Does MDB lead TBMs to a better life?

[_Quasimodo]

It's the truth that leads TBM's astray if they don't have a large and well supported shelf on which to place stuff.

I think that's very true. Do you think MDB helps with determining what the truth is? Your valuable posting of news stories about the Church must have some effect along those lines.

I guess what I'm really asking is if people ever come to this board as faithful believers and leave as apostates?

[_Chuck Finley]

The Mormon product itself leads TBM's astray when they begin to openly discuss the flaws, inconsistancies, and children married to Joseph Smith.

The most influential role MDB played in my "processing out" was a few years back watching the apologists here try to defend the positions of the church that were later thrown out the window by the church essays. The priesthood ban being the best example. The apologist couldn't defend the church without doing insane mental gymnastics, of which no sane person could legitimately follow and agree with.

Concur. The LDS Church sometimes produces the best counter-LDS material available, all the while intending for that material to keep people in the boat. I appreciate their efforts!

[_Quasimodo]

I don't think I've ever bumped my own thread before, but I'm hoping for some more replies. This seems to me to be a topic that needs more opinions.

[_Abaddon]

Mormondiscussions.com wasn't the ONLY thing that changed my mind on religion, but it contributed.

I flipped and flopped for years on here in the beginning. I was a defender on here (sort of), I was a critic, and I went back and forth.

It wasn't until Oct 2011 when I had an epiphany and have been an unbeliever ever since and haven't ever wavered from that.

[_Kishkumen]

Ideally.

LOL!

[_Kishkumen]

I found this place after Loyal Liberal Mormons on Yahoo!Groups had started to grow quiet. By the time I arrived here I did not have a conventional testimony but I was probably what you would call a NOM. What happened to me here is that I went from being skeptical of apologetics to seeing FARMS as a huge problem. Over time, I feel like my view was completely vindicated. There is a new generation of apologetics that I doubt I will spend much time criticizing. I can't imagine myself wrangling with the new apologists.

So, I don't think this board, on its own, was *the* factor in moving me from NOM to ex-LDS (note the choice of expressions). It was more the place I called my home for talking about things Mormon as I went on that journey. It was really the LDS Church itself which pushed me out the door. The prohibition against baptizing the children of married or cohabiting gays was the final straw. It is one thing that the Church's narrative is essentially bogus. It is another that Church has become such an unpleasant experience. The sacrifice of children to Moloch was a bridge too far.

[_sock puppet]

I don't think I've ever bumped my own thread before, but I'm hoping for some more replies. This seems to me to be a topic that needs more opinions.

Led me "astray"? I'm with Dr CamNC4Me on this one. That's a loaded question that presumes it is 'astray' to get off the LDS merry-go-round.

I had been 'astray' for decades before discovering/reading and then ultimately registering here at MDB. The only direction in which MDB has led me is to further enlightenment. I've learned more here about actual Mormon history than I did in more than 20 years as a TBM going to 3+ church meetings a week, taking LDS seminary for four years, taking 20 credits worth of religion at BYU, as a full-time LDS missionary when I was too young to realize what a waste of time that was, etc. MDB has lead me to further light and knowledge, but I do suppose the LDS consider more information about Mormon history to be going 'astray'. After all, let's keep in mind what Boyd K 'the Bear' Packer said, "Some things that are true are not very useful." (But, now that he's dead, I'm sure that MG can ascribe that to the trash heap of 'limited understandings'.)

In sum, I would not agree that MDB leads TBMs astray. MDB helps TBMs learn about Mormonism; MDB is more aptly described to TBMs as the keystone to the "Know Your Religion" program.

[_Quasimodo]

Led me "astray"? I'm with Dr CamNC4Me on this one. That's a loaded question that presumes it is 'astray' to get off the LDS merry-go-round.

I had been 'astray' for decades before discovering/reading and then ultimately registering here at MDB. The only direction in which MDB has led me is to further enlightenment. I've learned more here about actual Mormon history than I did in more than 20 years as a TBM going to 3+ church meetings a week, taking LDS seminary for four years, taking 20 credits worth of religion at BYU, as a full-time LDS missionary when I was too young to realize what a waste of time that was, etc. MDB has lead me to further light and knowledge, but I do suppose the LDS consider more information about Mormon history to be going 'astray'. After all, let's keep in mind what Boyd K 'the Bear' Packer said, "Some things that are true are not very useful." (But, now that he's dead, I'm sure that MG can ascribe that to the trash heap of 'limited understandings'.)

In sum, I would not agree that MDB leads TBMs astray. MDB helps TBMs learn about Mormonism; MDB is more aptly described to TBMs as the keystone to the "Know Your Religion" program.

OK, due to many comments from valued posters, please read "Does MDB lead TBMs to a better life?" in the thread title.

It does seem to be a reasonable complaint.

I've changed the topic title, but it doesn't seem to change the pages further down.

[_candygal]

I know this board and others don't have anything to do with what happened to me. It was my daughter!!! Darn her!! I fought hard telling her that there was no stone in the hat and was she crazy?? Then she tried to tell me that Joseph was convicted of crimes and that he cheated people out of money....was she crazy?? And if that wasn't enough...she said she read that Joseph married women who were already married...damn her!!She belonged to a board called postmormon.org and tried to set me straight...I would have none of that!

And then..I read...studied..and even prayed.

One day, I got on postmo and told a story...pretty soon...there was a voice on line that said..."Mom, is that you?"

[_Quasimodo]

I found this place after Loyal Liberal Mormons on Yahoo!Groups had started to grow quiet. By the time I arrived here I did not have a conventional testimony but I was probably what you would call a NOM. What happened to me here is that I went from being skeptical of apologetics to seeing FARMS as a huge problem. Over time, I feel like my view was completely vindicated. There is a new generation of apologetics that I doubt I will spend much time criticizing. I can't imagine myself wrangling with the new apologists.

So, I don't think this board, on its own, was *the* factor in moving me from NOM to ex-LDS (note the choice of expressions). It was more the place I called my home for talking about things Mormon as I went on that journey. It was really the LDS Church itself which pushed me out the door. The prohibition against baptizing the children of married or cohabiting gays was the final straw. It is one thing that the Church's narrative is essentially bogus. It is another that Church has become such an unpleasant experience. The sacrifice of children to Moloch was a bridge too far.

Thanks for that, Kish! I didn't know that your final straw was so recent. It sounds like it's been a long process for you. Was your leaving as painful as some of the others that I have read about here?