What blessings have you seen since quitting church?

[madvin]

The unstated assumption is that there has to be a “worthiness” issue, and it might be contagious. I call this status moving “Beyond Mormon,” but among TBMs it is viewed and treated as a contagious apostate virus, that they generally try to avoid like a plague.

I really like that virus analogy. Very appropriate.

[Reluctant Watchman]

OP: To have confidence in knowing what I know, yet knowing that I know very little.

[Reluctant Watchman]

Realizing that the LDS church not only diminished in light and truth, but coming to the understanding that God is pouring out so much truth among so many people. One of the great deceptions of the LDS org is that truth, particularly w/ regards to the dealings of God among men, must come through “the Lord’s anointed”, when we have almost no concept of what anointed means.

[RTStone]

After 69 years as a TBM, a mission and temple marriage, I quit the church when the "Godsend" clot shot was recommended. I guess I just really wasn't into being a "good global citizen". The first thing I did was buy a coffee maker. Hardly miss a day without coffee. Yummy! I haven't drank a single beer yet, but, an apple hard cider a day keeps the doctor away. I had a margarita for the first time last month. We bought rum for our eggnog. We no longer wear garments in the Florida heat. Now that's a real "Godsend". Now that my blinders are off I'm quite sure the endowment and D&C132 was made up by BY. Just look at all of the endowment temple ceremony changes made. If it was really a revelation straight out of God's mouth it would be unchangeable. It would really be the word of God. Period! It doesn't take a genius to see the similarities between the Masons and the endowment and the Masonic symbols on the temple. All you need to do is take your TBM blinders off. Now I am a TBA, (true blue apostate). LOL! No more temple recommends or unfair tithes of the poor. Yay! Seeing things for what they really are is the greatest blessing. I'm free, free at last. Great God almighty, free at last. I report only to God Himself,.............and my wife.

[Being There]

After 69 years as a TBM, a mission and temple marriage, I quit the church when the "Godsend" clot shot was recommended. I guess I just really wasn't into being a "good global citizen". The first thing I did was buy a coffee maker. Hardly miss a day without coffee. Yummy! I haven't drank a single beer yet, but, an apple hard cider a day keeps the doctor away. I had a margarita for the first time last month. We bought rum for our eggnog. We no longer wear garments in the Florida heat. Now that's a real "Godsend". Now that my blinders are off I'm quite sure the endowment and D&C132 was made up by BY. Just look at all of the endowment temple ceremony changes made. If it was really a revelation straight out of God's mouth it would be unchangeable. It would really be the word of God. Period! It doesn't take a genius to see the similarities between the Masons and the endowment and the Masonic symbols on the temple. All you need to do is take your TBM blinders off. Now I am a TBA, (true blue apostate). LOL! No more temple recommends or unfair tithes of the poor. Yay! Seeing things for what they really are is the greatest blessing. I'm free, free at last. Great God almighty, free at last. I report only to God Himself,.............and my wife.

AMEN - amen.

I'm so happy there's a few like you, that have woke up to our awful situation ***
and see that "all is NOT well in Zion"


21 And others will he pacify, and lull them away into carnal security, that they will say:
All is well in Zion; yea, Zion prospereth,
all is well—and thus the devil cheateth their souls, and leadeth them away carefully down to hell.

24 Therefore, wo be unto him that is at ease in Zion!
25 Wo be unto him that crieth: All is well!
2 Nephi 28


what I've said before - to TBM -

***
*** Wake up ! from your deep sleep and come to the realization - that the church is not doing the Lord's will,
but the will of evil men - who control them - and the World.


***
WAKE UP !

you're in this deep sleep -
it's almost like there's been this spell put on you.

WAKE UP TO A SENSE OF OUR AWFUL SITUATION !

