It seems so....needlessly lazy, doesn't it? To have such a system where EVERYONE going to the temple on a particular date has the same name. Like, they're making it so flimsy that it is NECESSARY that nobody talks to each other. Which...I didn't. But there are a lot of people out there who aren't people pleasers from birth. It seems so lazy, shows such a low opinion of the masses to do things
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What does worthy priesthood holder mean? I am sure for whatever reason the standards are lowered to the point where you could express that lack of support for the leaders of the church and still be considered in proper standing in your particular building. But generally "worthy priesthood holder" is used to describe a man in the cult who is capable of attending the temple, and does all
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Very interesting post, laying it all out very bare, the inconsistency of it all. Something I think I felt on some level but never really teased apart in this manner. However, I always had this thought that if the Christian god is true, then it felt like the Mormon version of him(both in the text and how he reportedly interacted with Joseph) felt like the "other guy" masquerading as t
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"I don't think the Church is in dire straights" Agreed. I don't think any of the capitalist corporations that are raising prices of products are in dire straits either.
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Yes, I was. I was given a slip of paper for who I was to minister to, usually 2-5 women. And I usually was also assigned a "companion" to do it with me. I don't think I ever did. And I don't think I was ever talked to. I don't think it ever occurred to me while in the church that there was anything wrong with assigned friends. It made sense to me in that everyone got looked after and
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I left because I was offended. I am justified in being offended for being manipulated and lied to. That IS offensive. I have stayed gone because I am offended that the cult continues to push the lie of tithing being necessary. I am offended that there is so much abuse that happens within the church and it gets swept under the rug to protect the church's image. I'm offended that the Mormon god cou
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I don't think being in Mormonism allowed me to view the leadership as human and flawed. You can't. With everything they ask of the membership, my whole life planned around an "I know" testimony, my marriage, my desires and aspirations, who I feel safe to define myself as, my money, etc. Every year, twice a year, they get me hanging on their every word, as a member. With that devotion
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What broke the cognitive dissonance for me was my black and white thinking tripping over itself. For me, my obedience, devotion, and love were not free. It wasn't just given away to any ole pal spouting any ole thing. I gave this subservience willingly to the prophets and apostles because I trusted them wholeheartedly to be literally representatives for Christ and God on this earth. When you'
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I don't remember having any bad experiences in the temple. Not from workers, anyway. I went with my cousins and one of the gals brought a friend of hers. When we were sitting down, things were getting started and my cousin sitting next to me wanting to talk-whisper introducing me to her friend sitting on her other side. I politely asked her to wait, pointing towards the front because things we
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I'd bring out my tablet and start reading the Gospel Topics Essays one by one and point out after each one, "You know, funny thing is, THIS was Anti-Mormon Literature when I was younger!" And I'd finish by wondering aloud, "what will we be expected to accept next that is currently Anti-Mormon Literature? I can't wait for the next revelation that will test us all old timers!"
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Not that it was a good idea before, but you certainly shouldn't engage with TBMs now regarding "confronting" them with the truth of the church's history. They have been inoculated against listening to reason, even from ones they love, by the prophet. Nothing you say that directly contradicts the church and its doctrines will make any difference to the true believers.
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chez Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > > These experiments are not falsifiable. If you > don't get the answer you're meant to, it is always > attributed to the devil or a change needed in your > life. In scientific experiments, hypotheses are > falsifiable, but it seems that the devisors of > these faith experiments are unwilling to b
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This was a positive thread. What are you doing?
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>>there is very little "thinking" going on about what is believed. Even the bishopric member doesn't think about very basic lds subjects. They felt the spirit, it's true, they move on with life. >> Yes. It is why they call it a "shelf". It is the things that occurred to you that bothered you, that didn't fit right with what you knew, the red flags, the &q
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Not sure what my numbers and letters are. It bores me and unnerves me a little bit, the thought of being categorized like that. I'd rather not know so I never have to tell. I am definitely on the spectrum though. That categorization has been helpful, understanding my symptoms and knowing how to use and deal with them in a neurotypical world. And it helps looking back into the past, realizing h
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He certainly doesn't. Especially with Fox giving the lowdown on where the statement came from, directly from Media Relations for the cult. And they interspersed it with clips of Ballard saying "I don't believe this came from the church! Has the LDS church ever publicly condemned one of their members like this?"
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+100 Parent isn't a protected class, it is a privilege that can be removed by the state. I think idolizing parenthood as this supreme position of knowing what is best needs some more checks and balances in our society. Especially if we're going to remove people's ability to opt out of the role so that any 12 year old could become one.
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Knowledge is also empowering for youths. I tried like hell to find a story I read on reddit and I know I'm going to butcher it. But it was about a little girl who was around 8-9, who's mom took her to a library to check out a book. One of the ones she chose was a book about body autonomy and consent geared towards kids. When she got to the chapter about abuse and bad touching, she took th
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Gender queer is a book made for adults and I can't find anywhere that it was recommended for children. All Boys Aren't Blue is recommended for ages 14-18 which, considering the scene read, I think is fine. It's not gratuitous what he read, it was very bare bones description, very sterile, and it is a part of a larger memoir about a young man growing up. I'm wondering when exactly people want t
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Considering the lackluster nature of the "spiritual war" they say is currently going on in this world, I'm guessing the "war" in heaven was little more than a heated debate.
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I wouldn't doubt it. They didn't always do background checks on members who were going to be in callings working with children, did they?
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Yes, that one too. Jesus Christ Superstar was too "irreverent" a depiction. And Passion of the Christ, being both rated R and focusing so heavily on the torture and death of Christ was considered against the church's guidelines. I eventually saw it on my own.
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I was told not to watch it while in the church... I was also told not watch Jesus Christ Superstar.
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I agree with one of the comments on that reddit thread. This going to backfire. The Gospel Topics was my way out. They might placate a few by explaining it in their faith affirming way. But a large bulk of others will be asking, "why weren't we taught this before?" The church head does not want them asking that question. They really don't.
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Yes, you worded it perfectly. It was a foundational belief for me. Trusting the church leaders and "knowing" where I came from and what my purpose was was integral to my core. It hurt a lot to lose trust in the church leaders and to realize the story I had centered my identity around was just made up like any of the fiction stories I write and publish. And it took a lot of time spent
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I have heard reports lately that Google is getting worse at doing its job, so, it might not be your fault entirely. My name is based on the 2015 movie of the same name. I think I watched it in 2020 and it really resonated with me. Not just the dual meaning the film makes where a "blackcoat" was a priest but also an ominous reference to the opposition. A daughter of both, rebelling ag
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Same. Like... In some aspects my life has gotten so much better. But since I left in 2020 the WORLD just keeps getting worse. So now I am plagued by a dreadful knowing AND the world outside is on fire. It's hard to measure "better" when the standards of life are so uneven compared to before. I definitely am grateful that I'm no longer a believer through all this. How bound up, repres
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Absolutely awful. Simply because: WHY?! Like, if he had a thing about cats and the overly friendly animal was in his way, I can sorta see him shooing it away with a wave of his hand or a warning wiggle of his foot, right? But they were already passed where the cat was and he stepped back to deliberately engage with it. It is just truly bizarre kind of aberrant behavior. I mean, it doesn't
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I heard that as of 5 months ago, they were separated? That could be why. If he's no longer in the same house?
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How are they answered, though? If you pray and it is not answered, it is simply "not god's will for you". If he's going to do what he wants regardless then what is the point? If you pray for someone to do something or feel something (Lord, please soften their hearts/please inspire them to do X) what is it you're praying for god to do? Does his spirit possess and take control of p
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