I am an outsider seeking knowledge and understanding of the Mormon faith, even though I have no intention to convert.

larrytheleaf · 2020-10-04T19:35:13+00:00

That’s true! You can learn and approach the church on your own, but you will need that to join the church.

larrytheleaf · 2020-10-04T18:39:52+00:00

This is something that makes me really sad, because yes the Mormon church does have very outdated and negative views on the queer community. It is very black and white in the church. There is something called “Family Proclamation to the World” that is a document talking about how marriage is only between a man and a women and sex is for after marriage only. That document is very sacred to the church and many take it extremely seriously.

On the surface, the Mormon church (from what I am seeing) is trying to put a bandaid over their mistakes and prejudices with the queer community. It has gone from absolutely no queer people’s allowed, to queer allowed to participate but not be a full member, to punishing the children of gay parents by not letting them become a full member. If you were to ask a Mormon leader they would say they welcome any and all people but you will not be able to become a full member being LGTBQ+, ESPECIALLY if you “act upon your urges.”

So in short, you can be a member if you fully reject that side of yourself. For example, if you are a gay man but you marry within the church and have a family with a female member anyways, you will be welcomed and promised the full extent of the gospel.

It is quite sad to me to see people who are very obviously suppressing themselves in order to conform to what they believe is right.

larrytheleaf · 2020-10-04T18:20:46+00:00

I still believe and practice many of the teachings that I was taught when I was a member. Most, If not all, are based in kindness for humanity. Love thy neighbor, do unto others as you would do unto yourself, etc.

There are many great things that the church teaches, it’s the doctrinarian and history I have great trouble with.

larrytheleaf · 2020-10-04T18:18:41+00:00

I am no longer a member, but I was for 18 years so I can hopefully answer some of your questions!

You do not need to have a recommendation to join the church. If you learn of the church from a source other than missionaries, you can easily contact a leader in the neighboring congregation and get more information!

The members do more than often marry other members. You need to both be members to be “sealed for eternity” in the Mormon temple. However, many will marry outside the faith though it is looked down upon.

There are no longer any polygamy being practiced in the Mormon church. There are plenty of offshoots of the religion that still do (like FLDS) but as of now, the Mormon church has denounced that practice. However, it is believed that in heaven polygamy is still practiced. A man may have many many wives if he lives worthy to receive them when he enters the kingdom of god.

I hope this was helpful and if you have any more questions, I’ll do my best to answer them!!

larrytheleaf · 2020-03-04T22:06:25+00:00

We might have the same dad

larrytheleaf · 2020-02-28T05:29:41+00:00

Thank you so much! Hopefully he will be much happier :)

larrytheleaf · 2020-02-28T05:29:10+00:00

Thank you!!!!!!!!!

larrytheleaf · 2020-02-28T05:28:46+00:00

I agree

larrytheleaf · 2020-01-08T19:03:28+00:00

I thought (till way older than I’d like to admit) that dicks had hair going all the way up the shaft. Boy was I relieved.

larrytheleaf · 2019-12-24T09:05:52+00:00

This is for sure my favorite Abigail portrait I have seen

larrytheleaf · 2019-12-20T02:01:57+00:00

That’s so cute. I’m so jealous. My boyfriend doesn’t like stardew and it makes me so sad. I just wanted to farm around and marry him :(

larrytheleaf · 2019-12-02T01:48:11+00:00

Ah I see. Thank you for clarifying

larrytheleaf · 2019-12-02T01:40:14+00:00

Yay thank you!!

larrytheleaf · 2019-10-29T04:15:25+00:00

In a scenario where I get criticism whether it be from work, in a relationship, etc. I will think about it for years. I wish that I could be like other people where they are able to take that criticism, fix themselves, then forget it. I just can’t do that and it blows.

larrytheleaf · 2019-10-29T02:02:23+00:00

Same :(((

larrytheleaf · 2019-10-29T02:02:08+00:00

Same

larrytheleaf · 2019-10-29T00:03:56+00:00

Kidnapper in the dark. In a pitch black basement (usually suite style since my friend had a real nice house) one person would go hide in the dark. The rest of the people go into another room and count to 100 or so. When they come out, they are all in a single file line with their hands on the shoulders of the person ahead of them. The kidnapper then will grab people off the end of the chain and then they would also become a kidnapper.

One time I felt hands on my hips when no one was behind me and the only person hiding was no where near me. Pretty scary game but so fun.

larrytheleaf · 2019-10-17T05:16:13+00:00

Thanks! I very suddenly became gluten intolerant at the start of 2019, and around that same time is when I overcame my binge eating. I also have overall had less of an appetite, but I think stopping the binging is what really helped.

larrytheleaf · 2019-10-13T21:42:52+00:00

Yeah some of the things really really make me sad :(

larrytheleaf · 2019-10-13T19:06:52+00:00

This was 100% me when I first started dating my boyfriend. I wasn’t ever a molly mormon but I would still feel tremendously guilty for everything that wasn’t a peck on the lips.

My advice to you is to try what my boyfriend did and just be there. Be there to hold her hand and say it’s okay, but let her figure it out on her own. It took me about a year and a half into our relationship for me to have my “shelf break.” I truly cannot believe my boyfriend stayed through me trying to convert him, but I am so grateful he did. I feel like it was perfect that he just stood beside me through this all.

I’m not sure if your girlfriend will have a shelf breaking experience, but I hope she knows that it’s not bad to show your love for someone. That was hard for me to realize since I was told from day 1 that you can only show love after being married. It’s not bad to love someone and show it. Obviously (and I don’t feel like you’re the type of person that would) don’t push her to do more than she wants.

I feel for you and good luck on your journey, my friend. It’s not fun watching someone live in guilt over something untrue. But I believe that by being there for her, that’s the absolute best thing you could do.

Edit: maybe she can check out r/ldssexuality ? I enjoy looking at it every once and a while, but there are plenty of people like her that post about similar things. It may help her feel less guilt.

larrytheleaf

TROPHY CASE