I feel like I am part of a new family now!

[honestseeker12]

I am excited and grateful to finally be able to feel a part of this forum now. Even though you all don't know who I am, I feel like I know a lot of you already. I have been reading your posts and stories for at least a year now, so I when I was finally able to register for this site, I already feel like I kind of know your hearts. I can imagine what a joyous meeting it will be when we meet in Zion face to face! Even though there are disagreements on the site, I really feel that most people here want to find the same thing and are all seeking the Lord. That is what matters most. The only reason I didn't join sooner is because I never got the email that was supposed to be sent that you had to click on to activate your registration. Anyway, since I live in a rural town in the southeastern USA, there seemed to be no one to talk to about my feelings as I was being awoken out of my sleep and noticing our awful situation spoken of in the Book of Mormon. Thus, I am grateful for your strength and friendship via the internet.

[Libertas Est Salus]

Welcome!

[JuneBug12000]

Glad to have to here. You seem to know how families work. Lots of love. Sometimes things get loud. But overall fun to get together.

[Dusty Wanderer]

Welcome. Looking forward to hearing more from you.

[MikeMaillet]

Welcome to the forum, eh?

Mike from Canada

[Peeps]

Welcome to the forum!
I am also living in a rural town in Louisiana!

[honestseeker12]

By the way, I wonder if the Lord prevented me from joining until after I made some crucial decisions on my own without leaning on the opinions of others. I have been a TBM in my beliefs nearly all of my life. However, after my youngest son was born nine years ago, I stopped going to church regularly because of health problems and chronic fatigue. My mindset was still TBM, though. Then a couple of years ago, the Lord started waking me up. I wasn't aware of things the Church was doing such as spending several billion dollars on a shopping mall, hunting preserves for the rich, etc. I didn't even know about the Covid jab recommendations because I didn't go to church during that time. I found out about these things later...It started out with questions and concerns over tithing which led me to Rock Waterman's blog puremormonism. Then I started learning more and more and discovered that "follow the prophet" wasn't doctrinal unless we test their fruits and receive a witness from the Holy Ghost that we should follow their message--but not them per se. I didn't even think that it was possible for the church to be in any degree of apostasy. I didn't understand Isaiah's prophecies before, but I started studying them.

Anyway, I was going through a lot soul searching and wondering if I should let my youngest child be baptized. He was 8 at the time, so he could have been baptized if I let him. We didn't go to church at the time because of my health problems. I just taught him at home from the scriptures. I didn't teach him any Mormon history except for Joseph Smith translating the BOM. We had been reading the BOM together, and he longed in his heart to be baptized so he could follow Jesus. When we watched the BOM videos where Christ visited America, my youngest son said when he saw a boy hug Jesus, "I wish that could be me and Jesus!"

My two oldest children were baptized years ago because there is a ten year gap between them and the youngest, and I was oblivious to the church's problems then. (Although I have had deep discussions with them lately.) After discovering that all was NOT well in Zion, I spent months praying and crying to the Lord wondering what I should do about my youngest child's baptism. That is when I stumbled onto LDS Freedom forum and discovered that I am not alone. I was going to ask for advice, but never got to join the forum then. I finally decided that his baptism was his commitment between him and the Lord, and I would keep my mouth shut about my concerns so that he could be baptized. There didn't seem to be any other way. He knew that baptism was a commandment and even Jesus had been baptized to show us the way. I still believed that the Church had the authority to baptize, and I wasn't sure if any other organization truly did or not, so I let him take the missionary discussions at age 9, and when my older college-age kids were home during the summer, they took us to church (because I didn't feel like I could drive when I was exhausted). My youngest child still doesn't know that our prophets do not act just like the faithful prophets in the scriptures. I just can't burst his bubble yet, but we don't go to church very often, so he doesn't get indoctrinated too much. I feel his testimony is based upon Christ, and it makes me sad that the church has to interject other qualifications into the baptism interview such as being loyal to men and putting your trust in the arm of flesh. However, he answered those questions innocently, so neither he nor I have any guilt about it.

This time when I tried to join LDSFF, it worked, so perhaps the Lord wanted me to make my own decisions and not be swayed by anyone else.

[honestseeker12]

Re: I feel like I am part of a new family now!
Post by Peeps » October 16th, 2023, 2:14 pm

Welcome to the forum!
I am also living in a rural town in Louisiana!

I don't know how to quote or tag or reply to anyone, except to copy and paste. Perhaps someone will tell me how. Anyway, I live in North Carolina.

[Reluctant Watchman]

Re: I feel like I am part of a new family now!
Post by Peeps » October 16th, 2023, 2:14 pm

Welcome to the forum!
I am also living in a rural town in Louisiana!

I don't know how to quote or tag or reply to anyone, except to copy and paste. Perhaps someone will tell me how. Anyway, I live in North Carolina.

The little quote button in the top right corner of any comment will allow you to quote someone. You'll notice their comment in these tags: "[quote.]" at the beginning and "[/quote.]" at the end of the edit window. (FYI, I added a period to the end of each of those so they would show up, otherwise, I would have been quoting what was in between those tags.) People most often add their comments after a quote. You can also shorten or adjust a quote if needed for brevity.

