LDS Freedom Forum

bbrown wrote: ↑December 19th, 2022, 8:47 pm The “they can leave the church but can’t leave it alone” thing irritates me to no end. It is almost always the opposite in my experience. The church won’t leave you alone.

What are you talking about?

People who leave the church can't leave it alone. Everybody knows this.

That it is why it is the job, nay calling, of any Elder's Quroum President, Ward Clerk, Bishopric, High Priest Group, Relief Society, Ministering Assignee to make those people who lose interest to not leave the church alone, and the lesser the interest requires even more effort to make them not leave it alone. When we have trouble making prophecies come true, we can always self-fulfill them.

Letfreedumbring wrote: ↑December 19th, 2022, 8:32 pm

Reluctant Watchman wrote: ↑December 19th, 2022, 9:51 am
I am in the process of composing a letter that will most likely have an in-person meeting with my bishop early next year.

I already talked to my Deacon's Quorum President.

He said anytime I am ready to write that letter to the prophet that will finally get forwarded to him, he is ready.
He may even defer his facebook mission to address some of my concerns. Now that is dedication!

DQ president? How old are you?

Reluctant Watchman wrote: ↑December 19th, 2022, 9:10 pm DQ president? How old are you?

Too young to not care what happens to this world on my way out
Too old to say boosters?! I'll have another please

MikeMaillet wrote: ↑December 19th, 2022, 9:44 am Yesterday I wrote a letter to my Bishop asking that my name be removed from the records of the church. Your friend’s reasons for leaving the church are very similar to mine and it is because I believe the Book of Mormon that I wrote the letter.

Like your friend, I have ventured outside the canon and have let the Spirit be my guide. I’m glad I did and I’m glad that I have stayed away from commentaries by “experts.”

My letter will be mailed today or tomorrow.

Thanks for posting this.

Mike

https://quitmormon.com/ Free legal process, which expedites what could be a lengthy ordeal.

The church is a stepping stone to the Church of the Firstborn

I'd no sooner remove my name from it than id change the name my dad gave me.

Even if Nelson & Co decided to "seal" the gays or claim the BoM is historical fiction....I'd not remove my name.
Meh....I just don't think any one guy(or 15 guys) should have that kind of power over me. It's not their church. For better or worse, those in charge are close to their graves.
Plus, lol I didn't even put my name in the church.

Joan7 wrote: ↑December 19th, 2022, 9:31 pm https://quitmormon.com/ Free legal process, which expedites what could be a lengthy ordeal.

I looked through this, but didn’t agree with everything on the document that you have to sign. I also preferred an in-person meeting to share my thoughts

Reluctant Watchman wrote: ↑December 19th, 2022, 8:47 am A few thoughts from a friend of mine: "Why I'm Leaving the Mormon Church"
https://20centfilmreview.wordpress.com/ ... on-church/

Thanks for sharing this. I particularly like this part;

"I’ve heard it said that truth is often much stranger than fiction. We live in a reality where nothing is impossible, but many things, no matter how true, are considered by some to be unbelievable."

Joan7 wrote: ↑December 19th, 2022, 9:31 pm

MikeMaillet wrote: ↑December 19th, 2022, 9:44 am Yesterday I wrote a letter to my Bishop asking that my name be removed from the records of the church. Your friend’s reasons for leaving the church are very similar to mine and it is because I believe the Book of Mormon that I wrote the letter.

Like your friend, I have ventured outside the canon and have let the Spirit be my guide. I’m glad I did and I’m glad that I have stayed away from commentaries by “experts.”

My letter will be mailed today or tomorrow.

Thanks for posting this.

Mike

https://quitmormon.com/ Free legal process, which expedites what could be a lengthy ordeal.

I'm hoping that I'm invited to as many discussions with church leaders as possible. This way I can maybe plant a few seeds and get some of my leaders thinking a bit. There are some who are bitter when they leave the church and continue to attack it, but not me. I'm grateful for having joined the church; it led me to The Book of Mormon. My desire is to get local church leaders to see the obvious and to encourage them to study Isaiah.

Mike

Reluctant Watchman wrote: ↑December 19th, 2022, 12:11 pm

onefour1 wrote: ↑December 19th, 2022, 12:10 pm Depressing thread.

Why?

I'm super excited for my friend. Why not be happy for someone who is breaking cycles of abuse and false traditions and beliefs?

I can break the cycle with our without a piece of paper.

But if someone needs it for emotional reasons then sure, why not.

Or maybe they need to do it for symbolic reasons.

