YouTuber Alyssa Grenfell Has Cost The Church 2.4 Million Dollars

[MG 2.0]

I suppose it comes down to whether or not I've developed the ability to examine, question, and deepen my own understanding beyond the exposure and teachings I've received throughout my life in the church.

Regards,
MG

So your cult is special. It is the one and only true one. That is what everyone says who is in a cult.

Granted, it makes it difficult for someone in your position to determine whether or not there might be a 'good apple' in the mix.

Regards,
MG

[Rivendale]

So your cult is special. It is the one and only true one. That is what everyone says who is in a cult.

Granted, it makes it difficult for someone in your position to determine whether or not there might be a 'good apple' in the mix.

Regards,
MG

It isn't the apple it is the mix.

[I Have Questions]

I suppose it comes down to whether or not I've developed the ability to examine, question, and deepen my own understanding beyond the exposure and teachings I've received throughout my life in the church.

Regards,
MG

So your cult is special. It is the one and only true one. That is what everyone says who is in a cult.

Generally speaking, people who are in a cult don’t realise they are in a cult. It’s a very difficult cycle to break. Especially if your family ties and social circle are all heavily interconnected with that cult. Not many people have sufficient strength of mind and character to break free of a cult’s influence. Certainly MG 2.0 hasn’t demonstrated that he has the cognitive capability of recognising if he was in a cult, and then having the fortitude to do something about it. He could be in a cult right now, but he’d never admit it, nor would he recognise it. But for others, this might be useful…

•Are you discouraged from questioning leadership?
•Do you feel afraid of leaving or speaking out?
•Is dissent punished rather than debated?
•Are you told that outsiders are dangerous or inferior, especially when there is no objective evidence or proof that they really are?

If you answered yes to the questions above, it might be time to engage in critical thinking, talk to people with opinions different than yours, and begin selecting your news from different and varied sources.

Now MG 2.0 cannot answer those questions truthfully. He’s blinded by the years of brainwashing and indoctrination. But I’d imagine nearly everyone else here knows the answers to those questions as they are applied to Mormonism.

Mormonism has no more credibility than Scientology. Some pretty bright people are Scientologists. I’ll bet MG 2.0 thinks those people are in a cult. And that he would be smart enough and strong enough to either not join Scientology, or to break free of it if his parents raised him a Scientologist. But he won’t see the irony in that.

[MG 2.0]

So your cult is special. It is the one and only true one. That is what everyone says who is in a cult.

Generally speaking, people who are in a cult don’t realise they are in a cult. It’s a very difficult cycle to break. Especially if your family ties and social circle are all heavily interconnected with that cult. Not many people have sufficient strength of mind and character to break free of a cult’s influence. Certainly MG 2.0 hasn’t demonstrated that he has the cognitive capability of recognising if he was in a cult, and then having the fortitude to do something about it. He could be in a cult right now, but he’d never admit it, nor would he recognise it. But for others, this might be useful…

•Are you discouraged from questioning leadership?
•Do you feel afraid of leaving or speaking out?
•Is dissent punished rather than debated?
•Are you told that outsiders are dangerous or inferior, especially when there is no objective evidence or proof that they really are?

If you answered yes to the questions above, it might be time to engage in critical thinking, talk to people with opinions different than yours, and begin selecting your news from different and varied sources.

Now MG 2.0 cannot answer those questions truthfully. He’s blinded by the years of brainwashing and indoctrination. But I’d imagine nearly everyone else here knows the answers to those questions as they are applied to Mormonism.

Mormonism has no more credibility than Scientology. Some pretty bright people are Scientologists. I’ll bet MG 2.0 thinks those people are in a cult. And that he would be smart enough and strong enough to either not join Scientology, or to break free of it if his parents raised him a Scientologist. But he won’t see the irony in that.

Do you have a predetermined script and/or rehash guide that you use? You are a clone of so many others along the way that pretty much say the same things over and over again online.

There must be a style guide for anti-Mormons.

Regards,
MG

[Jesse Pinkman]

Interesting clip of the impact just one YouTuber can make. When you think of the thousands and thousands (and growing) of former Mormons on social media, it warms the cockles of one's heart.
https://www.tiktok.com/@alyssadgrenfell ... 5902184746

I wonder how much DiscussMormonism.com has cost the Church over the last couple of decades? I know of at least two very high income posters here that left the Church as a direct result of this board, Wonhyo and Sanctorium. I'm sure there have been MANY more.

I’m guessing at least 50,000 people have left the church due to John Dehlin’s Mormon Stories.

And, since we’re on the subject, I wonder how many people DCP has driven out of the church with his unethical and atrocious behavior, and all of that crappy content/videos he puts out every Friday?

I imagine that there were plenty of TBMs that fled the theaters (and the church) out of sheer embarrassment after watching Witnesses and Six Days in August.

You bring up some really good points here. I think that if the Church continues down its current path, and focuses on monetary gain as its primary goal, it will simply end up being an investment corporation rather than a Church. The sense of community, and the Church's unwillingness to help fund activities even though it is more flush now than it ever has been is very frustrating to see. I was born in 1964 and grew up mainstream LDS in Northern California. I view growing up as a Church member in the 70's and 80's basically the golden age of Church activities. We had road shows, church musicals, stake dances, ward dances, regional dances, dance festivals, stake youth conferences, Gold and Green Balls, stake youth choirs, potlucks, Christmas Ward dinners, youth water ski trips, Girls Camp, Scout Camp, speech contests, seminary bowls, and the list goes on! It was, frankly, a fun time to grow up in the Church. I have been saddened by a lot of these programs being cut, deemphasized, and defunded, because through those activities sprung strong bonds and friendships that I still have to this day.

