Reasons people stopped attending church

[MG 2.0]

A good reason is that the blueprint in certain respects is an outright lie, and in other respects isn't anything you can't get anywhere else. Nothing the church teaches is going to help you in a nonexistent hereafter.

As long as the Church teaches MG to follow the Golden Rule, he should be a better person for it.

The Golden Rule is the all encompassing panacea to human conflict. Any organization or system of thought that promotes/implements this doctrine of living as a matter of course has my vote.

The LDS church doesn't have monopoly on this.

Regards,
MG

[MG 2.0]

So when you say you’ve chosen for “it” be “all” true, what do you mean (specifically) by “it”? And what do you mean, specifically by “all”?

The all encompassing passing plan of salvation and exaltation.

Also, when a Prophet reverses something that you had previously chosen to be true, does that mean you have changed your choice and that the newly reversed position is the thing that is now true?

Truth is sometimes relative/contingent to circumstances/time. Overarching truths are binary and contingent truths are malleable according to circumstances and human interaction with those truths.

Binary and overarching truths can be withheld. So there is a degree of flexibility according to extenuating conditions/factors.

I trust that God knows when and where to exercise His perogatives in dispensing binary and/or contingent truths.

You may lack that trust. Many do. I think God allows for that.

Regards,
MG

[Moksha]

I trust that God knows when and where to exercise His perogatives in dispensing binary and/or contingent truths.
Regards,
MG

The trouble arises when followers seek to dispense with truth and practice what they call Lying for the Lord, which amounts to deceiving others and, oddly, is not something that the Lord needs.

[MG 2.0]

MG, I think you have a relatively uncommon view of Mormonism. It's actually a nice view. I love that you are Jesus focussed and your faith has that at the centre. I don't think Mormons in general are as Jesus focussed as you sound to be. I think people who have strong faith in Christ are able to access Christ in places elsewhere and so might not have trouble leaving the church if they know they can try other churches or build a relationship with God away from the church. I guess it depends really on whether your faith is in Christ or if your faith is in the church being "true".

A majority of Christians exercise their faith in God and Jesus according to the dictates of their own conscience. I believe that God allows for that and is cool with it. At the same time I believe the CofJCofLDS offers a 'more excellent way', a fullness of truth, that can be received/chosen as a pathway into the eternities.

This pathway requires greater sacrifice and brings greater blessings. At the end of the day and/or moving into the eternities, acceptance of that 'more excellent way' is a personal choice.

God forces no man to the highest heavens.

Regards
MG

[MG 2.0]

I trust that God knows when and where to exercise His perogatives in dispensing binary and/or contingent truths.
Regards,
MG

The trouble arises when followers seek to dispense with truth and practice what they call Lying for the Lord, which amounts to deceiving others and, oddly, is not something that the Lord needs.

I think that is allowed for and integrated into the overall plan.

Contingencies.

When imperfect and ego driven humans with agency are part of the plan, I would think that there is no other way.

"Truth" (binary and/or contingent or relative) may take a hit along the way.

Flexibility is key. God is flexible even within the bounds of justice. How can he not be?

He's dealing with 'children'.

Regards,
MG

[Chap]

"Truth" (binary and/or contingent or relative) may take a hit along the way.

Oh yes, that can happen to truth. Particularly when it is considered not to be "useful".

[MG 2.0]

"Truth" (binary and/or contingent or relative) may take a hit along the way.

Oh yes, that can happen to truth. Particularly when it is considered not to be "useful".

The church's mission is to instruct and edify its members in regards to their knowledge and understanding of the essential doctrines and practices of the gospel. Spiritual uplift and encouragement to live righteously and in alignment with covenants made with God.

Peripheral doctrinal/historical issues are not part of the implementation of the four fold mission of the church.

That's why you see Elder Oaks and Elder Packer, and others, emphasize the teaching/instruction of the primary doctrines and practices (ordinances for example) rather than those things that are not essential to salvation/exaltation.

But for the individual member, the sky is the limit for learning and understanding...and resolution...of those things that sit outside of the correlated doctrine and practices of the church.

Regards,
MG

[Chap]

Peripheral doctrinal/historical issues are not part of the implementation of the four fold mission of the church.

Peripheral.

Suppose I ask whether what the Book of Mormon says happened, actually happen, I mean did "ancient Jews build boats and sail to America"? Is that peripheral?

Did Joseph Smith really find ancient gold plates, which bore writings in 'Reformed Egyptian', a language which Smith was given a miraculous power to translate into English (using "translate" in its current and literal sense)? Is that peripheral?

[MG 2.0]

Peripheral doctrinal/historical issues are not part of the implementation of the four fold mission of the church.

Peripheral.

Suppose I ask whether what the Book of Mormon says happened, actually happen, I mean did "ancient Jews build boats and sail to America"? Is that peripheral?

Did Joseph Smith really find ancient gold plates, which bore writings in 'Reformed Egyptian', a language which Smith was given a miraculous power to translate into English (using "translate" in its current and literal sense)? Is that peripheral?

To the four fold mission of the church? Yes.

To the underlying historicity of events? No. But on these two issues you mention, along with many others, there is a wide and varied amount of discussion and controversy that is unsettled and open to further exploration and determination of the actual facts.

That the four fold purpose/mission of the church should be scrapped until all is known would seem to be rather unreasonable. Especially if one determines that ultimately God is behind it.

Regards,
MG

[Marcus]

"Truth" (binary and/or contingent or relative) may take a hit along the way.

Oh yes, that can happen to truth. Particularly when it is considered not to be "useful".