I would not trust a cult teaching emotional resilience. It seems to be a means of encouraging members to be subservient to the leaders. Trust them and be strong.
Forum: Recovery Board

Apparently there is even on book on this subject - BofM in Africa. Some idiot wanted to mail me proof of this occurring a few years ago and put it on the site. The absurdities never end with this organization.
Forum: Recovery Board

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tS58S-xPdzI This is a short video (3.5 min) of me discussing leaving Mormonism and creating this site. The video is nearly 20 years old.
Forum: Recovery Board

Perhaps one more reply. When I founded the site, I planned on it be online for just a year as a pay it forward to those who helped me out of the cult. I did not anticipate the activity it experienced for the next 8 to 10 years. We were the first to be a non-religious site to help Mormons out of the corporation. Other sites wanted to convert Mormons to the 'real Jesus'. We have people financ
Forum: Recovery Board

This board is quieter than the past. It would be helpful to have it mobile friendly. I founded this site and busy with life. I am grateful others monitor the board and help folks. This past week for example (though busier than normal for my retired state) Sunday night - Rehearsed for some German Octoberfest gigs with 5 piece group - Bb clarinet and tenor sax Monday night - rehearsed w
Forum: Recovery Board

My mother never liked Mormonism. I was a convert while in college. One thing she kept repeating is that the church will not take care of you in your old age. I am happy that we left 30 years ago and put our old habit of paying tithing to retirement funds instead. I have been retired 8.5 years now. Don't give your hard earned money to the corporation. It has already $120 Billion invested tha
Forum: Recovery Board

"As Russell M. Nelson turns 100, a look back at one of the words that will define his legacy https://theconversation.com/as-russell-m-nelson-turns-100-a-look-back-at-one-of-the-words-that-will-define-his-legacy-and-the-controversial-terms-200-year-history-207190 The centenarian has been a reactionary reformer: an energetic leader who streamlined bureaucracy and ended the church’s cen
Forum: Recovery Board

https://churchleaders.com/news/457564-prosperity-gospel-financially-u-s-churchgoers.html?ai&fbclid=IwY2xjawE9d91leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHWtSBiScJiqjt5Ysp83rOtTAOTfa_8V5zkEXjZNgZcWv5r1rdmFjXW626g_aem__dVgCI3coibZGtdFF6kRIA During the past five years, belief in the prosperity gospel has climbed among Protestant church attendees in the United States. That’s according to a new survey released this
Forum: Recovery Board

I think about this on occasion as the gym I go to plays Christian music all the time. It is the same loop of about 30 songs - all of which are awful. They consist of simple bland chord changes with trite and contrived verses. I have to wear headphones and listen to podcasts while exercising. When I don't have my headphones on, I imagine this what heaven must be like to hard core evangelicals.
Forum: Recovery Board

Yes, going back to Missouri was a huge and regularly discussed topic. 3 Nephites helping folks. A large hole in the North where the lost tribes would emerge. Kind of like our Cicada invasion this year I suppose. Archaeologists keeping a Book of Mormon with them to use as a reference for their work in South America. Year supply of food. Many Mormons got involved in mutli-level market
Forum: Recovery Board

We are currently in Frankfurt Germany. Coincidentally there is a gay festival going on near the hotel - Christopher Street Day. I went to buy some toothpaste at the local shop and the man ahead of me was buying at least 14 bars of mens deodorant. I did not keep count. He must be related to you. The checkout clerk just shook her head as she ran each bar through the register.
Forum: Recovery Board

It was at a Baptist church to hear a band that I was invited to by several of its members. It was a Sunday night special program for the upcoming 4th of July with patriotic music. I was asked to join this band a few months ago. I declined as it is often promoted as a praise band. Too religious for me. The music was excellent playing tunes from the early 1900s to the 1960s in a big band st
Forum: Recovery Board

Sigh. I live in TN and this passes for normal here. I believe it is a result of a lack of education and no international travel. We have loved visiting Nordic countries where religion in public life is non-existent. These countries have a much higher quality of life than the USA - excellent education, most folks speak multiple languages, low crime, no fear of medical bankruptcies etc. We
Forum: Recovery Board

Pre-Adamites https://bgr.com/science/the-oldest-known-neanderthal-art-found-after-57000-years-sealed-in-a-cave/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2SHFN4SL5fGHzTamsQR5nm2SFodeh9n2NgIv12LJoSkudRisJ8FGczd10_aem_AS8iTGZKWII2Izf8aIHNFxguWQh0_EEwxCqcVAK9fd7i8EdCjX5zzVKLgORnyekrEH31kx2_kBZ6S178qlvlb8ke
Forum: Recovery Board

