Politically, I was a bit left of center when I was a TBM. I just avoided political discussions with Mormons. My politics really haven't changed, other than the fact that I'm more open in my support for gay rights.
Forum: Recovery Board

If the internet (and RFM) existed 50 years ago, would you question "does the RfM negro agenda scare away questioning members"?
Forum: Recovery Board

Have you any money? Yes--10% more than I had before.
Forum: Recovery Board

Yeah, there is no force when it comes to polygamy. No angels with flaming swords. No promises of exaltation for families (I suppose that's more coersion than force). Even if the "plural" wives go along willingly, Isn't polygamy forced on the first wife?
Forum: Recovery Board

In my case, the panic attacks were related to thyroid function. That may not be common, but it might be worth checking.
Forum: Recovery Board

True, and there's more than one answer to these questions pointing me in a crooked line...
Forum: Recovery Board

In the latter days of my activity, I was in my early 50s and still meeting with the EQ. I was not only the oldest elder, I was older than a couple of the quarum members' fathers. I hated it, but it was still better than meeting with the old geezers.
Forum: Recovery Board

"It was just after the war; things were tense. We were at one of the upper camps where the planes could take off, and within half an hour they could be over on the Russian side. We were holding a noon meeting with our servicemen. They called on a young man to speak first. He announced his text from the prayer of the Master when he prayed for his disciples: “I pray not that thou shouldest t
Forum: Recovery Board

Congratulations on getting this far, and good luck in the future.
Forum: Recovery Board

If a member of the LDS church were to publish those teachings today, how quickly would they be excommunicated?
Forum: Recovery Board

Let me begin by saying I’m NOT complaining, I just wonder how unique my experience is. If I knew the reason for my good fortune, I’d share it here. Unlike so many people who have posted here, I have been almost completely spared from love-bombing and other reactivation efforts. I have not resigned from TSCC. My attitude is: if they leave me alone, I won’t worry about whether or not the
Forum: Recovery Board

When Jesus was on the cross, he cried out “Peter!” Peter, who has retreated some distance away because of the horror of the scene, heard his master’s voice and started to run up the hill. He soon encountered a huge crowd, and began pushing his way through as he once again heard “Peter!” As he got close to the cross, a Roman soldier held him back, but with almost super-human stren
Forum: Recovery Board

Why am I so "lucky"? My TBM FB friends can't shut up about it. Some of them have been talking about, and quoting from, GC non-stop for the past two days.
Forum: Recovery Board

If the Garden of Eden was in Jackson County, MO, that would mean that early OT characters would have lived in North America—right? Well, how did they get to the Middle East? I once had it explained to me that when the world was flooded, Noah landed there. So….why is it that Noah could drift for 40 days and make it all the way from America to Mt. Ararat, whereas the Jaredite submarines prop
Forum: Recovery Board

I served 76-78, but I was in the Orient (so no instructions about how to deal with blacks). I was very TBM back then, but I was grateful that during my mission, I never had to deal with something that was so hard for me to accept. Like many people, this was one of my earliest and most difficult "shelf" items.
Forum: Recovery Board

Huh???? In what way am I deluded? I didn't discuss anything for which there is accepted scientific knowledge (such as healthcare), I stated opinions about subjects for which there is no certainty. There is no "doctor" that has a "better" opinion here.
Forum: Recovery Board

Good point. But I still can't be SURE that god isn't a herd of green elephants with yellow dots who can play guitar while riding a bike, but in this case 99.99999999999999% certainty may be enough.
Forum: Recovery Board

Some people seem to think that believing in god makes them morally superior. Others seem to think that not believing is god makes them intellectually superior.
Forum: Recovery Board

I think you may be on to something. I'll pray about it. :)
Forum: Recovery Board

I don’t know if there is a god. I just know that no religion I’ve ever encountered gives me any reason to believe that they have any real knowledge about the characteristics of (or even existence of) a supreme being. I personally don’t believe that there is a god, but I can’t be sure. How can anyone be sure? To me, the idea that you can be sure that there is no god defies logic and invol
Forum: Recovery Board

Ever notice how rarely a politician can answer a straight-forward (usually simple) question with a straight-forward answer? Usually, you get something like this: http://tosh.comedycentral.com/video-clips/h151xf/daniel-s-town-hall-debate Check out the question and answer from 2:12 - 2:38 (warning: lots of adult language in this video). These days, I feel like all we get from the LDS church
Forum: Recovery Board

From the "Race and the Priesthood" essay: "Nevertheless, given the long history of withholding the priesthood from men of black African descent, Church leaders believed that a revelation from God was needed to alter the policy, and they made ongoing efforts to understand what should be done. After praying for guidance, President McKay did not feel impressed to lift the ban."
Forum: Recovery Board

Well, once it's all over, the women do get a little bit too close to at least one (possibly disgusting) dude at the veil.
Forum: Recovery Board

Wasn't David O McKay the first LDS president since JS to not have a beard?
Forum: Recovery Board

When my friend was ordained a HP, I asked him what the criteria was for being moved from EQ to HP. He said that it was when you started consistently falling asleep in Sacrament Meeting.
Forum: Recovery Board

John Lennon was a genious--at times, but I think "Imagine" is ridiculously overrated. Think about the lyrics: imagine having no possessions, no countries, no religion, nothing to fight about, then we'd get along. If that's utopian, then Myley Cyrus is Joni Mitchell.
Forum: Recovery Board

"Man creates god in his own image' is right on the money. If you read the Bible or the BOM, it's very difficult to worship the "Lord" who is described in the writings, so most people pick and choose (or invent) attributes worthy of worship.
Forum: Recovery Board

We all know of countless example of “lying for the Lord,” but looking back at my life, I didn’t do much lying. Instead of lying, I spent a ridiculous amount of time and mental effort making excuses for the “Lord.” I started in my teen years. The first time I read the BOM and prayed about it, I received….nothing. I thought to myself that I had grown up in an LDS home and had “trut
Forum: Recovery Board

Organized religion ruined organized religion for me.
Forum: Recovery Board

Are you happier now? For those of us who were once true believers, it’s a valid question, even if the only time the question is asked is when we ask ourselves. As for me, I am much, much happier now, though much of the happiness is coincidental. A few years ago, after decades of doing the “right” things (mission, temple marriage, temple attendance, callings, tithe paying, studying the s
Forum: Recovery Board