DISCLAIMER: One question that I was asked by many of my guests was, “what is the purpose of this video?” I wanted to make it clear. My goal is NOT to convince anyone to leave the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Neither was my goal to convince anyone to convert to Mormonism when I interviewed Elder Dufrain and Elder Garcia. This is an important perspective to have when watching any episode of i’m Listening. When talking about paganism, atheism, abortion, or any other social justice/ religious subjects the overwhelming purpose is to build empathy and compassion even when we may disagree about very important questions. This show is for the purpose of understanding where people come from. In short, to build bridges... not walls. This show is my best attempt to live out the wisdom of being “slow to speak and quick to listen.” Special thanks to my new friends for sharing their stories with us ruclips.net/user/ExmoLex ruclips.net/channel/UCGm61vMUzmNa0o2_GD8GQIA ruclips.net/user/MyGreatandSpaciousWorld @kissedbykrysta
I am hurting. When we don't conform to there fucked up standards and beliefs, we are thrown away emotionally and shamed. I hope the church fails entirely one day.
I was raised in the church, I went on a mission to Michigan at age 19, I was married at 34 and sealed in the temple at 35. The church had always been center guiding light in my life. At age 50 I decided to do some in-depth study about the life and times of Joseph Smith and also the Book of Abraham, my minor in college was history. I really thought it would be a testimony building experience. The result was the opposite, I turned my world upside down. My whole life had been built around the teachings of a 19th century con artist. I was devastated.
You were not the ONLY one! Mormonism has to be the greatest HOAX in the 19th Century US history. I am a convert, but right after my mission, I left for good.
ur right, it is very hard, esp for ppl who have a high need for validation. this is across the board for all humans and any institutions we might belong to. However, I dont find listening to ppls expressing their negative experiences about leaving any institution as beneficial...I feel like a Psychologist without getting paid for lending my ear
@IannaLovely2022 Joseph Smith's King Follet Discourse reveals his false gods . It was he who gave heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils, and departed from the FAITH.
@@eclecticempath5263 I remembered when I was a member of that church .. they called me a "BROTHER".. But when I leave the church.. they didn't Even called me a "BROTHER"..I'm sad.😭
I'm sorry that you've experienced that as a member of the church of jesus christ of latter day saints I've experienced it a lot but because of my faith and determination to find those people who will really love me and cherish me all I wanna say that we are not perfect but we are trying to be perfect like Jesus christ we just have to stay positive and hold on to it
I was teaching gospel Doctrine when the Lord spoke to me. "He said, you are finished here" I went home and resigned my teaching position. And never went back. Twenty years of healing later, I Found Jesus reading the Bible.
Yes, Ken. The LORD speaks to me all the time. I, never trust those whom say* the LORD spoke to me* .. I, do not care whether you are a Pastor,Prophet or regular Christian. The LORD speaks in a still small voice NOT, like it is a revelation. Anything else is from the. *EVIL ONE*!!!!
It sounds to me like you are agreeing with him? He listened to his still small voice ie his conscience…if you have the spirit of the Lord/Holy Ghost/Holy Spirit with you it is fine to say the Lord spoke to you. Blessings.
Probably should add a comma after "Jesus." After all, He knows the Bible by heart.🙂Seriously, thankyou for posting. The Grace and mercy of God in Jesus is without compare.
My first time going through the temple really freaked me out. Being a very curious person I did research on where the temple ceremony came from, it's origins in the LDS faith. I couldn't believe what I found, that the temple ceremony was a rip off of the Mason ceremony. From there, that led to more and more questions about church history. The obvious conclusion after my research was the Mormon church was a lie. There is a very, very, very good reason leaders of the church strongly discourages research of church history using secular means, for exemple Google. The leaders strongly suggest only reading church approved history or literature. Now I know why.
I hope you don’t throw God away.... as you make these discoveries. He is there, is real, and will bring you to have a personal relationship with him.... I was in the Mormon Church for 50 years... but Jesus gently led me out.
Am so sorry william Bott for your experience Am a Filipino Convert the first time i've been to temple it was a wonderful experience My Own Endownment to The Holy Temple was when am in my MTC Days ... and that was a wonderful and memorable experience i ever had, i felt the Love of God, so welcoming What i like to share is the time i was been washed and anointed ... am so much thankful that i had read the old testament and had taken a great study on 5books of moses that during the ordinance of washing and anointing verses in the Bible flashes in my mind for most of the words that the Temple worker had uttered connects me to the old testament even the surroundings (it was a very spiritual experience to me, for me it was a higher way of learning, then during the endownment oh, Books in the new testament flashes in my mind especially about revelation, then genesis, malachi isaiah - am a bible reader during my early days as a convert cause my friends belong to other religions 3yrs as a member of the Church i had encountered various pastors and ministers of other religions had been given anti mormon pamphlet - that situation requires me to read the bible thoroughly ... the Sacrament attendance in my branch that time is only 37 on average Am somewhat a pioneer - am a year before going on a mission thats the time i read thoroughly the Book of Mormon
@@CMFelos Lets not use one delusion to put down another. The bible condones rape, slavery, and murder. The bible is not a moral book or a book to base your life on.
Please read my comment above. As someone with total knowledge of both, I PROMISE you, they are NOT the same. Totally different meanings, for totally different purposes. The symbolism is instructive in one, and clannish comradery in the other.
@@georgezeller6046 I would appreciate it if you could show Bible passages to prove your point. The sixth commandment prohibits murder. Amnon was killed because he raped someone. And the “Slavery” of the Bible is actually indentured servitude, meaning the slaves consented to do work in return for food and shelter.
Oh my gosh I feel so incredibly touched to have been a part of such a beautiful documentary. Thank you so much, Justin, for giving us the opportunity to have our stories be heard. I know that we aren't the only ones who have struggled within or out of Mormonism. I am so deeply touched by how beautifully this video came together. There was so much sincerity and I find this incredibly comforting to watch. Justin you are such an amazing guy, thank you for your honesty, integrity and acceptance. I loved getting to know you and I love and support all that you are doing. Thank you again for this amazing honor. 💜💙💚 - Morgan
It's a demonic religious cult like Scientology, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Seven Day Advent, and Catholicism, Muslims, New Age, Mother God, etc. Jesus Christ is the only way to Heaven. John 14:6;26 1 Timothy 2:5 John 3:3 (1 Corinthians 6-9-10)
@@Hbush1987 "cult" hahaha that is what the Nazis called the Jews. It is what the Romans called the early Christians. It is what Communists called the Buddhists. You don't like a church well fine, move on . grow up get a life stop sniveling. I am no longer the religion I was born into . It would be rude to bad mouth them. Try letting others have their own opinions , you know like freedom of religion.
When I was a Miamade (young women’s) a teenage girl wound up pregnant. As her friends we wanted to help her. We wanted to throw her a baby shower. I was told we couldn’t do that because it would “encourage her” and it would look like we were condoning that behavior. It was moments like this where I began to question the church.
@@sophiej1987 "That sums up the attitude the Mormon church has towards people that don’t do what they want or believe in" So true. When my father lost my mother to MS, the Mormon church they had diligently served for many years were quick to remind my father the importance of keeping up with his tithing and serving the church now he was alone. Because he was so very much alone and depressed, despite his faith he committed suicide. My mother was given a full Mormon funeral service, but because my father had taken his own life he was denied a full Mormon funeral and the members agreed that while my mother was in the Celestial Kingdom, my father would never be able to see her - being in a lower level for eternity. Such is the attitude the Mormon church has to real people with real life events; the doctrines are more important than people.
