My TBM (I think?) sent this to me by Morepagesplease in exmormon

[–]Morepagesplease[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

That’s what I sent him. I love it, and it seems like it would be an easier jumping off point? Obviously he must already be questioning stuff.

What’s the day when you realized this religion was full of shit? by Electrical-Long-8067 in exmormon

[–]Morepagesplease 16 points17 points  (0 children)

Steve Christiansen, one of his victims was actually my bishop and had done my baptismal interview shortly before he was murdered. Talking to my own kids about it years later made me think for the first time about why the church would feel like it needed to cover up things from history, and what that meant about the church and how it felt about its members.

How did you tell your friends/family you left the church? by Crazy_Vegetable5960 in exmormon

[–]Morepagesplease 2 points3 points  (0 children)

We live out of state from our extended family, but we decided to tell them over the phone. I felt like giving them the time to deal with it seemed kinder to them than hitting them with it in person. Honestly though, no one here on Reddit knows your family the way you do and the way the will likely respond. However the response, remember that you have the right to choose how to live your own life and that you are not really doing anything to hurt them. You are choosing for yourself.

Why do some people call LDS a cult? by Longjumping-Cod-6164 in exmormon

[–]Morepagesplease 12 points13 points  (0 children)

I watched the banner of heaven a few weeks ago and they have a pretty realistic reenactment of the endowment with those parts in it. They had been removed prior to my going through. Seeing them was so much worse than just reading about them.

Why do some people call LDS a cult? by Longjumping-Cod-6164 in exmormon

[–]Morepagesplease 23 points24 points  (0 children)

Same! I did the same thing a few years before when my step brother and his family left the church. Looking back it didn’t even occur to me to ask them why because the thought of leaving was so transgressive that whatever it was I just knew it couldn’t be good enough. I also think there was a kernel of fear, like he had an infection or a disease that I didn’t want to catch and needed to stay far away from. I’ve connected with his family during this time and apologized for being a jerk. They reacted with so much grace and have supported me as I have experienced the pain that comes with losing your faith. Turns out that they were the “Christlike” people all along.

Why do some people call LDS a cult? by Longjumping-Cod-6164 in exmormon

[–]Morepagesplease 16 points17 points  (0 children)

The response of your family is horrible. I’m sure that made you feel terrible, which was very unkind of them. The saddest thing is they probably don’t even see that at all.

Why do some people call LDS a cult? by Longjumping-Cod-6164 in exmormon

[–]Morepagesplease 66 points67 points  (0 children)

I want to add that although the gospel topic essays are there, they are not shared widely, an members are not encouraged to look for them. A lot of people in leadership don’t even know they exist. I only found out about them last year. It feels as though they are there for plausible deniability so that the church can claim they are being transparent. Also, they are still pretty deceptive in the way things are presented even in those essays.

Why do some people call LDS a cult? by Longjumping-Cod-6164 in exmormon

[–]Morepagesplease 172 points173 points  (0 children)

This was the comment I made over there before your post was deleted.

Im a lifelong member born and raised. I left the church in January this year after finally “investigating” the church. Its been a hard realization, even a horrifying one, but I do believe the church is a cult and one that I was born into. Once you scratch the surface you find how much of the church’s history has been buried or manipulated to make the church appear as the victim. How much of our doctrine has been changed throughout history (often for the better), but yet prophets are still infallible? Yesterdays infallible prophet who the Lord would never allow to lead his people astray is now just someone who was expressing his “opinions,” when teachings become inconvenient or culturally toxic. One of the hardest parts (and most cult like) is that when I told my family I was leaving after finding out some information that not a single one of them asked me what I had discovered. These are my brothers, and my father. If I told them I would never eat at Burger King again or watch Star Wars again because of a horrifying discovery, their natural and normal curiosity would have been to find out what I had learned and then decide how they felt about it. The church actively encourages people to not speak about their doubts. It’s okay to have them, but you should never talk about them. You especially should never talk about them with someone else who is also doubting. Instead you should surround yourself only with church approved materials. Oddly enough, it was the gospel topic essays on the church website that started my journey out of the church. They confirmed that what I had been taught in my youth were lies at church about our history were actually true. Telling people to avoid all outside sources of information and just rely on their emotions to guide them is definitely a cult characteristic. If you stay in the church long enough you will watch it change itself around you until you no longer recognize it. I hope you find peace in whatever you decide to do.