13 O that ye would awake; awake from a deep sleep, yea,
even from the sleep of hell,
and shake off the awful chains by which ye are bound,
which are the chains which bind
the children of men, that they are carried away captive down
to the eternal gulf of misery and woe.
2 Nephi 1:13

[Being There]

After 69 years as a TBM, a mission and temple marriage, I quit the church when the "Godsend" clot shot was recommended. I guess I just really wasn't into being a "good global citizen". The first thing I did was buy a coffee maker. Hardly miss a day without coffee. Yummy! I haven't drank a single beer yet, but, an apple hard cider a day keeps the doctor away. I had a margarita for the first time last month. We bought rum for our eggnog. We no longer wear garments in the Florida heat. Now that's a real "Godsend". Now that my blinders are off I'm quite sure the endowment and D&C132 was made up by BY. Just look at all of the endowment temple ceremony changes made. If it was really a revelation straight out of God's mouth it would be unchangeable. It would really be the word of God. Period! It doesn't take a genius to see the similarities between the Masons and the endowment and the Masonic symbols on the temple. All you need to do is take your TBM blinders off. Now I am a TBA, (true blue apostate). LOL! No more temple recommends or unfair tithes of the poor. Yay! Seeing things for what they really are is the greatest blessing. I'm free, free at last. Great God almighty, free at last. I report only to God Himself,.............and my wife.

AMEN - amen.

I'm so happy there's a few like you, that have woke up to our awful situation ***
and see that "all is NOT well in Zion"


21 And others will he pacify, and lull them away into carnal security, that they will say:
All is well in Zion; yea, Zion prospereth,
all is well—and thus the devil cheateth their souls, and leadeth them away carefully down to hell.

24 Therefore, wo be unto him that is at ease in Zion!
25 Wo be unto him that crieth: All is well!
2 Nephi 28


what I've said before - to TBM -

***
*** Wake up ! from your deep sleep and come to the realization - that the church is not doing the Lord's will,
but the will of evil men - who control them - and the World.


***
WAKE UP !

you're in this deep sleep -
it's almost like there's been this spell put on you.

WAKE UP TO A SENSE OF OUR AWFUL SITUATION !

13 O that ye would awake; awake from a deep sleep, yea,
even from the sleep of hell,
and shake off the awful chains by which ye are bound,
which are the chains which bind
the children of men, that they are carried away captive down
to the eternal gulf of misery and woe.
2 Nephi 1:13

WHY WOULD THE LORD SAY THIS - IF IT WERE NOT POSSIBLE ?
"And blessed are the Gentiles" - "if it so be that they shall repent"
"and do not unite themselves to that great and abominable church,"

2 Nephi 6

12 And blessed are the Gentiles, they of whom the prophet has written; for behold,
if it so be that they shall repent and fight not against Zion,
and do not unite themselves to that great and abominable church,
they shall be saved; for the Lord God will fulfil his covenants which he has made unto his children;
and for this cause the prophet has written these things.

Have we repented as a church and people ? NO.
Do we see any need to ? - NO.
or to humble ourselves before the Lord, and ask for His forgiveness and seek His guidance
because we have gone astray. NO. *
(we have joined the World and do the bidding of the evil men that control it)
* Or have we become like those that tried to warn us;
those who gave us their book - hoping we wouldn't make the same mistakes as they did;
when they too - had the gospel - and became rich and full of pride -
then losing it -
AS WE HAVE - and as we will -
suffering the same consequences - and destruction as they did,
as The Times of the Gentiles comes to an end.

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""A Bible!, A Bible! We have got a Bible" is referring to the Words of Christ and the Brother of Jared's vision
(the sealed portion) that the end-time servant brings to us - the church - to all the Gentiles - they will reject him and Christ's words.
*** (please see below)

The Book of Mormon comes forth to try the Gentiles' faith:
it contains but the "lesser part" of Jesus' words to the Nephites.(3 Nephi 26:8).
If the Gentiles will believe that portion - the Book of Mormon -
the Lord will manifest to them the greater things also.(3 Nephi 26:9).
The Book of Mormon, the record of a fallen people, contains warnings to the Gentiles: Moroni adds to the Book of Mormon a brief history of the Jaredites, addressing his abridgment specifically to the Gentiles.(Eth. 2:11).
He interrupts his account four times to speak directly to the them. (Eth. 2:9-12; 4:6-5; 8:23-26; 12:6-41).
Moroni has seen the Gentiles in a vision.(Morm 8:35). He tells them, therefore, things they should know.
The nation that does not serve God will be swept off the land. (Eth 2:9-10).
The Gentiles should repent and become clean before the Lord. (Eth. 4:6).
They should not allow secret combinations to get above them. (Eth 8:23-25).
They must exercise faith as did the ancients. (Eth. 12:6-31).
They must have hope and charity. (Eth.12:36-37).