Welcome btw.

[4Joshua8]

Re: I feel like I am part of a new family now!
Post by Peeps » October 16th, 2023, 2:14 pm

Welcome to the forum!
I am also living in a rural town in Louisiana!

I don't know how to quote or tag or reply to anyone, except to copy and paste. Perhaps someone will tell me how. Anyway, I live in North Carolina.

There is a quotation mark (") icon at the top of each post. Just click or touch it to quote their post.

[LateOutOfBed]

I am excited and grateful to finally be able to feel a part of this forum now. Even though you all don't know who I am, I feel like I know a lot of you already. I have been reading your posts and stories for at least a year now, so I when I was finally able to register for this site, I already feel like I kind of know your hearts. I can imagine what a joyous meeting it will be when we meet in Zion face to face! Even though there are disagreements on the site, I really feel that most people here want to find the same thing and are all seeking the Lord. That is what matters most. The only reason I didn't join sooner is because I never got the email that was supposed to be sent that you had to click on to activate your registration. Anyway, since I live in a rural town in the southeastern USA, there seemed to be no one to talk to about my feelings as I was being awoken out of my sleep and noticing our awful situation spoken of in the Book of Mormon. Thus, I am grateful for your strength and friendship via the internet.

Welcome. Many here know how you're feeling and have been or are still on a similar journey (me included). I live in a small town in Southwest Tennessee. Just moved here from a much more populous area and I'm enjoying the south. I too feel that I do not have many people to chat with locally, and I come here often to find similar spirits and great perspectives from many sides of many arguments. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

[Teancum1]

Re: I feel like I am part of a new family now!
Post by Peeps » October 16th, 2023, 2:14 pm

Welcome to the forum!
I am also living in a rural town in Louisiana!

I don't know how to quote or tag or reply to anyone, except to copy and paste. Perhaps someone will tell me how. Anyway, I live in North Carolina.

Welcome to the forum! I’m glad to hear you say that the Lord woke you up. He woke me up out of a deep slumber three and a half years ago. I have a lot of family in Virginia near the NC border. I’ll have to say that rural Western North Carolina is about like heaven to me! We also would vacation in the outer banks and Emerald Isle. Beautiful state!
And the accent! Just love that North Carolina accent!

[Gadianton Slayer]

Hola

[LDS Physician]

Howdy! I'm amazed at how similar your story is to my own! So nice to meet you.

[BigFootCain]

Thanks for introducing yourself, and for everyone else's responses. Interesting how so many of us have similar experiences.

I was a lurker on this site for a while before taking the plunge and joining in. It's nice to know we are not alone in recognizing the issues going on within the Church. Even though it sucks recognizing this "awful situation", we can at least know there are others out there seeing the same things and seeing all is not well in zion.

I lived in the deep south a few years ago. Lots to love about the Southeast USA. Wish I was still there.

[BigFootCain]

I am excited and grateful to finally be able to feel a part of this forum now. Even though you all don't know who I am, I feel like I know a lot of you already. I have been reading your posts and stories for at least a year now, so I when I was finally able to register for this site, I already feel like I kind of know your hearts. I can imagine what a joyous meeting it will be when we meet in Zion face to face! Even though there are disagreements on the site, I really feel that most people here want to find the same thing and are all seeking the Lord. That is what matters most. The only reason I didn't join sooner is because I never got the email that was supposed to be sent that you had to click on to activate your registration. Anyway, since I live in a rural town in the southeastern USA, there seemed to be no one to talk to about my feelings as I was being awoken out of my sleep and noticing our awful situation spoken of in the Book of Mormon. Thus, I am grateful for your strength and friendship via the internet.

Welcome. Many here know how you're feeling and have been or are still on a similar journey (me included). I live in a small town in Southwest Tennessee. Just moved here from a much more populous area and I'm enjoying the south. I too feel that I do not have many people to chat with locally, and I come here often to find similar spirits and great perspectives from many sides of many arguments. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

I'm jealous. I'm trying to figure out a way to relocate to Tennessee (though on the Eastern side of the state).

[Robin Hood]

I am excited and grateful to finally be able to feel a part of this forum now. Even though you all don't know who I am, I feel like I know a lot of you already. I have been reading your posts and stories for at least a year now, so I when I was finally able to register for this site, I already feel like I kind of know your hearts. I can imagine what a joyous meeting it will be when we meet in Zion face to face! Even though there are disagreements on the site, I really feel that most people here want to find the same thing and are all seeking the Lord. That is what matters most. The only reason I didn't join sooner is because I never got the email that was supposed to be sent that you had to click on to activate your registration. Anyway, since I live in a rural town in the southeastern USA, there seemed to be no one to talk to about my feelings as I was being awoken out of my sleep and noticing our awful situation spoken of in the Book of Mormon. Thus, I am grateful for your strength and friendship via the internet.

Greetings from the old country.
Welcome to the forum.