Either way, those who stay and those who go make too big a deal of it. And either way I would wish best of luck to whomever.

That's my two cents anyway.

Plus I'd rather be kicked out .

Jesus style, but less bloody and less death. I'll say it how it is and let them decide.

ransomme wrote: ↑December 20th, 2022, 4:57 am Plus I'd rather be kicked out .

Jesus style, but less bloody and less death. I'll say it how it is and let them decide.

I’ve considered that route as well. I just know that that route is the final outcome for me regardless. Records in or out, I’ll never feel comfortable in the LDS structure. I’ve partaken of too many beautiful fruits to ever look back and have any feeling of satiation for spiritual things.

nightlight wrote: ↑December 19th, 2022, 9:31 pm The church is a stepping stone to the Church of the Firstborn

I'd no sooner remove my name from it than id change the name my dad gave me.

Even if Nelson & Co decided to "seal" the gays or claim the BoM is historical fiction....I'd not remove my name.
Meh....I just don't think any one guy(or 15 guys) should have that kind of power over me. It's not their church. For better or worse, those in charge are close to their graves.
Plus, lol I didn't even put my name in the church.

"On one occasion, Bishop Edwin Woolley and Brigham had a heated discussion about a business deal. President Young, who could be very sarcastic, turned as he was leaving and said, “Now, Bishop Woolley, I guess you will go off and apostatize.” To which Edwin rejoined, “If this were your church, President Young, I would be tempted to do so. But this is just as much my church as it is yours, and why should I apostatize from my own church?”

We could use a few more Edwin Woolleys these days.

ransomme wrote: ↑December 20th, 2022, 4:57 am Plus I'd rather be kicked out .

Jesus style, but less bloody and less death. I'll say it how it is and let them decide.

Amen, Brother; testify

Mike

I went back and read the comments from that OP post from my friend. One of her friends (and husband) left the church 7 months ago for similar reasons. Then another friend posted further down in the comments that they left for similar reasons as well. These are the stories and testimonies that you’ll rarely hear at church or over the pulpit, people leaving a corrupt organization to follow Christ.

JLHPROF wrote: ↑December 20th, 2022, 6:23 am

nightlight wrote: ↑December 19th, 2022, 9:31 pm The church is a stepping stone to the Church of the Firstborn

I'd no sooner remove my name from it than id change the name my dad gave me.

Even if Nelson & Co decided to "seal" the gays or claim the BoM is historical fiction....I'd not remove my name.
Meh....I just don't think any one guy(or 15 guys) should have that kind of power over me. It's not their church. For better or worse, those in charge are close to their graves.
Plus, lol I didn't even put my name in the church.

"On one occasion, Bishop Edwin Woolley and Brigham had a heated discussion about a business deal. President Young, who could be very sarcastic, turned as he was leaving and said, “Now, Bishop Woolley, I guess you will go off and apostatize.” To which Edwin rejoined, “If this were your church, President Young, I would be tempted to do so. But this is just as much my church as it is yours, and why should I apostatize from my own church?”

We could use a few more Edwin Woolleys these days.

It is not our church. There is no more Common Consent w/in the church, regardless if you believe your sustaining vote means anything these days.

I love to hear that people are leaving the restored Church of Jesus Christ. It means that Heber C Kimball’s prophecy was exactly right!

By the way, the very fact you’re on this forum means you can’t leave the Church alone!

So big shout out to all you apostates for fulfilling that.

BenMcCrea wrote: ↑December 20th, 2022, 6:36 am I love to hear that people are leaving the restored Church of Jesus Christ. It means that Heber C Kimball’s prophecy was exactly right!

By the way, the very fact you’re on this forum means you can’t leave the Church alone!

So big shout out to all you apostates for fulfilling that.

We choose not to lose our faith to a corrupt organization. Many are striving to connect with Jesus and not false prophets.

I pray for all of you who don’t understand what the BoM actually teaches.

BenMcCrea wrote: ↑December 20th, 2022, 6:36 am I love to hear that people are leaving the restored Church of Jesus Christ. It means that Heber C Kimball’s prophecy was exactly right!

By the way, the very fact you’re on this forum means you can’t leave the Church alone!

So big shout out to all you apostates for fulfilling that.

Hey we couldn't do it without folks like you, Ben.

BenMcCrea wrote: ↑December 20th, 2022, 6:36 am I love to hear that people are leaving the restored Church of Jesus Christ. It means that Heber C Kimball’s prophecy was exactly right!

By the way, the very fact you’re on this forum means you can’t leave the Church alone!

So big shout out to all you apostates for fulfilling that.

