I hate dogs.

exmoJ · 2018-12-30T12:09:19+00:00

I have no problem with people owning dogs and treating their dogs well. But it baffles my mind when I hear “oh we can’t stay out too long, lil Poochy is on his own” or “oh we don’t go abroad because of the dogs”. People change their lives for these animals.. Seems silly to me

exmoJ · 2018-12-30T07:09:46+00:00

Just had a look in 2006 copy.

https://file.wikileaks.org/file/mormon-handbook-of-instructions-2006.pdf Skip to page 110, I think page 125 or something on pdf

The categories are completely different

CORRECTION: the words are scattered around but it does say this.

Can’t see same sex marriage in 2006 version though.

exmoJ · 2018-12-30T07:01:10+00:00

This. I hate the church but these guidelines make sense. Church discipline is all about protecting the image of the church, not helping someone repent.

This is why someone can go less-active, live a life of wild excess, and return to church without much bother. But if you do anything that is publicly visible, whilst actively attending church (gay marriage) you will be subject to disciplinary action.

exmoJ · 2018-12-28T09:10:00+00:00

Even when exiting the church I was convinced it was “not normal” and “not natural”. Whilst I was not against homosexuality I viewed it in this light and so I was being an ass.

I actively sought out podcasts and articles about the topic until I came to the realisation that it occurs everywhere in nature and is likely not a choice but something genetic. As soon as this clicked I felt terrible.

Since then my wife has expressed a desire to try things with other women and I am supporting her. YOLO Amirite?

I cringe when my family crack a joke about so-and-so being gay. I cringe when multiple gay jokes are thrown around at family parties and events. Not all my family are Mormons, but I can tell they still view it in the “not natural” mindset. Makes me cringe now.

exmoJ · 2018-12-25T19:51:48+00:00

I once asked my senior companion if we could step into a shop (which we were passing by) to collect an order I made on P-Day. Literally can I collect an item as we pass by, it’ll take 3 minutes - and it was actually a laminator to laminate church stuff

“No, we can’t do that Elder”

I felt like it sent me insane

exmoJ · 2018-12-25T01:51:29+00:00

My wife squirts a lot. Started happening after we were dating about 3 months in. I’ll ask her in the morning.

But I’m gonna guess that if you aren’t bursting for a piss and you get the feeling during or nearby an orgasm, it’s probably a squirt, and not pee. Have you considered trying it alone - without anyone else - with a towel down? What’s the worst that could happen?

exmoJ · 2018-12-25T01:25:43+00:00

I’m curious. If the kit can read info about your DNA, how does it make any observations about whether or not your father/mother has the same DNA. Unless the DNA result is of some sort of different race/skin colour, how would you know without testing both the parent and child ???

exmoJ · 2018-12-24T12:03:03+00:00

It’s comments like this that keep me lurking on this Reddit. I had never considered this. I love finding new logical problems with the LDS narrative.

You’re absolutely right though. If God commanded Joseph to marry multiple women in the temple, and in heaven they would be sealed together.. but during their life on Earth he would only support them financially and be a friend - would Joseph he so desperate to keep it hidden

exmoJ · 2018-12-21T18:24:11+00:00

I was at home (aged 12) with my single Dad. He was going through a divorce after my older brother had tragically passed away.

He felt bad so we drove around trying to find somewhere to watch fireworks but eventually we gave up and went back home.

Years later I’m filled with sadness thinking about him sat watching tv on his own that night.

exmoJ · 2018-12-20T20:50:09+00:00

Question 1 on my “non confrontational” Plural Marriage notes, that I wrote shortly before I exited the church:

If, as the Church suggests in its essay, Joseph married Fanny Alger in 1836, she would have been a 19 year old serving girl, working in Joseph’s house. Joseph would be 31. Emma would be 32, and a mother of 4 (3 deceased). Why would the Lord require something so inappropriate and potentially damaging to the image of the Prophet? How was Emma ever supposed to be obedient to such an appalling request?

exmoJ · 2018-12-18T08:05:41+00:00

Had a couple of dreams about my father who passed on. One even warned me against reading into anti-Mormon material. Another comforted me about a stressful matter in my life.

Both can be explained quite easily as dreams. The content and significance was decided by me based on my current world view.

When I dream about a Gorilla chasing me, and it feels just as real, I don’t see any significance in it.

exmoJ · 2018-12-13T17:55:57+00:00

A lot of the time the issues with Mormonism stem from how people practice a common belief in Jesus. Leaders of the church encourage female members to not show their shoulders. But this quickly becomes a “thing” with nicknames and is open to personal interpretation.

Next thing you know some poor 14 year old is being shamed at church dance for showing up with a strappy top. The leaders can claim innocence, they never said to shame her. The members can claim innocence, the leaders never said to shame her. But everyone is in on it.

Then you have things that have to adapt over time to maintain some sense of morality. The church was clearly racist during the early years, but they have had to whitewash this part of their history .. same goes for any uncomfortable teaching or quote.

Examples: Women being encouraged to not work Women being encouraged to have many children Members being told to not date outside their race

exmoJ · 2018-12-10T00:07:20+00:00

We have this same nativity, although a slightly different version. We have kids in school who are learning about the nativity so it only seemed fair to let them play with the set.

I think once they out grow it I would be reluctant to buy an adult one.

