Mormon Expression Podcast #5 - Are Exmos Still Mormons?

[_Some Schmo]

I really enjoyed Mormon Expression podcast #5 today. Good stuff.

One of the things that was brought up was an idea that even if you’re and exmo, you’re still a kind of Mormon, and it would be accurate to call you Mormon from a particular perspective. I suppose I understand the idea behind that, but at the same time, I dispute it. On the one hand, yes, you’ve been exposed to the culture which may never completely leave you, and so you’re always somewhat influenced by it (this was sort of my takeaway from the discussion), but at the same time, when some people leave, they do everything they can to not be a Mormon, or perhaps more accurately, to be “like everyone else.”

For me, that’s really what my signature is all about. I never liked self-identifying as a Mormon, always wondered, growing up in the church, what it would be like if I weren’t a Mormon, and started acting the way I thought non-mormons acted when I stopped going to church. I started acting “normal*” until I started to feel “normal.”

Clearly, there’s some overlap between a “normal” person and a Mormon, but I’m not talking about that stuff. I’m talking about the unique characteristics that make Mormons distinctly Mormon, and I’m pretty sure I’ve dropped them in favor of normal characteristics.

What do others think about the idea that once you’re a Mormon, you’re always a Mormon?

And as an aside, this was likely my favorite podcast episode to date. Nice job to all those involved.



*I only mean “normal” in the sense that a person is non-mormon. It’s sort of like the way cops or mobsters in movies use the word “civilians” to colloquially designate people who aren’t cops/mobsters.




_______

[_AlmaBound]

One of the things that was brought up was an idea that even if you’re and exmo, you’re still a kind of Mormon, and it would be accurate to call you Mormon from a particular perspective.

Interesting - I'm interested in this also, because I think that Joe and Co. may have had a specific goal from the beginning of their game.

[_why me]

I really enjoyed Mormon Expression podcast #5 today. Good stuff.

One of the things that was brought up was an idea that even if you’re and exmo, you’re still a kind of Mormon,
_______

Well, I suppose that a person who is an exmo is kinda Mormon but they are not Mormon. They are exmormon. It would be the same for anyone who leaves a faith. If a person left the catholic faith are they still catholic? No. They are excatholic. However in exmormonland, many would claim that they are Mormon only because it would upset LDS members. And so, a person who leaves the church and becomes a whoremonger would still be considered a Mormon in some segments of exmormonland. And if the whoremonger hates the LDS church, he or she can always claim that they are Mormon. And the exers would most likely agree.

[_Gadianton Plumber]

Well, I suppose that a person who is an exmo is kinda Mormon but they are not Mormon. They are exmormon. It would be the same for anyone who leaves a faith. If a person left the catholic faith are they still catholic? No. They are excatholic. However in exmormonland, many would claim that they are Mormon only because it would upset LDS members. And so, a person who leaves the church and becomes a whoremonger would still be considered a Mormon in some segments of exmormonland. And if the whoremonger hates the LDS church, he or she can always claim that they are Mormon. And the exers would most likely agree.

I am no longer an member of the church, have any faith in god, or anything much to do with the whole religion thing. Yet, I do claim the term Mormon. I still wear my CTR ring and likely always will, I still feel uplifted by hymns, and I will always feel at home among the Elders. The term is not owned by the LDS church or any other group of people. It is owned by me and anyone who cares to take it on, especially those steeped in the culture and way of life of Mormonism.

I am Mormon and am proud of it!

[_RockSlider]

Why Me,

Why does this seem to bother you so much?

[_John Larsen]

I really enjoyed Mormon Expression podcast #5 today. Good stuff.

One of the things that was brought up was an idea that even if you’re and exmo, you’re still a kind of Mormon,
_______

Well, I suppose that a person who is an exmo is kinda Mormon but they are not Mormon. They are exmormon. It would be the same for anyone who leaves a faith. If a person left the catholic faith are they still catholic? No. They are excatholic. However in exmormonland, many would claim that they are Mormon only because it would upset LDS members. And so, a person who leaves the church and becomes a whoremonger would still be considered a Mormon in some segments of exmormonland. And if the whoremonger hates the LDS church, he or she can always claim that they are Mormon. And the exers would most likely agree.

I don't agree with your Catholic analogy. I have met plenty of non-believing or non-practicing Catholics. There is no effort on any side to label them ostracism them, excommunicate them, or otherwise marginalize them. They are just accepted. If you are a Catholic porn star, everyone still considers you a Catholic. This is not the same as in the Mormon Church.

[_RockSlider]

whyme

You seem to have only addressed "exmormon", is this an exact definition to you? i.e. excommunicated or name removed only members?

I was just talking to my son about this a bit today (tbm), apparently ... my current official LDS.inc declared title is "less-active Mormon" ... apparently "inactive Mormon" is now taboo.

The only reason they would have to ex me is if I got obnoxious, in their territory, trying to damage the flock (which I have no desire to do).

I might as well be in the category of name removed, but not likely to do this because of the pain it would inflict on my tbm wife. No sense in it ... its not a principle that bothers me personally.

In a discussion with my wife over this topic today ... her chapel Mormon programmed response was interesting.

I told her I now felt good to call myself a Mormon. She was very offended by this, telling me I'm an anti-Mormon (i.e. ex-Mormon, but even worse).

This turned into a heated exchange for a few minutes, until she realized her response was knee-jerk/programmed. Heck LDS.inc considers me a less active Mormon, why would you dissallow me this title?

Hehe I'll bet that darn ward clerk marks me down for Christmas/Easter services every year, ya know, like a good Catholic, they have to justify those 13meg membership numbers somehow.

Yeap, Mormon through and through! Just a little less active than most.

[_why me]

I don't agree with your Catholic analogy. I have met plenty of non-believing or non-practicing Catholics. There is no effort on any side to label them ostracism them, excommunicate them, or otherwise marginalize them. They are just accepted. If you are a Catholic porn star, everyone still considers you a Catholic. This is not the same as in the Mormon Church.

Many people have left the catholic church over abortion, same sex marriage, contraception etc. And catholics can be excommunicated. In this case, if they leave the church and want nothing to do with the church, they cannot consider themselves to be catholic. Now an excommunicated member can still be called catholic or Mormon depending on whether they still want contact with their churches. But once they no longer want contact nor do they believe in that faith, I cannot say that they call themselves catholic or Mormon. And yes, Mormons can be pornstars and still be called Mormon. It has happened. But they are not faithful members of the church.

By the way, the catholic and the Mormon church are in agreement about porn. Don't watch or do it.

[_why me]

Why Me,

Why does this seem to bother you so much?

Because so far I haven't heard Mormon expressions coming from John's site. But I have heard postmormon or exmormon or nevermormon expressions. And those that were LDS did not seem that positive about the LDS church.

[_why me]

whyme

You seem to have only addressed "exmormon", is this an exact definition to you? i.e. excommunicated or name removed only members?

Yeap, Mormon through and through! Just a little less active than most.

Exmormon: someone who has left the LDS church and does not believe in the faith.

Excommunicated Mormon: someone who was disciplined for a serious sexual sin but still wants contact with the LDS church.

Antimormon: Someone who actively fights against the LDS church or attempts to destroy the church by any means necessary.

Less active: someone who is not as active as a TBM but yet, still remains in contact with the LDS church.