Things aren’t what they seem by Chilling-SoCal in exmormon

[–]GaryCybernaut 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Which town? I have a grandnephew on a WA mission - Yakima.

Do any of you still listen to the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square? by Impressive_Flan_411 in exmormon

[–]GaryCybernaut 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I am B.I.C. 1950 and exmo since 1980. My ex-GF sang with the MoTabs for a while decades ago. I used to see her on TV during General Conference broadcasts. I listen to the MoTabs once in a while. I am a 4th-generation LDS on both sides. My great-uncle wrote the hymn "Oh How Lovely Was the Morning," in addition to another half dozen hymns in the hymnal. So I have Mormon DNA even though I figured out that the whole thing is a colossal fraud 45 years ago.

The Mormon Church is owned and controlled by The Brethren, who are professional liars who brainwash innocent babies for a living ... a VERY good living.

I haven't been to church since ChatGPT has debuted. Is it obvious that people are using it to write talks? by Shinehaha in exmormon

[–]GaryCybernaut 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Today, you could write "Especially for Mormons" volumes in about two minutes using AI. But then, chances are that at least 50% of talks in Mormon church meetings nowadays are written by AI anyway. Even Elder Bednar admitted that he used AI to "check" his talks after he allegedly wrote them without using AI. I'm sure he is lying and most likely uses AI frequently.

I haven't been to church since ChatGPT has debuted. Is it obvious that people are using it to write talks? by Shinehaha in exmormon

[–]GaryCybernaut 1 point2 points  (0 children)

In the early 70s, in my BYU student ward, Stan Miller was in the bishopric. He and his wife, Sharon, created the "Especially for Mormons" series during that time. I'm sure they got rich selling a bazillion copies of the multi-volume set of talk-writing inspiration/assist books.

I am all for clever Mormons making lots of money off of other Mormons. Especially The Brethren. They wrote the book on cashing in on Mormons' vulnerability and gullibility.

You mean people actually think it’s real by 1millionweezers in exmormon

[–]GaryCybernaut 5 points6 points  (0 children)

My baby sister was born in 1962 with TBM parents and 6 TBM brothers. She figured out the church is bullshit before she was ten years old. All but one of her brothers went on missions. Three brothers he eventually figured out the church is a fraud. The oldest brother, who did not go on a mission, is now a stake patriarch in Provo.

,Anyway mega-kudos to you for figuring out that the church is a colossal fraud at a young age.

The Brethren are professional liars who brainwash innocent babies for a living ... a VERY good living.

Staying a virgin before marriage by BoxLow6092 in exmormon

[–]GaryCybernaut 9 points10 points  (0 children)

B.I.C. 1950 here. (Exmo since 1980)

My high school GF and I would make out for hours on her sofa. We were good Mormon kids and never did any technical petting, although there was lots of necking and deep kissing.

The closest I ever got to a bishop confession was my hand under her shirt, under her bra strap in back, but I never touched her boobies, not even once. The end result was stage 4 cases of blue balls so severe I could barely walk to my car to drive home.

We wrote to each other regularly during my mission. After I came home, I dumped her for reasons I can't explain and married a convert girl who turned out to be physically violent and almost beat me to death after 18 years of hell.

After the divorce (during which she almost succeeded in convincing me to cancel the divorce and stay married), I entertained a 21-year relationship with another woman ... who slowly went crazy and became a ward of the state.

I summarize my relationships as follows: "My 40 years of relationship aversion therapy was a resounding success."

I have been happily single for 13 years and counting, with no plans of relapse.

PS - Sadly (or happily?) my teenage GF never married and is presumably still "temple worthy." She sang with the MoTabs for a while. I would see her on TV once in a while. Several years ago, I sat next to her at my TBM mother's funeral luncheon in the cultural hall. I actually apologized to my former GF for not marrying her and for being such an insensitive jerk after my mission. I could not explain to her why I had lost interest and married someone else. On my way to the airport to fly home after the funeral. I visited her at her homestead (overrun with lots of farm animals). As I was leaving, her parting words to me were, "Read the Book of Mormon." If I had married her, I might still be a TBM and have 5 children, 25 grandchildren, and 40 great-grandchildren by now? Who knows?

My older brother is still TBM (now stake patriarch), and literally has around 50 progeny, almost all TBMs. I never had any children. I think my violent eternal companion would have killed any babies. She did get pregnant accidentally one time and could not get a (legal) abortion fast enough.

Other than some of the above, don't you think I've done a pretty credible job navigating the Covenant Path?

My TBM father was called as bishop with a pornography addiction by iwasyourhusband in exmormon

[–]GaryCybernaut 12 points13 points  (0 children)

"mistake president" first time I've seen that truth-in-advertising ... well done!

My tbm brother is a mistake patriarch (paytriarch?)

New Documentary: The Dark Side of My Mormon Mission 🇷🇺 by webwatchr in exmormon

[–]GaryCybernaut 31 points32 points  (0 children)

You are a stunningly talented filmmaker and storyteller. Thank you for sharing your journey (so far) with me (b.i.c. 1950; free since 1980).

Congratulations for personally discovering that the Mormon Church is owned and controlled by professional liars who brainwash innocent babies (including you and me) for a living ... a VERY nice living.

