Becoming too chummy with the exmos

[_Runtu]

Sethbag... the quote in your sig... was he being sarcastic when he wrote that, I hope?

Nope. We heard some interesting stuff from grampa75 when he was here.

[_The Nehor]

I have fear that I could be next if that helps. I think those that don't consider the possibility that they might leave are more likely to leave. In my experience the most rigid, dogmatic LDS who are convinced they will never leave....eventually leave.

It just depends. I had a mission companion who was extremely devout and was always after me to be more "faithful," which usually meant doing the more culturally rigid things that some Mormons think constitute following the gospel. Once he yelled at me because I "strayed from the manual" in my gospel doctrine class. He left the church several years ago. It took me a lot longer to go, but I was never rigid or dogmatic, at least I don't think so. I always said I'd follow truth wherever it took me.

I meant it as a generalization.

I had companions like that too. I'm one of the few Missionaries who can say they threw a punch at their Zone Leader. ;)

[_Blixa]

I don't know Nehor. I think I've heard a lot of those stories!

[_Runtu]

I meant it as a generalization.

I had companions like that too. I'm one of the few Missionaries who can say they threw a punch at their Zone Leader. ;)

When I was a zone leader I had to break up a fistfight between two companions. Got the one guy transferred, and a few weeks later he punched out his new companion. So they made him a zone leader.

[_wenglund]

Mine is a word of warning.

Many years ago, a stalwart LDS man began posting as "Johnny-cat" on the FAIR message board, where he frequently bore witness of the truth of the gospel. But his efforts were often interrupted by terribly disrespectful anti-Mormon posters. One of the worst made an appearance as "joe_palmeto" and made it his mission to belittle every belief that Johnny-cat held sacred.

In post after post and PM after PM, Johnny-cat pleaded with joe to "lose the hatred" and be kind. Over the course of several months, they developed a strange friendship. Johnny-cat discovered that joe wasn't such a bad guy, and joe discovered that Johnny-cat wasn't a self-righteous dupe.

In the end, joe left the boards, and Johnny-cat followed suit not long after. They met later on RfM and resumed their friendship, both now former members of the LDS church. And more recently, they met again on the Mormon Discussions board, this time known as Runtu and Polygamy Porter.

Ezra Taft Benson was right to quote Alexander Pope:

Vice is a monster of so frightful mien,
As to be hated, needs but to be seen;
Yet seen too oft, with her familiar face,
We first endure, then pity, and then embrace.

I don't personally see this as cause for concern. From my own experience, I have had a number of friendships with former members of the Church over many years, without my faith in the restored gospel of Christ being even slightly diminished (in fact it has increased during that time), though I have seen at least one "exmo" friend return to the faith.

However, I do hope that the "exmos", if not also the LDS, will at least take encouragement from what John has said, and will determine to be more friendly and to befriend believing LDS. I think all will be better served by each on both sides changing from being enemies to friends.

I now count John (Runtu) among my friends, and I value that relationship regardless of our differences in beliefs. And, I hope for the same with others on this board, though I can respect that the same wish may not be had in return.

Thanks, -Wade Englund-

[_Runtu]

I don't personally see this as cause for concern. From my own experience, I have had a number of friendships with former members of the Church over many years, without my faith in the restored gospel of Christ being even slightly diminished (in fact it has increased during that time), though I have seen at least one "exmo" friend return to the faith.

However, I do hope that the "exmos", if not also the LDS, will at least take encouragement from what John has said, and will determine to be more friendly and to befriend believing LDS. I think all will be better served by each on both sides changing from being enemies to friends.

I now count John (Runtu) among my friends, and I value that relationship regardless of our differences in beliefs. And, I hope for the same with others on this board, though I can respect that the same wish may not be had in return.

Thanks, -Wade Englund-

I'm glad to see that we've both grown beyond the days when you saw me as unyieldingly bitter and I saw you as smugly condescending. I think we understand each other better. It is much better to be friends than enemies.

[_Doctor Steuss]

Mine is a word of warning.

[...]

Ezra Taft Benson was right to quote Alexander Pope:

Vice is a monster of so frightful mien,
As to be hated, needs but to be seen;
Yet seen too oft, with her familiar face,
We first endure, then pity, and then embrace.

Ah crap.

[_Sethbag]

Kumbaya, my Lord, kumbaya,
kumbaya, my Lord, kumbaya....

[_The Dude]

Like those polls for who is going to be banned next, we should have a poll for who is going to apostatize next.

Ray doesn't count though. It would have to be first time apostates only.

[_beastie]

I was chummy with a believer back in the very dark ages on ARM, and eventually met up with him again on the Fringe, now an exmormon.

So I think some believers who are just too likeable for their own good should immediately, for the safety of their testimonies, assume a more aggressive, condescending, harsh, and arrogant stance towards exbelievers. That way we won't like you, and you'll be safe.

Also some of you might want to rethink your avatars, because they are also too likeable. I love Dr. Seuss's, particularly in combination with his name. I don't know if it's deliberate, but it reminds me of the sixties and LSD.

This phenomenon is part of the reason The Dude has gotten away with as much as he has on MAD. I'm jealous. He figured out the best avatar/screen-name EVER, the one that FORCES people to like you.

Nehor's avatar is problematic for this faith. Is it you? If so, you just have one of those very likeable faces. That is bad news for your testimony, because it makes even me, rabid anti-mormon font of evil that I am (thanks to Ray for helping me to embrace my own evil!), like you too much.

And speaking of avatars, has anyone noticed blixa has an avatar addiction? How many has she had now? I think it is time for an intervention.