Two consecutive histories of fallen peoples on this land fore-warn
the Gentiles of their own imminent fate. (Eth. 2:11; 8:21-26).
Mormon has vividly described the destruction of the Nephites. (Morm. 6:1-22).
Now Moroni recounts the destruction of the Jaredites in order to persuade
the Gentiles to repent. (Eth. 2:11; 8:23).
The Lord bids the Gentiles to come unto him.(Eth. 4:13).
In him they may be cleansed and sanctified. (Eth. 4:6-7).
The two following parallel statements tell the Gentiles the cause of their unbelief. Rhetorical markers are "when ye shall" and "then shall".

Ether 4
15 Behold, when ye shall rend that veil of unbelief which doth cause you to remain in your awful state of wickedness, and hardness of heart, and blindness of mind, then shall the great and marvelous things which have been hid up from the foundation of the world from you—yea, when ye shall call upon the Father in my name, with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, then shallye know that the Father hath remembered the covenant which he made unto your fathers, O house of Israel.
16 And then shall my revelations which I have caused to be written by my servant John be unfolded in the eyes of all the people.
(emphasis added (Italicized) "when ye shall" "then shall"

The parallel nature of this scripture reveals a deeper meaning.
It teaches that people can rend the veil of unbelief- which has caused
them to remain in an awful state of wickedness, hardness of heart, and blindness of mind - by calling on the Father in the name of Jesus with a broken heart and a a contrite spirit.
It further teaches that the great and marvelous things hidden up from the foundation of the world are the Father's fulfillment of his covenant with the house of Israel, as contained in the revelations of John. These great and marvelous things, however, have not yet been revealed. As adverse as it may seem , we conclude from these scriptures, therefore, that many of us as Gentiles still remain in an awful state of wickedness. We have not yet rent the veil of our unbelief- we have not called upon the Father in the name of Jesus as we ought.
The Gentiles' rending of the veil is significant in this overall scripture. Moroni has just shown us how the Brother of Jared "rent the veil".
The Lord now bids the Gentiles to do the same.
When they exercise faith as the Brother of Jared saw.
In other words, the Lord invites the Gentiles to make their calling and election sure by being received into his presences as the Brother of Jared was.
When they do that, he will reveal to them the "greater things", unfolding to them all his revelations.
The Lord's great and marvelous work typifies the greater things.
The Lord performs that work among the Gentiles.
To that end, he sends among them the three Nephite disciples. The great and marvelous work involves the coming forth of the words of Christ.
The Father empowers a latter-day servant to bring forth the words of Christ to
the Gentiles. The servant is the light to the Gentiles. To him, they rally as to an ensign. When the Lord lifts up his hand and ensign to the Gentiles, they perform their saving mission to the house of Israel.
Through his latter-day servant, the Lord concludes His work among the Gentiles and commences His work among the house of Israel: as the Lord's covenant, light, and ensign, the servant personifies the gospel that has hitherto served as a "covenant", "light", and "standard" to the Gentiles, as the gospel has been a "messenger" preparing the way before the Lord, so the servant is a "messenger" who prepares the way before the Lord's coming to earth.

