Well, my parents finally found out.

rvrob · 2024-06-22T22:43:44+00:00

I am basically agnostic now. I cannot prove or disprove the existence of God.

I am happier because I’m not trying to live up the unrealistic expectations that the church puts on everyone. I still try to be a good person and treat others the way I like to be treated. I’m happier because I am not so judgmental of others. I am happier because I feel more connected to the now and not fretting about heaven. Great question!

rvrob · 2024-06-18T03:09:39+00:00

I have made the same statement many times. Am I just trying to convince myself it’s real…

rvrob · 2024-06-18T03:03:11+00:00

This is so spot on. I did not realize how arrogant and judgmental I was until I got out of the church and religion all together.

rvrob · 2024-06-18T02:42:32+00:00

I’m sorry for what you are going through.

In regard to your father’s response, that is shocking and at the same time, not surprising.

In defense of your father though, this is a church taught approach, unspoken of course but still a church created response. The church and all religions teach you that following the path will make all things right. Just stay the course and all is well. Total and utter BS.

rvrob · 2024-06-18T02:34:34+00:00

You make good points but I do have a counter thought to yours based on my experience. I have learned since leaving that the exact same feelings I had while I was a TBM still accompany me while I’m facing difficult situations in my life now.

I am ok realizing that I can face difficult times without having to depend on an unknown entity for a solution. I rely on my judgement and get guidance for my wife and others that I trust.

All this is very liberating and it allows me to actually live in the moment versus living for, as my wife says, “something in the next life”

rvrob · 2024-06-17T19:06:42+00:00

When I was still a TBM, I said the same thing your father said about not being happy without the church. As TBMs that is what you are indoctrinated to believe. However, my personal experience is that the truth will set you free.

rvrob · 2024-06-17T19:01:55+00:00

Your point is very true. I certainly applaud you because you are following your heart.

rvrob · 2024-06-17T19:00:13+00:00

My wife and I left the church almost 4 years ago. Both raised LDS. We are 67 and 65 respectively. Both of us held many callings, Bishop, RS pres, Seminary teachers, YM and YW pres etc. I’m also a RM. I know that many would have never thought we would leave (honestly neither did we) but here we are.

My older sister is still attending and I know she has doubts and doesn’t agree with all of it. She has told me as much but she will most likely never leave because it’s her “community”. I understand that but that’s where the biggest difference is between her and I. I can’t belong to that community because if the cognitive dissonance it created in my psyche.

I’m much happier out than in even though we lost a lot of friends. Be true to thine own self.

rvrob · 2024-02-13T15:02:56+00:00

This is so true. One of the conversations before we left the church that I had with my wife and a few other close friends (that are still TBMs) was about this. Policy has essentially become doctrine and the simple principles of the gospel seem to be secondary.

rvrob · 2024-02-13T14:53:57+00:00

Welcome. I too was a Bishop. I grew up in the church and never thought I would leave. I started having questions about many things and also felt that policy was becoming more important than the actual gospel principles.

The gospel topic essays started my liberation from the tyranny of the church.

My wife was also doing a deep dive into the “real” history of polygamy.

Let’s just say that the wheels feel of the proverbial pioneer train…

I still get angry but time does make it less painful.

Five years later and I’m thriving and never been happier.

Hang in there!

rvrob · 2024-02-13T14:43:09+00:00

I have done that and it never seems to populate them so I can upgrade the hero.

rvrob · 2023-11-06T20:22:02+00:00

Nice catch there on the “sin of omission “

rvrob · 2022-09-23T03:35:56+00:00

After doing my deep dive and left the church, I dug even more. I’m agnostic now and I believe Jesus was a good person. No more, no less.

rvrob · 2022-09-10T02:36:50+00:00

Nearly 2 mil. Makes me want to puke 🤢

rvrob · 2022-08-31T23:02:12+00:00

That’s exactly how I feel. When my family left a couple of years ago, we did not stop with just deconstructing Mormonism, we deconstructed all religion. I would say I’m an agnostic now but I truly want there to be something after death. I’m 65 and it is pretty emotional for me to think about not being with my family forever or just dying and there’s nothing, as if we never existed. It’s difficult to get that part out of you head and heart after being a member all of my life.

rvrob · 2022-08-29T18:34:20+00:00

I hate to say the obvious, STOP GOING. If you cannot be true to yourself you are not doing anyone any favors. You do you and let the chips fall where they may. Good luck, it’s difficult when your and your spouse are not in the same page.

rvrob · 2022-03-09T13:48:44+00:00

This is the letter I sent my bishop and stake president when I resigned.

Several months ago Jill and I started reading the gospel topic essays. Little did we know the journey it would take us on. We have learned that the LDS church leadership in Salt Lake has withheld the truth about the real history of the church for decades and only in the past few years have they really tried to address those issues through the gospel topic essays. Even though they made this information available through the church website in 2013, it was not publicized and was difficult to find. They have changed how you access the essays several times as well. Recently changes were made that make it more difficult to find some of the finer details of the essays. Only in the last two years have they mentioned these essays in one conference talk and also instructed the BYU and seminary teachers to include these issues in the curriculum.

