If you knew then what you know now...

[_Some Schmo]

I'm not going to answer this poll. I would have to choose 'Yes' if I'm being honest. The thing is, I joined for the wrong reason in the first place, which is that I was 8 years old, incredibly frightened of my father, and joined to make him happy. If I had it to do over, given the same situation, it's hard to imagine saying ‘no’ just because I knew it was all BS. In fact, that might make my father even scarier.

The question now becomes "Would I go on a mission at age 19 if I knew then what I know now?"

I agree that this is a better question (only because a mission represents a bigger commitment and is done at a more mature age). I remember clearly thinking at around 15 that I would not save up for and spend all that money on a mission if I didn't believe in the church. I honestly tried for a testimony and it never came, so the first week after I moved out of my parents’ house, it dawned on me, "Hey, I don't believe it... and now I don't have to go to church any more. Hmph! Cool."

I guess the real difference knowing then what I know now is that I wouldn't have wasted as much time as a teenager trying to get a testimony.

[_Brackite]

If you knew then what you know now about the LDS church, would you have become a member?

Yes!

The question now becomes "Would I go on a mission at age 19 if I knew then what I know now?"

NO, NO, And Hell NO!

[_harmony]

Question for all of those who are or have been members of the LDS church. If you knew then what you know now about the LDS church, would you have become a member?

I'm not good at creating polls, hopefully this will go up all in one understandable piece. I wouldn't count on it though!

What I "knew" at the time had little if anything to do with my decision. What I "knew" then and still know today is that I already had a personal relationship with God. The only way my decision would have been changed all those years ago (39 and counting) would have been if my circumstances changed. So... given that my circumstances would have been the same in this scenario, the answer is "of course." I didn't join the church to find "truth". I already had my truth, and I have maintained that truth throughout my year's within the church.

[_Trevor]

I guess the real difference knowing then what I know now is that I wouldn't have wasted as much time as a teenager trying to get a testimony.

Man, oh man. What wisdom that is.

[_Paul Osborne]

Count me out of the church! I put 47 years into it and I'm through with it. Missionaries came over a month ago and I bore my tesitmony to them that the church wasn't true. Screw them.

And, they can take the name Shulem and Facsimile No. 3 and shove it up some kind of telestial word that I can't say on this board. LDS prophets are cowards.

I'm so grateful for the telestial board. It is my salvation. Screw you all. I'm going down below.

Paul O

[_Jersey Girl]

I didn't abandon the thread. I'm a lurkin' at it.

[_Themis]

The question now becomes "Would I go on a mission at age 19 if I knew then what I know now?"

I think this is a better kind of question for those who grew up in the church. We get baptized at 8 because that's what you do when you turn 8. I could never have known what I do now at 8 unless my parents had known it, and then it really would have been them making the decisions.

I would not have gone on a mission, although I would still have some association with the church as I do now, but I think it would be a waste of 2 years trying to get people to join a good social club.

[_Nimrod]

If I knew then what I know now, I would have went into the Peace Corps not on a mission.