Oh well. Non mormons get confused. Not everyone even realizes that LDS Church is the Mormons or that LDS is the anachronism for Latter-day Saints. Mentioned in this article in several places are church leaders who pooh pooh the entire matter of abuse in the church and try to field suspicion away from members of the priesthood. And the bishops etc. As an ex mormon who went through temple marraige, the whole bit, I can tell you first hand... the church WILL throw female church members under the bus in order to protect the men. Oh the secrets perspective LDS inquirers do not know... it's grim for the ladies. Books by those who left the church, really should be read.
I’m sorry you’ve had such a terrible experience with imperfect people in the church. I can’t say I’ve had the same and feel the complete opposite. I feel completely valued and teach my daughter and 5 sons they are both valued equally while having different roles. I have met some jerks in the church and met jerks out. I was molested by a man who was NOT a member of the church and my sis was molested by our step dad who was an absolute creep and pathological liar who was a member. He was not protected by anyone! I’ve never met anyone in the church protected for being a pedo and was always told we have to report. Do they all…no? Because just being a member of a church, any church, doesn’t make a person perfect. The man who molested me got off…he abused both his daughters and he didn’t belong to any church. I’ve been a member my whole life, but inactive when I was in the military. We all have different experiences but I do not believe as an institution the church condones or protects pedos. No church authority is perfect, not a single one in any religion. I trust in God above all, I didn’t get the jab even thought the Prophet recommended it, he isn’t infallible and I think it was the wrong call but many did 🤷♀️
I've never understood the people who are more zealous in thier anti mormonism than they were in thier participation as a member. I grew up in it went on a mission the whole 9 yards. I'm not active anymore, I guess I just flamed out. I have nothing bad to say about the Mormon church or mormons as a whole. I have critiques but they would apply to most churches not just the LDS church. I don't know anyone personally in the church or out who has experienced the wild stuff I read about online. Yes I'm from Utah, and the church was everywhere. these post that occasionally occur about Mormons and abuse and child abuse I just scratch my head, it's definitely not my experience.
I’m from Arizona and could never live in Utah (nothing personal) I love my religion but there is something different when living near so many members so maybe that’s it. I had a hard time living in Mesa where everyone is a member. I’m in the Midwest so I have one neighbor in my Ward. My brother is like you, my 5 siblings are inactive and I understand why. For me I find more stability and peace in following it and giving my kids a good foundation. Teaching values and the importance of family is big for me. My grandfather was a convert and he always said “it’s either true or it’s not, either way it’s a good way of life”. That’s how I feel, when I left the church I drank and smoked and turned against all my values. I don’t ever judge anyone for leaving, or believing differently. For me it saved my life and I met my amazing husband. My kids can choose for themselves when they turn 18…my oldest is 17 and we are not sure if he will choose to serve a mission or not but it’s his choice not mine. I don’t believe in following blindly, I have no problem questioning my Bishop or Stake President if I think they are wrong and I have no problem calling out anyone who does something I think is wrong. I’ve got tons of stories and rubbed some people the wrong way in my current ward because of covid. We moved in the week church was shut down.
My brother and sister in laws live in Utah, rest of family is in Az and they love it I’ve only been once but after living in Mesa as an adult I knew I couldn’t live around that many members. I was never the stereotypical (if there really is one) member and had a difficult time fitting in as a young girl. Only member my age in my very small community Branch and the girls in the stake were mean to me…long story short I have my own issues and have loathed relief society for many reasons. After moving to my new state we had planned to try a bit harder but covid threw a wrench in that. I believe my religion but I struggle with some of the culture and always have. I just do my best and feel everyone else is doing the same so not to hold grudges or get offended. Midwest people are just so nice, I can’t tell if I’ve made friends or they just tolerate me because they are nice.
One of the greatest things I gained after leaving was the burden to worry about converting non members. I was free to know and enjoy people for who they were. It was a wonderful path to be on.
I guess I’m not super great because I don’t go around trying to convert others. I know that’s a big part but I just kind of answer questions if people have them, tell my story and if someone seems interested I of course would offer more or invite them to church but having grown up around mostly non members and never served a mission as I joined the army I never could be pushy. I don’t think it helps personally. Again being the only active sibling in my family I understand how and why people leave. I don’t criticize or judge any of them about leaving, free agency is the point of it all.
So what is the difference between mormon church and church of mormon? You don't have to "follow" this, you can read all about it, including original historical records, at exmormon.org. I spent over 2 years immersed in the study, including journals written by my own ancestors. The early church's leaders were as evil as any villan in history and it's fully documented, which was a good product of their obsession with baptizing the dead and recording their history. Joseph Smith was a Mason. The mormon temple ceremony invokes the mason oath and involves annointing breasts and genitalia with water and oil while naked, by a stranger. Brigham young married 8 year olds to old men and saw nothing wrong with incest since Adam must have practiced it.
There are mostly good people in that church, and they do not know their own history.
As an ex mormon that studied my way out of that mess I can attest to the truth of your statement. (Brigham Young is my great, great, great, grandfather through wife #17 Harriett Barney).
Congratulations. I got out 55 years ago because I saw the web of hypocrisy and nonsense that made up their only true church. I was lucky in that left still believing in God, because so many lose all faith when they discover how they were lied to. About 15 years ago on a slow work day, I thought, "Hey. With this internet thing, I might be able to learn the great secrets of the temple." and I was off and running.
