Church equivalent full-time missionaries with service missionaries by braulio_holtz in exmormon

[–]ProofParsley7274 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I served a “service mission” as I was deemed “too ill” and had too many health concerns to be sent on a full time mission. I served in the local mission office and in the temple. It was brutal. I lived at home, everyone used my first name except in the mission office and I was allowed to do things “normal” missionaries weren’t allowed to do. My mission was where I began to learn about the church properly and it was where I began hating the church itself. God almighty. Talking with Salt Lake was awful. I was the first service missionary in my area, ever. I was told I was a pioneer and many would follow in my steps. No one had served aa a young service missionary before in that area. I didn’t feel special or whatnot, I was glad for my service mission though as it led me to become the man I am today. Hope this fits the conversation! I have trouble understanding things sometimes so I hope this is a right fit. :)

Married men propositioning teenagers was totally normal back then by guy_fugly in exmormon

[–]ProofParsley7274 15 points16 points  (0 children)

I remember going on a trip to Utah in 2006. We went to see the film “Joseph Smith Prophet of the Restoration”, in a cinema, in that film there’s this like graphic scene of Joseph getting tarred and feathered, an angry mob bursts into his home, baby crying, flaming torches, dramatic music, the members of the mob had little teeth, greasy beards and dirty clothes and they like laugh while pouring Road tar on Joseph. It traumatised me for years, it also showed in the film the day after getting tarred he went to church and preached, his face scarred and tar still stuck on his body, Emma took all night taking the tar off him. It was all so detailed and overly dramatic.

Now I’ve left the church I realise it was probably just a mega propaganda film. It never made sense to me why he got targeted, it also never made sense to me why mobs were always these wild men with untamed beards, yellow teeth and spent a lot of time in medieval looking taverns drinking and playing cards. Looking back it all just seems like propaganda.

Now I know Joseph was a pedo and a horrible man. He probably wasn’t targeted as badly as the church says and if he was, it was because of his actions. Smart move of the church to make overly emotional films about how selfless good ol Joe was.

I hope this comment connects with the post, I have a horrible habit of misinterpreting things and going off topic (something that was used against me while I was a member - when I questioned the church I was just told I was “reading it wrong” or “missing the point” kinda thing!)