[I Have Questions]

Interesting clip of the impact just one YouTuber can make. When you think of the thousands and thousands (and growing) of former Mormons on social media, it warms the cockles of one's heart.
https://www.tiktok.com/@alyssadgrenfell ... 5902184746

I wonder how much DiscussMormonism.com has cost the Church over the last couple of decades? I know of at least two very high income posters here that left the Church as a direct result of this board, Wonhyo and Sanctorium. I'm sure there have been MANY more.

I’m guessing at least 50,000 people have left the church due to John Dehlin’s Mormon Stories.

And, since we’re on the subject, I wonder how many people DCP has driven out of the church with his unethical and atrocious behavior, and all of that crappy content/videos he puts out every Friday?

I imagine that there were plenty of TBMs that fled the theaters (and the church) out of sheer embarrassment after watching Witnesses and Six Days in August.

You bring up some really good points here. I think that if the Church continues down its current path, and focuses on monetary gain as its primary goal, it will simply end up being an investment corporation rather than a Church.

You are wrong. But only because it already is an investment corporation. One that uses complex shell company schemes to avoid financial reporting and tax obligations. That’s not a Church.

[canpakes]

I am puzzled as to why someone has to curate a testimony. How much time should Alyssa need? Does she have to pound on the door until her knuckles are bloody?

A testimony for most people is a line upon line and precept upon precept process. Yes, curated. Some people are for some reason blessed with a sudden and undeniable witness of God's love and His presence in their lives. I suppose that isn't for us to judge, who receives that and who doesn't. What I do think/believe is that there are too many folks that want to travel down 'easy street' when it might be necessary for them to exercise a particle of faith and increase that faith until they receive a similar witness and/or understanding of the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The Twitter/X generation. Instant gratification. Tic Toc and the like.

Question. Did Alyssa have a testimony of Jesus Christ? If so, where did it go when she left the church? Did she really ever have one? A testimony of Jesus Christ/God supersedes everything else. If you had a testimony of Christ and His mission did you retain that testimony after you no longer attended church? Some folks do. Lynn Wilder, for example (look her up). Apparently her faith and devotion was based on the Savior first. She retained her belief in Jesus and His salvific power. She lost her faith in Joseph Smith and the Restoration.

Regards,
MG

MG, you often argue for two different things, while treating them as if they are inseparable:

1. An undeniable witness of God's love and His presence in their lives.
2. A belief that the Book of Mormon is actual history.

I’d imagine that If someone left the Church because they couldn’t buy into the second item, it doesn’t mean that the first item can’t remain true for them.

[Kishkumen]

I don’t see how the LDS Church is a cult. Too many members ignore the leaders and have wide latitude to do what they want. It is definitely a high-demand religion. Cult? No.

[drumdude]

I don’t see how the LDS Church is a cult. Too many members ignore the leaders and have wide latitude to do what they want. It is definitely a high-demand religion. Cult? No.

Agreed. The backlash against the brethren on vaccines, on Joseph Smith’s polygamy, etc. are great examples.

I find it amusing that they decide to break with the Brethren to dive down conspiracy rabbit holes. In my uneducated opinion it is likely linked to the fact that the premise of the Book of Mormon itself is one giant conspiracy theory about the origin of the Native Americans.

[MG 2.0]

A testimony for most people is a line upon line and precept upon precept process. Yes, curated. Some people are for some reason blessed with a sudden and undeniable witness of God's love and His presence in their lives. I suppose that isn't for us to judge, who receives that and who doesn't. What I do think/believe is that there are too many folks that want to travel down 'easy street' when it might be necessary for them to exercise a particle of faith and increase that faith until they receive a similar witness and/or understanding of the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The Twitter/X generation. Instant gratification. Tic Tok and the like.

Question. Did Alyssa have a testimony of Jesus Christ? If so, where did it go when she left the church? Did she really ever have one? A testimony of Jesus Christ/God supersedes everything else. If you had a testimony of Christ and His mission did you retain that testimony after you no longer attended church? Some folks do. Lynn Wilder, for example (look her up). Apparently her faith and devotion was based on the Savior first. She retained her belief in Jesus and His salvific power. She lost her faith in Joseph Smith and the Restoration.

Regards,
MG

MG, you often argue for two different things, while treating them as if they are inseparable:

1. An undeniable witness of God's love and His presence in their lives.
2. A belief that the Book of Mormon is actual history.

I’d imagine that If someone left the Church because they couldn’t buy into the second item, it doesn’t mean that the first item can’t remain true for them.

I agree. I don't know much about Alyssa Grenfell. I've watch one or two of her videos. Did she retain her belief/faith in Jesus Christ?

In the case of Lynn Wilder she appears to have remained a Christian after leaving BYU and the LDS faith. This is an example of where agency to choose reigns supreme. In my opinion God loves ALL His children and will bless them according to their faith. I don't think He automatically curses and/or judges someone unworthy if they transition from one faith community to another. Or no faith community at all. I do think that God is saddened and disappointed, however, if one of His children comes out in open rebellion against Him or His Son. But judging that is in His wheelhouse, not mine.

Alyssa Grenfell, along with others, are doing a disservice by leading people away from their covenants made with the Lord. Whether these cases/folks are examples of "Judge them not, for they know not what they do" or something other than that...I don't know. And again, it's not my place to lay final judgement on anyone. Even some folks on this board who are quite irritating .

Regards,
MG