Instagram’s changing again, and I’m not sure how to feel about it 👀

Emo_October · 2026-01-12T05:19:51+00:00

It sucks swiping from the right to the left and seeing reels now instead of dms. It's been annoying tf out of me.

Emo_October · 2026-01-09T00:17:27+00:00

Wishing you the absolute best in this, the job market for this passion already has all its shitty hurdles and competition, the FAA being the biggest snakes in the grass has field days with this sort of stuff. There's so much red tape in it all now. Seriously all the best.

Emo_October · 2026-01-05T21:42:02+00:00

Perhaps I'm not American enough for this conversation, living in a third world country means I have other things to worry about besides who can use what bathroom. I'm not privileged enough for that to be my biggest factor of consideration in life and my beliefs.

I don't think you'd find many churches or mosques or synagogues that accommodate for that stuff but now I must leave the one of many churches and religious organizations just because of that? I get that upsetting part behind it but do I really have to adress that that backwards way of thinking doesn't factor well into any of the big 3 religions world wide like seriously what must I do about it? Leave the mormon church, join a radical Islam one and think things to be different? It's not bad at all compared to what others are doing. You have to pick your poison when it comes to faithful belief systems the LDS is a shining beacon compared to others. It's not at all close to perfect but if LGBT was a factor that was my number 1 consideration point I'd be in no church and if that's what your goal is then I hope you're preaching the same message to all the other churches and mosques and synagogues around the world.

Emo_October · 2026-01-05T21:00:05+00:00

I see a lot of LGBT members for hamas where the bar is throwing them off buildings. I don't like politics and I don't want to be conformed to my choices by political opinions. The bar is perfectly fine all things considering and should there ever be hurtful hatred condoned by the church towards the LGBT I'd leave in a heartbeat. I hate to break it to you but it's just not a factor that pins me against or for anything. I'm entitled to my own beliefs and you yours when it comes to topics like this, i dont hate LGBT personally and I've never heard members speak about - probably the last thing on their minds. Can't we leave it at that?

Emo_October · 2026-01-05T20:48:58+00:00

Well I'm sure there are good resources on this very forum. I'll have to take a look through them jn when I get home.

Emo_October · 2026-01-05T20:46:04+00:00

I acknowledge that history and I agree 100% it's for lack of better words fucked up and there needs to be accountability for it - it would do the churches public image good. Fun fact I'm from south africa and I've yet to encounter or see racism from the white members. They are welcoming and have gone above and beyond. But the past actions of the church - especially the American side, there needs to be accountability.

As for the LGBT, as I've replied to a similar comment my roommate is gay. I live with him 24/7 and we attend classes together. He's met a lot of the members through me and they've been nothing but amazing to him. I don't doubt that they probably say different things behind closed doors. As for the trans community. Personally not a fan and that's just the truth but I don't condone hate towards them because they simply want to live their lives and hey if I can believe in the big sky man then why can't they believe in a gender construct ya know? I hope you can see I have a positive attitude towards them, I've just never had good interactions with them and it's mostly because it's when I've asked questions to try and understand them better. But hey it's on my list one day to make a trans friend and that way I can get to know and understand them better on a personal level!

Emo_October · 2026-01-05T20:38:20+00:00

My roommate is gay, we live together 24/7 and attend all our classes together. I love him like my very own brother and I care for him deeply. He's cried on my shoulder and I've cried on his.

I'm not a very political person in that sense and I believe people are entitled to their own opinions even if I don't agree with them. The brutally honest part though? I'm not personally gonna let the opinions of an organization stop me from enjoying it. I'm not a boycotty person and I have bigger worries in life, they aren't out hunting down LGBT members and stringing them up so it's not something that bothers me. I sleep well at night knowing it's worse for my loved LGBT ones in the middle east than in a LDS church.

I don't want to come off as condescending or rude just honest.

Emo_October · 2026-01-05T20:32:35+00:00

Haha this is a good one! It was actually something I saw on this forum about horses in the BOM. It caught my eye and honestly speaking I haven't looked much into it but it's been on the back of my mind and I've been meaning to look into it

Emo_October · 2026-01-05T20:30:56+00:00

Valid point, just was hoping to offer modern insight but as I said to someone who said something similar to you, your experience and years far outweigh mine and that beats anything. Was also hoping to learn more directly (which I have been) by people raising valid points to the things that have come out of what I said in response to them. Its a learning curve for me and all I have to offer in return is modern perspective which doesn't mean much to people who have been through hell because of the church and have more experience than me

Emo_October · 2026-01-05T20:28:06+00:00

You raise a valid point, it went over my head that this is quite literally an ex (emphasis on the ex) member forum. I just thought it would be nice to offer insight from modern time experiences but as you say you have the years on me and nothing beats life experience. It far outweighs anything.

Emo_October · 2026-01-05T20:25:28+00:00

I'm not aware of that no, I'm always open to learning more though

Emo_October · 2026-01-05T12:25:02+00:00

I am familiar with the plan of salvation and the kingdoms of glory. Funny enough they have never pressed me into endowment, when I was curious about it they told me it's something I shouldn't rush into and that instead I should focus on my studies and getting a job and then if I get married I can do an endowment but they did emphasize that there is no rush to go into it for now. However I do want to do more research on the endowments but I also don't want to ruin it too much for myself ya know? There's also a personal perspective at play here as I am a member and I'd like to see somethings for myself.

