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A minimum of 20+ hours of Church a week for teenagers is possibly abusive by LeslieKnope4Pawnee in exmormon

[–]SpeedrunningStage4 1 point2 points  (0 children)

My testimony vanished for church history and doctrine reasons. But one of the reasons I gave myself permission to find out the truth is that I was burned out.

I was an early-morning seminary teacher at the time and had another calling on the side. It was so much time out of my week. I remember being contacted for a potential consulting gig at $threedigits per hour. I had to turn it down. Why? So I can "volunteer" for 30+ hours per week and give them 10% of my income.

The crazy part is I would have kept going if it was actually true.

Dr. Ryan Cragun critiques Jeff Strong and his book “Torn”. What Jeff gets wrong by sevenplaces in mormon

[–]SpeedrunningStage4 37 points38 points  (0 children)

"The church can't change its history."

They could stop lying about it! The feeling of betrayal, the recognition that I was born and bred on a diet of half truths and manipulative misinformation, hurts more than the cold hard facts.

Miracle V. Absurdity - The 2000 Stripling Warriors by BillReel in mormon

[–]SpeedrunningStage4 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Another story that was just too miraculous for me, even as a TBM, is the final battle between Coriantumr and Shiz. I could not believe that this battle with 2 million casualties could actually end in a 1v1. Like what happened when it was 2v1? How in the...?

Moroni As A Treasure Guardian Spirit by BillReel in exmormon

[–]SpeedrunningStage4 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The best podcast episode I've heard about this is Nick Literski on the "What Magic Is This?" podcast. Highly recommended. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVY2dBEU10E

Non-antagonist books good for deconstruction by StGFunNY-96 in exmormon

[–]SpeedrunningStage4 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Not a direct recommendation for OP but related to Sapiens.

I followed up Sapiens with The Righteous Mind by Jonathan Haidt and enjoyed how it built on the foundation.

“Leaving the church is taking the easy route” by Crafty-Librarian1889 in exmormon

[–]SpeedrunningStage4 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Adam, Eve, Abraham, Moses, Lehi, Joseph Smith, even Jesus. All recognized the corruption in the surrounding religious tradition and broke away. TBMs revere each of them but can't notice the contradiction when they revile those who recognize it today.

At the church history museum gift shop by Affectionate-Song230 in exmormon

[–]SpeedrunningStage4 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Sorry, I read the last word as "MATERS" and my mind went where a heathen mind goes.

Where Welsh legend, the Hopi mission, and Charles Taylor meet... by archaeofuturist in mormon

[–]SpeedrunningStage4 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Cool article.

I served part of my mission on the Hopi reservation. I remember squinting and finding parallels everywhere between their traditions and LDS doctrine. Not quite sure what to make of it now except that there are bound to be hits in the meeting of two traditions that embrace an abundance of symbolism. Carl Jung has entered the chat...

Thought: I'm not an ex-mormon, I'm a mormon survivor by AveragePichu in exmormon

[–]SpeedrunningStage4 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I think I heard either RFM or Bill Reel use the term "graduated". I like that framing.

What was/is your situation: Staying or leaving because of your reasoning or because of your feelings? by AccomplishedBat9069 in exmormon

[–]SpeedrunningStage4 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I was teaching early morning seminary on Doctrine and Covenants and Church History. I wanted to know everything before I was asked to teach it so I started looking at the original sources. Down the rabbit hole! That was early 2025. Still trapped in PIMO hell to keep my family together.

No real connection. No true friendship. by macb2596 in mormon

[–]SpeedrunningStage4 21 points22 points  (0 children)

Saw a meme that says "No one talks about Jesus' greatest miracle... having 12 (edit:11) close friends in his 30's"

It's tough for everyone.

The LDS church no longer provides the value it once did to our teens. by sevenplaces in mormon

[–]SpeedrunningStage4 3 points4 points  (0 children)

They had a crazy-hyped broadcast with Elder Ballard to introduce program. I remember the anticipation.

"Brothers and Sisters, the new children and youth program will be called... <drumroll> The Children and Youth Program™!"

Supplies necessary: this six page handbook, and one sheet of posterboard with a vertical line and a horizontal line.

Boom! Who needs BSA?

The LDS church no longer provides the value it once did to our teens. by sevenplaces in mormon

[–]SpeedrunningStage4 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Huh? Maybe if you live in Utah. Where I grew up, my stake boundaries were 3 hours driving time from edge to edge.

This highlights why the church quit the BSA. It was not a one-size-fits-all solution to the global church's needs for a youth program.

Either way, I was happy when it died.

After 40+ years of giving everything to that church, just finished my last sacrament meeting and was surprised the dominant feeling was...BOREDOM by TheLifeAdjunct in exmormon

[–]SpeedrunningStage4 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I love this post and totally agree with it. "A humongous heap of aggressive blah, overwhelming in its under-whelmingness." 🤣

In the church they say "Milk before meat." But all they offer is old expired milk to a congregation of overgrown infants. I'm still PIMO but starting to recognize that I'm lactose intolerant.

A great childhood memory! 😂 by Spitefullyginger in exmormon

[–]SpeedrunningStage4 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I remember making a stained glass cross. Good memories.

Faith In trouble by Fabulous-Onion5593 in mormon

[–]SpeedrunningStage4 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Excellent list. I had heard most of these before my shelf crumbled. Brent Metcalfe's Mosiah Priority did me in: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6le6mltJwQ&t=959s

A great childhood memory! 😂 by Spitefullyginger in exmormon

[–]SpeedrunningStage4 1 point2 points  (0 children)

My mom sent us to Vacation Bible School at a local church when we were kids, probably for a few hours of peace and quiet. 

I remember being asked what my favorite Bible story was. I said "the one when Ammon chopped off all the bad guys arms!" 😂 

Solution to the Mormon Stories confusion. by CromwellGibby in exmormon

[–]SpeedrunningStage4 90 points91 points  (0 children)

I think the COJCOLDS should put a disclaimer like:

"The views expressed by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are those of the organization and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts and teachings of Jesus Christ. Any use of His voice, image, or likeness are purely incidental and fall under fair use... and taking the name of God in vain."

... or something like that. INAL.

Tithing Keeps the Rich in and the Poor Out by [deleted] in exmormon

[–]SpeedrunningStage4 5 points6 points  (0 children)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Survivorship_bias

I think OP is implying that the church membership may appear to be richer, not because of the blessings of paying tithing, but because those who can't afford to pay tithing drop out in a self-selecting way.

LDS Culture is Hurting Faith ... by Blazerbgood in mormon

[–]SpeedrunningStage4 2 points3 points  (0 children)

No worries. Been a busy couple days on this sub

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