HELLO, I AM NEW HERE

[_asbestosman]

The church is filled with people like me, and if you do not address this dilemma, the church will collapse from within.

No it won't.

This letter, therefore, is an appeal for your consideration of my personal dilemma, and to serve as a witness against you if you fail to act.

Lol. Inflated sense of self-importance? Delusions of grandeur?

The “Strengthening Church Members Committee” has proven its reach in the true style of “1984 Thought-Crime” investigations and “Ministry (councils) of Love” discipline.

I'm sure I'd be paranoid too if they really were out to get me.

IN OTHER WORDS: I deserve your respect, and am not engaged in any unworthy activity, so before you categorize me into some convenient slot, think again.

Let's skip ahead a bit and see if it holds.

Your efforts of withholding and denying truth have had the result of destroying personal integrity. I know things that I cannot openly speak about, even with those closest to me. I lie in temple recommend interviews so I can go to the temple to see my own children get married, and because my wife is comforted by the image of a temple worthy husband.

That is indeed an excellent example of the respect you deserve.

I have a feeling (since I cannot imagine a different possibility) that you already know about this problem.

you already know that the whole story of the Book of Mormon is not accurate or historical or even a translation of gold plates;

The brethren would not have gotten to their position if they had the same suspicions you do. I have a hard time imagining they are anything other than sincere in their belief even if they were mistaken.

you already know that spiritual “special witness” experiences are not what the average member believes them to be; and you already know that as prophets, seers, and revelators, you do not possess any such gifts as they are understood by the average member. You receive and even encourage unqualified trust in your special abilities, and you know very well that those abilities are not special at all.

You're definitely assuming here. But let's run with part of the assumption and say that they don't have anything more special than other members. Did you not believe as a missionary that any inspiration you received for investigators was inspired due to stewardship? If the general authorities are sincere (not an assumption you share, I realize), then they may very well believe the inspiration they receive is special because some of that inspiration deals with how to lead the entire church or what to say to the world.

So, I am angry to the point of despair.

despair cometh because of iniquity. (Moroni 10:22)

I would resign today if I thought my family could remain intact.

If you want your family to remain intact forever, then you need the blessings of the temple.

Faithful Apostate

Is that something like military intelligence, jumbo shrimp, or honest cheater?


I realize my response was harsh, but I'm not go to sympathize with apostasy. I have some empathy for people trying to keep their families together. I don't have much respect for people who assume that their opposition is necessarily duplicitous. I can understand pain to some extent, but you sound like you're hooked on RfM and the like. This board may not be a great place for a testimony, but it has many posters and ideas which are much more reasonable and balanced even though there are many who are not.

You may very well continue to decide that the church isn't true and you need out. That's up to you. But for goodness sakes, try to get more balance. Kishkumen, for example, definitely comes down on the side of the church isn't true. He probably disagrees with most of my harsh comments, but he at least has some semblance of balance and doesn't assume the worst motives from general authorities.

Why balance? I think you'll be happier that way and better able to get along with your family or friends should they decide to remain despite your best efforts. If they did remain, would you still want the relationship with them, or would you also want to cut it off until they "see the truth" as you understand it? If you didn't cut them off, which point of view would be most helpful for getting along with them--the one that assumes the worst of their religion, or one that seeks more balance?

[_Droopy]

I lie in temple recommend interviews...

We have an example of this right here in our very midst in this forum. I wonder how widespread this kind of behavior really is?

[_Buffalo]

Apostasy is terrible! A sign of a weak moral character and cowardice!

Unless it's someone apostatizing from their old religion into Mormonism. Then it's a sign of bravery and strong moral fiber!

[_Buffalo]

I lie in temple recommend interviews...

We have an example of this right here in our very midst in this forum. I wonder how widespread this kind of behavior really is?

Do you support, affiliate with, or agree with any group or individual whose teachings or practices are contrary to or oppose those accepted by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?

Do you lie when it comes to this question, Droopy?

[_Yoda]

Bumping for Rich to respond to new comments.

[_rich kelsey]

Bumping for Rich to respond to new comments.

Hi Liz,

I’ll go ahead and respond:

Well, it looks like in the end this thread is focusing on the letter from a person who had just realized that some, if not much, LDS history had been hidden and/or misrepresented; and their fall from the faith because of it.

I think the comments were very good on both sides. Maybe the person does have some hidden sin? Or, there could be other factors? Because of that I considered pulling the letter from my site.

Yet, I have not done so because there seems to be a lot of truth in the letter even if the person who wrote it is/was not perfect. Once again, the reason I bought into this story is because of all the introductions @ Ex-Mormon Forums; many of which sound similar.

I think it is good that people enter into a faith with their eyes wide open. Yet, if the LDS Church was more forthcoming about their early history they would probably find less people wanting to join. I believe that is why the history has been sugarcoated.

I have since included a link on my sites link’s page to a site with many of these exit stories. Maybe we could start a new thread about those stories someday…