This is something that I consistently observed during my time serving in a variety of leadership callings within the church. I was on 'the inside' a lot and discovered that a startling amount of members who you gave the appearance of having it all together, and the families who looked like the picture perfect LDS postcard, were absolutely miserable and riddled with dysfunction.

It was usually those who really tried to obey it all, that were the most unhappy. The ones who were more relaxed, usually were more grounded, but even they were reluctant to make the connection. I saw the church just exhaust people. They really expect a person to believe it all. To obey it all. To keep a smile on your face. I'm sure that there are people who are content with themselves within the church, but there is a large chunk who are just play-acting through their block of meetings every week.

AMEN AMEN AMEN & AMEN


So. You've met my family then!

Done & Done Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> AMEN AMEN AMEN & AMEN
>
>
> So. You've met my family then!
me too also

I know things about the people who post and they pretend it is all great.

I grew up in a dysfunctional family. My mother tried to put on that we were a big happy family, but my dad was always himself. People were actually afraid of my dad. He was the epitome of STRONG. But he cussed all the time. He didn't go to church all that much. He drank coffee and alcohol. His family was the same way. Loved the smell of coffee at my grandparents' house. They didn't go to church much either.

I was the devout one, but I couldn't fake it. I have never been able to fake things. I could never flirt with guys. I was a total disaster at that so I gave up.

So then I grew up and found out the reality of everything. That the families who acted like they are perfect (and still try to) AREN'T. That they were more dysfunctional than my family and still very much are. My dad taught us to be free thinking and then he wondered what he had done!!!

Actually, my "husband" and I used to lay in bed at night and discuss the people in our ward. We got along a lot better as a gay/straight couple than most couples in our ward. I thought all girls who got married young that God had brought the man of their dreams into their lives. I couldn't figure out why God wasn't doing the same for me. Imagine my shock when the ONE mormon guy who liked me was gay. Could have married 3 nonmembers before a mormon ever looked my way. I just didn't fit into the mormon royalty category.

Verily Verily I say unto you IT IS ALL ABOUT MIND CONTROL!!!!

PS---and dollars



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/08/2021 12:51PM by thedesertrat1.

I remember accompanying my wife to a couple's event. The event was usually something childish but everybody would walk around telling each other, "what a fun time this is". I remember the last event I attended, everybody (but me) doing the Hokey-Pokey.

Not to even mention the Hokey Cokey.

I was chatting on the phone yesterday with a long time friend who has also become painfully aware of the the damage the church can do.

Anyway, the topic of missions came up and I was mentioning that there were only two fellow missionaries I really didn't like, one of which was a certain AP and ZL. Out of curiosity, I googled his name. I was not disappointed. He's currently proud of his status as General Counsel for, you guessed it, Even the One True Church of Jesus Christ.

It fits his overbearing, patronizing, authoritarian personality perfectly. The photo of his expectedly large family unsurpisingly exuded the eternal bliss of ghawd's chosen. For him at least, I'm certain that happiness isn't a facade.

I wouldn't know about the rest of them.

All the world is a stage and we are all actors on it.

Yes, what you see on the outside is not always indicative of what is going on in the inside. That could be emotional, or even the appearance of prosperity when in reality, the person or family is in financial distress.

A friend of mine who was a licensed counselor expressed it as, "Everyone has holes in their socks." Don't go by what you see, because that might not be accurate.

They claim living the gospel makes you happy. Therefore, if you're not happy, it means you're not living the gospel. It means you're sinning. It means people will gossip about you, speculating what awful thing you're doing.

I so agree with this. It's a huge motivator to fake your way through a mormon life.

Which explains why UT is the perennial leader in prescription drug addiction, ponzi schemes, plastic surgery, porn subscriptions and depression/suicide.

And why they always tell pollsters they're happy happy HAPPY!!!

Its got nothing to do with happiness. That's just THE ONLY acceptable reaction, generally misconstrued as a flashy smile.