Posted by:
michellej
(
)
Date: February 04, 2019 07:25PM
I get the betrayal. I felt it too. I was raised to believe that if I questioned the leadership or went outside of their advice and counsel that I would lose the guidance of the Holy Spirit and become so darkened in my mind that I would not even realize I was doing bad things and end up lost and fallen forever. And there are more lies and betrayals than that. There is the lie that the leaders actually have talked to God and God has given them power to save and damn souls. But, other religions/groups/individuals have exercised or do exercise that kind of power over others, it is not unique to the LDS church. Parents can be like that, political parties can act like that, and of course religious leaders are particularly prone to teaching others to depend on them because they are the only ones smart enough or strong enough or whatever enough to know whats best for the simple-minded masses. But, the Book of Mormon exposes that lie, and teaches the reader that all are alike unto God and he enlightens the minds of all who diligently seek Him. The doctrine of Christ which is taught by Nephi in 2 Nephi 31 and then again by Christ in 3 Nephi 11 says nothing about belonging to a certain church or paying tithing or serving in callings or submitting to priestly authority. The doctrine of CHrist is all about turning to God with full purpose of heart, receiving baptism, and living according to the light you have in order to receive more light until the perfect day when you become a vessel of light. I think the Book of Mormon is gift from God, but what would have happened to the Book of Mormon if Brigham Young didn't think he could make himself a wealthy and powerful person by seizing leadership of an infant church in a succession crisis? It basically took an evil and selfish man to preserve what God had given for our benefit.
I have had to get rid of a lot of "false, and vain, and foolish" notions that I was brainwashed with raised in the LDS church, but, the Book of Mormon was my lifeline. Without it, I don't think I would have ever realized that I should NOT excuse the lies, contradictions, and oppressions practiced by the LDS church. The church teaches us to ignore our feelings and obey the leadership. I got an email from my mom just this morning telling me, "Obedience brings blessings, but exact obedience brings miracles." She sends me this kind of stuff regularly because she wants to convince me that my life would be better if I would go back to being the "Prophet parrot" I used to be. INstead the Book of Mormon exposes the LDS practices as NOT OF GOD. I have always had a habit of studying the Book of Mormon daily, and it was difficult when I first began seeing contraditions. At first I thought I was an evil person for interpreting scripture that way. But the contraditions became increasingly glaring and I became proportionally curious about church history and looking around. The more I looked, the more I found. And where once I was irritated by "unfaithful" people I began to agree and understand. And then I realized how many embarrassing, ignorant, and hurtful choices I had made based on my LDS beliefs. It was painful to face. But, "Nevertheless, Jacob, my firstborn in the wilderness, thou knowest the greatness of God, and he shall consecrate thine afflictions for thy gain...For it must needs be that there is an opposition in all things..."
So, the question is, are you damaged by the experience? I am not trying to dismiss or belittle your experience, because I believe that false shepherds are condemned for hedging up the way and preventing people from coming to Christ, They do dig pits for their neighbor and cause people to stumble, become blind to the truth, etc. But, if it wasn't the LDS church doing that, wouldn't it be someone else? We all have to learn to discern good from evil and learn to hear God's voice and keep his commandments. There is no good ship zion that will carry all aboard safely to eternal bliss. Not in the LDS church, not anywhere.
It is impossible! That is not THE WAY! It would destroy the very plan of salvation to have such a ship that anyone can hop on and blissfully ride off into the sunset. The idea of a Good ship Zion that will save all and not one will be lost, is the very plan proposed by Lucifer in the council of heaven.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/04/2019 07:31PM by michellej.