@@carlduffin completely true. Their Doctrine will always go above love and people. I’m so sorry to hear about your parents. Mental health is a topic the Mormon church completely undermines as well (a LOT of religion, actually), which is something that needs to be brought to serious light. Thank you for replying with this though, it’s easy to just say things but when we’ve lived things first hand, it’s very difficult and it’s something that takes healing
It's MIA-Maid. "Miamade" sounds perverted. For people who aren't familiar with that, M.I.A. stands for Mutual Improvement Association. It was a program for girls in the church during their early and middle teenage years. Nothing weird or twisted.
I am a teenager and have grown up in the church and have been questioning recently. I don't see stuff like this where it shows why people left the church but doesn't completely disregard it's good aspects too. It's nice to hear from someone that has been on both sides of the fence. I'm not sure if I am going to choose to leave yet, but it's nice to know that some people get me. Disregarding what I have been taught since birth is a very hard thing. If I leave, I know a part of me will be left behind but I hope that I can learn to accept whatever decision I make and I hope that my friends and family can too.
I have friends in LDS church and I myself am a Christian not in LDS and I have listened to my friends views, but I personally don’t think that I should read anything other than the Bible and the Lord said this. I have not felt called to read anything else. I just think that either way we’re still Christians and worship God either way. God even says that there would be many ministries but they would still worship Him. So we have no real issues between us, so if you have any doubts, just ask God to speak with you. I promise you don’t need anyone else in order to speak to God. He will speak to your heart or call someone to give you his peaceful answer or you’ll find it in the Bible. Ask him what to do. As long as you aren’t being led astray by others you should be okay. Either way God bless you on whatever you decide.
Find peace in yourself and leave. Ditch shame and guilt, embrace your highest self. It’s not found in the temple or the church or in covenants but all within you. That’s the secret.
This video turned out really good! It is music to my ears when I listen to others having the same aha moments as me!✨ Thank you for having me, your work is really amazing!
I was never MORmON but came close to getting baptized when I was married to a member 10 years ago. I do however come from a long, rich linage of Mormons; my father broke that chain before I was born in the 70’s. He studied the history before it was as accessible as it is today, and took our family out of it.
Mormonism is wrong but unfortunately most Mormons feel so burned by religion that they write off anything Jesus-related, no matter how clear and logical the proof, because they think "if I could've been this wrong about the church, everyone else could be just as wrong in their Christian beliefs." Atheist materialism (which is what exmo Lex sort of turned into) is a self refuting worldview. If ex-mormon atheists did the same investigation into philosophy and metaphysics they would realize atheism is just as verifiably wrong as the Mormon church is. Nothing can come from nothing. We can't see God, but from the things we know for sure, we can know God exists. Kind of like gravity, we can't see it, we can't prove it materially or touch it, but we know it exists by using material proof that we do have to deduce that gravity is real! Good luck!
I am actually still a teenager, but my mom has made it known that she is leaving Mormonism for good. She has been so open about what she found out. I am very glad that she did, because the religion is so cult-like, and, quite frankly, build off lies. The whole Book of Abraham thing, as well as learning that Joseph Smith is not a good person was very shocking. She’s told me all she knows, so now I’m trying to dig for more. I really like truth, so in a way, this is a coping mechanism. Thank you for this video, it’s very eye opening to watch. I’m already doing much better (two days after the revelation) and this video helps a lot with my emotional recovery. I’m already looking forward to the many things I will be able to experience without the chains of the church still wrapped around me. Once again, thank you for the video.
I'm LDS and found this video very well done. I think there are many members with the same doubts, fears, reservations and questions. I have a lot of my own questions about so many things regarding my faith, most of which have not been answered yet. My goal is to learn as much as I can and grow in my faith and testimony, however my real goal is the pursuit of truth no matter where it leads me. Thanks for sharing.
@@D.c.0 were you raised in the church or convert... I'm in 30 years, now early 60s.. frustrating and mix of feelings...why would Jesus bring us in only to bring out all these years later...
So you are stubborn after looking at all the other religions. On 911 YOUR GOD LOVES 3000 + ruclips.net/video/xIErAz-ZO-I/видео.html ruclips.net/video/xIErAz-ZO-I/видео.html ruclips.net/video/-ZUZRY57kIU/видео.html
@Brook Price I don't know where are you with your search but check out Ray Comfort Living Waters Ministires, when Ray talks to a Mormon and definitely Jeff Durbin "Apologia studios" or Apologia church. You might be blessed by those. Keep searching.
I converted to the Mormon church when I was 19. I stayed for 6 years and left when I was 25. I am now 67 and continue to follow developments in the fascinating cult. They try to convert non-Mormons and when they join they are made to feel second class by members constantly bragging about being a seventh generation Mormon and their ancestors were in Nauvoo with crazy Joe.
I, agree with. 1452. MOVE on, already. If you are following the TRUTH, why,why???? are you going on& on & on& on& on& on. If, you RE happy without the CHURCH ( all of you gone). then, just live YOUR life.. Geese!!!!!
Thank you for this . I left the church when I learned the handholds and symbolism in the temple were the same as the Free Masons . Joseph’s family were Free Masons .
@Rebecca Stanley, I came across this comment of yours and I thought it to be pretty accurate with me as well. I recently resigned my membership in the church after being a member for a little over 20 years.
My former father-in-law was a freemason. They are NOT at all the same! I can guarantee that. I still have some of their booklets and magazines. My former mother-in-law was an Eastern Star matron for several years in a row. They were both completely active in the mason organizations during their lives.
I keep seeing people mention the masons and I have heard that word before but I was never raised with religion and I don’t believe in god or satan etc. Who are the masons/why is it bad? Thanks!
I was born and raised in the LDS church and I was a 6th generation Mormon. I had some questions about the religion and when I started reading the New Testament in context, I realized the Bible taught of a different Jesus, a different God, a different Gospel and a different priesthood. I left the Church and became a Christian at 30 years old. My husband is Christian and we are now ministering to Mormons to teach them the truth. My LDS family is all leaving the church now after reading the Bible and seeking truth for themsleves. There are so many things in the Mormon Church that are backwards to what Jesus teaches in the Bible. I pray for people who are Mormon that they would seek the truth which Jesus is the Truth and Jesus is the Word and is God John 1:1 Truth is found in the Bible, there are many religions that started with one man who had an encounter with an angel or who thinks they heard from God that the Bible was interpreted wrong so they rewrite the Bible. Not all roads lead to heaven so it's important everyone does their research on what is the truth.
@@stephaniecastro1835 You’re a shining example of a good Christian. The one you replied to is a shining example of who you should never be, regardless of your religion.
Thank you so much for making this video Justin and reaching out to my favourite ex Mormon/Post Mormon members so they can be apart of this project. The video came together so wonderfully. I can relate to it a lot as someone who has been navigating a faith crisis.
Im actually serving mission, im also struggling with my testemony after reading the history of our ancestors prophets,against Black peolple, and, temple sealing! i dont want to go home before my mission! just praying for God strenght.
