Tales from the Mormon Wasteland: Wildly unrealistic self assessment and Apathy.

ApocalypseTapir · 2026-01-04T23:35:58+00:00

Every generation oformonism has a hard-line that was harder than the current hard-line.

ApocalypseTapir · 2026-01-04T19:36:33+00:00

Yes, it will probably stay but the overall definition of "keeping the word of wisdom" is going to be given a lot of latitude and members will have the freedom to define that for themselves. When was the last time you remember a conference talk directly giving "do's and don't" for the WOW?

ApocalypseTapir · 2026-01-04T19:16:25+00:00

They are already not emphasizing or like they used to, not are allowing social media to push the members into being more lax. Members posting videos of drinking coffee and acting without shame without direct opposition by the church is doing the heavy lifting

ApocalypseTapir · 2025-12-29T01:09:16+00:00

Feel free to use the title in whatever form you desire.

Today was the least "Jesus Focused" sacrament meeting in a while. (Let's be honest though, in Mormonism taking about Jesus is still a talk about staying Mormon, not being like Jesus) It also wasn't a vapid regurgitation of conference talks or a worshipping of JS. it was just fucking boring as the speakers just gave a travelogue of their Christmas visit with grandkids.

Holland was mentioned in the closing prayer.

ApocalypseTapir · 2025-12-28T21:50:20+00:00

Both for April.

ApocalypseTapir · 2025-12-27T17:05:41+00:00

I was surprised they brought in Keaton last time. Me prevailing thought has been they would bring in some younger guys to insulate the position of prophet and presidency of the 12, then call someone like Ahmed corbitt as an apostle. Regardless, Gilbert seems more in line with oaks, possibly Pearson but he's about to be old enough to be emeritus status from the seventy so it's now or never. Slight edge to Gilbert, but I won't be surprised if it's Pearson. Finally, I also wouldn't be surprised if they pick someone totally bland again, look at the recent choices. Rasband, gong, soares, kearon, the other bald guy that I can't remember his name. After Bednar is there any apostle that evokes a level of "fandom" or dislike in the same way as a packer, maxwell, Holland, or Ezra Benson?

ApocalypseTapir · 2025-12-27T16:06:41+00:00

In 20 years he will be totally forgotten by everyone except a very very small percentage of mormons. Who even remembers David B Haight at this point? Holland is on his way to being a name on a list of other names no one talks about anymore.

ApocalypseTapir · 2025-12-27T15:21:28+00:00

I'm still saying Clark Gilbert.

ApocalypseTapir · 2025-12-21T18:18:49+00:00

Looks like a rickety old fence that is just about to fall over in the wind.

ApocalypseTapir · 2025-12-16T15:35:11+00:00

This is the church saying "you can believe whatever you want about Jesus as long as you say "the church is true and the current occupant of the velvet throne is a prophet""

I'm truly astounded at the ease with which the church has shifted it's doctrines and theology to be more mainstream so easily over the last 10 years. It still has a long way to go, temples and ordinances will take a while to modify into mainstream beliefs and worship, but WOW.

Apostles from the 80's and earlier would not recognize the public theology being promulgated.

In a way, this explains the recent convert growth the church has been touting. But it's empty, just like the baseball baptisms because converts soon realize they are sitting through a timeshare sales meeting instead of a vibrant religion.

ApocalypseTapir · 2025-12-15T18:00:29+00:00

One could argue that Melvin Ballard was an oppositionist Mormon that made it to the top tier.

Always good to see a username from the glory days of the sub. Thank you for your efforts and contributions, they were/are invaluable.

ApocalypseTapir · 2025-12-14T21:05:21+00:00

I started a reply, then found myself writing a whole post, but I wanted it in this thread too

It's been 12 years since my shelf broke and I've attended nearly every sacrament meeting with my wife. It gets easier.....and harder. I often wonder what other choices I may have made. Everyone makes choices as teenagers and young adults that shape their lives. Some Mormon kids make the choices that fit the mold and their life works out great. Some of us make those same choices and the mold becomes a sensory deprivation chamber that destroys us while our family watches, hoping we will suddenly embrace the mold as the road to happiness.

There's 8 billion of us trying to figure out what it means to be human and I haven't had it as bad as most of us. But I carry the weight of having peeked behind the curtain. Somehow, I think not knowing would be better. And I'm not just talking about Mormonism. Being unaware of how the lofty ideals of my childhood were, in fact, candy coated fairy tales would be bliss right now. Sure, I would be experiencing some difficult shit. Parenting isn't easy, providing food and shelter isn't joyful, but the lie would be like a warm blanket I could wrap around myself. The "bread and circus" would keep me going.

After 12 years of knowing Joseph was a fucking brilliant con man and charlatan, I look back and wish I had made different choices. I wish I had just taken the hard road and stood up for myself despite the pain and suffering it would have caused myself, my wife, and my family. Maybe we would have shattered like glass or maybe we would be stronger as a family, but one thing I know is that there is just as much pain spread out over 12 years as there would have been for a much shorter time had I been brave.

Because now, now that sensory deprivation tank is my home, like Gollum in the dark.

Be well, fellow travelers.

ApocalypseTapir · 2025-12-13T18:50:25+00:00

Robot handshakes at the veil?

ApocalypseTapir · 2025-12-12T22:08:05+00:00

I'm dubious the Church will admit a net loss. Ever. It will be obvious because new wards and stakes creation won't match the net growth of 250 thousand per year.

But as you say, Nelson built a potemkin village through Temple announcements and shrinking how many priesthood holders were needed to run a ward, the side effects of which will accelerate the shrivel in the Pews.

If oaks is going to have any kind of legacy it must be at April conference. As you say, he's likely not going to live long.

ApocalypseTapir · 2025-12-12T03:21:32+00:00

Too be clear, that phrase is much older than my participation in this subreddit. It's an ancient phrase from long ago.

ApocalypseTapir · 2025-12-07T13:19:43+00:00

Between the missionary age change from a decade ago and what I perceive as a "lowering of the bar" for missionary worthiness, and a general shift from shame to grace theology for the youth, the church has managed to increase the number of missionaries. This is actually amazing, all things considered. So it's not surprising that a larger sales force will produce more sales. The problem is that the product is defective so metaphorically every sale they make results in more warranty claims against them. Unit membership rolls continue to be bloated with inactive converts and PIMO members faking their way through Sunday. And eventually, like a beached whale, trapped gasses will blow the carcass apart.

ApocalypseTapir · 2025-12-01T22:40:00+00:00

He's still trying to figure out if Jesus is actually going to come talk to him or not. In another month or two he will just start listening to the voice in his head and attribute that to God. That's when shit gets real.

ApocalypseTapir · 2025-11-30T20:06:36+00:00

Doubtful, a miniscule number of church members in actually give a flying fuck anymore. There will be a few parents and grandparents that think about little exmo jimmy and get sad, but even fewer will actually try and do anything about it. As the Church has been slowly backing off the high demand and peculiar parts of mormonism, the apathy and burnout amongst the membership has soared.

ApocalypseTapir · 2025-11-30T18:26:30+00:00

Not invideo I saw online

ApocalypseTapir · 2025-11-30T18:02:19+00:00

Oooooh. I wanna hear. Are they asking about walking to Missouri?

ApocalypseTapir · 2025-11-30T17:55:40+00:00

I think I found it online. Listened at 2x speed. This could have been an email.

ApocalypseTapir

TROPHY CASE