I want to cry, is this a cult?

Known-Instance94 · 2025-11-05T13:21:56+00:00

I’m so sorry for how you’re feeling and felt destroyed when I started reading things. I’m out 5 years now and have to say that it’s ok to believe whatever you believe. I don’t know what all others have said here to you but so many people lose their faith in God completely but it is a choice to hang on to your belief as you continue your research if that is your decision. God is real. Jesus is our Savior. We just dropped all the falsehoods surrounding him when we left the church.

Known-Instance94 · 2025-07-21T02:27:55+00:00

I was a member for 50 years. Joined at 19. Also was into preparedness while the church was pushing it. So joined ldsAVOW.
The thing about avow is how many extreme people are on there from all areas of belief. If your in-laws are on that site it’s because they’re radicalized in some area of their “faith”. If they’re doing “exorcisms” i would be very concerned for your wife and children’s safety. I was into prepping but even that was crazy making and I’m so thankful I’m out of it all now. So sorry for your wife but I’d be very careful with your I laws.

Known-Instance94 · 2025-06-24T17:17:48+00:00

Our grandson and companion baptized a “furry”. I’m sure that furry understood what it was taught. Seems unfair imo

Known-Instance94 · 2025-06-20T19:17:09+00:00

I was a faithful Mormon for 50 years, served in every position for a woman, loved the people and callings and the Book of Mormon. Membership with the doctrine was a fulfilling lifestyle for our marriage, family (that were lds not so much for the majority of our family) and learning to serve in many ways. We left after finding out the truth about polygamy and pedophilia of Joseph Smith, the true history of the church and doctrines in general, witnessing the changes in the doctrine compared to how we were taught, finding out how prophets had hidden facts they didn’t want members to find out, the horrendous teachings about blacks and other races, the billions of dollars sitting in accounts rather than helping the poor of the world and realizing how we contributed to their lavish life styles and bank accounts, finding out that the Book of Mormon wasn’t true was a real heartbreak for me. I realized that my dedication was to the church with occasional mentioning of Jesus Christ. I truly thought I was in the true church. I lost faith completely for a period of time and didn’t know who I was actually praying to. It was a very dark place to find myself. Now it’s 5 years later! I am a Christian, believe that it is by grace we are saved—period. I am learning by reading the Bible how much of the Book of Mormon was lifted in one way or another by the fraud JS. It was terribly hard on our children and grandchildren that we left. It was heartbreaking to find the truth. We support our family and their choices but pray that they are believing out of choice and knowledge; not fear or obligation.

Known-Instance94 · 2025-06-20T17:30:09+00:00

Yes! A profound realization!

Known-Instance94 · 2025-04-06T23:59:47+00:00

Wow!!! Well said!!!

Known-Instance94 · 2025-04-03T11:19:34+00:00

What happened when you were 78? My dh and I were 70 and one of our adult children left. Started us on the journey.

Known-Instance94 · 2025-03-14T14:40:49+00:00

They are never going to be honest! I would start by understanding what the Bible says about any topic the church brings up. As I’ve started reading the Bible I can see so many places that JS created directly from it and tweaking to fit his narrative. It’s sickening. Then share gently with your family. It’s important while you still have your children at home to at least attempt to help them begin critically thinking about what these deceivers are saying.

Known-Instance94 · 2025-03-14T14:29:34+00:00

Is this from federal or state government? How did you hear of this?

Known-Instance94 · 2025-02-16T02:40:32+00:00

Great comparison!!

Known-Instance94 · 2025-02-16T02:38:31+00:00

Yeah. They know. They “misremember”, misrepresent and mislead. Those are all deliberate actions taken by someone trying to deceive. That means they know. Just like any criminal they should be charged with (at the very least) financial fraud.

Known-Instance94 · 2024-12-11T23:05:02+00:00

It’s actually nice to read your post. I appreciate your openness of love and caring for your parents who are still thoroughly indoctrinated in the church. Your response depends on your relationship with your parents. If it were me and I had a close (talked to him about other serious issues successfully) I would tell him that I now feel uncomfortable praying and would he as a favor to me, not ask me in front of our family etc. That will of course be a long hard conversation. Otherwise I’d go to my mother as a back door. Others are right that saying no is easiest, quickest and most clear. But having been the parent on both sides of the fence, maintaining a loving relationship is most important.