I’m currently in dealing with something similar. I’ve converted at age 15. My advice: do research than pray and see if you should stay. Maybe you can help others you teach and learn more about you and your relationship with God. Do what’s best for you! Friend :)
The CES Letter will save your life. I'm not mormon, never been a mormon thank God, but I moved to Salt Lake City 2 1/2 years ago and found out about mormonism. I heard the CES Letter has opened people's eyes.
@@Jmwamuchemi I think it's because families that grow up in the church are very traditionally minded people. I haven't attended in the past 3 years and even though I stopped attending only 3 years ago, I had been veryb back and forth about the Church during the past 9 years. Overall, it is a considered a religious taboo to leave the Church when your whole family is stuck in their ways. It's no different than a parent not accepting that their child is gay. In my experience, it took a while for them to finally accept that I left the Church, maybe about a year ago. It is deeply emotionally damaging when your own family, who should always be your safe place, only cares about how people will view them if their son leaves the church. I am still picking up the pieces to this day. In my opinion, it is very hard to be an ex-Mormon. For some it might be easy. But for me it's hard, not because it is emotionally damaging at an internal level
@@Jmwamuchemi okay, think of it like this: so every member has known or at least heard of how people join the church then their families & friends immediately or gradually cut them off, try to get them to leave the church, etc., among many other things. It’s literally just an uno reverse. Someone leaves the church, you can guarantee their families & friends are literally doing exactly the same with the exception of course being they’re trying to convert you back into the church (opposite of getting you to leave).
@@Jmwamuchemi I live in Utah. My religion is my culture. Leaving it would mean leaving my childhood, my family, and a huge chunk of my identity. If my religion is a lie, then my culture is a lie. But like she said in the video, after all I have learned, it is just as scary to believe my religion is true. I’m going to leave, but coming to that conclusion was terrifying.
*in all seriousness,* I am 10 years old. (Almost 11) My dad is mormon so is my step-mom. My mom & step dad are atheists. I, myself I am a atheist. I live in a very religious place. It is hard for me to be myself, but yet I’m living & I’m happy of the person I have become. It makes me happy to see people leaving that cult. Yes, there is *SO* much evidence that it is a cult. I totally understand the guy who is gay in the video, because I am apart of the lgbtqia+ community. Please don’t ever judge someone for that. Lots if love & support. 💕
Your dad & stepmom are Mormon. Your mom and stepdad are atheist. However, you are only 10 years old. You have a long long time to become familiar with any type of religion. I would be willing to bet you get along better with your mom than your dad and stepmom? You can be who you choose but give other religions a chance. There are so many different beliefs to check out. You have a long way to go Sweetie.
Great video, Justin. Thanks to all those who shared their stories & experiences. I appreciated that they shared their perspectives without bashing those who choose to still belong to that faith. Thanks for compiling these stories without a hidden agenda.
I left the church at 17. I had to go on an interview with my bishop for baptism of the dead. When he asked if i had any gay friend i replied yes. My best friend was a lesbian. He told me he was unsure how this would effect me being allowed in the temple to do this "righteousness and holy" act. Mind uou baptism for the dead is getting baptismed and basically converting someone after their death. When i told him i didnt understand how my best friend being a lesbian effected me my bishop told me i was "tainted" with her sins. I came out as bisexual within a year of leaving the church. Another time a bishop and young womens leader was telling my and my other young women that our bodies are temples and gifts from God and that if we abuse our body it was a sin. Looked directly at me and said being overweight or obese is a sin and you will go to hell for not respecting the temple the Lord gave you. I am very glad i got out of this church.
I left the church at 18. I didn’t have a leader THAT disgusting, but I remember all the times I’ve been to the temple and how weirded out I was about the traditions, and baptisms for the dead. It just never sat well with me- considering agency was supposed to be so important- that living people were converting and getting baptized for everyone that’s dead. Like that is so weird. And I ignored that because I wanted to just trust that it’s right like I should, but then a little bit of research confirmed how weird and wrong the temple practices are.
@@ainsleyhelliot There’s a website that actually helps members with this because there have been many who have had to lawyer-up to get their records removed so the people who help with this, know how to go about it. If you have TikTok, look up “ExMormonMindy”. She used the website to have hers removed. I’ll look for it when I get a chance & will post it here.
I am so saddened to hear all these stories of loser bishops who will never be worthy of the very things they think they were trying to get you to adhere to so you could have all the blessings. Those types of bishops may have just been stupid, or too lazy to pray about things and receive revelation. Maybe they just were guilty of repeating something they heard from someone who was judgmental, or even homophobic. Ever wonder why many bishops never are called to be forward to any higher positions in the church???? It's because of their errors and own personal faults. You should have never been told such ridiculous things. One of my best friends is bisexual, and I know her life situation and how it came to be. And I do NOT condemn her. We ALL have stuff we have to work through. NONE of us are exempt from trying to figure things out in all sorts of uncommon ways. Heavenly Father knows are hearts, and THAT is the only way we should deal with people who live on this earth with us. Just look on the HEARTS of ALL people. Oh, and baptisms for the dead are in NO WAY converting someone into the church. It is just an ordinance that is done by proxy if that person who passed on wants to claim it. ---Jesus' followers were baptized for the dead. The Apostle Paul used it as his pivotal argument for there being an actual bodily RESURRECTION of the dead... "and if the dead rise not at all, then why are they then being baptized for them?" Again, I am so sorry for what was said to you.
As someone now struggling with my weight....most of it has been after my joining the LdS church 30 years ago...I agree that being overweight or obese isn't good, but in no way would God put us in hell for it. That's just craziness.
I am glad how well rounded this video was, it was refreshingly positive at the beginning about their church experiences and I am really glad they mentioned the not so positive experiences/ things that led to their faith crisis because it is all valid. There can be a lot of toxic positivity within the church. It's not very healthy. Also some members in the church like to project this image that people that leave the church never had a true testimony of it's teachings....but that's simply NOT true in most cases I've seen. No one should make that assumption, it's extremely invalidating and gaslighting. Also for people who leave the church, just because you leave, I've learned that it's okay to go through grief and feel upset, but it is also okay to let yourself reminisce and remember the positive experiences you had in the church without discrediting your experience as a whole. It's all okay. Let yourself feel a normal, healthy, full range of emotions.
I live in Herriman Utah and we are the only family that do not attend the LDS church in our neighborhood and it's so awkward with the neighbors not to mention sad. I have 4 kids and the other parents do not let their kids play with my kids because we do not participate in church activities. I told my kids that they are more than welcome to attend church and find out for them selves and make their own decisions. They refuse to give it a chance because they feel so out of place as it is so sad!
That is so sad!!!! I’m a member and just moved to Utah from Vegas. Utah culture is super super weird and unique in that aspect... if I had older kids I would love to hangout with you guys! I hope they make genuine friends soon.
I recommend going to The Well, in Sandy. It’s a good place. I promise you aren’t the only non-members in Herriman. There are a few dozen churches that are non-LDS in the area. I also highly recommend a field trip with the kids to the Cathedral of the Madeleine. It is a beautiful church, and the priests are quite kind.
Ugh...Catholicism. After studying the depths of that creed (see my top post here for my credentials), the way the Emperor Constantine twisted and perverted the Gospel for the sake of expanding his empire and deepening his control and hold over the peasants through threats tied in with pagan superstitions, it is disgusting and oftentimes horrific. The murders of the 60 men who refused to vote for the definition of "God" that Constantine wanted to use to expand his control was only one of the offenses of that period in history. For more information read The Great Apostasy by Talmadge.