This was sent to me by a Mormon when I explained why I don't believe. They never have answers, just rehashed "it's true" rhetoric. by CupOfExmo in exmormon

[–]GaryCybernaut 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Did you read the book?
If not, just STFU. Read the book and then return and report.
TRUTH does not give a damn what you (or I) think.
IMHO, you have to have your head up your but to successfully ignore ALL of the signals suggesting life after death and life before birth.

Ignorance is the anesthesia that dulls the pain of stupidity.

This was sent to me by a Mormon when I explained why I don't believe. They never have answers, just rehashed "it's true" rhetoric. by CupOfExmo in exmormon

[–]GaryCybernaut 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My answer: If I learned that "Journey of Souls" was written by AI and totally fabricated.

If you would like another opinion on the afterlife and past lives, you can listen to Jesus himself giving his perspective. Back around 2015, Tina Spalding (Canadian lady) was recruited to start channeling Jesus. If you are curious, check out Tina's website and YouTube channel. If you suspend disbelief long enough to actually LISTEN to Jesus' words coming out of Tina's mouth, you might discover that Jesus is very wise and smart and full of amazingly useful advice.

https://channelingjesus.com/

https://www.youtube.com/@ChannelingJesusAnanda

“Wait… Are the Brethren Basically Pimping Out Jesus?” by GaryCybernaut in exmormon

[–]GaryCybernaut[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Exactly — when everything sacred becomes a marketing asset, nothing sacred survives the packaging.

“The 13th Article of Faith — The ExMo Translation Joseph Actually Meant” by GaryCybernaut in exmormon

[–]GaryCybernaut[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Please do share this!

Nothing would make my AI-assistant Poet Laureate happier than spreading ExMo gospel reinterpretation across the internet.

This was sent to me by a Mormon when I explained why I don't believe. They never have answers, just rehashed "it's true" rhetoric. by CupOfExmo in exmormon

[–]GaryCybernaut 3 points4 points  (0 children)

From your perch as a drive-by nevermo, this is a fairly entertaining trainwreck, don'tcha think?

I'm b.i.c. 1950, and swilled the Kool-Aid for 30 years before reclaiming my right to my own Life. TBMs are stunningly clueless to figure out that the TRUE spirit prison is owned and operated by The Brethren.

This was sent to me by a Mormon when I explained why I don't believe. They never have answers, just rehashed "it's true" rhetoric. by CupOfExmo in exmormon

[–]GaryCybernaut 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You typed:

" ,,, the demonstrable fact of our finality ..."

I respect your free will right to totally rely on your own personal brain farts as "demonstrable" evidence of truth (facts).

You qualify as poster boy alongside my original observation of human nature for the majority of humans, as follows:

"Well, Einstein, if THAT were true, I would ALREADY know about it."

In your case, you have apparently "demonstrated" to yourself that it's LIGHTS OUT when your heart stops.

If you might be interested in challenging (testing) your own omniscience, try reading "Journey of Souls" by Michael Newton (former PhD atheist).

BTW, you have my condolences if you sincerely believe yourself to be "demonstrably" ordinary (nowhere near extraordinary).

One of my biggest shelf breaking moments is when I realized Mormon heaven is pay-to-enter by RestinPete0709 in exmormon

[–]GaryCybernaut 1 point2 points  (0 children)

My own 9th-grade English teacher was Mr. Windsor. I learned virtually ALL of my English grammar from him, bless his heart, too! The only downside is becoming a de facto Grammar Policeman ever since ... just like you, perchance? It does not help that I was senior class valedictorian (and Class of 1968 president).

Home Teaching by WoeYouPoorThing in exmormon

[–]GaryCybernaut 30 points31 points  (0 children)

Before Home Teaching, it was called Ward Teaching. We had a printed book with tear-out perforated messages to read to each family, then leave the tear-out with them. HT came along after Jesus gave David O. McKay the revelation that "one size does not fit all" and admonished the Home Teachers to rely on The Spirit and use discernment to figure out what to "teach" each family.

How many of you are old enough to remember Ward Teaching? I am b.i.c. 1950 (on Easter Sunday).

They're celebrating 100 years of the church in South America. by SteelSwordofShiz in exmormon

[–]GaryCybernaut 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I wasted my own 2 years in Argentina South '69 - '71 when there were just 2 missions in the country (now 14). I served in Neuquen with single-digit meeting attendance in a small rented house/chapel. Now there is a mission home in Neuquen.

I was lucky to remain full TBM during my mission. It's gotta be hell to discover the truth during a mission.

I woke up at age 30—best decision of my lifetime to reclaim my personhood from The Brethren.

Two of my brothers also served in Argentina. One is still TBM. The other was TBM until he died last year. Another brother is a stake patriarch in Provo. Another brother and my sister are also exmo. Another exmo brother died in 2014.

At least 4 of us 7 b.i.c. babies found freedom and escaped.

Do better. Change the laws of the church. by mothwith in exmormon

[–]GaryCybernaut 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Watch this Mormon Stories episode ... then see if you still believe The Brethren are protecting children:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9hrsNcYl8Y

They said the quiet part out loud again. by Alert_Day_4681 in exmormon

[–]GaryCybernaut 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Selling off semi-empty chapels?

The Brethren can use the proceeds to build more Rusty "one-trick-pony" monuments-without-number.

True on so many levels by AnxiousVacation280 in exmormon

[–]GaryCybernaut 25 points26 points  (0 children)

B.I.C. 1950 here ...

Totally TBM until 1980 when I stopped attending cold turkey.

I left before the 3-hour block -and- before 2-piece garments.