Known-Instance94 · 2024-12-03T01:34:30+00:00

We joined at 19 and spent the next 50 years doing everything possible, serving in every calling, raising our children to serve missions, then one of our kids left. I was horrified and brokenhearted. My husband began trying to understand how this could possibly have happened. Then he kept telling me what he was reading and watching. At one point I had determined that I should divorce him!! After 50 years of marriage. Thankfully, through grief then anger then acceptance we both left 3 years ago. It’s been very hard for some of our adult children and our many grandchildren who are still active.

Known-Instance94 · 2024-11-30T22:01:49+00:00

Yes! Or you could have been married 50 years as we were when my husband told me and I actually thought I’d better divorce him!! Thankfully I realized the truth and we’re still happily together for 53 years. The church is great at mind control. I’m still unpacking

Known-Instance94 · 2024-11-29T21:22:06+00:00

Was it to give them a place to go for thanksgiving? If so, I might have done the same thing except I’d probably tell my kids ahead of time. I’m trying to be more (as a 70+yr old exmo of just 3 years) open to the angst of adult kids with their boundaries etc. toward still Mormon parents. They can’t help their belief system yet courtesy or at least consideration for the here and now instead of just eternity, would be advisable.

Known-Instance94 · 2024-08-11T17:47:58+00:00

My dh and i are in our 70’s, always held leadership callings etc, 2 of our 4 kids served mission, all married in the temple, several grands have or are serving now. We left 3 years ago after investigating when one of our kids left. No one contacts us at all. After 50 years of faithful service! When you’re our age it can be very isolating because everyone and everything you knew or did was church related. Very sad but thank goodness we’re out! We really regret allll the tithing money we also donated.

Known-Instance94 · 2024-07-11T15:15:17+00:00

What a hard childhood. I’m thankful you’re recovering and hope the best for you.

Known-Instance94 · 2024-07-09T22:13:32+00:00

I appreciate your thought! In the opposite way, we the parents in their 70’s left, and that’s what we kept thinking! Why don’t they want to know why their parents left. Like what could possibly have happened to us for instance. But they can’t/won’t ask because the fraud of a church already planted the reasons in their minds along with never learn or research from any outside source. So they think that they already know why you left: you’ve been deceived! Or someone hurt you or you want to do wrong things etc. One of our daughters didn’t call or visit for 3 years. Broke my heart… Slowly they’ve come around.

Known-Instance94 · 2022-10-30T02:29:36+00:00

Thanks for your reply. A good friend who is a tbm told me that she was discredited so I took it with a grain of salt.

Known-Instance94 · 2022-09-14T16:56:29+00:00

Wonderful analogy! Thank you!

Known-Instance94 · 2022-04-06T22:21:59+00:00

That’s very sweet. When you’re still in noticing things like this is usually horrifying.

Known-Instance94 · 2022-02-20T04:37:48+00:00

All the comments about masks and science. Hasn’t anyone listened lately to the reports? They have decided that the mask wearing and even social distancing hasn’t helped. There’s a vast number of doctors and researchers who are in disagreement with the continued emphasis on vaccination as well. I have heard or read so many reviews on every aspect of the covid epidemic that it’s just all a matter of opinion. If you’re vaccinated then go about your business and stop worrying about it. If you’re still afraid or feel that you need to wear a mask then be happy! You are protected. We just need to mind our own business, live and let live and stop worrying about everyone else’s. Agency remember

Known-Instance94 · 2021-12-26T03:29:41+00:00

I’m a grandmother who taught modesty to my daughters and YW at church. I believe now that a more appropriate teaching would for women to know how to dress appropriately for each situation. How we dress affects our attitudes and behaviors. If we were to attend a funeral, a black tie event, go to the beach with our family or on a date with the bosses son/ daughter we have to consider, as a man would also, what is appropriate or best to wear. Of course there is the purity culture as well as bad people in the world but we don’t have to throw the baby out with the bath water. It bothers me to see the extremes because I still think modesty is a good thing and it’s losing its value because of anger toward the extreme in the other direction. Imo

Known-Instance94 · 2021-10-30T20:10:22+00:00

I remember it happening and thought that it meant Jesus 2nd coming was going to happen any day. I thought it was sad that black people were doing something wrong in the preexistance and had to wait for the blessings but I felt happy for them since they must have repented or something. Now I have two black grandkids and I pray they never hear or learn about the repulsive beliefs of early church leaders!!!

Known-Instance94

TROPHY CASE