@@six1nyne This is absolutely the fault of the Mormon parents. I have heard so many, TOO MANY, cases of Mormon parents refusing to allow their child to be friends with non Mormons. Hell, I had to hide 4 of my friendships from my mom because they were atheists (chill, really nice people whom I’m still friends with to this day). Mormon culture is perhaps one of the most cultish things I’ve witnessed, especially in small Utah towns.
I really loved the way these people spoke about their experiences. Hope you all are happy and feel at peace with your decision, you came across as extremely likeable and thoughtful.
@Ninet Tayeb God has ask us to Obey His commandments as we live our Lives..That is important. Churches and church work is totally made up by men. It is not required by God.
@Ninet Tayeb That is what I found too. I was controlled and bullied. It was a terrible experience. I suffered so much because of that church. I am still Healing. I hope you are doing better.
@Ninet Tayeb I am so sorry you had such a bad experience..I understand. I was born into the church so my experience started early and I grew more accustomed to it. The man I married was very hard on me as well as the people at church.. but Jesus Saved me from it. It was difficult..but I didn’t find any other church to be much better. I have concluded that I do not belong in church. I Live like Jesus now. I just walk out my life and help whomever God Brings my way. I have found this to be most satisfying. God Loves ALL people..Not just the Church people. There are a lot of people out there need help..from time to time. Jesus did not go to church and was very upset with the churchmen of His Day. People fail to see the Real Jesus. He Saved His people from church and churchmen..that is who the Pharisees were.
I left this church around the age of 29 or 30 ( 53 now ) - I am a woman and I quickly found out that unmarried women in the Church are pretty much outcasts, people whisper point and stare because you are a woman that no man wanted. Being a convert was against me ( instead of " Oh I am decended all the way down from when the church was founded ") , I am a very tall woman at 6'4" so no male would go near me, let alone date me. So one time I was so upset about being very unwanted and like a 5th wheel in the Church, I started quietly crying during the service. My Bishop saw this and afterwards, all he said was that I needed to get help for that, the end. I think that was my last day ever at the church and have not gone in 23 or more years. I am a non denominational Christian, and just read Gods Word from the Bible.
More than 2 decades later and here you are...pathetically bashing a faith you claim to have rejected. You've slid off the path and I say good for you...and even better for us! Thanks for leaving so we didn't have to throw you out.
I was shunned by the women of the church because I had never been married nor was I interested in marrying anyone ever. I left the church a month ago after 12 years. I never made any friends even though I was in the same ward all those years. No ones even noticed.
I grew up watching my mum be a single woman in the church ..and worse she also had 3 kids. She joined the church after she left my Dad. The mistreatment she got was crazy..she was never invited over anyones house for dinner in case she stole their husband. We couldn’t have missionaries visit for dinner for same reason. No one wanted to marry a woman with 3 kids already …they wanted a ‘fresh pure woman. Why she stayed active I didn’t klnow. You are basically an outcast or a project of you are single …it’s horrible. When I divorced my narcissistic husband I never went back to church. I didn’t want the same treatment for myself …suddenly I was now nobody since I didn’t have a husband. I lost my whole social group as it was marrieds only. I don’t believe my worth is tied to having a husband ..so I left..ain’t nobody got time for that garbage .
I would love to date an ex-Mormon guy. The strength of character and intellect it takes to leave the LDS must be very high. I would never date a Mormon. Frankly, I can't even keep them around as friends.
Being around Mormons is tough. They are very judgmental and think they are better than you in everything. Be careful what you say around them, they love to gossip.
As a Mormon, you’d probably question what I’m doing here 😂 I’m inactive for my own reasons, but I still love and have faith within the church. Thanks for sharing your experiences ❤️
You listen to testimonials yet continue being Mormon? I hope you figured it out by now. Whistle-blowers should not be ignored especially when their are thousands of them. Your probably gentle like a dove but need to be shrewd as a serpent.
Im LDS. Still practicing. Its fascinating listening to people explain what happened. It's sad how lost religion in general can make some people feel. Yet on the other hand, how some people describe being found by it, is so enlightening. Human nature is constant conflict and making sense of unintelligible situations. All I can say for certain is please stay safe and take care of yourself.
Leaving the church was very difficult. Later i realized the process of getting out was a cathartic and was also soooo fun to figure out that i wanted OUT!!!!! Left in 1994 and am grateful every day
Thank you for this video. I am a TBM. I went through a faith crisis of my own, many of my friends and family have as well. In the end, I regained my faith, but many of my family and friends didn't. This video is helpful for me. I love and care about my family and friends who don't believe the same things I do. The last thing I want to do is hurt them more than they are already hurt. Sometimes it is hard to navigate relationships when a faith crisis happens. I hope I am better at it after seeing this.
Joseph Smith was a sexual predator and con. How can you retain faith in the bullshit he perpetrated? I was never Mormon, but reading Rough Stone Rolling and then doing research it just seems clear that Joe was a confidence man who finally landed on a successful con.
@@blackalien6873 My own journey is a very personal and special to me. I share it with people who really want to know and choose not to share it on a social media thread. I am hoping for a place where we can all be more tolerant of others. Have a great day.
@@QuackerMomma I REFUSE to tolerate the intolerable. The "founder" of your religion was a sexual deviant in the proper use of that word. He manipulated and coerced with threats women and GIRLS to get them to have sexual relations with him. If he had just stuck to conning people out of their money, I wouldn't be so worked up. But as a woman, myself, reading about how he conned women into sex left my skin crawling.
Coloradan ex-Mormon here. I’ll admit, I never really had any bad experiences with the church. It was a neat place to make some good friends and I still hold no ill will towards any of the people. But I didn’t like the organization and how strict it was. Plus I never really believed in it, just went because my dad wanted me to.
As a current member of the church, I applaud the courage it took to share your feelings. Keep being the best version of you that you can. I know that is what is truly important.
Yep, I'm familiar with the podcast and the letter. Listened to much of Mr Dehlin's podcast (he's had some of my friends on) and read all of Mr. Runnells letter. I didn't find either very compelling. If it helps others, I am happy for them.
Thank you! The fear that the church is not true hit me first. Then the bigger fear hit me, what if it is true? I’m going to be alone for eternity, not because of my choices but because of husband’s and my family’s choices.
That is how mind control works. My offering to you is - if you are in the church (any church) because you are afraid of not being in it, then it is not the place to be. I wish you well on your journey. (ex-Mormon church member)
As a member of the church I feel that we need to remember that heavenly father will sort everything out in the millennium. You won't be by yourself. I have had a faith crisis like ppl say but then it made me push more into it and to be fair I won't leave as its helped me too much
Yes …and they try and make you feel better by saying ..Oh you’ll be married off to someone in heaven as one of their numerous wives …and the thought of that makes me sick…to not be seen as anything but a number who is there to birth spirit children. My LDS husband was abusive yet he is the important one who counts and myself who was faithful is rewarded by being a nameless incubator.
@@anthonynettleton8346 Yes but what if you want to be by yourself …that’s why I left. My husband was one of those unrighteousness dominion types and I have no interest in ever having a relationship again due to it. I left the church because there is no place for me …if I want to be alone after I die then I can get that by NOT going to church 😂. I have ZERO interest in being married to another LDS guy.
