DiscussMormonism.com

In my opinion, the perceived "good" in Mormonism isn't worth the cost of remaining in the LDS church.

It is too black and white. It is all either true or false.

Lets see how accepted as a member if I attended sunday services in casual clothes, trim but long hair and beard, while swilling a nice cup of coffee?

How long would I last if my viewpoints on Joseph Smith being a fraud where known?

How long would I last if I taught that the Book of Mormon was just a story.

How long would I last if I did not wear garments and wore clothes to church functions revealing just that? Even on Sunday?

How long would I last if I refused to let my kids be taught anything out of the Book of Mormon, D&C, and PofGP?

Would I be allowed to bring a cooler full of beer to the EQ social?

Mormons claim that this Jesus fellow is at the center of their chapel. While this may be true, everyone must pass through the entrance door which is staffed by Joseph Smith.

You simply cannot be a Mormon or Mormon Christian without absolute belief that Joseph Smith was a divine prophet of God.

John, being a Mormon is more about being a follower of Joseph, Brigham, et al., than it is about being a simple follower of this Jesus fellow.


I don't attend Mormon services anymore because I do not believe in the theology.

I stopped looking for a christian church to attend after I realized I did not believe in christian theology or the divine existence of Jesus Christ.

I chose early in my loss of LDS faith to change the path that my children where on for the betterment of their future.

All of my children and myself are atheists, albeit apathetic atheists, for the past seven years with no serious repercussions for lacking belief in god. My children are taught to be ethical before being moral.

The point of my post is why stay in the LDS church if you are no longer required to do so?
Life is so much fuller outside.

Polygamy-Porter wrote:In my opinion, the perceived "good" in Mormonism isn't worth the cost of remaining in the LDS church.

............

The point of my post is why stay in the LDS church if you are no longer required to do so?
Life is so much fuller outside.

So true!!!

Christianity in its simplest form teaches that a road has been built for followers to walk back to God.

Mormons came along and built a toll booth on the side and tells passerby's that they all must pass through this toll both and pay the toll.

Polygamy-Porter wrote:
The point of my post is why stay in the LDS church if you are no longer required to do so?
Life is so much fuller outside.

Well, I guess probably the most common answer is because ones spouse and family is still in the church. I'm still around, barely, just because I don't want to cause my family anymore pain. My uber TBM mom is battling cancer...and leaving just doesn't seem like the right thing to do at this time.

Also, there are some people who are employed by the church and attending BYU.

I don't think it's a matter of simple walking out the door for many people. I know that the church portrays itself as a black and white institution...but leaving it isn't always a black and white decision.

Also. I don't believe the church is either "all true, or all false... the greatest fraud on mankind." I think the Prophet G. Hinckley was completely wrong about that.

Sorry to hear about your mom and her bout with cancer.

I too was faced with decisions to stay or leave.

My then wife remained active for nearly three and a half years longer.

For me it boiled down who was going to suffer, me and my children or others who were not in my direct family?

Why should I remain just so the feelings of others are left unscathed?
Why am I responsible for others happiness?

Why should I force my children to live in a restrictive religion that I did not believe in?

Do you really believe your extended family will understand and be thankful for the sacrifice you made, just so they wouldn't get their feelings hurt over the Mormon fairytale of families are forever?

Why can't my extended family accept me as a non believer?
Why couldn't my then wife attend relief society and not cry when the others pious sisters pontificated about being soooo blessed to be married to peter pecker priesthood?

BECAUSE THE THEOLOGY has no wiggle room.

I decided to face my children right then and let them know where I stood.

I wasn't going to wait 20 years and then be forced to face them during their own crisis of faith when they ask, "Why didn't you tell us BACK THEN that you did not believe??"

I suppose it boils down to who I wanted to make happy.

Did I pay a price?

My inlaws think so. After my then wife left the church she went crazy drinking and all the stuff she wasn't allowed to do in her youth and twenties.

She left the church and then left me.

Did it hurt? Oh god yes.

But time heals all wounds. She is in a place where she is happy and so am I.

I eventually met a woman who never wore the shackles of Mormonism and my ex met a guy who was her type. You see it was later realized that my ex married me as a Mormon because it was expected of her as a dutiful Mormon woman.

My kids came out of it better as well. Sure, it was damned hell for a while.

Would I do it again?

You bet your ass I would. My ex-wife was miserable as a Mormon, and that wasn't something I was willing to force my daughters to live through just to keep my ex-wife's parents ignorantly happy until they were buried facing east in their masonic temple clothes.

Polygamy-Porter wrote:In my opinion, the perceived "good" in Mormonism isn't worth the cost of remaining in the LDS church.

Sounds like the folks who run out of the theatre at the first smell of smoke. Someone needs to stay behind and attempt a heroic rescue of the burning ediface. It is after all on the Historic Registar of American Religions.

moksha wrote:

Polygamy-Porter wrote:In my opinion, the perceived "good" in Mormonism isn't worth the cost of remaining in the LDS church.

Sounds like the folks who run out of the theatre at the first smell of smoke. Someone needs to stay behind and attempt a heroic rescue of the burning ediface. It is after all on the Historic Registar of American Religions.

No, more like remaining in the burning building because it is cold outside.

Why did MLK Jr. Deliver his speech in front of the Lincoln Memorial? Because it was a quintessential American image and he wanted to make his reforms sound as "American" as possible.

This is where Dehlin has it right and Larsen is wrong. Change comes more easily from insiders. If you want to change the LDS church you have to label your reforms as "Mormon." John doesn't love Mormonism, he wants it to be utterly redefined. This is where the OMIDs are right to go after him. He is leading the fifth column.

Darron Smith recently said he stays so that he can continue to agitate. It doesn't itch if it isn't under the skin.

Tim wrote:This is where Dehlin has it right and Larsen is wrong. Change comes more easily from insiders. If you want to change the LDS church you have to label your reforms as "Mormon." John doesn't love Mormonism, he wants it to be utterly redefined. This is where the OMIDs are right to go after him. He is leading the fifth column.

What is the end result?

A Smithless church wherein only the Bible remains and each Sunday you can find working mom's sporting victoria's secret panties under their sleeveless sundresses while attending a soft rock Jesus concert and waving to her husband who just went to get the free latte?

Is that what Utah needs is another mega xtian church?

Truth be told, LDS Inc will not change.

The only time that they did change was when they were looking down the cannon barrel of the US Army just prior to 1890.

Polygamy-Porter wrote:In my opinion, the perceived "good" in Mormonism isn't worth the cost of remaining in the LDS church.

If I remember correctly, you are still a member of the LDS church. Am I remembering correctly?