What gave you fear in the Mormon religion?

[_zeezrom]

I need to ask to see whether I differ from most of you out there.

During your teenage years in the church, in what did you fear the most in relation to your religious experiences?

Mine were:

1. People noticing that I did not submit my mission papers to COB right around the time of my 19th birthday (a.k.a. Mission fear)
2. People noticing that I did not partake of the sacrament (a.k.a. Sacrament fear)
3. People noticing that I missed the youth temple trip (a.k.a. Temple fear)

In short, I was afraid of not being allowed to do what everyone else did because of unworthiness.

Note: I'm not suggesting that the church always tries to make kids afraid. I just happen to be a person that perceived the threat as real. Maybe the church is at fault, but maybe not; I don't really give a damn.

Curious, does the church actually spell out when a person is not worthy to partake of the sacrament? I was never clear on that.

The temple worthiness fear increased after I got married. Not being worthy to go to the temple as a married, priesthood holder was the UNTHINKABLE. This would have been social suicide and devastation as a father.

How about you?

Thanks,

Zee.

[_SteelHead]

David Archuletta at my door offering to share a message about Jesus......? What could be scarier than that?

[_zeezrom]

Now that is scary!

[_Rambo]

Fear of no making it to the CK. I thought about that a lot.

I was also scared that I would die a virgin.

[_zeezrom]

Fear of no making it to the CK. I thought about that a lot.

I was also scared that I would die a virgin.

Thanks Rambo-with-no-avatar!

So, would you have sacrificed your public image to get to the CK? Would you have stayed home from a mission if not worthy in exchange for proper repentance, in order to get to the CK? Hypothetical...

[Guest]

The fear based and shame based methods to enforce compliance is a problem in the church. I hate it too. More especially becasue some of the stuff they condemn is just ubiquitous human behavior that does no harm.

[_sock puppet]

The Judgment Day 'sin movie' for all to see.

Being consigned to a lower kingdom than family and friends might be, and awaiting the occasional maybe never visit from them (as I could not visit them in their higher kingdoms).

[_Tarski]

Fear of no making it to the CK. I thought about that a lot.

.

Me too.

by the way, can't you fix your missing avatar? (we can't see it)

[_zeezrom]

Thanks for sharing.

I wonder if most people out there would fear the afterlife judgments more than life judgments.

To me, life judgment was worse because it was real. Afterlife judgment was pretty far away and a little ambiguous. "I mean, how bad is the TK", I used to wonder. I also used to wonder about eternal progression. "It will be harder to repent in heaven but it is still possible!" I used to think. Being banned from the temple was certain. It would immediately impact your social standing.

One thing is for sure. If I were to go back to LDS, I would make it a point that I be honest in the face of social suicide. I have to prove myself kinda thing. I'm not afraid of you anymore, LDS.

[_Shulem]

Zee,

It all boiled down to masturbation. Everything about the church evolves around whether you masturbate or not. The church centers itself around that. It is core to Mormon beliefs. Masturbation is the sole principle that drives the church. The Mormon church is obsessed with masturbation, even more so than me! Go figure.

Paul O