Thank you all for sharing your stories. I'm seeing a lot of similarities between leaving the Mormon church and leaving Christian fundamentalism. It's a difficult journey.
If you're Mormon in Utah, your neighbors, and your family members all follow this church like a cult. It makes it very hard for people to leave, and when they do they get treated like they never existed. It's very sad what they do to their ex-members. They make sure nobody hangs out with you, and they won't even let their kids play with your kids. I know this because my family was not Mormon and when we moved into a new neighborhood I met a few kids across the street and I started playing with them. Well then the parents came over and asked my mom about our faith and if we were interested in going to church. My mom said no, because we were Christian, but we didn't go to Mormon churches. After that I was never able to play with any of those kids again because the parents wouldn't allow it. They stick to their own unless you are interested in the church... now tell me that doesn't sound controlling and weird
Are you not aware of the constitutional right people have to associate with whom they choose? If you don't like the exclusion...move away or find new friends. Stop judging people for their constitutional choices. Sounds like you're the bigot.
This was wonderful. It's funny, how so much of what I heard from these individuals mirrors my experience growing up Adventist. Yet both churches hold that belief that they are THE church with THE truth and everyone else is living in sin or deception, etc. All I know is, after watching this, I felt like there was a personal connection between myself and several of the participants... like I made a new friend, which is ridiculous because none of them know me lol! But it was obvious that they were baring their hearts, and it was lovely. Thank you for doing your best to build bridges, not walls, Justin :) Can't wait to watch the one on Seventh Day Adventism!!
My wife stopped being mormon just before we met. Those creepy people harrased my wife and step kid for over twenty years. Telling them she no was no longer a mormon was not good enough. They never accpeted that she had left. They tracked us down on more than one move. It was so weird to continue receiving the personal letters and newsletters, after we had moved twice. But even more creepy was when they kept showing up at the door. Sometimes for an update (by men), on every holiday with cookies (by women)... again, at three different residences. I threatened to report them to the police. They didn't care. Still sent letters and showed up at the door. It was more than two decades of stalling and harassment. Any time I asked what it takes to get them to piss off, they insisted the air MUST meet with some higher up man, not even sure what his title was. Eventually, I found a form letter online than said it works. We filled it out, sent it in, and IT WORKED! We're finally free from those glass-eyed cult members with their sci-fi backstory. Praise Jesus! J/k, we're devout atheists. 🤣
Even atheist can't not praise Jesus, he's real. Because his name is still being talked about modern day. No one would know his name if he wasn't real. Your atheist I'm christian ✝️
The same thing happened to me and I moved out of the country. It was so annoying. They showed up at a relatives house looking for me. It was my never-mo husband’s uncle..none of them knew I grew up Mormon. There were 6 mormons and they freaked the family out. I repeatedly told the church to leave me alone and then finally resigned...but in the end I had to call a lawyer before they would leave me alone.
I left the catholic church, as someone who was actually attending church. I was so torn but once I saw the truth from scripture I made the break and have never looked back 😊 God is faithful. Seek truth
@@blackalien6873 He is real! How do you know you wont go to hell? I mean if were wrong we wont know but if your wrong you will know if I'm right and you seek GOD we will both be in a much better place in the afterlife my friend I love you GOD BLESS!!!!
@@justice777B Why don't you use this same illogical logic in response to all the other gods and religions? Why aren't you worshipping Vishnu in case he exists? Why aren't you doing secret masonic rituals in a Mormon temple in case their space-god Elohim is real? I don't worship your god, or any other gods because I act based on the evidence. So far, other than fairy stories in a book, I have not been presented with any real evidence that any of the gods worshipped by humans is anything other than made up fantasy characters.
@@blackalien6873 if you look at all those other religions you'll see alot if not most or all are using christian principles practically using my faith as a crutch while rejecting it's scripture my faith as a christian stands on it's own two feet without fail GOD BLESS YOU!!!!
@@blackalien6873 just adding on something I should of also said is if you base your belief on evidence then you would search for the answer to life people who believe in facts dont believe in coincidence and perfect accidents they believe in a source you believe in nothing youll fall for anything the christian faith has never been disproved and has been proven true over and over again
My BYU bishop asked for a DETAILED description of my sexual encounter w my fiancée. My intuition knew he was getting off on it. My kids have no idea how lucky they are they were never subjected to that…….
Hi from Jakarta, Indonesia 🇮🇩. Thank you so much, guys for the testimony. I'm very blessed, because today I got video call from my Instagram friend. At the first he asked me about my Faith then after 2weeks, we start to doing the Bible study. I'm very excited, but when we doing the Bible study at 9AM (Jakarta time) and at 10PM (his time). Makes me wondering how important or what makes he so excited to doing the Bible study. Then he starts to give the information about Joseph Smith and LDS and very shock! Because never cross my mind about the human being that declare himself as prophet. Then I'm just ask Holy Spirit, pray, asking my Bible study besties and doing my research one of my research is trough RUclips...and I can decide that, I was wrong, repent and ask God for the mercy. Last thing : 1 John 5 verse 18-22. Keep the Faith and God bless y'all 🔥🙌🏻❤️...Thank You, Lord! 🔥🙌🏻
I am still a member of the church trying my best to be a good person. I can completely relate to a lot of issues that ultimately led to some of these guys leaving.
Hi Justin, Excellent, excellent video!!! I'm amazed at how much you all are helping people by coming together and collectively sharing your experiences and viewpoints! Thank you all!
Mormons come to my door, I try to tell them about the real Jesus. To all you Mormons your have been taught a lie. You will not be gods. Jesus is not Satan's brother. Read the bible for truth. One is saved by grace not works. I pray my Mormon family gets out
@@ebear6555 You are totally mistaken. This is not what is being taught in the church. The Book Of Mormon is another testimony of Jesus Christ meaning that it is like the Bible but having more stories.
God, his son Jesus do not make mistakes or lie. What Jesus said 2,000 years ago was the truth and still is and always will be the truth. On RUclips watch weekly church services of "The First Baptist Church of Roy".
Listening to them reminds me of my experience in the church not as a Latter Day Saint but as Cogic/Baptist. I use to deal with Pastors that would throw out at people indirectly over the pulpit and would try to put myself or other members of the family in position as a way of making people jealous. The teaching of Bible from a one sided perspective also pulled me away. But the sexual, racial and religious discrimination that I was also hearing was the final straw. Watching this confirmed a lot about what I had been seeing in the church.
I have had the same experience. But then again, many members I know have one foot out the door, do not attend, are "inactive," and do not follow many of the rules.
Yes…the reason I left was as a parent I refused to let my children have those interviews. I remember how horrible they were and I can’t get away from the feeling that it is extremely inappropriate for a male to take any child but especially a girl into an office alone and ask all these questions. No where else in any other child organisation are adults allowed to do this …no teacher, scout leader etc etc are ever allowed to be alone with someone else’s child. I could not put my child in a potentially dangerous situation like that just because the adult is the Bishop. I also had trauma relating to male abuse myself and I could not understand why if I needed something I couldn’t talk to the Relief Society President instead …I just couldn’t handle any more males telling me what to do . I actually still keep all the standards and believe in God…but no more male run organisations for me. I have no interest in being one of many wives after death .
i had what i thought was a good friend. she was raised in the mormon church and decided to go back to it. because i was not a mormon and did not want to be she dropped me and never spoke to me again. i was so hurt! i did go to the mormon church one time and i was so very uncomfortable there i was shivering. i swore i would never go back. i attended the women's sermon i guess it was called? and YES< it was heavy on the guilt. i did not need anymore guilt either.