[LateOutOfBed]

I am excited and grateful to finally be able to feel a part of this forum now. Even though you all don't know who I am, I feel like I know a lot of you already. I have been reading your posts and stories for at least a year now, so I when I was finally able to register for this site, I already feel like I kind of know your hearts. I can imagine what a joyous meeting it will be when we meet in Zion face to face! Even though there are disagreements on the site, I really feel that most people here want to find the same thing and are all seeking the Lord. That is what matters most. The only reason I didn't join sooner is because I never got the email that was supposed to be sent that you had to click on to activate your registration. Anyway, since I live in a rural town in the southeastern USA, there seemed to be no one to talk to about my feelings as I was being awoken out of my sleep and noticing our awful situation spoken of in the Book of Mormon. Thus, I am grateful for your strength and friendship via the internet.

Welcome. Many here know how you're feeling and have been or are still on a similar journey (me included). I live in a small town in Southwest Tennessee. Just moved here from a much more populous area and I'm enjoying the south. I too feel that I do not have many people to chat with locally, and I come here often to find similar spirits and great perspectives from many sides of many arguments. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

I'm jealous. I'm trying to figure out a way to relocate to Tennessee (though on the Eastern side of the state).

I would've liked to have been a bit further east... but this is WAY better than where I was in New Mexico!

[Nevervaxxed]

Welcome Honestseeker12 - I love your chose of name

[honestseeker12]

I think the hardest part for me in awakening was to realize that the church has joined the United Nations (and other evil organizations) and they promote the UN agenda for 2030. This is the organization (and/or the WEF) that is trying to depopulate the world! The church is constantly virtue signaling and doesn't seem to stand for any righteous values at all any more. I remember when President Ezra Taft Benson was warning us against secret combinations, but now we have joined with them! I am thankful that my 2 kids in college now decided to go to state schools instead of BYU or BYUI. I was shocked to find out all of the things going on at BYU now, and I would rather have my kids go against Babylon at a state school rather than a church school trying to tell them the ways of the world are okay with God now.

[Nevervaxxed]

I think the hardest part for me in awakening was to realize that the church has joined the United Nations (and other evil organizations) and they promote the UN agenda for 2030. This is the organization (and/or the WEF) that is trying to depopulate the world! The church is constantly virtue signaling and doesn't seem to stand for any righteous values at all any more. I remember when President Ezra Taft Benson was warning us against secret combinations, but now we have joined with them! I am thankful that my 2 kids in college now decided to go to state schools instead of BYU or BYUI. I was shocked to find out all of the things going on at BYU now, and I would rather have my kids go against Babylon at a state school rather than a church school trying to tell them the ways of the world are okay with God now.

I couldn't agree more HS - for me, it was the killer jab that got my attention, then I wondered if they aren't honest about that, what else? So I started "seeing" all the "else", such as you described, and things like RMN being a member of Skull & Bones, with all that entails. It's hard to go against everything you've been taught your wholel life, but at what point can you keep rationalizing? I obviously passed my point. and it sounds like you did too. Again, welcome

[Reluctant Watchman]

I couldn't agree more HS

Your first official abbreviated name.

[JuneBug12000]

Thanks for introducing yourself, and for everyone else's responses. Interesting how so many of us have similar experiences.

I was a lurker on this site for a while before taking the plunge and joining in. It's nice to know we are not alone in recognizing the issues going on within the Church. Even though it sucks recognizing this "awful situation", we can at least know there are others out there seeing the same things and seeing all is not well in zion.

I lived in the deep south a few years ago. Lots to love about the Southeast USA. Wish I was still there.

I'm grateful that people here see the truth about the church, but also keep the truth about the Book of Mormon. Most exmo sites don't/won't let you.

[honestseeker12]

I couldn't agree more HS

Your first official abbreviated name.

Thank you for the explanation! I thought HS meant high school since I was talking about college schools, but I was confused reading it.

[BigFootCain]

I think the hardest part for me in awakening was to realize that the church has joined the United Nations (and other evil organizations) and they promote the UN agenda for 2030. This is the organization (and/or the WEF) that is trying to depopulate the world! The church is constantly virtue signaling and doesn't seem to stand for any righteous values at all any more. I remember when President Ezra Taft Benson was warning us against secret combinations, but now we have joined with them! I am thankful that my 2 kids in college now decided to go to state schools instead of BYU or BYUI. I was shocked to find out all of the things going on at BYU now, and I would rather have my kids go against Babylon at a state school rather than a church school trying to tell them the ways of the world are okay with God now.

I'm going to echo Nevervaxxed and say that all of this was part of my wake up call - the BS that was allowed/approved at BYU, the vax, affirmation of trans and lgbtq, being accused of racism by the prophet, the list started going on and on and on. It's impossible to unsee it. It seems like the Church has turned into some feckless, weak entity that sometimes give fluff instruction regarding the Gospel, but no meat. So much of what is being done now contradicts the Gospel and Plan of Salvation...along with collaborating with secret combinations.

Glad to hear that your kids went to a different school than those the church offers. I work in academia (though I am trying to escape) and would argue all of it is rotten to the core. Make sure you help your kids understand the plan of salvation so they don't get sucked into any demonic worldviews that run contrary to it or the Gospel. Their lucky to have a family that recognizes what is going on in the world and can help them stay grounded in truth.