In an attempt to figure out why the City of Cedar Park, TX kept scraping up sections of a nearby road that were quickly patched with rectangular asphalt patches, I discovered that a Mormon temple was going to be built behind the chapel that was constructed nearby 10+ years or so ago. I suppose it'll be another "mini temple" like the one they built up in Lubbock, TX (behind a small st
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Ice, sleet, and snow (in central Texas of all places) has me at home so I perused the channel guide on cable TV and noticed a one hour blocked titled, "Abused in the LDS Church? Take action" providing the following 800 number: 1-800-548-0871. The spokeswoman provides examples of sexual abuse of minors at the hands of LDS church/scout leaders. The spokeswoman states her name as Kri
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Early this summer when I learned that my youngest nephew had been called to be a missionary abroad, I was disappointed and secretly hoped he would change his mind or go home early. This morning, his mother sent a short text (to a family group of siblings and spouses of siblings) stating that he'd be coming home tomorrow due to emotional reasons (concluding with a "thanks for the support&quo
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Absolutely. I had academic scholarships that were paying for my undergraduate studies. Before I turned 19, the bishop kept hinting that he expected me to submit my paperwork. A year later, he called me into his office and, I suppose, in his own way called me to repentance, told me god didn't need me, and that I was setting a bad example to all of the younger men/boys in the ward for not having
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Actually, my mom is one of the kindest, thoughtful, intelligent people I know. She is well aware of the tension that begins to pulsate once my dad starts engaging in Mormon speak. The only other mom I have known who was equal to or better than mine, was her own mother. She and my dad married young - he was 19 and she was 16 and was 18 when the first of 8 children arrived. She was the mother
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Back in my LDS daze while in graduate school (circa 1994), a group of unmarried young (and a few not so young) single adults engaged in a little exercise in which we each described one another with one word or a short phrase. The most perceptive and favorite label directed at me was “serendipity”. Little did I know that but two years later I would discover the rather small, but growing, onl
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One of my sisters made a facebook post about thanks/gratitude for the temple and how she misses the peace she feels while inside one. It made me recall my pre-mission endowment in the Dallas temple back in March 1988 in which one of my first thoughts was, "...hey, why are there money changers in the temple?" while getting/renting my baker's costume. Soon thereafter, while entering the
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Cringe away. A life stuck in a cult is a life that has been cheated - a life that could have been so much more fulfilling and deeper on many levels. My folks are stuck in that cheated life. Fortunately, they have had long, good lives; but, I have no doubt they would have had greater enjoyment and happiness had they had the opportunity to live a life free of bad mormon dogma. I know that fro
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The facebook poster's brother is a civil engineer married to a college professor; I'm not sure what college/university is nearby, but, I suspect he and his wife probably attend a ward/branch closer to where he or his wife work. He and I are the same age, attended different schools, but were grouped in the same church activities... his dad, however, had a very low opinion of mormon boy scouts,
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I live in the 'burbs (small town north of Austin - Cedar Park) that now has 3 mormon church buildings, one of which is about three quarters of a mile from my home. I'm not sure why Cedar Park needs 3 buildings, but, the locations are near elementary, middle, and high schools. It is certainly more affordable to live in the Austin 'burbs than within Austin itself. The location near my home has
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About three days ago a long-time friend posted a picture on facebook with the following comment: "This was the chapel behind me during this morning’s opening hymn. Sent it to my brother who lives in Cleveland Mississippi and he sent a similar picture back to me. His primary attendance was actually bigger than the one I played the piano for. Something is wrong when a ward in a busy metropo
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Your efforts in maintaining this site for so long has made significant impacts in many lives - especially my own. I am glad to hear that your retirement activities are full, happy, and enjoyable. I am grateful for this forum, and for the ability to check in from time to time since I first discovered it early in 1997. I am glad you are able to "pass the torch" and focus on what brings
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I was exhausted when I returned from my missionary "daze" in 1990. As a deluded "true believer" I had worked my ass off non-stop for the full two years and needed some much needed physical, emotional, and mental rest. If this half-baked scheme had been dropped into my lap upon my return home, I probably would've started my LDS exodus much earlier as it would have made me ext
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Grew up in southeast Austin, currently live in Cedar Park - northwest "Austin".
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Oldest sister promptly replied: "Thank you for clarifying that for me." No other comment from her, and, I do not anticipate any.