Oh well. Non mormons get confused. Not everyone even realizes that LDS Church is the Mormons or that LDS is the anachronism for Latter-day Saints. Mentioned in this article in several places are church leaders who pooh pooh the entire matter of abuse in the church and try to field suspicion away from members of the priesthood. And the bishops etc. As an ex mormon who went through temple marraige, the whole bit, I can tell you first hand... the church WILL throw female church members under the bus in order to protect the men. Oh the secrets perspective LDS inquirers do not know... it's grim for the ladies. Books by those who left the church, really should be read.
I’m sorry you’ve had such a terrible experience with imperfect people in the church. I can’t say I’ve had the same and feel the complete opposite. I feel completely valued and teach my daughter and 5 sons they are both valued equally while having different roles. I have met some jerks in the church and met jerks out. I was molested by a man who was NOT a member of the church and my sis was molested by our step dad who was an absolute creep and pathological liar who was a member. He was not protected by anyone! I’ve never met anyone in the church protected for being a pedo and was always told we have to report. Do they all…no? Because just being a member of a church, any church, doesn’t make a person perfect. The man who molested me got off…he abused both his daughters and he didn’t belong to any church. I’ve been a member my whole life, but inactive when I was in the military. We all have different experiences but I do not believe as an institution the church condones or protects pedos. No church authority is perfect, not a single one in any religion. I trust in God above all, I didn’t get the jab even thought the Prophet recommended it, he isn’t infallible and I think it was the wrong call but many did 🤷♀️
I've never understood the people who are more zealous in thier anti mormonism than they were in thier participation as a member. I grew up in it went on a mission the whole 9 yards. I'm not active anymore, I guess I just flamed out. I have nothing bad to say about the Mormon church or mormons as a whole. I have critiques but they would apply to most churches not just the LDS church. I don't know anyone personally in the church or out who has experienced the wild stuff I read about online. Yes I'm from Utah, and the church was everywhere. these post that occasionally occur about Mormons and abuse and child abuse I just scratch my head, it's definitely not my experience.
I’m from Arizona and could never live in Utah (nothing personal) I love my religion but there is something different when living near so many members so maybe that’s it. I had a hard time living in Mesa where everyone is a member. I’m in the Midwest so I have one neighbor in my Ward. My brother is like you, my 5 siblings are inactive and I understand why. For me I find more stability and peace in following it and giving my kids a good foundation. Teaching values and the importance of family is big for me. My grandfather was a convert and he always said “it’s either true or it’s not, either way it’s a good way of life”. That’s how I feel, when I left the church I drank and smoked and turned against all my values. I don’t ever judge anyone for leaving, or believing differently. For me it saved my life and I met my amazing husband. My kids can choose for themselves when they turn 18…my oldest is 17 and we are not sure if he will choose to serve a mission or not but it’s his choice not mine. I don’t believe in following blindly, I have no problem questioning my Bishop or Stake President if I think they are wrong and I have no problem calling out anyone who does something I think is wrong. I’ve got tons of stories and rubbed some people the wrong way in my current ward because of covid. We moved in the week church was shut down.
My wife's from Omaha. I lived there for 18 months till we got marred then moved back to Utah. Omaha was cool but I prefer Utah.
My brother and sister in laws live in Utah, rest of family is in Az and they love it I’ve only been once but after living in Mesa as an adult I knew I couldn’t live around that many members. I was never the stereotypical (if there really is one) member and had a difficult time fitting in as a young girl. Only member my age in my very small community Branch and the girls in the stake were mean to me…long story short I have my own issues and have loathed relief society for many reasons. After moving to my new state we had planned to try a bit harder but covid threw a wrench in that. I believe my religion but I struggle with some of the culture and always have. I just do my best and feel everyone else is doing the same so not to hold grudges or get offended. Midwest people are just so nice, I can’t tell if I’ve made friends or they just tolerate me because they are nice.
One of the greatest things I gained after leaving was the burden to worry about converting non members. I was free to know and enjoy people for who they were. It was a wonderful path to be on.
I guess I’m not super great because I don’t go around trying to convert others. I know that’s a big part but I just kind of answer questions if people have them, tell my story and if someone seems interested I of course would offer more or invite them to church but having grown up around mostly non members and never served a mission as I joined the army I never could be pushy. I don’t think it helps personally. Again being the only active sibling in my family I understand how and why people leave. I don’t criticize or judge any of them about leaving, free agency is the point of it all.
They are very nice. The stereotype is true
“the Church of Mormon”?
If the author is that lazy, I can’t give much attention to anything else in the article.
Definitely watching the story, though.
So what is the difference between mormon church and church of mormon? You don't have to "follow" this, you can read all about it, including original historical records, at exmormon.org. I spent over 2 years immersed in the study, including journals written by my own ancestors. The early church's leaders were as evil as any villan in history and it's fully documented, which was a good product of their obsession with baptizing the dead and recording their history. Joseph Smith was a Mason. The mormon temple ceremony invokes the mason oath and involves annointing breasts and genitalia with water and oil while naked, by a stranger. Brigham young married 8 year olds to old men and saw nothing wrong with incest since Adam must have practiced it.
There are mostly good people in that church, and they do not know their own history.
As an ex mormon that studied my way out of that mess I can attest to the truth of your statement. (Brigham Young is my great, great, great, grandfather through wife #17 Harriett Barney).
Congratulations. I got out 55 years ago because I saw the web of hypocrisy and nonsense that made up their only true church. I was lucky in that left still believing in God, because so many lose all faith when they discover how they were lied to. About 15 years ago on a slow work day, I thought, "Hey. With this internet thing, I might be able to learn the great secrets of the temple." and I was off and running.
I left them too when i became 'born again'. 35 years ago in my mid thirties.