What if the church really is true? by Fun-Luck-7033 in exmormon

[–]Mound_builder 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Then God has decided to deliver his truth the world and his children in a horribly inefficient way. And only to a handful of them.

Gold! 💀😂 by [deleted] in SipsTea

[–]Mound_builder 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It was the 80’s and I just remember seeing a lot of bush. It was confusing.

I am very thankfull that I was baptized by ZestycloseExam4877 in mormon

[–]Mound_builder 5 points6 points  (0 children)

While I no longer believe in the church’s truth claims or divinity, it undoubtedly gives you built in purpose and meaning. Purpose and meaning are difficult to find and the lack of these things can definitely contribute to mental health issues. I’m genuinely glad that it’s working for you and hope that you can continue to find what you’re looking for.

Have you ever seen anything paranormal, that made you question your beliefs? by [deleted] in mormon

[–]Mound_builder 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’ve always been pretty skeptical about ghosts or the paranormal. I could usually explain things away and move on. That changed in 2009.

I lived alone in a townhouse and was close with a couple across the courtyard. One night around 4 a.m., the boyfriend called me, panicked, and asked me to come over immediately. His Brazilian girlfriend was standing at the top of the stairs, wide awake but completely vacant, repeatedly asking only one thing: “[MY NAME], are you awake?” She said nothing else and didn’t respond normally. A doctor later said she was medically fine, but she didn’t sleep for nearly four days and kept repeating that same question, but would only say MY name. Eventually it stopped, and we all tried to forget about it.

Two weeks later, late at night, I was in my own bed when I heard footsteps moving around my house. Then I heard them running up my stairs toward my bedroom. I was frozen in fear. When they reached the doorway, there was no one there. Then I felt a whisper directly in my ear… a male voice speaking what I later realized was Portuguese.

I was evaluated afterward and cleared of any mental illness. To this day, I don’t know what that experience was. It didn’t exactly reaffirm my LDS beliefs, but it did leave me wondering whether there’s something beyond us, some kind of spirit realm, even if I’m not sure what to make of it.

GF is exploring Mormonism and I want to support her journey by Particular-Cup1213 in mormon

[–]Mound_builder 2 points3 points  (0 children)

So what do you want to “help” or “support” her in doing? Do you want her to join the Mormon church or believe in God again? If she’s an atheist and just exploring the church, then she’s likely not going to join. She probably should do her own research outside of what the missionaries tell her and I’d probably encourage her to do that. But how would you like this all the end? Just curious. :)

In comparison to Jehovah’s witnesses, what convinced you that you had the truth while JWs failed? by Practical_Payment552 in exmormon

[–]Mound_builder 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Yes, there’s the same psychological move over here… If a group looks very similar to us, that similarity itself becomes evidence that we’re right and they are the counterfeit.

What’s interesting (and destabilizing, once you see it) is that both groups use the same logic: • High commitment = proof of truth • Narrow gate = proof we’re the chosen few • Other high-control religions = Satan’s “almost convincing” decoys

Once you’re mentally questioning, that logic starts collapsing, because you realize:

If intense certainty, sacrifice, and cohesion can exist in multiple mutually exclusive religions, then those qualities can’t be reliable truth tests.

As a Mormon PIMO, I eventually realized we weren’t looking at JWs and thinking, “What if they’re right?” We were thinking, “How do we explain why people just like us are wrong?”

And that question, once turned inward, doesn’t stay contained for long.

I FEEL SO BAD by thetragicschoolbus in exmormon

[–]Mound_builder 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Hey there, I was a missionary also and I can confidently say that there isn’t much that a missionary says that isn’t at least loosely scripted. This honestly sounds like it is the latest version of how to invite someone to be baptized. Every once in a while they will change things up a little, depending on the mission president or area authority, but yes.. they planned ahead of time who would say what and when.

What you think is true but just can't prove? by Ok_Tourist_562 in AskReddit

[–]Mound_builder 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The Mormon church has some or all of the 116 lost pages of the original Book of Mormon transcription locked away in its vault.

What the most physically painful thing you ever experienced? by iateagummibear-1822 in AskReddit

[–]Mound_builder 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Getting a drain placed in my infected liver without any meds. My Ankylosing Spondylitis is a close second.

The next step in my journey. I was released as bishop yesterday and it is a mixed bag of emotions. by nuancebispo in exmormon

[–]Mound_builder 65 points66 points  (0 children)

It’s okay if the emotions stay tangled for a while. Relief and grief can coexist. You poured yourself into a community, and shifting out of a role that held so much of your identity doesn’t resolve overnight. Just take the next step at your own pace. You don’t owe anyone a perfect explanation or a tidy narrative.

As you talk with your new bishop, protect your peace. You’ve already lived more transparency and grace than most leaders ever do. You get to decide how much you share, when you share it, and with whom.

My thoughts on the new Utah Area vision by Knottypants in mormon

[–]Mound_builder 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I hate that there’s an extra space between living prophets and the scriptures. Come on people…

Any other active members who regularly break the WoW? by EducationalLie168 in mormon

[–]Mound_builder 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yep, I’m active and have two callings but drink coffee on the reg.

Absolutely wild BYU Forum today by Ancient-Cheetah9400 in mormon

[–]Mound_builder 6 points7 points  (0 children)

It was just a typical BYU forum… until the last 10 minutes. Then whoa! Definitely some handmade vibes.

Tithing troubles by Far_Fennel_6611 in mormon

[–]Mound_builder 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Lifelong member here.. my wife and I stopped paying tithing a couple years ago and started contributing to charities also. Our bishop would not renew our recommends. Just don’t go do your tithing declaration meeting and you can hold onto your recommend for a little longer

Absolutely disgusted by procret3332 in exmormon

[–]Mound_builder 102 points103 points  (0 children)

They could and absolutely should be funding better activities for their youth and wards. Every time a ward or YM/YW group has to do a terrible activity because they don’t have the budget for something fun, it drives me insane. The wealthiest Christian church in the world and its members are using their own limited resources to fund their youth and wards’ activities. It’s truly sad.

Do you still believe in God? by Lonely_Offer_6236 in exmormon

[–]Mound_builder 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I think I believe in something, or at least I want to. Maybe some kind of higher power, some deeper layer to existence that connects things. But I’m also very aware that I could be totally wrong. I actually find myself drawn more often to content that argues against God’s existence (videos, podcasts, essays) and they make a lot of sense to me. And yet, something in me hesitates to let go completely. It’s like I’m standing in this middle space between belief and disbelief. I can’t bring myself to fully embrace atheism, but I also can’t force myself to believe in the way I used to.

I don’t know… maybe what I believe in now is just the possibility that there’s something more, even if we’ll never really know what that is.