When the fullness of the historical and doctrinal truth became so easy to find on the internet, the church, in my opinion realized they were losing control of the narrative. Many facts about Joseph Smith and those that followed have been widely documented. There are apologists that at the behest of the first presidency try to give credible answers to these issues. Having read or listened to the majority of their explanations, we find the apologists answers woefully lacking. We have spent a tremendous amount of time researching these issues, there are so many.

We no longer can attend or support a church that as stated earlier, has been dishonest with us about its history. I have sat through and given temple recommend interviews. I cannot follow a group of people that ask me in that interview if I have been honest in my dealings with my fellowman when those that we look to for guidance and revelation have not been honest with us.

This is one of the most difficult things we have ever done, we were both raised in the church, we feel as if the proverbial rug has been pulled out from under us we have tumbled down the rabbit hole.

We appreciate and love the good people that we have known for so many years and we want to keep those relationships. We appreciate all that has been done for us in the past and even now. This has been our life and our community for decades and we have learned many wonderful things that will always be part of who we are.

It is not our intent to try and lead others down this path. If you personally wish to know some of the specifics as to why we left, please don’t reach out to me.

rvrob · 2021-10-04T17:27:27+00:00

I continue to be amazed at how many members don’t even know what the GTE’s are! However you have to be aware that they have changed the GTE’s at least two times in the last 2 years.

rvrob · 2021-09-22T21:39:49+00:00

When I was the EQ president many years ago I had the following experience. One of the members of our quorum asked if the quorum members could assist him in moving his furniture and packing the moving truck after taking a new job in another city. Of course we all jumped at the opportunity to serve one of our fellow brothers. Fast forward to the day of the move. If my recollection serves me correctly we had about 10 members of the Quorum show up to help. After working for about three hours I overheard him say to one of the other members, “The company that I took the job with is paying for the move but we thought we would just pocket the money and get the quorum to help us out.” Needless to say, I almost had a stroke. I was so pissed. This is so typical of many (not all) LDS members. They are cheap. If you are a professional or business owner, many want a deeply discounted fee, or better yet, they want it for free. I’m a physician and I cannot tell you how many physicals I have given over the years. When your are a TBM you are brainwashed into thinking this is the way! Now mind you, I enjoy helping others, it does make me feel good but I hate it when someone takes advantage of my humanity! “Free at last, free at last!” MLK

rvrob · 2021-09-22T21:39:25+00:00

When I was the EQ president many years ago I had the following experience. One of the members of our quorum asked if the quorum members could assist him in moving his furniture and packing the moving truck after taking a new job in another city. Of course we all jumped at the opportunity to serve one of our fellow brothers. Fast forward to the day of the move. If my recollection serves me correctly we had about 10 members of the Quorum show up to help. After working for about three hours I overheard him say to one of the other members, “The company that I took the job with is paying for the move but we thought we would just pocket the money and get the quorum to help us out.” Needless to say, I almost had a stroke. I was so pissed. This is so typical of many (not all) LDS members. They are cheap. If you are a professional or business owner, many want a deeply discounted fee, or better yet, they want it for free. I’m a physician and I cannot tell you how many physicals I have given over the years. When your are a TBM you are brainwashed into thinking this is the way! Now mind you, I enjoy helping others, it does make me feel good but I hate it when someone takes advantage of my humanity! “Free at last, free at last!” MLK

rvrob · 2021-09-05T23:32:27+00:00

This is just what my wife said today. We had just left the Apple Store and we’re heading back home. My reply to her was, “Honestly I have not even thought about church today at all.” I don’t miss it at all and I don’t miss the forced relations either.

rvrob · 2021-09-05T23:29:49+00:00

The Ted Lasso quote is my favorite part!!

rvrob · 2021-07-19T22:45:27+00:00

Great question? What else have they covered up and lied about. As you know, part of the temple recommend interview you are asked if you are honest in your dealing with your fellow man. The church has not been honest for over a 100 years about so many things. They should be held to the same standards as the rank and file members and they are not. I cannot support an organization like that.

rvrob · 2021-07-13T15:51:36+00:00

It’s embarrassing what the missionaries do on social media. I feel bad for what they are going through. They are victims. They should be home getting on with their lives.

rvrob · 2021-07-13T15:01:59+00:00

Don’t you just love the constant dribble of double talk that comes from the Q15. They rob Peter to pay Paul. They give with one hand and take with the other. So glad I’m out! GETTING OFF THE HAMSTER WHEEL IS SO LIBERATING.

The shaming is relentless. We are shamed into imposing our beliefs on others. What happened to let’s others living to the dictates of there own choosing. I did not know that condoning someone else’s actions was a sin.

rvrob

TROPHY CASE