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I received a peculiar email from my oldest sister today that thanked me for an essay she mentioned she had seen on facebook titled "Smart Mormons". Well, fortunately for me, and unfortunately for her - she mistakenly thought I was the author. She's the 2nd of 8 siblings (6 of whom are female) and is the oldest female, quite a dedicated TBM, and has never inquired about my LDS exodus v
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I'm 7th of 8 siblings out of which 4 married in the temple; and, of those 4, 3 divorced their spouse from the temple marriage. I doubt a temple marriage is statistically better than those of the general population. The 1 marriage that did not end in divorce - well, that couple has not been active in the LDS religion for as long as I have been retired from mormonism via resignation back in 199
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My child has never set foot in an LDS chapel and we live far away from the Utah/Idaho/Arizona mormon population centers. So, if there were social pressure that adversely impacted my daughter - it would be my immediate family members and relatives who have already been forewarned to not proselytize my wife (nevermo) or my daughter who will turn eight in 10 months. What works for you works fo
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Sorry to hear of the trauma greedo's son had to endure. On a different note, it had me contemplating teaching my 7 year old daughter to say and repeat "Pay lay ale - Oh god, hear the words of my mouth" while slowly holding her hands over head and lowering them to her side if a mormon relative ever asks her to pray. My daughter enjoys a bit of mischief...
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Last words from my father tonight were, “We no longer have anything to say – take care of your mother…” I resigned from the corporation back in 1997 when I was about 30 years old and feel a great deal of gratitude for this forum, which was just starting about that time. Since then, my parents seemed to follow a path of “don’t ask don’t tell” with respect to LDS theology. At t
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I put the relevant experience from that 2 year "conscription" in my resume many years ago because I could at least refer to the role I performed as the mission's financial secretary and the leadership role of managing people as a DL and ZL. I think it was something like this (two bullet points): "•Managed the Operating Budget, Coordinated all Contract and Procurement Activities
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From my personal experience, the MP of my mission (Oporto Portugal), did, indeed, receive regular phone calls from an "apostle" (RM Nelson circa 1988-1990)with the conversations focus being numbers. As the financial secretary, I shared a common wall with the MP and heard the MP's side of the conversation - which resembled some sort of "ass chewing" that was then passed down t
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See what csuprovograd said above. He could seek training to competently prepare income taxes and develop a client base. My father has done that for approximately 50 years - along with building a rental home portfolio (former real estate broker) and also with a stint selling insurance (former insurance broker). I think the key was a deep understanding of how to leverage federal and state tax la
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If you didn't like it, just shrug your shoulders and say, "Hasa Diga Eebowai!" and move on. FOR ME - It is funny, profane, and vulgar - but certainly funny. I saw it in Austin, Texas and was suprised at how many "grandma" grey haired women were in the crowd. They seemed to laugh as hard as everyone else. You need to consider the source of this satire - Trey Parker and Ma
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http://www.exmormon.org/whylft73.htm - See item 3: Dear Brother J: I have received your request asking that your name be removed from the records of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I will, of course, honor that request and begin the process at once. I would, however, ask that you give careful consideration to the action that you have requested. The eternal impl
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"The Book of Mormon" finally made its way to Austin Texas and my wife got tickets for me a few months back. I've not watched a session of general conference since the spring of 1997; this show, of course, was much more enjoyable than any old GA talk from a conference or any old mission conference back in my "mission daze". I'd like to believe that I would have enjoyed this
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UPDATE: I received a response from "J" to my email as follows: That answers the question I had, for sure. And I like words, too—it’s hard to get away from them in this profession, as we are “wordsmiths” of sorts. Garner’s “Dictionary of Modern Legal Usage” is about as good as it gets for a lawyer. I believe he is from down in Texas like you. In any event, it sounds like
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Last year there was a thread about Mission Presidents in which I participated. I included my name and email address hoping that a former missionary companion would get contact me and let me know how he had come to the same conclusions that I had. That thread is: http://exmormon.org/phorum/read.php?2,557206,557822#msg-557822 A number of other former missionaries who served in the same miss
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I resigned back in 1997, and have always been grateful for people like Eric Kettunen and Richard Packham for the invaluable information and tools they provided then, and continue to provide now, regarding Mormonism. My summary is athttp://www.exmormon.org/whylft73.htm On Tuesday evening I received a short email from a former LDS missionary to the Porto Portugal mission at the time I served th
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Old policy. When I was at the MTC in April 1988, ET Benson reinforced the old policy: http://www.ldschurchnews.com/articles/17520/Honorable-marriage-more-important-than-wealth-and-position.html
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