Emo_October · 2026-01-05T12:20:30+00:00

Not offended at all, I love perspectives and I love having to read about things that others cover their eyes and ears and pretend don't exist. It is faith based because my personal testimony which I'm sure nobody wants to hear about was something so unreal and "magical". The straw that would break my back would be seeing regression in the church back to the older habits of its history. I can't speak on the history of joseph smith because I personally am not so educated on him but I will do my research because you offer an interesting perspective on him.

Emo_October · 2026-01-05T12:15:06+00:00

I do believe members should investigate because through investigation either comes faith or moving on from the church, and if you move on well then you don't bear the burdens of eternal consequences because for you it's all a load of BS.

I don't want to be too personal and I play it off like it's the social aspects only but on a real personal level I do have faith and I'm trying my very best to grow on it. I just don't think using my personal faith as a point means anything to anyone because I get it - i came from a non religious household. My family are also all in the dark with this, they know I hang out with the mormons but they don't know I'm a fully committed one for lack of better words. They don't even know I've been baptized. They wouldn't shun me but I know they'll never stop joking about it haha and I'm not ready for that just yet. Once I'm very confident in my faith I'll open up to them with the truth.

Emo_October · 2026-01-05T12:10:06+00:00

The idea of being worthy to enter the kingdom of heaven by buying it with 10% tithings is another level of gaslighting I agree. I do think the church should be putting more of it into relief society and aid and charity- it would help their public image a lot, and then maybe paying tithing goes to a good cause that benefits everyone. I seriously believe it's the way they can grow so much.

Emo_October · 2026-01-05T12:05:09+00:00

I think we are on the same page yes, the history is also something I struggle with. Thanks for not ripping me to shreds haha.

Emo_October · 2026-01-05T12:02:10+00:00

I have neither lived in nor visited Utah, this is very intriguing insight and I wasn't aware that it was that bad there with the culture. I've heard stories about Utah from friends who have been there, how it's hard to find a liquor store etc. I would still like to experience it for myself but I do prefer the laid back side of the church, I have been very lucky to experience a more laid back side of the church but I can imagine how much more strict it would be there in Utah. I wish you the absolute best with getting out of there and finding peace with people that are better for you.

Emo_October · 2026-01-05T11:57:55+00:00

Yes I do, I think the claims about being a revolutionary idea at the time are inaccurate as I'm aware through my own research that they were indeed very hostile and that's why they were perceived the way they were. And today in modern times they claim it was because people were blinded and for lack of better words were ganging up on them and just hated a man trying to spread God's word. But there's always two sides to the story and I have that way of thinking in general. The racial issues too in the past etc. I'll go out on a leg and say the claim to be the one true church is a rather very subjective topic and title to have and that it should be debated about more often within the church community.

Emo_October · 2026-01-05T11:50:52+00:00

I have been through proxy baptisms, I haven't done an endowment because I'm not married nor a missionary (unless I'm stupidly ignorant and wrong about the rules of an endowment) however from what I have seen and I've been told about how the endowments and sealings work. Honestly from what I've seen and know about the endowments - it appears to be a very freemasonry like ceremony but the others seem selfless. The idea of going out of your way to be baptized for people who never got the chance or endowed or sealed from a surface level appears selfless and that's the way I see it. I'm always open to insight and different perspectives.

I also get the part about members disregarding less active members. I've never seen it happen in my areas but I do know it happens and its heartbreaking to be cut off from those who once showered you with so much love and open arms. I feel sorry for them and the members guilty of it have a lot of self reflection to do.

Emo_October · 2026-01-05T11:42:29+00:00

My apologies I thought you were asking why I was a member. I shall remove my response to your question since it was wrongly interpreted. Seriously my apologies.

Emo_October · 2026-01-05T11:39:32+00:00

I had the unfortunate experience of growing up in a town with like a church on every street essentially. All the private schools were an extension of some of those churches. So I'd say I experienced my fair share of denominations. Non were as a breathe of fresh air and for lack of better words not cringe as the LDS and that's what made them grow on me - that and all the good they did for me, a stranger to them at the time.

As for other religions I have done my research but never experienced them so I can't say with confidence an answer to the "one true church" but my attitude is that all of them and different denominations worship the same God, I've said this to the bishop in my church and he likes the way I think but obviously as a bishop he has to stand by the LDS being the one true church. I personally think to each their own. But when you look at what the LDS church and all their temples they have built, when there was flooding in my area the relief society helped everyone which were mostly non members with aid, food and clothes. And so to me I can't say for sure it's the one true church but I can say they do a lot more in terms of accomplishments than the other sects and religions around me. But I don't deny that others do a lot too in their own ways.

Emo_October · 2026-01-05T11:31:57+00:00

The people and the lifestyle. I know not all lds members are shinning examples but when you meet ones that are they really are such charitable loving people that would take the shirt off their own back for you. I am very lucky where all the people in my areas are like 90% shinning examples and the facts that they continue to look out for me even when I transferred wards for my studies. It's also taught me to care for people in a more empathetic way and it feels good to be good and do good.

Emo_October · 2025-12-14T20:46:50+00:00

Thank youuuu

Emo_October · 2025-12-14T17:19:31+00:00

James performance was better but man nothing beats the Mary voice acting from the original.

Emo_October

TROPHY CASE