What's the Alternative?

[msnobody]

Surrender yourself to God. Read the Bible like a child, not already knowing what it will say to you, but allow God to reveal himself.

I took Kevin's question to mean he wanted a concrete alternative... either that or it was an exploratory exercise before concluding that the LDS Church is the most perfect place to be in his life.

I’m not sure how to respond. I feel like I’m offering a concrete alternative. This is something he can do now.

[DrStakhanovite]

What exactly is the alternative to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? If, for some reason, I were to conclude that I should leave the LDS Church, what should I let take its place?

Is it necessary that something take its place? If so, allow me to tell you the good news about Amway.

underrated post, Mr.Ripley.

[Jason Bourne]

What exactly is the alternative to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? If, for some reason, I were to conclude that I should leave the LDS Church, what should I let take its place?

Depends what you want. Does there have to be an alternative? Can be nothing? Can be another faith/religion/belief system. Lots of opportunity out there. Once you realize Mormonism is a sham you see the world in a different way. Go explore it.

[Moksha]

I’m not sure how to respond. I feel like I’m offering a concrete alternative. This is something he can do now.

If you come from a high demand and very regimented religious tradition and are told to now be a lily of the field, your first questions are "which field?" and "how high should I grow?"

[Fence Sitter]

99.9 percent of world population are not Mormon and know the answer to this question.

[msnobody]

I’m not sure how to respond. I feel like I’m offering a concrete alternative. This is something he can do now.

If you come from a high demand and very regimented religious tradition and are told to now be a lily of the field, your first questions are "which field?" and "how high should I grow?"

Mormonism isn’t as high demand and regimented as some groups or religions out there.

[Doctor CamNC4Me]

If you come from a high demand and very regimented religious tradition and are told to now be a lily of the field, your first questions are "which field?" and "how high should I grow?"

Mormonism isn’t as high demand and regimented as some groups or religions out there.

That doesn’t negate or counter Moksha’s statement. Mormonism is a high demand religion, and when you read the baptismal covenants coupled with the temple covenants it’s plainly obvious what Moksha was saying. Add in our lived experiences, the countless hours, meetings, and monies spent on Mormonism and what you’re doing is ‘severity softening’ (shout out to Marcus).

- Doc

[msnobody]

Look, Doc, I suggested to KevinSim that he read the Bible/New Testament like a child, not already knowing what the text is saying, but allowing God to reveal himself. This is something he can do within the confines of Mormonism.

I suppose Moksha did not view that as a “concrete alternative.”

I’m not minimizing anyone’s LDS experience, and yes, Mormonism places high demand on her members. Not everyone who has left Mormonism views their experience as traumatic, or as a terribly bad experience.

I’ve spent a small amount of time with people from much higher demand groups, and I’ve never met a former LDS who needed recovery from places such as Wellspring Retreat & Resource Center or Meadowhaven. https://www.meadowhaven.org/

[Doctor CamNC4Me]

Look, Doc, I suggested to KevinSim that he read the Bible/New Testament like a child, not already knowing what the text is saying, but allowing God to reveal himself. This is something he can do within the confines of Mormonism.

I suppose Moksha did not view that as a “concrete alternative.”

I’m not minimizing anyone’s LDS experience, and yes, Mormonism places high demand on her members. Not everyone who has left Mormonism views their experience as traumatic, or as a terribly bad experience.

I’ve spent a small amount of time with people from much higher demand groups, and I’ve never met a former LDS who needed recovery from places such as Wellspring Retreat or Meadowhaven. https://www.meadowhaven.org/

You know how many Mormons and ex-Mormons who need therapy with regard to that religion? I mean, I don’t, but it appears to be significant. Heck, John Dehlin has thrived because of the impact of Mormonism on the psyches of Mo’s and ex-Mo’s. And I’d guess that more than a few of us that didn’t utilize therapy ended up mucking around in unhealthy lifestyles.

How many high demand religions require their youth go off for two years to peddle their nonsense? The crap some of us went through, hour by hour, day by day, in some of the most austere environments imaginable, leaves negative lifelong impacts. And that’s just one small aspect of the Mormon life. The total emotional, intellectual, and psychological control this “church” has and had over its members is truly cult-like. In other words, Mormonism ranks right up near the top for the damage it does to the human mind and soul.

- Doc

[Jersey Girl]

Look, Doc, I suggested to KevinSim that he read the Bible/New Testament like a child, not already knowing what the text is saying, but allowing God to reveal himself. This is something he can do within the confines of Mormonism.

I suppose Moksha did not view that as a “concrete alternative.”

I’m not minimizing anyone’s LDS experience, and yes, Mormonism places high demand on her members. Not everyone who has left Mormonism views their experience as traumatic, or as a terribly bad experience.

I’ve spent a small amount of time with people from much higher demand groups, and I’ve never met a former LDS who needed recovery from places such as Wellspring Retreat or Meadowhaven. https://www.meadowhaven.org/

You know how many Mormons and ex-Mormons who need therapy with regard to that religion? I mean, I don’t, but it appears to be significant. Heck, John Dehlin has thrived because of the impact of Mormonism on the psyches of Mo’s and ex-Mo’s. And I’d guess that more than a few of us that didn’t utilize therapy ended up mucking around in unhealthy lifestyles.

I want to know if the demographic you're using in the above goes far beyond the confines of these online circles.