Heber also said:
" I do not feel as I used to when I see a man going away from the society of the Church of God. I used to be filled with sympathy and plead with them hours and hours, importuning with them until my head would ache and my heart sicken; and I never had the satisfaction in even converting one such character in my life."

That’s interesting JLHPROF. My EQ president visited recently. I had barely voiced my concerns, how I felt the church was not following the teachings of Christ, when he stated, “Why don’t you have your records removed from the church?” He didn’t care to know anything about the questions and concerns that I have. His only purpose for being there was to invite us back to church.

iWriteStuff wrote: ↑December 20th, 2022, 6:47 am

BenMcCrea wrote: ↑December 20th, 2022, 6:36 am I love to hear that people are leaving the restored Church of Jesus Christ. It means that Heber C Kimball’s prophecy was exactly right!

By the way, the very fact you’re on this forum means you can’t leave the Church alone!

So big shout out to all you apostates for fulfilling that.

Hey we couldn't do it without folks like you, Ben.

I wondered who would get in there first.

Just remember, if the truth claims of the Church were true in 1830, and Jesus Christ really did restore his Church, then it’s still His Church in 2022.

Yeh I agree there might be a few staffing problems, but there always have been. When RMN is dead you’ll just blame somebody else. You’re probably fantasy Mormons - your religion was based on fantasy, and now you’ve discovered that RMN and the team are just ordinary men you’re all boo hoo, it’s not fair - we wanted Gandalf or the Pope!

But it’s all good, like I said This is a kinder more humane cleansing than your eyeballs popping out as you’re sat in the Temple or something.

Adieu my friends, Adieu!

Ben, you are living a “fantasy” religion. I’m excited for the day when we all get to visit with Joseph and learn what he actually taught while he was alive.

I get why people want to leave the Church. The highest leaders are corrupt and the members are asleep. But the way I see it this isn't their Church. It's Christ's Church. If they want to kick me out, that's fine. But so far I've told local leadership how I feel and they haven't felt so inspired.

I look at D&C 85 & 101 and much of Isaiah and that makes me think that God knew what would happen to the Church and that He will clean it out, refresh it, and set it in order. So unless the Lord orders otherwise I'll stay put.

Does that mean that I take the "brethren" seriously? Well, I think they are a serious problem and I think they are the true apostates, at least the Q12 and FP. I don't hate them or want revenge, I mostly feel sorry for them, but I don't take their rules or dictates seriously anymore. I wish I'd figured that out a bit sooner.

The church has created a structure where any voicing of concerns will/can be met with immediate excommunication. It’s in the handbook for heaven’ sake.

Heck, I asked my stake president if the jab was “safe and effective” and he told me to repent of calling the FP “liars and deceivers.” I never even hinted at such, I only questioned the efficacy and safety of the shot after presenting evidence to the contrary. The culture of the church is damningly false. As I’ve stated elsewhere, “you have made lesser gods of these men.”

BenMcCrea wrote: ↑December 20th, 2022, 7:13 am

iWriteStuff wrote: ↑December 20th, 2022, 6:47 am

BenMcCrea wrote: ↑December 20th, 2022, 6:36 am I love to hear that people are leaving the restored Church of Jesus Christ. It means that Heber C Kimball’s prophecy was exactly right!

By the way, the very fact you’re on this forum means you can’t leave the Church alone!

So big shout out to all you apostates for fulfilling that.

Hey we couldn't do it without folks like you, Ben.

I wondered who would get in there first.

Just remember, if the truth claims of the Church were true in 1830, and Jesus Christ really did restore his Church, then it’s still His Church in 2022.

Yeh I agree there might be a few staffing problems, but there always have been. When RMN is dead you’ll just blame somebody else. You’re probably fantasy Mormons - your religion was based on fantasy, and now you’ve discovered that RMN and the team are just ordinary men you’re all boo hoo, it’s not fair - we wanted Gandalf or the Pope!

But it’s all good, like I said This is a kinder more humane cleansing than your eyeballs popping out as you’re sat in the Temple or something.

Adieu my friends, Adieu!

Ben, I'm staying in the Church but you are nuts. You think poorly of people who have noticed how corrupt Church leaders are and have the courage to do something about it? Why?

Why not call out our leadership for encouraging the members to poison themselves? Why do they get a pass on the many other sins they are committing right now?

They aren't ordinary men. They have high and holy callings and they are dishonoring those callings. They, more than these friends, need a call to repentance. Would to God that they might find repentance but I fear that train has already left the station and might not ever return. We'll see.