The Book of Mormon contains less than a hundredth part of Jesus' words to the Nephites. Yet, in the last days, the fullness of Jesus' words comes forth to the Gentiles in accordance with the servant's mission.
The plates of Nephi contain the greater part of what Jesus taught the people.
They, therefore, are among the "other books" to come forth. They "make known to all kindreds, tongues, and people, that the Lamb of God is the Son of the Eternal Father, and the Savior of the world".
They make known also the folly and abominations of the Gentiles.
Prophecies about the Gentiles in the latter days thus show two facets. Those Gentiles who are under condemnation- which causes the Lord to withhold from them the greater things- will remain under condemnation if they do not repent.
For that reason, the Gentiles must turn from their evil ways. Those Gentiles who make their calling and election sure, to whom the Lord reveals the greater things, do not, of course, represent all the Gentiles. In the latter days, the gospel turns first to the Gentiles. But when many of them reject it, the gospel turns to the Jews and other natural lineages of Israel.

***Moroni saw that many Gentiles would mock the Brother of Jared's vision. Moroni writes that vision in the sealed portion of the Book of Mormon. Many Gentiles too, will not believe the great and marvelous work - will not believe the words of Christ. Of the words of Christ coming forth in the day, the Gentiles will say, "A Bible!, A Bible! We have got a Bible, and there cannot be any more Bible".
The Words of Christ and the Brother of Jared's vision cover the entire history of humanity. In that respect, they resemble the Bible more than the Book of Mormon does. The two full accounts will come forth to the Gentiles- when some Gentiles become sanctified as the Brother of Jared - and turn from the Gentiles to the house of Israel.

From these scriptures , we gain a clearer idea of how so many Gentiles will sin against the gospel of Jesus Christ . They will disavow the new revelations the Lord will bring forth. Having formerly received the gospel, many Gentiles will now reject it. Instead of repenting of their iniquities, they will harden their hearts and deny the Lord of Hosts. Refusing to come unto Christ and obey his voice, these Gentiles will be as "salt that hath lost its savor".
At the time they reject the gospel, the wicked Gentiles are "lifted up in the pride of their hearts above all nations". They are "filled with all manner of lyings, and of deceits, and of mischiefs, and all manner of hypocrisy, and murders, and priestcrafts, and whoredoms, and of secret abominations". Being "lifted up in the pride of their eyes", they "put down the power and miracles of God". Publishing for money, they "preach up unto themselves their own wisdom and their own learning, that they may get gain and grind upon the face of the poor".
(3 Nephi 16:10)

These Gentiles have no charity for their fellow beings. They don't thank the Jews nor Lehi's descendants for the scriptures they have received from them. Instead, they curse and hate them and will not recover them. (please see below *** (A) )
The Lord lengthens out his arm to the Gentiles all the day long. But they mar the Lord's servant who brings forth His words. Their rejecting the Lord's servant and their rejecting the gospel doubly testifies of their apostasy; Nephi, therefore, offers no hope for the Gentiles unless they reconcile themselves to Christ.
Although the Gentiles know God's decrees on this land, many allow secret combinations to get above them. Drunken with iniquity and all manner of abominations, they suffer woes- God's covenant curse. When they reject his words, the Lord cuts them off from his people. He removes the fullness of his gospel from among the wicked, giving it to those who will receive it. With the wicked Gentiles' apostasy and its aftermath, the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
The Lord turns the iniquities of the Gentiles upon their own heads. He comes out in justice against them. The wicked Gentiles bring down the fullness of God's wrath, just as the Jaredites and Nephites did. The Lord visits the Gentiles "with thunder and with earthquake, and with a great noise, and with storm, and with tempest, and with the flame of devouring fire". The sword of justices falls on the wicked Gentiles. He destroys the Gentiles; cities and chariots and executes vengeance and fury upon them. He covers their land with a desolating sickness. A scourge consumes the wicked.
The unrepentant Gentiles cannot stand before God's power. Lehi's descendants, whom God empowers, marshal themselves and vex the wicked Gentiles.
They go among the Gentiles like a lion among the beasts, treading down and tearing to pieces. Lehi's descendants, who are of the house of Israel, inherit the Gentiles' lands and cities. The Lord reestablishes Lehi's descendants in this land, even as the wicked Gentiles perish.
Although the scriptures say that the Gentiles will perish, the Lord doesn't utterly destroy them. Some Gentiles, as we have seen, turn from their evil ways. Some don't harden their hearts. They don't unite with that great and abominable church nor fight against Zion. These Gentiles know where their blessings come from - they know that the Lord has blessed them with the blessings of Israel.
To save as many Gentiles as will come to him, the Lord calls on them before the day of judgement. he stirs up the Gentiles and the house of Israel in order to persuade them to repent. The Gentiles must repent and not continue in iniquity. They must forthwith repent and humble themselves. If they do, it will be well with them. As they repent and come to the Lord, he will be merciful to them. Those Gentiles who repent and obey the words of Christ will be blessed.

