not alone
Posted: December 31st, 2007, 1:18 pm
Hi everyone, I just joined the forum today. I had come across it a few times when doing various searches related to freedom but it had always been just in passing.
I have read many of the quotes and talks available on the site as well as viewed some of the recent video additions. I really appreciate the work and organization of this site and plan to contribute as I can going forward.
My journey that has led me here started back in 1989. Before that time, I had read about secret combinations in the Book of Mormon but had thought of them as some future event or not given much thought to them in modern times. I was on my mission and we had just received the Liahona with the latest talks from General Conference. When I read President Benson's words in "I Testify" in which he spoke about groups that were seeking to overthrow the freedoms of all the lands that then existed, it got my attention. My curiosity was piqued and I started paying attention to the world around me to see if I could come to an understanding of what he was talking about.
Sometime in 1991 I happened across "None dare call it conspiracy" and noticed that the first endorsement on the back of the book was from Ezra Taft Benson. Having his endorsement on the back of the book lended it some credibility in my eyes from the start - despite the shocking and hard to believe information that confronted me as I started to read.
Since then, I have been on the sidelines watching the world from a different perspective and trying to determine what was indeed true. The main problems with accepting those things I had begun to learn were first and foremost that most people around me weren't aware of what was said to be going on and most people I have tried to talk to over the years have not wanted to know about these things or discuss them. Next, if they were true, wouldn't there be more said in general conference or over the pulpit to warn us and open our eyes? The topic in general seemed to be taboo in church meetings and I have responded by keeping my mouth shut. The lack of church support as I thought it would come from the church in terms of confirming the information out there, pushed me towards throwing it out as bogus and making me more skeptical. Finally, part of me just preferred to return to my former perceptions of the world as that model was easier to deal with.
Even though I had been watching and researching information for 10 years, I accepted 9/11 as presented for popular consumption up until late 2004 when my wife's friend sent a video link regarding the plane that hit the pentagon. I was still somewhat skeptical of alternative explanations but that video opened my mind to the possibility that things there were not as they seemed.
So I have continued watching and reading and searching for more information to increase my understanding. All along, still frustrated by the inability to get confirmation from those around me or from the church.
A few nights ago, I decided to read through some of the latest posts in the forum and enjoyed the feeling of reading your view points, concerns, and discussions and not feeling so alone any more.
That experience has started to get me to leave the sidelines and become more involved. I still have reservations and fears in doing so, but am consoled to know there are other kindred spirits here.
Bret
I have read many of the quotes and talks available on the site as well as viewed some of the recent video additions. I really appreciate the work and organization of this site and plan to contribute as I can going forward.
My journey that has led me here started back in 1989. Before that time, I had read about secret combinations in the Book of Mormon but had thought of them as some future event or not given much thought to them in modern times. I was on my mission and we had just received the Liahona with the latest talks from General Conference. When I read President Benson's words in "I Testify" in which he spoke about groups that were seeking to overthrow the freedoms of all the lands that then existed, it got my attention. My curiosity was piqued and I started paying attention to the world around me to see if I could come to an understanding of what he was talking about.
Sometime in 1991 I happened across "None dare call it conspiracy" and noticed that the first endorsement on the back of the book was from Ezra Taft Benson. Having his endorsement on the back of the book lended it some credibility in my eyes from the start - despite the shocking and hard to believe information that confronted me as I started to read.
Since then, I have been on the sidelines watching the world from a different perspective and trying to determine what was indeed true. The main problems with accepting those things I had begun to learn were first and foremost that most people around me weren't aware of what was said to be going on and most people I have tried to talk to over the years have not wanted to know about these things or discuss them. Next, if they were true, wouldn't there be more said in general conference or over the pulpit to warn us and open our eyes? The topic in general seemed to be taboo in church meetings and I have responded by keeping my mouth shut. The lack of church support as I thought it would come from the church in terms of confirming the information out there, pushed me towards throwing it out as bogus and making me more skeptical. Finally, part of me just preferred to return to my former perceptions of the world as that model was easier to deal with.
Even though I had been watching and researching information for 10 years, I accepted 9/11 as presented for popular consumption up until late 2004 when my wife's friend sent a video link regarding the plane that hit the pentagon. I was still somewhat skeptical of alternative explanations but that video opened my mind to the possibility that things there were not as they seemed.
So I have continued watching and reading and searching for more information to increase my understanding. All along, still frustrated by the inability to get confirmation from those around me or from the church.
A few nights ago, I decided to read through some of the latest posts in the forum and enjoyed the feeling of reading your view points, concerns, and discussions and not feeling so alone any more.
That experience has started to get me to leave the sidelines and become more involved. I still have reservations and fears in doing so, but am consoled to know there are other kindred spirits here.
Bret