I am a former (born in) JW and hearing stories so similar to my journey of waking from cult indoctrination has been such a heartening and powerful part of my recovery. Thank you for sharing these.
Speaking of refusal to marry one's Dad St.Dymphna The Saint of Mental Health and of whom's day of May 15th is my Birthday refused to marry her own Dad and so thusly she got executed by the sword.
This also happens in Australia when I joined the Mormon Church as a male adult I grew up with a strict Catholic background and attended a Catholic school for boys but my parents were hypocrites and rarely went to church. When my sister missionaries had left I noticed a change from most of the members and leaders in the church. I am a heterosexual man and I recall a leader asked if I was a homosexual. I just laughed at him. I wasn't allowed to go on dates with young women or associate with nonmembers. I stayed for five years until I had enough of the BS and left in 2000. I never went to the temple because I stopped paying tithing and drinking coffee. I worked hard for my money to support myself. The leaders were very good at bringing members down and making them feel worthless. Lucky I am a tough Aussie bloke who is resilient and very assertive dealing with toxic people from church. However, I saw many vulnerable members who are just ordinary decent people who have personal issues in life. Some left in tears because there was a 'Us and Them' mentality from wealthy and pretentious members. Those who left became disillusioned and misguided by all the empty ceremonies, magical rites, false doctrine, and sanctimonious members who had a chip on their shoulder.
While I’ve never been Mormon I had a good friend who was a nice person but very vulnerable because of her past, I was invited by her and so I proceeded to go, mind you I wasn’t just your average joe, I had plenty of Bible knowledge under my belt but I pretended like I didn’t know much. Eventually I talked to lots of missionaries and everything they taught me was pretty interesting but made no sense and I played along; I noticed quite a good amount of people lacked Bible knowledge, the pictures of white Jesus’s definitely made me wonder if they ever read exodus and well my poor friend fell for a lot of the lies, I didn’t help that she was basically lost in life and the false doctrines damaged her and many others without them realizing it. It got to the point where she started doubting if god was real. I went out of my way to gift her a Bible before we parted ways and hopefully one of the few seeds I planted grows. I used to be Catholic too but after all the bull crap and things that happened I left on my own.
I guess I'll never experience two hour services.....I left shortly before that. Three hour stretches were certainly drab and insipid. And that was my only day off work!
spent the entirety of my childhood attending 3 hour services....then had extra duty after I was old enough to be ordained into the priesthood. All those Sundays, early morning seminary, and Wednesday Mutual.....and I'll never get that time back.
The " church does not even do church. Just talks about their " prohets" ...who are elected not chosen by God. It is all so sad that millions are taught a lie and they believe it. I pray someoneone can bring my family out of that cult
Growing up partly JW, they/we always looked kinda down on other religions and we thought we were the only true religion. I'm just spiritual now and I see truth in all religions.
But what is the TRUTH from GOD's point of view? Either baptizing babies is absurd, or it isn't. Either paying your way out of the consequences of your sins is viable, or it isn't. Either the Catholic invention of the Doctrine of the Trinity in 325 A.D. and the murder of the 60 men who dared to defy the Emperor Constantine is a lie, or it isn't. Either praying for the dead to get out of "Purgatory" is what God wants. or it isn't. Either praying to "dead perfect people" instead of to God is a good thing, or it isn't. Either there is one big all-equal communist "heaven", or the are varying degrees of glory... One is what God has set up, and one isn't. Etc., etc... The ONLY Truth that actually matters in the end, is God's TRUTH. Matthew chapter 7 --- keep seeking, Keep asking, Keep knocking...
I was otherwise "in full fellowship" but did not do a mission in my teens for individual personal reasons. Being in my late twenties by then and single, "The Brethren" determined that LDS Young Women should only marry returned missionaries. They began a General Conference and Ensign Magazine campaign directed at YW likely in hopes of coercing YM to comply with their self-paid mission "service". After two years of social discrimination by obviously mind-controlled Mormon girls, and with options denied and compromised, I ended up in an ill-advised marriage that failed. I view such social engineering as being an evil and uninspired abuse of power upon affected members that is reminiscent of cults and ponzi schemes. That reality led me to an Internet search for truth that opened my eyes.
It’s really wrong to do this …base someone’s worth on whether they went on a mission or not. I married a return missionary and he was a complete narcissistic abuser. Mission servicemeans nothing . I had a lovely male friend …who did not go on a mission but who was otherwise perfectly faithful . He never got married as when he dated girls their parents always broke it up as he wasn’t an RM so he gave up . He is in his 50s now. He stayed in the church and yes ..:still unmarried …doesn’t matter the age …they all want an RM.
Min 30 the loss of sense of community...It's a common feature in religious experience, likely even in political communities or in other kind of separation...when I decided to left ( entering into the crisis of faith that did lead me to agnosticism ) the catholic group where I was involved in for years here in Italy ...one of the most enduring feeling is the loss of so many dear persons I did share so many moments and hopes with
This is so wrong! These are grown individuals that consensually have a Same sex relationship whereas kids that are sexually abused by an adult in church and it is brushed under rug and ignored. Even denied!
We used to have so much fun for FHE. We had lessons and then an activity that was fun. It's the only thing about the church that I miss..... 40 years ago I left because I was lesbian. I never thought that the church could get any worse on its stance on LGBT members and then they did. When i told my mom that my daughter couldn't get baptized even if she wanted to because her other mom (my-ex) was married to a woman she told me to stop talking badly about the church. I said but MOM that's the new policy. It's not talking badly it's talking truth.... She told me they must have a good reason. And then they back tracked.... I'll never understand Mormon god...
I feel kind of disappointed they didn't mention the patriarchy more and body shaming was a huge one I would've liked mentioned. I also would've liked if they had mentioned the churchs response to sexual assault and rape. But I like how they mentioned the good things such as them being kind. Not all of them are, but it is nice that they acknowledge how nice they can be.
@@ralphwiggam7630 If god exists, they wouldn’t have any of the genders/sexes that we do. We were made in their image according to Christianity, not the other way around.
The Mormon Church is proof of how far deceit and lies can go. Joseph Smith managed to start a religious that breaks radically with Christianity and establish it despite dubious claims. Over time it has grown almost unstoppable despite its dubious origins. So much so, that scholars have written books to defend and validate it.
After 17 years, of being a brown guy married to a white woman, trying to be a good Mormon, my 17 year old son shot himself because he did not feel worthy. I never considered how the pressures for us to comply would destroy our family so completely.
My husband. Sweet sweet man. Had a call from a Mormon today they asked if we wanted the book. We said yes thinking they'd send it.. now they're coming to our house on Thursday.... When I say I'm DREADING it. We clearly can't say no 😅😅😅 HELP #closetatheist
@@h.r.9563 no we won't as I am a member and I have read the letters that isn't suppose to be taken as fact . Really I honestly don't see how this can affect your faith in christ as this is a man interpretation..
