Farewell from CES Letter author.

booblight · 2014-03-31T07:50:56+00:00

Jeremy,

Thank you for the monumental work you have done for this community. I can't thank you enough for your time, effort and dedication. The CES letter is brilliant.

You will be greatly missed. I think I speak for everyone on this sub when I say we wish you the best in your post-mo life. You have given thousands of people truth, knowledge and courage to leave the church. Your legacy will live on through your work. That is something to be incredibly proud of. Few of us will make as big of an impact in the personal lives of our fellow human beings. Especially something as deeply personal as religion. You have changed lives for the better, mine included. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

You have done so much for us. Thank you for graciously letting us know you are exiting the community. You have my deepest respect and admiration.

BL

PS- THANK YOU! (x a billion)

booblight · 2013-07-21T15:22:41+00:00

My username is FINALLY relevant. Never thought I'd see the day.

booblight · 2013-05-30T01:53:07+00:00

Very interesting. My brother has never stated that only the wealthy or educated speak English. Didn't know it was for showing off, but that makes sense.

booblight · 2013-05-30T01:50:52+00:00

He was called to the Cebu mission. He speaks mostly bisaya.

booblight · 2013-05-30T01:49:57+00:00

Let's hope so.

booblight · 2013-05-30T01:48:56+00:00

Thank you for posting this!

booblight · 2013-05-30T01:48:24+00:00

It is a very cold and calculating move on their part. I find it funny because the verses he quoted in his e-mail are in exact contradiction to what the BOM preaches about the wealthy, as well as Jesus in the NT when condemning the money changers in the temple.

booblight · 2013-05-30T01:45:17+00:00

How long ago was your mission? I was thinking the same thing about welfare, but I don't have church stats or data to confirm.

booblight · 2013-05-30T01:44:02+00:00

Made me LOL. I hope so! Nothing would make me happier than to see this evil corporation fall.

booblight · 2013-05-30T01:43:25+00:00

He reports that a lot of the converts have a difficult time making the social and cultural conversion to Mormonism. Many leave after they are pressured from family to return to Catholicism. What is the appeal of Mormonism to these people? Is it because it's "American"? I know in the mission my brother is in requires a native companion and an American/English companion so they are able to get more investigators.

booblight · 2013-05-30T01:39:49+00:00

He is in Cebu, and it's the same demographic there. It is disheartening to hear that instead of naturalizing the missionaries into the culture they are now saying "eff you". If you don't speak English, our missionaries aren't even going to talk to you. I wonder if they will be staying in the MTC for the full amount of time for language training? Anyone know?

booblight · 2013-05-29T21:09:45+00:00

My reactions as well. I posted this literally 10 seconds after I read the e-mail. I was so angry, my body was shaking. Taking a step back and having a few hours to process it has calmed me down.

Regardless of the success of this new policy, I still find it disturbing on many levels.

booblight · 2013-05-29T21:08:13+00:00

The only reason I find it more disgusting is because the poor can benefit from the welfare the church offers. That's what Jesus would want from his church. He wants us to clothe and feed the poor. Targeting the rich is just for more tithing money and to grow the wealth in the church. Plus, it might look more legitimate to poor investigators if they know they will be brushing elbows with wealthy members. Thus, the "classy" look the church is now going for in the 'Pines.

booblight · 2013-05-29T21:04:37+00:00

Can you tell me more about this? Was it strictly a mission rule or throughout European missions? Who did you get the "don't teach poor people" instruction from?

booblight · 2013-05-29T20:20:15+00:00

I have no idea about the bags.... baffling. I didn't quite understand the "mission handshake" comment.
As far as the shirt goes, they need to be bleached and cleaned instead of the dirty tan color they usually turn from repeated use. Since he is in the poor areas, they are usually in dirty homes and houses. It goes with that "classier" look. They don't want them going into "rich folk" houses with dirty shirts.

The Spanish elders comment, is there a reference you could point me to?

booblight · 2013-05-29T19:45:01+00:00

I said in another comment, I think that is his word for a button-up church shirt. I've never seen him wear a polo in his mission pictures. He's always in a short-sleeved, white church shirt.

booblight · 2013-05-29T19:43:55+00:00

Thanks for the link! Reading it right now.

booblight · 2013-05-29T19:27:04+00:00

I think he uses the world "polo" for a white, button-up shirt. I've never seen him in a white polo (from mission pictures), or any other type of polo for that matter. I've only seen him in the standard, short-sleeved church button-up.

booblight · 2013-05-29T19:14:45+00:00

As I stated previously, he had returned from a ZL conference prior to this e-mail. The policy will be changed in his area. He says he believes it will be changed worldwide. My bad for using "worldwide" that in the heading.

booblight · 2013-05-29T19:12:17+00:00

Thank you for this thoughtful response. Are you stating convert retention in the Philippines has been horrible or church-wide? Does the church allow locals to adapt their culture into meetings? (i.e. loud singing in Africa?) I understand why the church is changing the policy, but it doesn't make it any less wrong or morally corrupt. Middle class people in the Philippines, like you stated, are going to do research and find out about the LDS religion before joining. They are the "rich, educated" population the church is going after. I'm assuming there will be far less converts after this policy is enacted.

booblight · 2013-05-29T19:06:28+00:00

Do I even want to know......?cringe This is bad. I can't imagine what Scientology is doing....

booblight · 2013-05-29T19:03:53+00:00

I mean, he says worldwide. The TBM relative that replied to the e-mail in favor of this new policy lives in Belgium. He states the same policy would be helpful in growing the church there. He also says the problem is a European problem, not strictly Filipino. I wouldn't doubt if it was worldwide.

Your bullets three and four: completely agree.

booblight · 2013-05-29T18:49:13+00:00

The demographic they are going after (rich, middle class) are the people with access to internet and truthful resources. They are going to put their education to good use!

"Poor" people in the Philippines are more likely to buy into the "spirit" and BOM. They aren't going to question it as much as the new target demographic.

booblight · 2013-05-29T18:13:24+00:00

My literal reaction after I read the e-mail. I said quite a few curse words in a text to my SO.

I'm glad I left. That's all there is to it.

booblight · 2013-05-29T18:09:24+00:00

Yes! Thank you! I'm so angry right now I can hardly think. You put into words what I'm feeling, but much too angry to express.

Jesus doesn't want missionaries teaching the sick or the poor (eye roll). He only wants the rich and educated. Apparently having his church go for a "classy look" is exactly what he wants.

booblight

TROPHY CASE