So glad to read this, shannon. I rarely come to the forum anymore but I have great memories of your support for others, including me. Wonderful to hear that you're doing well and surrounded by your family!
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My TBM relatives made sure I knew almost everything the week before I went through the temple. They told me that everything was symbolic, that some of the meanings of different aspects of the temple were open to interpretation, and that the ceremony had recently changed to clear up some vague wording (this was at the beginning of 1991). So I went in totally inoculated. If I had gone in cold, I pr
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Sisters were required to wear tights or pantyhose at all times. No bare legs EVER. I think this was a common mission rule at the time (early 90s).
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2013...went from TBM to resigning within about four months
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Jim McMahon's family was in my stake. Never met him, of course. His wife was very nice. His oldest daughter was a young teen when I knew her and she was an outstanding kid who took some of the younger, more vulnerable girls under her wing.
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Please accept my condolences on your loss. Losing a parent is so very difficult, even when it's expected.
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Sorry for your loss...you and your family are in my thoughts.
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My thoughts are with you...you and your husband are going through a number of major upheavals in one fell swoop. As horrible as all of this is, it's good that the two of you have each other.
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I visited India for the first time in 2007, when I was still a TBM. The missionaries I met there said they were required to teach only in English; in fact, they were not taught Hindi, Bengali or Tamil in the MTC. They said this was the agreement that the church reached with the Indian government in order to let missionary work go on legally in India. Apparently the Indian gov't doesn't trust West
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Wonderful to read this update! I'm so glad that things are going well for you and your family. Even with all the storms that life brings--surgery, deaths of loved ones--you will always have each other.
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Thanks to everyone who responded. I really appreciate your sympathy and support. Outliving any of my siblings has always been my worst nightmare (they're all younger than me) and now it's starting... As for Terry, it appears that the other siblings are staying clear of him as well. Tom's burial service will not be well attended by our family because he had been estranged from everyone for so l
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Yeah, I think you're right. I hate that he's using a church as a cover for his manipulation, but it's even worse that he's using his kids. They've been through enough as it is.
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One of my brothers died a couple of days ago. This is the most horrible event in my life so far, and in the lives of my immediate family. And it's being made worse by the behavior of one of my surviving brothers, who is acting like a total Mormon about all of this. Background: All of us siblings are exmos. The brother who died ("Tom") was abusive and destructive, and it finally caug
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Most bishops tell people who are trying to resign that they are "required" to meet with them. Baloney. Once the church received your initial letter, you are legally out. You do not owe him (or anyone else) a meeting. He can process his paperwork without seeing you. If you decide you want to meet with him, then have the meeting in a neutral place like a park or a café. Don't go to h
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One of them preached against home equity loans during the housing bubble, in a General Conference talk. So there's that.
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Thanks for this post, fidget. Beauty isn't always pretty.
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I don't feel sorry for the one who refused to process my resignation. He and I knew each other quite well while I was a TBM. He doesn't really believe, he's just weak. I definitely don't feel sorry for his counselors since they're smug, invasive tools. There are a few bishoprics in my past that I feel sorry for. Hopefully they've seen the light by now.
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It has been very helpful to me, especially when I first left two years ago. It's also been rewarding to reach out to others when they're going through difficulties as they leave.
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I remember directives against this starting in the 80s. It was probably forbidden earlier, too. In the last stake I attended, about a dozen members of a wealthy ward tried to form their own Sunday School class as they considered themselves ready for the meat of the gospel. The SP was a member of that ward and had some NOMish tendencies, but he still came down on them like a ton of bricks. He s
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Whenever I was released from a leadership calling, I was told who the new person was, usually so that I could contact them ASAP to offer support. Most bishops/SPs don't release ANYONE from a hard-to-fill calling until a replacement has accepted the call.
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Good to know--thanks, fidget!
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Deenie had passed away before I came to the board. I wish I could have met her--we were in the same boat in the church. Flattop/xyz was hilarious. So was jaredsotherbrother--I laughed so loud and long at one of his posts that my neighbors banged on the ceiling to get me to shut up. Hopefully mindlight is getting better.
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I was thinking that a couple of nights ago when some zombie posts appeared. I miss the people you've listed, plus others like toto, flyboy21, ambivalent exmo, twojedis, Mia... Hope they're all happy and well!
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Whatever else you do, don't think you have life all figured out right now. At 26, the learning and growth you're experiencing can be just the beginning. So many people fall prey to cynicism or complacency after their first major life epiphany, and that's when their souls start to shrivel. There are many people, and maybe even a few institutions, that are good. Befriend them, study them and em
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Crazy Mormons want leadership callings. Most people dread them, especially the sane people who have had leadership callings. They're hell--20 to 40 hours a week of unpaid labor.
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I echo the advice to send it via snail mail. Send it registered with delivery confirmation so that you have proof. And congrats on getting out!
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Why did you want to make it official? The ward and stake members were love-bombing me aggressively. And I knew that I was never, ever going back to church, so I needed a clean break. Has it helped your recovery? Have a legally-recognized severance of the relationship has been very helpful. I no longer feel obligated or guilty. Also, I can sue the pants off them if they keep hounding me.
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I've been out for two years and I don't struggle anymore--really only did for the first six months or so. The good feelings from sex/masturbation far outweighed the guilt, and the guilt evaporated after I realized how much I needed sex.
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Didn't get a chance to answer this question before the previous thread closed. Bishops in my life were (most recent at the top): Financial analyst Self-employed in a vague internet marketing capacity IT manager Consultant for a mega-firm (he was always traveling which was good because he was a complete tool) Lawyer, in-house counsel for a mega-firm Military officer (very nice guy and fant
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Sandie* Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > In all of the years that I spoke in Sacrament > meetings I never bore testimony that included > anything remotely equivalent to knowing that the > LDS church was "true" and neither was JSjr "a > prophet of God." I bore testimony on the gospel > principle that I was required/reque
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