I was brought up in the Methodist church. I say this in a lose sense because looking back, it seemed that my siblings and I were sent on Sunday morning to give our parents some quiet time because they never went themselves. We didn't have to go anymore if we didn't want to once we turned 15. We all chose not to. Personally, I have my own faith in God. I won't presume to speak for my older brother and sister. This is their business. My wife and I, married 31 years, have gone to different Methodist churches in Florida and West Virginia where we live now. We don't know what the deal is but neither one of us feel the fellowship, church family feeling that everyone else seems to feel. We have friends there and I mowed the church's 2 acres of grass for 10 years before my physical disability worsened and I would do anything for anyone there but I feel like a distant cousin rather than a brother. We keep our own beliefs in God and I don't foresee anything that could change this. In my younger days, I went looking for a comfortable Christian denomination to join. I went to a Catholic church with the girlfriend that I was dating at the time, I went to a Baptist church with an old friend and to a Jehovah's Witness meeting with a guy that I met at a bowling alley that I worked at. Every one of them seemed to have a, for lack of a better word, kink that didn't set right with me. I don't mean a sexual kink but maybe discrepancy would be a better term. Every Christian church that I have ever gone to taught me that you confess your sins to Jesus. Catholics say you have to tell a priest. This sounds like shaming to me. When I talk to Jesus, I feel that I can say anything without holding anything back. There are a few things in my past that no human knows and I'm good with that. Jesus knows and I know that I am forgiven. The Baptist church, to me was all hell fire and damnation. Between the service that I went to and the radio program that I used to listen to on my 25 minute drive to work at night made me feel like no matter what I did, there was no salvation to be had. Honestly, it was depressing. I had to stop listening to that radio program. I never tried Mormon but it sounds very close to Jehovah's Witness to me. Everything that is taught is "new" information that has come to light in the last 150 or so years. To open a JW bible is like opening a modern day reference book. There will be things like "And God said this or that.*" (Notice the asterisk.) You look at the bottom of the page and it will say something like The word "that", according to Webster's dictionary or World Book encyclopedia, means such and such. Well, in my opinion, God and Jesus and the entire bible were in existence long before Webster or World Book. If they want to play that game, After 36 years of sobriety, I could go back to drinking and justify every drop according to "MY" interpretation of the Bible. I quit drinking in 1985 and smoking in 2003. I quit drinking to keep from killing other people, (I used to be a violent drunk), and smoking to keep from killing myself after watching my mother die from lung cancer in 1996. Neither were for religious reasons. We alcoholics can justify anything and if I can get the Bible to back me up, so much the better although I do miss my cigars more. I hold no ill will toward any church or denomination and I know that they are supposed to guide their congregants in accordance with their interpretation of the bible. I know that, on a local level, Christian churches, generally speaking, are supposed to answer to Bishops or other higher ups. When you have a "modern" church that preaches the word of a prophet that is substantially younger than 2,000 years old, or where the preacher and church elders have near total control over the congregation, it begins to sound like a cult to me. Scientology, The church that Jim Jones controlled in Guyana, Branch Davidians or any other where the preacher will take the Bible and twist it's meaning to suit their own purposes or sexual perversions can burn to the ground as far as I am concerned. I am a moral person but, far from perfect. I know right from wrong. I treat my family right without abuse. I treat the people that I come in contact with care and respect until they give me a reason not to. If I go into a church that purports to be Christian and the preacher tells me that I have to take a second or under aged wife, this is where I show him my tail lights and tire smoke. If the minister of my church asks my wife and me to take in a widow who had nowhere to go and take care of her, we would say yes before the echo died. We would feed her, clothe her if need be and put a roof over her head and take care of other needs as they came up but nowhere in the Bible that I know does it say that I have to violate the wedding vows that I promised to my wife to do any of this. This would be the word of man, NOT MY GOD..
I converted and after my divorce from my husband who converted me I left. When I moved states I saw their true colors. And saw their true colors when they tried to convence me to stay with him when they knew how he was treating me. And when I needed help as a single mom I was isolated it's like they didn't want me here. Now I do have great friends who's in it but we don't talk about it no more.
❤ My husband was abusing me and the Bishop told me I just needed to get some anti depressants as most women including his wife had chemical imbalances. I remember thinking to myself ..Yeah and if I was married to you I’d want to be on them too 😂. Honestly ..how can you feel validated when the Bishop thinks of women that way 😢 So the Bishop did nothing as clearly he was on my husbands side. When my husband got busted watching porn the Bishop again did nothing …and my husband was 1st councillor in the Bishopric at the time …clearly it’s just a big boys club .
I have a video thats scheduled to upload on why people leave Christianity in general. At this present moment, no firm plans on an Ex-Adventism video. But... who knows, maybe!
There needs to be one on people leaving "religion"... on people turning away from "religianity" So many people today are realising that we should not be tied in with religion but instead be following Jesus. Many Christians are coming out of religious institutions and turning back to Jesus.
I was raised in the church of lds but my family never fit in. My mothers side was believers. My father hated church. So my family was different. We were the "bad ones". So a lot of the girls would confined in me about things they did the church viewed as wrong.
Moving from overseas here to Australia and attending Sunday service in a new ward, i felt all alone, i knew no one and was not greeted by any of the church members...can you imagine how i felt...being new and not knowing anyone really made me question the members authenticity...as i was told that where ever you attend church, you will be welcomed and looked after...it did not happen that way for me...however my thoughts were "it does not matter if the members do not welcome you, as long as you are here to serve, revere, and praise the Lord" for he knows the intent of your heart...this is what made me put aside my doubts...however one of those doubts was to do with polygamy in the church...when i found out that Joseph Smith was married to so many single women, also married women and even a 14yr old, turned my whole world upside down...I was truly gutted to the core...and im still struggling with this today...Lord!!! please give me the strength to cast away the doubts and to embrace the truth...i pray in Jesus sacred name AMEN
Jesus Christ said, "Follow me." There is no salvation in any church. Please read your Bible. The true and living God offers salvation, eternal life and forgiveness of sins for free, if you are interested. That is how much God loves everyone! I John 1:9 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Eph. 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the GIFT of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. Romans 3:24 Being justified FREELY by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the GIFT of God is eternal life, through Christ Jesus our Lord.
Sorry that happened to you ..but honestly it’s just Australian culture. When I visited UTAH for a while as an Australian I could not stand how welcoming the Mormons were😂. It was so over the top I couldn’t shake the feeling they were faking it and not being genuine..just doing it because they were told too. Couldn’t wait to get back to Australia where the most members do is say Hi and then leave you alone to yourself 😂 Don’t take it personal ..it’s just how we are.
DISCLAIMER: One question that I was asked by many of my guests was, “what is the purpose of this video?” I wanted to make it clear. My goal is NOT to convince anyone to leave the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Neither was my goal to convince anyone to convert to Mormonism when I interviewed Elder Dufrain and Elder Garcia. This is an important perspective to have when watching any episode of i’m Listening. When talking about paganism, atheism, abortion, or any other social justice/ religious subjects the overwhelming purpose is to build empathy and compassion even when we may disagree about very important questions. This show is for the purpose of understanding where people come from. In short, to build bridges... not walls. This show is my best attempt to live out the wisdom of being “slow to speak and quick to listen.”
Special thanks to my new friends for sharing their stories with us
ruclips.net/user/ExmoLex
ruclips.net/channel/UCGm61vMUzmNa0o2_GD8GQIA
ruclips.net/user/MyGreatandSpaciousWorld
@kissedbykrysta
DISCLAIMER: Orgies are allowed but only in the Holy Temple.