[Silver Pie]

I seriously always felt inferior yet at the same time felt superior. How stupid is that?!

I totally identify with this. Now, I just feel humble and stupid. No, seriously, in comparison with God and angels, I'm nothing to write home about - and it has given me less pressure and more peace, while at the same time, I am working harder to repent of the things that keep me from faith in God, and from God's presence.

[Silver Pie]

I have to be honest about the garments. I wish I'd kept them. They kept me so much warmer, and I could really use that in this cold climate (especially since the highs are usually 20 or more degrees colder than this part of Wyoming usually is).

[FrankOne]

Joseph Smith smoked cigars and drank beer in Nauvoo. A common sight.

whisky now and again as well.
Many LDS prophets imbibed.
very scary and bothers me deeply . (sarc).

the rigid minds will eventually break.

[FoxMammaWisdom]

I have to be honest about the garments. I wish I'd kept them. They kept me so much warmer, and I could really use that in this cold climate (especially since the highs are usually 20 or more degrees colder than this part of Wyoming usually is).

The ONLY thing I miss about those, is they kept me warm! I still haven't warmed up - 10 years later I'm wearing layers, and sweatshirts even in St.George, UT.

[FoxMammaWisdom]

Joseph Smith smoked cigars and drank beer in Nauvoo. A common sight.

whisky now and again as well.
Many LDS prophets imbibed.
very scary and bothers me deeply . (sarc).

the rigid minds will eventually break.

[FrankOne]

and to answer the op question:

after leaving:

I raised my children in the principle that there was no greater religion or belief system so they wouldn't point fingers as I was taught in the church. (we have the truth and you don't). The result after 25 yrs? My kids search for God within and do not have differences with different beliefs. Their minds are open. , thank God for this.

After many years of searching, I personally found 'God' and he wasn't a white haired man in a cloak. One word for 'him'. Incomprehensible. I was made to understand that condemnation is false and that unconditional love is the only thing that God and his Son feel, EVER. Religious teachings to the contrary are absolutely false.

My wife and I grew closer than ever. My children are our best friends, (now grown). We all read books treating the journey of going within to find God, not from a church nor from any man.

We became free from the false precept of "specialness".

My wife and I became more aware, as each year passed, that our siblings were trapped in a recital of dead traditions, repeated over and over to feel better about the lack of depth in their spiritual understandings. Eventually, visiting them was like talking to automatons although our reunions were always very cordial and pleasant. There was nobody home. No enlightening discussions were entertained, they were avoided. Now..though... after 25 yrs, several of my brothers and sisters are questioning the church. We are no longer the 'black sheep'. People are waking up

We are in hopes for a greater day with a gathering and that we will be able to join it.

edit to add:

Sunday became 'family day' . All individual activity was cancelled. The entire day together doing things, anything. It was transformative. Much better than a 'family evening'.

[FrankOne]

Joseph Smith smoked cigars and drank beer in Nauvoo. A common sight.

whisky now and again as well.
Many LDS prophets imbibed.
very scary and bothers me deeply . (sarc).

the rigid minds will eventually break.

HAHAHA,
loved it, thanks!