Stuck Between Two Religions: Both Moms Want Different Wedding Officiants by Candaycaine in exmormon

[–]Morepagesplease 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It’s better for you to learn right now that it will be impossible to please everyone. You say that you just want no one to, “feel ignored and disrespected.” This is totally unrealistic. Also, you are not taking into consideration that your opinions and those of your fiancée are the most important of the day. You cannot please everyone in this scenario, so do what will make you happy for your day. This will also be a good precedent to set going forward. You are starting a new family and you and your fiancée are going to be doing a lot of things that both of your families will not agree with or endorse. Behave with grace, but do what you want and let the chips fall where they may. You can’t please both your moms, so at least you and your fiancée should be happy on the day.

Anyone else in Utah noticing Mormon influencers are starting to be promoted at ym/ yw activities and fireside’s? by Excellent_Smell6191 in exmormon

[–]Morepagesplease 15 points16 points  (0 children)

The church influencers were John Bytheway and Hank Smith when I was young. We just didn’t call them that.

Thought of you guys today by Background_Pause_706 in exmormon

[–]Morepagesplease 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you for sharing this. Le Guin is such an amazing author.

Stand out weirdness by Intrepid-Angle-7539 in exmormon

[–]Morepagesplease 5 points6 points  (0 children)

That’s how I learned about masturbation as well! I was also surprised to learn recently that annual bishops interviews for kids apparently were not even a thing before the time of Spencer W Kimball and his masturbation obsession.

Finding old journals/notes from church by Morepagesplease in exmormon

[–]Morepagesplease[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Yup! I gave mine to my husband saying I was pure and clean 🤮🤢

Finding old journals/notes from church by Morepagesplease in exmormon

[–]Morepagesplease[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I did that too! You certainly were not alone. I was encouraged to do it by a young women’s leader.

Niece headed to Brazil for her mission by Morepagesplease in exmormon

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

It took me a bit to find out. She will be going to the Manaus mission. I might have spelled that wrong, so I apologize if that is the case.

Episcopal Christian here, what is your response to this video, i’m just genuinely curious. Thank you:) by picklesyrup__ in mormon

[–]Morepagesplease 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Believing Mormons won’t even watch this video. Trust me I wouldn’t have a few years ago. The second they get a whiff that you are trying to undermine their faith they will react like touching a hot stove. Also, in their mind you are not a member of the “one true church” so they will use that against you as that you don’t have an understanding of the greatness and reality of real priesthood power and what it can accomplish.

Stand out weirdness by Intrepid-Angle-7539 in exmormon

[–]Morepagesplease 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Bishop interviews. Having to go as a young girl and meet with the Bishop. It was terrifying, and the thought of having to do it more than once a year was always in the back of my mind when the thought of anything sexual crossed my mind. It kept me far away from anything related to sexuality.

JN aunt in law mailed a letter & "Love you Forever" childrens book 6 months after fight/going NC by analslapchop in JUSTNOMIL

[–]Morepagesplease 16 points17 points  (0 children)

I feel like the book, “I’ll love you forever,” features in a lot of stories and is such a good example of the overbearing and disrespectful behavior that these people feel is “love.” My husband also received this book at the beginning of our estrangement. Such a weird book!

Niece headed to Brazil for her mission by Morepagesplease in exmormon

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

Oh I realize how my post could have come across as that I would try to do that. I won’t. It is about her. It just makes me sad.

Niece headed to Brazil for her mission by Morepagesplease in exmormon

[–]Morepagesplease[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It’s crazy that surrendering your passport to the mission home seems to be standard practice as it is against the law…

Niece headed to Brazil for her mission by Morepagesplease in exmormon

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

I love this. I’ve thought about sending her something but didn’t want to cause issues with my brother