If you read this Tom Phillips - I hope you have found someone that loves you and makes you want to live.>

Let me assure everyone that I am extremely happy and fulfilled in my life. I prefer living in reality rather than delusion. I am divorced from my TBM wife.

I am with someone who loves me to bits as do I her. We live on a small island (8.75 miles wide x 4.5 miles north to south) which is paradise to us. Our penthouse overlooks a beautiful bay on the Mediterranean Sea.

It is as though I have died and gone to Heaven (even though I do not believe in life after death, there is certainly a great life after Mormonism).

Tom

Tom,

I, for one, agree that life after Mormonism is a life worth living. Happy to hear everything is great with you and your "Significant Other".

May the farce never be with you!

Templar

"I prefer living in reality rather than delusion."

Totally agree with that. Glad you have found a happy life post Mormonism.

I wish you well, Tom, and I'm sure there was a lot of pain which you successfully transcended...

In the name of Jesus Smith,

That is really good to hear! Thanks for the update.

Life after Mormonism is so joy filled!
So glad you have made your own heaven.

Mazel tov! You deserve every bit of happiness life has to offer.

Wonderful. Happy for ya!!

A small island in a penthouse looking over the Mediterranean.

You are obviously being cursed for your apostasy.....

Yes, but I cannot even call it "outer darkness" because, at night, the stars and moon are so bright due to the lack of pollution and city lights.

Okay now that was just mean...

If you tell me you have a fishing boat it will crush me completely.

Now I can rejoice. Thank you for the update Tom Phillips.

As I have said in previous posts - Tom's podcast is one of the most - if not THE most - important podcast on Mormon Stories. I have the full unedited version. The detail and perspective that Tom provides both into his personal life as well as church ordinances and leadership (Holland) is very revealing and really quite stunning. What an odyssey! Thanks again Tom!

Yes! Tom, without your podcast, many (most) of us would never have heard of the second anointing!

Wishing you all the best!

I love it when good things happen to good people.

Best wishes to you and your SO, Tom!

I always wondered,not at all being familiar with the civil court system in Britain,if what the Church feared most wasn't losing the lawsuit,but having to acknowledge so many secret things like the 2nd anointing and patently false teachings under oath,that they decided on the essays as a partial deflection to avoid serious embarrassment?

It was not a civil court action (not a lawsuit). It was a criminal prosecution.

TSCC has broken the criminal law in England and Wales, specifically contravening the Fraud Act 2006.

Certainly they did not want publicity of the SA, but TSCC and their lawyers were petrified of facing trial. They knew the probability of conviction was almost certain.

They therefore decided to try to stop it going to trial by whatever means and and whatever cost. That included illegal activity in interfering with the justice system.

Won't work for them next time.

Looking forward to next time :-)