DiscussMormonism.com

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Gazelam wrote:Ezias,
I don't understand this. Blood Atonement is a minor doctrine hardly mentioned anywhere. The Temple items you mention are greatly misunderstood. The motions were made in regards as to what you would rather have happen than your speaking what the signs and tokens are. There is a current thread in the telestial that discusses this.

You are building up in your mind somethign that isnt even real.

Gazelam

Fascinating. You know, the scriptures hardly mention homosexuality at all. D&C, Book of Abraham, Book of Mormon, zip, nada, and no. The Bible has one or two verses that could be disputed mentioning it in passing. One might say that Christians have built up this this whole God hates gays thing in their minds as something that isn't even real.

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Ezias, every time you go to church you are putting yourself into the position of disrespecting your personal integrity. If you don't believe any of what they are saying and you view it as lies which you are in no position to counter, you are suppressing your feelings. I suppose I've been in that situation. For example, I suppressed for the longest time my true feelings regarding my mother who drove me nuts with her use of manipulative guilt tactics to control others. So I would avoid her, both phone calls as well as visits but of course not entirely. As I got older I became much more open and didn't worry about what she thought, or if she'd find my openness insulting. I came to appreciate if she didn't respect my feelings, then I shouldn't have to respect hers. I think she respected me more for it.

Since you are in no position to talk back or counter whatever is being said in church, you should stop subjecting yourself to views you find offensive. Others in your family should respect your rights. If they want to go to church that's fine, but they have no right to demand that you do.

Ezias,

doctrinal inconsistency and lies.

Can you expound on this a little more?

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Ezias wrote:
Yes, it is my integrity that is leading me out of the church. I am still looked at as a devout TBM by most other TBM's. This is ok for now, but living a double life is no way to live. I need to eventually come clean. I don't like tearing other's down though and so I am trying to do as little damage as possible when and if I break any news. I am treading softly with these issues, not just dropping the bombshell on everyone. Bombshells cause casualties, and I don't want that.

Perhaps I don't know what it is like, but couldn't you just stop going to church and only tell those very close to you like your wife why. As far as acquaintances, just say it's personal and you don't want to discuss it, if they should ask. Why does what you do, have to be important to other people. If you don't make it into a big deal, it's more likely that others won't as well.

I am reminded of Michael Shermer's account of his education where he realises a theology degree requires learning Hebrew , Latin, Aramaic, and Greek. Along with pastoral skills like councilling.

Can you imagine a church run by such scholars, rather than by accountants and lawyers at the mercy of the Holy GhostTM!

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