Christian fundamentalism is going insane here in TN. This is perhaps political, but it is part of the one upmanship we are seeing in outdoing other states in Christian fundamentalist craziness. TN is discussing making a law where abortion will be a death penalty sentence for the woman. Hard to believe this is happening.
Forum: Recovery Board

When we bought our home in TN in 1987, the interest rate for the mortgage was 11%. Several refinancings over the years reduced it to 5.5%. We paid it off early, but it was a challenge with a young family and a 11% mortgage at the time so we could have a home.
Forum: Recovery Board

Wow - It is funny in so far that she did not get killed. How stupid. From the pictures it appears to be a Mormon couple or at least in the reception there is a guy who seems to be wearing a name tag.
Forum: Recovery Board

i believe it is mostly arrogance - if arrogance can be considered a mental disorder of some kind. I am surrounded by EVs. My next door neighbor had been the General Overseer of the Church of God. He moved to a respectable neighborhood. DW commented to me that when she had lunch with a former co-worker last week that she and her friend are unable to speak their minds on certain topics at s
Forum: Recovery Board

River Plate, When DW and I were in Oslo Norway 2 years ago, the equivalent of church bells played 'Imagine'. It gets played everyday at noon. It was completely unexpected when we heard it. Downtown along the waterfront and near the Noble Peace Prize museum is a great place to just sit and admire Oslo. The music was a bonus.
Forum: Recovery Board

Hi Beth, I worked a bit with the PBS producers of 'The Mormons'. I was surprised they gave us credit and had exmormon.org listed as a reference. They stressed being factual. I kind of forgotten about that program. It was in the heyday of exmormon.org where we were getting over 200,000 hits per day. It is quiet now as there are so many other sites. We were sort of the pioneers of the earl
Forum: Recovery Board

I wrote about this a few years ago. I play in a university orchestra as a community member. It was scaled down during covid where masks and vaccines were required. One individual, my age, said wearing a mask was against his freedom. He was asked him to leave the group. He was an Evangelical minister and a hard core supporter of tfg. He died a painful death from covid. Sad..
Forum: Recovery Board

Shinehah - sigh. I clearly remember reading about Shinehah when I was a young convert. It seemed to be made up and clumsily at that. An English word with 'hah' suffix. Why did I shut off my brain at that time?
Forum: Recovery Board

I wished I had not given up playing during my Mormon years. Oh well... I have met many wonderful folks over the years due to music. My life is much richer as a result. I know I will never be a skilled professional or a studio musician. It is a great hobby.
Forum: Recovery Board

My favorite instrument in the bass clarinet. I have a low C bass clarinet which can play cello parts. I get frequent requests to play in orchestras and wind ensembles. I just finished 4 performances of Mean Girls where I play the alto sax, tenor sax and bass clarinet. The bass clarinet parts were the most fun. I will be playing in Music Man in a few weeks.
Forum: Recovery Board

I play in various groups here in SE TN. Here are two tunes from a recent public performance. Tiptoes is an original composition from the keyboard player. It is based on 1970s spy TV show I play flute and tenor sax. The second tune is from the 1970s as well from the movie Joe. A horrible movie, but a fun tune to play on the flute. My hobby after leaving Mormonism https://exmormon.
Forum: Recovery Board

I was returning from the gym this morning and find there is a car blocking my driveway and two women on the porch. I had to drive on the grass to get around their car so I could park. They hurried off the porch and approached me as I got out of the car. JWs, sigh... I told them I and my family have been badly burned by religion and not interested. One woman then smiled and replied, 'You have
Forum: Recovery Board

It is from a valid University address. That is all I can confirm. Eric
Forum: Recovery Board

Often posts like the one above get pulled as a request for us to verify was not made prior to posting. This could be legitimate. I ask the author to write to me at erickett@wingnet.net so we can get come verification. Nothing on the Internet is absolutely safe. Be cautious in responding.
Forum: Recovery Board

The scam is that anyone can be victimized bv this as bad actors can sign up without any background checks and access your personal information. They are selling data without any regard to personal safety or financial theft.
Forum: Recovery Board

I live in SE Tennessee. Lawn posters and billboards are ubiquitous promoting 'He Gets Us'. It is a program intended to recruit unwary folks into local churches. However, one can become a recruiter and receive this private data by paying $49.00 on a credit card. There is no background check. From https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2024/5/8/2239510/-It-s-not-He-Gets-Us-It-s-They-Exploit-Us
Forum: Recovery Board