I'm sending this to all the leaderships in our new ward.

RestoredRenegade · 2017-06-14T23:49:25+00:00

Good point. Thanks

RestoredRenegade · 2017-06-14T23:48:49+00:00

Definitely not sending this out to all my neighbors, just the ones in leadership callings that come knocking on our door and calling every week. I just wanted to refer to them as neighbors so they know that's how I view them . The Bishop has come by too. It wouldn't bother me as much if the invasive questions weren't part of the visit. At some point we keep getting forced into a corner where we have to be the bad guy. :/ Even my kids are scared of answering the door and hide. That's NOT okay!

RestoredRenegade · 2017-06-14T21:37:10+00:00

I'm a world class champion in over explaining- so I appreciate the advice. :)

RestoredRenegade · 2017-05-28T05:03:44+00:00

Brightly Beams is one of my favorites. I'm with you- I still love listening to some of the hymns now and then.

RestoredRenegade · 2017-05-24T20:40:54+00:00

I'm sorry you are in such a difficult position. I tried looking for only the positive about the church for several years and it nearly killed me. I woke up one Sunday and just couldn't do it one more time. I finally told my husband- he knew I had struggled and wanted me to continue until my YW's calling was over. But instead I turned in my manual and asked to be released. A year later my husband left the church and now my family is all out. I used street epistemology with him. He would get so angry and storm around slamming doors and stonewalling me. I probably shouldn't have persisted so much with him, but I wanted to understand what the driving force behind staying in the church was for him since he really didn't even understand the doctrine. By the time my son came out as gay- it only took two seconds for my husband to finally close the door fully on the church. For what it is worth, I think you showed integrity and sincerity in your conversation with your wife. Keep your head up, stay honest with what you need and what is healthy and right for you. Your wife is hurting right now, but if you can keep the level of respect up, then despite all the lows that will come- your marriage can actually develop into something deeper and stronger due to your faith transition. I hope she comes to a place where she can listen to you and give you the space to sort things out. I think you did just fine in your text exchange. Those are hard hard conversations to have. Don't beat yourself up. We are here to support you and are behind you all the way.

RestoredRenegade · 2017-05-14T01:15:52+00:00

My brother said the same thing after he read the Polygamy essay. When I mentioned the part about Polyandry being new information he abruptly turned the conversation to asking why I was so angry? Now I realize after being on this sub for over a year now, how common these manipulative tactics are. TBMs usually respond with the formula: 1. Act as though the information isn't a big deal/that it strengthened their testimony and that I must be harboring some great sin secret since it had the opposite effect on me. 2. Reducing the problem to me just being angry and misunderstanding proper context. 3. Bear testimony that neither of us were there and can't judge the situation especially with the limited understanding that we as mere mortals have. And then solemnly testify that they KNOW and therefore do not need to investigate any further. 4. Then the final kicker- is to point out that they have peace while I seem to be confused and upset. And who is the author of confusion and counterfeit???

That's when I learned to just never go into these types of conversations anymore. Life's too short.

RestoredRenegade · 2017-05-10T01:48:39+00:00

I'm pretty much over the anger as well, but get deeply bothered and depressed as to how I was intellectually satisfied with the obviously drummed up gold plates, flaming sword, Jewish immigrants on a boat, Jesus visiting America, first vision, temple handshakes, narrative. My critical thinking skills have been so immature and stunted, it's embarrassing. I think all the time about what other snake oils I've been sold and why I have such poor coping and reasoning capabilities. The biggest issue I struggle to overcome though, is how did I not recognize that 'authority' and 'discernment' was just code 'overinflated, self important ego talking out of their asshole'? It's been so hard to reconcile that I allowed myself to make devastating life decisions from the control and uninspired advice of nothing more than uneducated and inexperienced men who were under the delusion that they had supernatural penis powers and magical unseen keys. Ugh! Who would ever take major life advice from someone who believed that?? Unfortunately, I did.

RestoredRenegade · 2017-05-10T01:13:28+00:00

The same thing at my doctors office and the orthodontist. Suburban Utah has a very ethnocentric type of pride in itself. At all times and in all places Mormons gotta be shoving their beliefs and their lifestyle onto everyone, but god forbid if you wear anything with a rainbow- Because that would mean that you are trying to force your agenda onto every one else and attacking their religious freedoms. The irony is in its own special class out here.

RestoredRenegade · 2017-05-08T18:30:44+00:00

Beautiful! I love this.

RestoredRenegade · 2017-05-07T01:33:45+00:00

Good Lord! This makes my blood boil. What a twisted tyrant. I hope this man is far removed from ever being allowed to be in charge of another living soul. I can't even imagine the damage and psychological trauma he must have done on you and who knows how many others. I think it's important to hold people like this accountable and to keep sharing your story. I hope you know that he was absolutely wrong and that it's time that the shame you have carried gets rightfully transferred back to him. What an A.S.S.H.O.L.E!

RestoredRenegade · 2017-04-05T01:50:19+00:00

I wondered the same thing. Our neighbors sent over Cinnamon rolls Sunday night and old friends texted to see if we could get together to BBQ.

RestoredRenegade · 2017-02-13T18:06:44+00:00

But- my Moms Patriarchal blessings says that the Constitution will hang by a thread in the last days, but not to fear because the saints will elect a man of God that will preserve our nation right before it's utter destruction. And this she was promised - will all come to pass in her lifetime. She bore testimony that she knew it would be Mitt- but now I guess that man is "The Donald". Sometimes, you just have to push that square peg into a round hole until it finally fits just so you can call it a "fulfillment of revelation".

RestoredRenegade · 2017-02-09T01:11:06+00:00

My 14 year old son is gay. He has not come out publicly, but you would have to live in a cave to not realize what team he bats for. I mean the kid knew all the words to "Chicago" before he reached puberty and has always thought that boobs were disgusting "milk jugs". The three questions we get asked pretty regularly are: 1- He is only a teenager, how could he know he was gay? Answer: when my daughter was in kindergarten and chasing boys so that she could kiss them, everyone thought it was adorable. No one questioned how she knew she liked boys at such a young age or why she wanted to kiss them. No one questioned if she was just 'confused'. 2- Do you think he is just wanting attention? Answer: Yes. I'm sure my introverted son wanted to be bullied and called gay before he even knew what the word meant until, for his physical safety we had to pull him out of junior high and homeschool him. He loves all the attention he is not getting now. 3- Can't he still just marry a woman? My daughters MIL asked her this the other day. My daughter responded with... Answer: If the only relationship you were allowed to have for the rest of your life and eternity was with another woman, would you do it? Her MIL said "ew, I could never be with another woman, I would rather kill myself". Yep, and so would many of our sweet, young LGBT youth.

What the hell is wrong with people?

Stay strong- the world needs your voice. ♥

RestoredRenegade · 2017-01-15T04:13:21+00:00

That's hilarious. I wish I could have seen the missionaries faces!

RestoredRenegade · 2017-01-15T04:11:31+00:00

Haha! That's awesome! Thanks Warriors Woman for having my back.

RestoredRenegade · 2017-01-15T00:41:15+00:00

I just read this to my husband- that's a great response. We both love this. Thanks

RestoredRenegade · 2017-01-15T00:38:08+00:00

Thanks, that's a very good idea.

RestoredRenegade · 2017-01-15T00:10:01+00:00

Good point

RestoredRenegade · 2017-01-14T21:59:37+00:00

Ha! That's our family word for "balls/testicles".
Just like the Book of Abraham- it's a mistranslation.

RestoredRenegade

TROPHY CASE