DiscussMormonism.com

Myself and another member of my family are in the process of leaving the LDS church, something that is harder than I thought it would be. After having it out with a church official today, I've decided to not go back.

Even though I know this church has lied enough to fill volumes of encyclopedias full of crockery, and is not what it claims to be, as well as has corrupt leaders, I still wonder in the back of my mind, "What if I'm wrong." What if the verse in D&C 84 that says if you walk away from the priesthood you will have no forgiveness in this life or the next is true?

Even though I know these things are scare tactics used to try to control people, I still have these thoughts on my mind. Does anyone on here have the same problem? Does it ever go away? Any pointers on coping with this?

I mean, I still believe in God and consider myself a Christian, I just believe that this church, along with many other churches, are cults that use people for money. I don't want to burn for eternity like this D&C 84 verse makes it sound. So, any pointers?

Read D&C 18:11-12:

11 For, behold, the Lord your Redeemer suffered death in the flesh; wherefore he suffered the pain of all men, that all men might repent and come unto him.
12 And he hath arisen again from the dead, that he might bring all men unto him, on conditions of repentance.


All have the opportunity to be redeemed through Christ. If you have hastily left, just as the parable of the Prodigal's son....you will have the opportunity to return.

Through prayer and inspiration, you have to follow the path that will be best for yourself and your family. If that choice is to leave the institution of the LDS Church for a time, then so be it. That doesn't mean that you have turned your back on Christ.

LDSDoubter wrote:So, any pointers?

Yes. Read Combatting Cult Mind Control by Steve Hassan.

LDSDoubter wrote:I still wonder in the back of my mind, "What if I'm wrong."

Find out.

Read D&C 18:11-12:

11 For, behold, the Lord your Redeemer suffered death in the flesh; wherefore he suffered the pain of all men, that all men might repent and come unto him.
12 And he hath arisen again from the dead, that he might bring all men unto him, on conditions of repentance.

All have the opportunity to be redeemed through Christ. If you have hastily left, just as the parable of the Prodigal's son....you will have the opportunity to return.

Through prayer and inspiration, you have to follow the path that will be best for yourself and your family. If that choice is to leave the institution of the LDS Church for a time, then so be it. That doesn't mean that you have turned your back on Christ.

You are turning your back on Christ if you believe that verse set is true (enough to use it this way) and then turn away from Christ's Church (from whence the verse came from). This is a case of rejecting the testimony of Jesus.

I remember when I overloaded on all of the disturbing, troublesome church facts and decided that it was all false.

Mormonism isn't like most other religions. EVERYTHING you do is filtered through the Mormon experience. Most Mormons don't simply practice the Mormon religion, they ARE Mormons. At my core, no matter what else, I was a Mormon first and foremost. The fear of losing a part of you that makes up a large amount of your self is a very hard thing to go through. Of all the emotions I remember about that time in my life, fear is the one I remember the most.

In answer to your question, it took me about a year to re-discover who I was. I'm sure that nobody is the same and people take more or less time to figure it out.

Dr. Shades:
Thanks for the book title. I'll check that out.

The D&C 84 verse I think proves Mormonism a cult, since one of the hallmarks of a cult is that if you ever try to leave you are said to be damned or accursed in some way. Also, I do not believe those that run this scam believe what they are teaching for one minute. Another hallmark of a cult. The fact they use the name "Jesus Christ" in the name of the con is taking the Lord's name in vain.

The problem is it gets a hold on you and you always have it in the back of your mind wondering "what if?" Its like they're saying, "So you think we're a con, wanna bet your soul on it?" I think that's why its time for the government to come in and stop these cults, this and Scientology, Jehovah's Witness, and anyone else doing this mind-control crap.

Impossible, you may say, because it curtails religious freedom. Now, imagine making a law that said religious institutions cannot run "for-profit" enterprises and must disclose all statements to the government and members. I guarantee these cult scams would all go away in three weeks time.

Scottie:
Wow, one year. I hope I can do it that soon. I think the most destructive thing about this con is how long it must take to bounce back. I know its gonna be a struggle.

With all due respect, LDSDoubter, from one doubter to another, I think you need to slow down. Your posts indicate a certainty about corruption at the highest levels and, at the same time, ask when the fear will go away. How can you know the whole thing is a "scam" and the leaders are all corrupt and have even an ounce of fear left? Maybe you need to step back and think about what information you are relying on to make your decision. After all, you don't want to be one of those guys who left because he was offended by a local leader, do you? The decision you are making seems more important than that.

by the way, I happen to have significant difficulty with several of the truth claims, but I do not have evidence of corruption at the highest levels and I have been around the net and while the assertion of such corruption is abundant, the evidence is almost non-existent.

LDSDoubter,

What if the verse in D&C 84 that says if you walk away from the priesthood you will have no forgiveness in this life or the next is true?

What if that one Islamic lady I talked to a long time ago is right and I will be alive, under the ground forever, being bit by snakes and spiders?

Look at it this way. If you were God, the supreme powerful force in the universe, can you really imagine being so pissed off at some pitiful creature a fraction of a percent as smart as you for "walking away from the priesthood". So much so that you'd never, ever, not in 100000000000 years forgive the guy for it?

Isn't it just a bit ridiculous?

Let's put it another way. If God really is that F*d up, if he's really so petty and such a total dick to people, do you really want to be in his favor, and spend the rest of eternity helping God dick other people over for eternity?

LDSDoubter,

Personally, I think you're in the right direction.

I lived the religeon all of my life. I lived it.

About 2 1/2 years after my epiphany, I resigned. I still studied and even prayed during most of this period. Although currently I have no intention of ever praying in a gracious way to deity for the rest of my life and do not trust a spiritual manefestation, that may change (I just don't see how, though). Though I was born a Mormon, I wish I had never been one or or ever heard of them.

It's been very difficult on myself as well as my family. I'm the only one off the records. I still have two more boys planning to leave on missions before the end of the year.

That being said, I have a suggestion:

The Mormon church would have you throw the baby out with the bathwater so they can make an example of you.

Recognize the fact that there are many good principles taught within mormonisn. You will discover (if you haven't already) that none of these principles are unique to Mormonism. Not one. They don't have a trademark on them. Take them with you.

inc.