I stumbled into this place while doing a Google Search for Jennifer Gledhill, the lady that stands accused of killing her husband after he discovered HER affair. This post isn't about her, but I was trying to figure out of this is yet another example of LDS folks offing their spouse. Which is a symptom to a larger problem in the culture.

I have long gaps of participation in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I left when I was a Priest, came back 12 years later after marrying a non-member, stayed for 8 years and left again. I went to Community of Christ for 10 years, attempted to come back by going to Church with my Mom, was pretty much asked to leave and was accused of creating a disturbance.

While away, I have participated in Post Mormon communities, been invited to well known podcasts as a guest, helped Community of Christ get their first interview with Bill Reel, it goes on and on. You know that Project Zion? Who showed them what was possible? Yeah.. I was full into these expressions of faith, helping in so many ways. I put hours of help, even my Wife said I put more hours into the churches as I did when I was participating in the LDS church.. She was right!

Community of Christ sold their remaining historical assets to the LDS church for quick cash, without asking the membership, which caused my shelf to collapse. I fully realize that church is flat broke, but I also know they waste a lot of money trying to be a big church when they are not. Then you have the main theologians, which don't have a testimony of the early church and would rather go into a Protestant direction. They also turn out one mindless Seminary graduate after another, believing in practices and theology that are counter to what they are founded on. Then you see all of their social media (what is left of it) really ignore what makes them special. I am obviously against this cleansing of the church, they should just de-canon the Book of Mormon and their own history and be honest of who they are. I will be happy for them once they do that, so there is no false advertising on their part.

Now present day, I found out that I don't need these organizations or their people anymore. The stories may be faith promoting, but the organizations are not. The LDS Church has no place for freethinkers and those with no testimony of the Temple. Community of Christ is a broke church in funds, theology and faith and may only have a few years left. Instead of all this distraction, the real church is within us, our minds and hearts.

I am fully aware that all of it may be a scam but it doesn't change that some of it is useful to be a good person. Anything good that comes out of the books, history and practices should be celebrated. I pity those who are trapped into the group think of both churches, where their testimony will never be real because they just get balled up with the hero worship and money of the church. These people are the lost, not people like me who found truth in another place. I'm not astray, they are.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/17/2025 10:51AM by indields.

I think if you go to a church looking for the "truth," you are likely to be disappointed because churches are made up of fallible human beings like yourself. Some are wise, some are awful, and many are thoroughly average. They don't know anything more than you do.

I honestly think that if I am a good person, that is mostly due to how my parents raised me. Church taught some useful things, but my parents taught the same things as well. I also read and learned a lot about world religions in my younger days. It's eye-opening when you realize that much of the world gets by just fine without Christianity.

They are made up of fallible people who don't think they are fallible.

Or don't care, because Jesus fixes everything - including the elimination of troublesome spouses.

Thanks for the reply. I have learned how to head canon church. My truth is different than the person next to me. I actually think it is healthy for an organization to have a variety of beliefs and testimonies. It makes the whole group more alive, healthy and more interesting. Not only that, it also lets people grow their testimony organically.

I've heard the argument regarding fallible human beings many times. The problem with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, we don't know when someone errors. There are arguments that they never make mistakes when they are the hands and feet of God in His church. Prop 8 and the Gay bans on baptism for children is a good example of mistakes made. At least with the Gay bans, they reversed it. They never apologized for for it, they just got rid of it. With their huge following, it would go a long way with the rest of the membership to see that once in awhile, they could cause hurt. Full disclosure, I am not LGBTIQA+ and don't have skin in the game, other than seeing how hurt people were when both of these were current news.

Speaking of fallible, I lived with my Wife before marriage, like most people do. I was threatened with Bishop's Court after I returned to the church after that 12 year absence. My SP put a stop to it fortunately. This should have been a sign that I don't belong, but I was naive and gullible. I was offered the office of the Elder, but a voice inspired me to say no. Was it an external influence or just me? Not sure!

What is next for me? I'm waiting for a good time to resign from both Community of Christ and LDS.I may also just continue to be an official member of one or both.. I need the freedom to go as I please. If I was not an official member of the church, I could just attend any Ward I please as a visitor.

Community of Christ, I don't see a way forward for me there as I feel their stewardship of these historical assets was an act of betrayal. I'm not mad that they sold them, I'm mad at the closed door nature of it. President Steve Veazey said that if they engaged the membership, their position as a seller would be degraded. Come on man, you got 192 million dollars.. LDS collects that on two Sundays at the most. They wanted the Temple and they wanted it bad!

I hope you all find the life and peace you are looking for.. either inside or outside the church. What is right for me, may not be right for you. The journey is better than the destination.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/17/2025 04:09PM by indields.

I understand your feeling of betrayal about the sale. I questioned it as well. The CoC may have felt backed into a financial corner. I think everyone on this board appreciates your contribution, as we almost never hear from CoC members. You have a valuable perspective.