Got invited to church on Sunday by someone who knows I'm no longer a member. I said " It's Farce and Testimonkey day, isn't it? I could go and testify - I know the church isn't true."

He replied, "Wow! That would be interesting."

I agree with him. I figure I won't have long to say what I want to say, as they're likely to drag me away from the pulpit.

Any suggestions for something short and to the point that'll give them something to think about that is easily verifiabe with references that they're likely to acknowledge, or at least start seriously questioning what they currently think is true?

Waiting in anticipation.

T.

I think you should start just like that - "I'd like to bear my testimony, I know the church is not true."

Yes. So do I.
It's what I follow it up with as my time will be very limited after that.
I want them to question their beliefs, not just write me off as a demented nutter possesessd by the devil.
T.

I doubt there is anything that you could say that is contray to their world view that would not cause them to label you as a "nutter".

However a moving testimony about how much Joseph Smith loved each of his wives would be entertaining, especially if you mentioned the really young ones.

You could just follow-up with:

"Ive spent a lot of time reading and researching and studying and praying. And I know with every fiber of my being that it isn't true. It is actually quite easy to figure out. You can know too if you are willing to honestly study and research. Years from now, people will look back and wonder why anyone actually believed in it."

At that point you will probably be escorted out.

I think madiran's right - don't try to tell them why it's not true, just challenge them to do the research themselves.

"I challenge you to research the hidden history of the Church and of Joseph Smith. Pray and ask your Heavenly Father if the Book of Abraham was a fraud."

Pleasantly and firmly present the challenge as suggested by loveismyreligion. This is the way to go!

My dear Brethren and Sistern,
As I reflect upon my journey of faith, and as I look out over you all I find that in the new year that if I could but have one wish, it would be that somehow I might find factual evidence for the church being true.

I'd be careful not to make your testimonkey sound too harsh against Mormonism or you might just be adding to their own "testimonkies" that once people leave the church you're owned by Satan and can't leave the church alone.

If you are going through with it, you might say it like, "I need to bear my testimonkey because my faith is being shaken. I've been studying a lot about church history and have read things that have started to make me doubt...." Go on about BoM changes, JS's wives and their ages, blood atonement quotes from BY, "...but I wanted to bear my testimonkey because I know testimonkies grow by bearing them. I hope Heavenly Father can bless me with more faith so I can understand his ways and know the truth... blah blah Inthenameofcheeseandrice,ramen."

That's the way I would do it so it makes you sound sincere and they won't turn the mike off on you.

I think it's better if they turn the mike off on you! It shows that they're so afraid of what you might say, they have to drag you away before you can finish. That'll send a clear message about how controlling the church is, that will stay in people's minds for a long time.

Where is the church? Can I come watch?

As a child I was trained to bear my testimony that I know that the church is true. My testimony was further bolstered by the approval of my parents and ward members. I was confident in my testimony. As I grew up somethings did not make sense. But I found continued strength in the testimony of my leaders who were older and wiser than I. Finally as an adult, I find that my personal integrity demands I understand what it means when I say I know the church is true. I sought plain and simple truths and found neither church history nor gospel doctrine to be plain or simple. In fact there is no archaelogical evidence to support it is other than true fiction. So integrity required me to expand my understanding of why I believe this church is true. Where truth is concerned facts matter more than feelings. So I wondered what it would make this church true. So I looked the word church up in the dictionary and found this is a church. So today brothers and sisters I stand before you to bear testimony that I know this is most truely a church. Amen

Make it very sincere. Say sincerly that you have been struggling because and then go into book of abraham, brigham young, joseph smiths wives, black people being less valiant, lack of evidence, things like steel, animals and plants not even being in americas when BOM was written. Then say even though there is undeniable evidence disproving the church you like it because it makes you a good person. ROFL!

You were told to study and pray, so you did the research and you feel an obligation to share the result. "Because I have borne my testimony before you based on my belief, I must tell you this belief was supported by facts I was told that I learned were not true. There was no First Vision, the Book of Mormon was an easier way to make a buck than finding treasure by faking paranormal talents. The early prophets are an embarrassment to Mormons everywhere and they are being quietly retired from view.

at this point they will be walking up the aisle toward you...

"I have been forced to choose between telling the truth or pretending to believe when I don't. Lying about God seems the lesser of the two evils."

as you are being hauled off, like over your shoulder...

Thank you all for your friendship and if you ever want to REALLY see beyond the veil, go to exmormon.org."


Anagrammy

Thanks All,
Just going off to work now. (In UK)
Will read through all your responses as soon as I get chance.
T.

UK? Too bad. I would have been sitting in the back row trying not to laugh out loud.