Late Anger

[_why me]

ldsfaqs,

Instead of spouting right wing Mormon nonsense in response to an important issue, why not just explain exactly how a poor family living in a shack with a dirt floor is helped by giving money to the LDS Church that could otherwise be used for food, or medicine, or even some basic education for their children.
.

I have never heard of a Mormon going hungry. In fact, just the opposite. I have seen rent paid, bills paid, financial help given and job opportunities discussed. Mormons certainly do not go hungry.

[_Franktalk]

Maybe you people need to get a life. My God, find something great and get involved in it. Get excited about some new thing. Yes all churches are run by men and they are all screwed up. So what, what did you expect? Are you easily led by a fancy story? Are you so removed from reality? Did you expect heaven on earth? Have you not read a line of scripture? Just where in scripture does it say you will live the easy great life when you join a church? Have you not read the church history and the trials that the early members went through? Can't you see that it is exactly like the Jews in Jerusalem? Only in times of trouble did the Jews return to God. Give man the good life and he wanders off. The church wandered off. They all do. Just what were your expectations? Just like the church which uses money in ways not in line with the original intent should we use their error to manifest a larger error within us? I am sorry but all of this energy in anger should be redirected. Find some new thing to believe in. Wrap yourself in your new life and leave the old behind. What a bunch of losers. Wake up!!

I will stay in the church because I believe in some of the doctrines. I also believe in the restored priesthood. But I have eyes and know that the administration of all churches are screwed up. Why would I connect the dots from bad behavior of leadership to my beliefs? Get a spine people. It seems to me you don't believe in anything and just blow in the wind. Find something to believe in.

DrW has wrapped himself in science. I disagree with that as a world view but I respect his strong faith in his decision. Scripture says be hot or cold. Christ can deal with that. But don't be lukewarm.

[_Tchild]

So what, what did you expect? Are you easily led by a fancy story?

Apparently so. Everyone parroting the same "fancy story", crying about it in testimony meetings year after year, claiming that they know it to be true with "every fiber of their being" Silly us for lacking the advanced cynicism and distrust of our fellow man like yourself.

Are you so removed from reality? Did you expect heaven on earth?

Not a Mormon I ever knew expected "heaven on earth", but the truth? I expected the truth.

What a bunch of losers. Wake up!!

Doesn't seem like you got much out of those Christian teachings.

I will stay in the church because I believe in some of the doctrines.

Some? That is too funny. Most ex-members are the same as you. Only, they just believe fewer of the doctrines than do you. Some? You must be smarter than the prophets and apostles that once taught the doctrines that you now dismiss as unnecessary.

That is probably the difference between the angry ex-mo and the barely there current member; the ex-mo was actually fully engaged.

But don't be lukewarm.

in what way exactly are you anything but a "lukewarm" member?

[_madeleine]

I also have church nightmares. 4 in a row this week! Usually, my nightmares involve my past feelings of guilt, in the shadow of men in business suits who look like CEOs of corporations ready to calmly and quietly crush me with a smile.

I had a recurring dream for many years. One where I was in the ward building where I grew up, trying to get out of it. There were 4 doors to the outside in that building. In my dream every one I go to is blocked by some soft puffy white Mormon guy in a cheap business suit.

Then one Christmas season, my family planned for our family party in the "cultural hall" of the very same building. My husband (who I had told the dream to) and I walked around the whole church.

I haven't had that dream since.

[_madeleine]

Three years is not that long.

Yes, that's what I was going to say. Actually, three years is nothing. But it does get easier.

My experience is, the attitude and feelings toward Mormonism go in waves. The anger comes around now and then, but then will subside and be replaced with something else. Sometimes disgust, bemusement, apathy, sentimentality, etc.

[_Franktalk]

in what way exactly are you anything but a "lukewarm" member?

You so don't get it. I have zero expectations of the church. I have many expectations in Christ. The church is a vehicle and nothing more. The people I go to church with are honest hardworking men and women. I like to hang out with those kinds of people. I gave up the bar scene many years ago as shallow and worthless. And for your information my faith in God has little to do with a membership. I fellowship with people I like not because of the building. Why would you measure faith by active membership? Abraham is the root of the tree of faith. The entire church is trying to be a branch on that tree. The root is made by a nonmember. Have you not read scripture?

[Guest]

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[_madeleine]

According to the psychology of PTSD, current situations can re-awaken old traumas. Thus the resurgence of feelings with the current American political situation.

I think also (from my own experience) we create monsters-under-the-bed. Fearing leaving or what other might think because we imagine the worst reaction possible. Sometimes what we imagine matches up to reality, other times it doesn't.

[_Kishkumen]

Maybe you people need to get a life. My God, find something great and get involved in it. Get excited about some new thing. Yes all churches are run by men and they are all screwed up. So what, what did you expect? Are you easily led by a fancy story? Are you so removed from reality? Did you expect heaven on earth? Have you not read a line of scripture? Just where in scripture does it say you will live the easy great life when you join a church? Have you not read the church history and the trials that the early members went through? Can't you see that it is exactly like the Jews in Jerusalem? Only in times of trouble did the Jews return to God. Give man the good life and he wanders off. The church wandered off. They all do. Just what were your expectations? Just like the church which uses money in ways not in line with the original intent should we use their error to manifest a larger error within us? I am sorry but all of this energy in anger should be redirected. Find some new thing to believe in. Wrap yourself in your new life and leave the old behind. What a bunch of losers. Wake up!!

I will stay in the church because I believe in some of the doctrines. I also believe in the restored priesthood. But I have eyes and know that the administration of all churches are screwed up. Why would I connect the dots from bad behavior of leadership to my beliefs? Get a spine people. It seems to me you don't believe in anything and just blow in the wind. Find something to believe in.

DrW has wrapped himself in science. I disagree with that as a world view but I respect his strong faith in his decision. Scripture says be hot or cold. Christ can deal with that. But don't be lukewarm.

What a strange post. OK, I agree with the idea that people have unrealistic expectations and so forth, but calling others "losers"?

Talking down to others is not the best strategy for persuading them.

[_Franktalk]

What reality are you talking about Frank? Native Americans being Israelites? The millions that are paid out as a result of child abuse scandals and the Church's poor record in that area? Joseph Smith's sending men on missions and then sleeping with their wives while they were gone? The LDS Church spending billions on shopping malls while children are starving and dying in the world? Which reality?

The world is filled with evil. It is everywhere. Did you expect an island where you could go and get away from it? If you like history I suggest reading some history of the American Indians. Read The History of the American Indians by James Adair. It was written in 1775 long before Joseph Smith came along. It just may open your eyes to what modern men have done to our past and to our culture.

Can't you see that it is exactly like the Jews in Jerusalem? Only in times of trouble did the Jews return to God.

Just because anti-semitism is encouraged in your scripture doesn't mean it is appropriate in dialogue in the real world now.

Wow.