Posted by:
almostThere
(
)
Date: April 24, 2012 12:19PM
I have had doubts about the LDS church for about 9 years, and have spent considerable effort trying to reconcile problems in it. I did tons of reading from FARMS, read my scriptures, prayed harder, tried harder... Of course, we all know how well that works. FARMS actually introduced me to more problems than it solved. I never read any anti-mormon literature, but I could see from reading FARMS that there were BIG problems without good answers. My doubts about continued to grow, but the apologists were very succesful at making me doubt myself, too. I remember thinking that people from church said I was "confused" about things. I felt like things were less confusing if I just stopped believing the church.
One day, in a flare of frustration, I googled "Should I quit mormonism?" and found a link titled "Life is Better after Mormonism". It lead me here:
http://www.exmormon.org/mormon/mormon263.htmThis was the biggest eye opener. People who "apostatized" were not evil. They didn't leave because they were sinners. They left because of all the same misery I was experiencing! AND- LIFE GOT BETTER WHEN THEY LEFT! I just wanted my burdens to be lifted in the way these people described!
I did not immediately begin reading anything and everything online, but I decided I wanted to hear the opposing views. Mormonthink, of course, gave me a refreshing, honest, and level look at the facts- which I had never recieved from FARMS, or any LDS source. The difference was obvious. I realized that the church was dishonest- and the apologists' job was simply to prevent me from actually reading the opposing literature!
With that realization, the real world has begun opening up to me. I'm not there yet, but I'm beginning to make my escape. I want my mind back (and that 29 years of my life)! Wish me luck!
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE HERE! THANK YOU!!!