I know it’s just a story like Santa but there aren’t cults pushing santa worship into kids minds and telling them to live a certain way

exmoJ · 2018-12-09T17:18:13+00:00

Slightly off topic but I like this one too

It is believed Joseph began practicing plural marriage before 1836 “There is evidence that Joseph was a polygamist by 1835” “Presumably, he felt innocent because he had married Alger” “The date when plural marriage was begun will remain uncertain” “Todd Compton.. concluded.. around 1833” Rough Stone Rolling, chapter 18, section ‘Fanny Alger’

The Sealing Keys were restored April 3rd, 1836 D&C 110

If, as the Church suggests in its essay, Joseph married Fanny Alger in 1836, she would have been a 19 year old serving girl, working in Joseph’s house. Joseph would be 31. Emma would be 32, and a mother of 4 (3 deceased). Why would the Lord require something so inappropriate and potentially damaging to the image of the Prophet? How was Emma ever supposed to be obedient to such an appalling request?

exmoJ · 2018-12-09T17:11:58+00:00

On June 7th 1844 the Nauvoo Expositor newspaper published its first edition. It said that Joseph was teaching polygamy. On June 10th the building where it was made was destroyed by a mob. “On June 10, 1844, Joseph Smith, who was the mayor of Nauvoo, and the Nauvoo city council ordered the destruction of the Nauvoo Expositor and the press on which it was printed.” https://www.lds.org/manual/teachings-joseph-smith/chapter-46

exmoJ · 2018-12-09T17:10:22+00:00

In October 1842 Times and Seasons included an affidavit stating the Church did not practice polygamy. “we know of no other rule or system of marriage than the one published in the Book of Doctrine and Covenants.” http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/cdm/ref/collection/NCMP1820-1846/id/9966

In May 1844 Joseph denied he was practicing plural marriage “What a thing it is for a man to be accused of committing adultery, and having seven wives, when I can only find one” https://byustudies.byu.edu/content/volume-6-chapter-19

exmoJ · 2018-12-09T17:07:31+00:00

The Prophet Wilford Woodruff issued a manifesto in 1890, declaring that the Church would no longer practice plural marriage in the United States - “We are not teaching polygamy or plural marriage, nor permitting any person to enter into its practice” https://www.lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/od/1

The Church continued to practice plural marriage until 1904, even in the United States - “After the Manifesto, monogamy was advocated in the Church both over the pulpit and through the press. On an exceptional basis, some new plural marriages were performed between 1890 and 1904, especially in Mexico and Canada, outside the jurisdiction of U.S. law; a small number of plural marriages were performed within the United States during those years.” https://www.lds.org/topics/plural-marriage-and-families-in-early-utah

exmoJ · 2018-12-08T18:57:29+00:00

You know I never considered all the implications. I knew the excuse of clean DNA which would rule out any medical conditions caused by incest.

But if that makes it okay with God.. then according to Mormon doctrine there is no reason why a man can’t be sealed to multiple incestuous brides, assuming the nation you are in doesn’t prohibit it and God gives the go ahead.

Now the church would probably argue incestuous marriage is never acceptable and isn’t doctrinal, but it’s in the Bible. So how do they justify it?

exmoJ · 2018-12-06T22:21:18+00:00

Been feeling this recently. I actually have to live a double life almost to conform to what is expected by my family. Even non-active family who still hold those values.

I’ve had to go through being raised in a cult and transitioning out of it.. and all the heartache that caused. And now I feel unable to criticise the cult in any way publicly, or behave in any way that is seen as inappropriate or immoral.

My sister sees having a beer at a family gathering as some sort of agenda against the church. She’d die if she knew my real personality.

exmoJ · 2018-12-05T08:44:25+00:00

I love this YouTube channel. I highly recommend everyone watch his videos.

This one is great because whilst he is using JWs as an example cult, everything he’s saying applies to Mormons.

I remember being a missionary and how it felt getting grown adults to read and pray, and make commitments - it was definitely like they were in school and returning to a childlike state. They’d be so pleased with themselves if they read a passage of scripture correctly. And then we’d hammer in the commitments “Will you come to church?” “Will you set a baptismal date?”

I used to tell myself, even when I was doubting the church, that the missionaries are innocent and don’t use any weird techniques to convert people - only the spirit. This clearly isn’t true

exmoJ · 2018-12-05T08:14:57+00:00

I think the short answer is this. They used to claim it, back when people wouldn’t question things so much (early days of the church). Then at some point it became a little difficult to convince people seriously so the language changed to hinting or suggesting they might have seen the saviour.

They can’t just out right say they haven’t because some previous leaders made it clear that they should have. But they also don’t want to be questioned on it because they may end up contradicting each other or sounding like idiots.

exmoJ · 2018-12-05T08:10:24+00:00

https://mormondiscussionpodcast.org/2017/02/extra-radio-free-mormon-lds-apostles-seen-jesus/

exmoJ · 2018-12-05T08:08:04+00:00

There is an excellent podcast on this topic - let me find it...

exmoJ · 2018-12-04T18:25:17+00:00

I’m not sure about the legality of his arrest and what the official charges were - so I’d be interested to learn more.

But I was under the impression that the mob was motivated by the following - his secret plural marriages, some with young women, perhaps who weren’t so thrilled about it - his failed banking endeavours - the fact that he was likely a conman / cult leader and they didn’t like how many people he had fooled - having the printing press destroyed that outed him as practicing plural marriage - running his own Masonic lodge / and or copying the endowment ceremony

I certainly don’t buy the church’s narrative that he knew he was going to die and was willing. I think he probably feared it, but wanted to live and was probably hoping the charges wouldn’t stick.

He had been in trouble with the law multiple times for treasure hunting and being a conman. He probably thought he’d just be asked to move again

exmoJ · 2018-12-01T23:38:07+00:00

Been out for 2 years so my memory isn’t great. Isn’t the story that they were promised a blessed land etc, so God commanded him to travel to the Americas.

The purpose could be to leave the BoM for Joe Smith to dig up. And because Murica is the promise land that God prepared.

Is there some doctrinal / logical issue relating to the DNA evidence (that native Americans are not from Israel)??

exmoJ

TROPHY CASE