The weakness within me.

[_mentalgymnast]

The point Stem, is that Joseph Smith was a fraud and this is a fact. There is nothing Christian about Mormon doctrine.

Man, you're pulling out all the stops, aren't you?

Regards,
MG

[_thews]

The point Stem, is that Joseph Smith was a fraud and this is a fact. There is nothing Christian about Mormon doctrine.

Man, you're pulling out all the stops, aren't you?

Regards,
MG

Please elaborate. Name one "Christan" thing about Mormon doctrine.

[_Tchild]

So here we are. What say you, if you care to say anything at all?

The reason that the LDS church has 4-5 million active, believing members is because it works for them and adds to those person's lives despite some of those members feeling guilt and undo pressure to be perfect, being a bit square, sexually repressed and having a very dubious moral standard (drinking coffee is bad, but stealing from others via unethical or predatory business practices is good).

The reason that 6.95-6.96 billion people have chosen not to embrace Mormonism is because its message has not risen to any meaningful level of awareness or significance that such people feel compelled to join or remain a believing member.

I was of the former, now am of the latter. I was not happy stuck in the narrow culture and superstitious-fear based mythology of Mormonism. I am much happier now...so much happier.

I almost wish I could believe in Mormonism again, just so that I could awake and experience how awesome it felt to transition out of Mormonism a second or third time. On second thought, I don't think I would want to even take the chance of getting stuck in the mental fog of Mormonism permanently.

If Mormon works for you Stem, that is fine and dandy. I wish you the best and hope you are happy.

[_Baker]

I would suggest that the abandonment of such a sense of specialness is a significant obstacle for many who would otherwise leave the church. The loss of a chosen identity, special access to the divine, etc. Yet, in giving it up, in realizing one's ordinariness among humankind, is an extremely freeing and fulfilling experience.

Would ordinariness be the result of salt that has lost its savor?

Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

I'm not necessarily saying this pejoratively. Just as a matter of fact.

Do you think that Jesus meant this pejoratively?

Regards,
MG

Nice of you to admit that you view yourself as having a special status vis-a-vis the rest of the world by virtue of your religious adherence. It's truly an unfortunate way to live. Maybe one day you'll get to experience the real world.

[_Lucretia MacEvil]

Why is it "appropriate" to find a group for all that? Why not just do all the above on your own?

With a group, united, it becomes all that more effective. By myself, I am nothing.

You learned that kind of thinking in your group. Maybe they aren't really in your best interest.