[Refraction75]

I can honestly say I'm on the verge of quitting. The favoritism of Global policies, the doubtless sustaining of church leaders. Going to church just feels like my arm is being twisted. Less and less scriptural references, going to Sunday school they sometimes just talk about their lives instead of teaching. We are not supposed to just "look to Christ" we are supposed to emulate him. Endlessly I witness saints blatantly violate the WoW with their obesity.

as the saying goes, don't judge others because they sin differently than you.

Oh nice you got me there.

Obesity is one that seems to really bother me. But I'm guilt of seeing things from just my perspective from time to time.

I understand, I check myself all the time.

On the topic of obesity, it's a tough one. Society is such that unhealthy good food is cheaper and easier, which leads to bad but bacteria, which leads to things like cravings, the blocking of the body's signals of satiation, they produce a bunch of other negative things, bad gut bacteria actually absorb more calories from the food one eats, it's all a vicious cycle. And we aren't taught properly about nutrition. They teach old crap that isn't accurate. Plus we have "the evil designs of men in the last days", powerful lobbies like sugar, corn, big pharma, medical professionals, etc that promote unhealthy lifestyles to the masses.

And obesity is very much an iniquity that passes from generation to generation via DNA, tradition, habits, etc.

It is a tough cycle to break. I suppose that's why charity is long-suffering, it's hard to be understanding, even compassionate when sin X disgusts us.

With love, your brother in Christ

I always thought obesity are those that are better prepared than me with their own three month supply of food storage.

[Refraction75]

To preface this my wife still goes to church with our 5 year old daughter.

Since I have stopped going altogether.

I enjoy my Sundays so much more now.
I read and discuss the scriptures with my 10 year old son. We read and talk about Christ. It feels like I am properly fulfilling my responsibilities before the Lord.

In our discussions it feels healthy to say to him. I don't know for sure...I'm still trying to figure things out.... Or I have had a direct experience with this and I feel this has been revealed directly to me and i know this to be true.. I know what I know... and don't know what I don't know... kinda thing.

Feels healthy and honest to tell him beware of men that say they know all truth or what is best for you 100% of the time. Men like Klause Schwab from the World Economic Forum, Pope, Russel M. NELSON...ect

It feels like something I should have been doing all along but didn't because I was caught up with callings before. Sundays were just too busy to have this one on one time.

I like giving my money directly to help others rather than an organization. I prefer helping struggling family members out first. Or giving directly to the homeless.

No more self loathing and stress that I am not good enough or doing enough for my Savior.

THINGS I MISS and appreciated about church?

Youth dances. Father and son campouts. Dating mostly good people.

Having an ideal that I felt wasn't polluted by men. (Then later finding out it was...)

Not having any addiction to alcohol, gambling or drugs.

Modesty, organized service and honesty as an ideal.

To hear other spiritual experiences and scriptural insights.

Friendships with like minded conservative people with similar ideals. (Although in my ward there is a growing rampant disease of leftist ideology)

THINGS I Don't miss at all!

Ministering, tithing/fast offerings, callings, people drama, church leadership hierarchy/ control, missionary program being pushed on you, temple worship being pushed on you, constantly feeling like you dont measure up, moving people in and out of the ward constantly (packing people who are unprepared, showing up when No one else did, moving military families...then finding out after my service they pocketed money given from military to cover their moving expenses)

Don't miss the prophet is my God to be worshipped on the earth ideology.

Prophet being the only gateway to Christ.

Justifying every detail of my life around what the Prophet thinks. Searching endlessly old Conference talks for some nugget of truth that the prophet wanted me to live. To somehow perfect myself.

Defending endlessly the prophet public persona without really knowing him personally.
Then rationalizing any logical discrepancies I came across...in scripture verses what he has said...in order to fulfill this perfect ideology.

Boring meetings (General Conference, members that are uninspired or just go on and on how great and perfect they are.)

[True]

I do t think a religion has to be perfect but I think it is important and even essential. Here is Ben Shapiro’s take on organized religion.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=jgu5ndO5lJc ... IECMiOmarE

[Theveilofforgetting]

I go to church and struggle with it each week. I go for my sons.
I love not doing church stuff.
I'm glad I can avoid it.