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
I am hurting. When we don't conform to there fucked up standards and beliefs, we are thrown away emotionally and shamed. I hope the church fails entirely one day.
I would really like to share my story...idk how to...,
You are going astray brother, come to your senses like the prodigal son.
@@KJG-KJV Question Show me the LDS Mormon church 1 time in the Bible ? Just 1 time
I was raised in the church, I went on a mission to Michigan at age 19, I was married at 34 and sealed in the temple at 35. The church had always been center guiding light in my life. At age 50 I decided to do some in-depth study about the life and times of Joseph Smith and also the Book of Abraham, my minor in college was history. I really thought it would be a testimony building experience. The result was the opposite, I turned my world upside down. My whole life had been built around the teachings of a 19th century con artist. I was devastated.
You should keep studying like Don Bradley did.
You were not the ONLY one! Mormonism has to be the greatest HOAX in the 19th Century US history. I am a convert, but right after my mission, I left for good.
anonyme 23 thank you, I think the biggest ax to grind I have is that those I trusted the most, lied to me and that hurts.
The egyptologists were debunked in 2014, your comment was sent 6 days ago, why are you repeating the anti-Book of Abraham info?
@@richardholmes7199 Which egyptologists were debunked and by whom?
Leaving your faith and community is a very hard thing to do. Thanks for helping us to listen to their experiences and understand them!
ur right, it is very hard, esp for ppl who have a high need for validation. this is across the board for all humans and any institutions we might belong to. However, I dont find listening to ppls expressing their negative experiences about leaving any institution as beneficial...I feel like a Psychologist without getting paid for lending my ear
gps trackers
After studying more about Joseph Smith, I left the Church two months ago.
@@sober84Amen. I am former Mormon. Been a diffcult road. I am thankful to God for awakening me to the true Jesus Christ of the Holy Bible. ✝️🕊❤️🔥🙏
@IannaLovely2022 Joseph Smith's King Follet Discourse reveals his false gods . It was he who gave heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils, and departed from the FAITH.
People aren't always friendly in church. It is a social game
Once you leave the church they’re not your friend anymore. That’s not real friendship
True.
Yes.. that's true!
@@eclecticempath5263 I remembered when I was a member of that church .. they called me a "BROTHER".. But when I leave the church.. they didn't Even called me a "BROTHER"..I'm sad.😭
I'm sorry that you've experienced that as a member of the church of jesus christ of latter day saints I've experienced it a lot but because of my faith and determination to find those people who will really love me and cherish me all I wanna say that we are not perfect but we are trying to be perfect like Jesus christ we just have to stay positive and hold on to it
I was teaching gospel Doctrine when the Lord spoke to me. "He said, you are finished here" I went home and resigned my teaching position. And never went back. Twenty years of healing later, I Found Jesus reading the Bible.
2 decades later and here you are...still commenting on Mormon videos. Get therapy and move on...wow
Yes, Ken. The LORD speaks to me all the time.
I, never trust those whom say* the LORD spoke to me* ..
I, do not care whether you are a Pastor,Prophet or regular Christian.
The LORD speaks in a still small voice
NOT, like it is a revelation.
Anything else is from the. *EVIL ONE*!!!!
It sounds to me like you are agreeing with him? He listened to his still small voice ie his conscience…if you have the spirit of the Lord/Holy Ghost/Holy Spirit with you it is fine to say the Lord spoke to you. Blessings.
Really cool testimony! I’m glad you found the true Gospel 🙌
Probably should add a comma after "Jesus." After all, He knows the Bible by heart.🙂Seriously, thankyou for posting. The Grace and mercy of God in Jesus is without compare.
My first time going through the temple really freaked me out. Being a very curious person I did research on where the temple ceremony came from, it's origins in the LDS faith. I couldn't believe what I found, that the temple ceremony was a rip off of the Mason ceremony. From there, that led to more and more questions about church history. The obvious conclusion after my research was the Mormon church was a lie. There is a very, very, very good reason leaders of the church strongly discourages research of church history using secular means, for exemple Google. The leaders strongly suggest only reading church approved history or literature. Now I know why.
I hope you don’t throw God away.... as you make these discoveries. He is there, is real, and will bring you to have a personal relationship with him.... I was in the Mormon Church for 50 years... but Jesus gently led me out.
Am so sorry william Bott for your experience
Am a Filipino Convert the first time i've been to temple it was a wonderful experience
My Own Endownment to The Holy Temple was when am in my MTC Days ... and that was a wonderful and memorable experience i ever had, i felt the Love of God, so welcoming
What i like to share is the time i was been washed and anointed ... am so much thankful that i had read the old testament and had taken a great study on 5books of moses that during the ordinance of washing and anointing verses in the Bible flashes in my mind for most of the words that the Temple worker had uttered connects me to the old testament even the surroundings (it was a very spiritual experience to me, for me it was a higher way of learning, then during the endownment oh, Books in the new testament flashes in my mind especially about revelation, then genesis, malachi isaiah - am a bible reader during my early days as a convert cause my friends belong to other religions 3yrs as a member of the Church i had encountered various pastors and ministers of other religions had been given anti mormon pamphlet - that situation requires me to read the bible thoroughly ... the Sacrament attendance in my branch that time is only 37 on average
Am somewhat a pioneer - am a year before going on a mission thats the time i read thoroughly the Book of Mormon
@@CMFelos Lets not use one delusion to put down another. The bible condones rape, slavery, and murder. The bible is not a moral book or a book to base your life on.
Please read my comment above. As someone with total knowledge of both, I PROMISE you, they are NOT the same. Totally different meanings, for totally different purposes. The symbolism is instructive in one, and clannish comradery in the other.
@@georgezeller6046 I would appreciate it if you could show Bible passages to prove your point. The sixth commandment prohibits murder. Amnon was killed because he raped someone. And the “Slavery” of the Bible is actually indentured servitude, meaning the slaves consented to do work in return for food and shelter.
I've decided that when I reveal that I've left the church, I'm going to share this link. Thank you.
Oh my gosh I feel so incredibly touched to have been a part of such a beautiful documentary. Thank you so much, Justin, for giving us the opportunity to have our stories be heard. I know that we aren't the only ones who have struggled within or out of Mormonism. I am so deeply touched by how beautifully this video came together. There was so much sincerity and I find this incredibly comforting to watch. Justin you are such an amazing guy, thank you for your honesty, integrity and acceptance. I loved getting to know you and I love and support all that you are doing. Thank you again for this amazing honor. 💜💙💚 - Morgan
Ex-Morgan for President!
@@mylesmarkson1686 hahaha yes!
@@myspiritualife but only if Sister Jenson is your V.P.😂
@@justamom863 Yes Sara. Only SisterJenson can make the ticket complete!
Me too. Thank you 🙏
Im also ex-Mormon. I still have ALOT of trauma from my experience in the church.
Please consider the real Gospel of Jesus Christ.
It's a demonic religious cult like Scientology, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Seven Day Advent, and Catholicism, Muslims, New Age, Mother God, etc. Jesus Christ is the only way to Heaven.
John 14:6;26
1 Timothy 2:5
John 3:3
(1 Corinthians 6-9-10)
boo hoo
@@michaelparks5669 spoken like a true TBM. perfect example of the cult like shaming.
@@Hbush1987 "cult" hahaha that is what the Nazis called the Jews. It is what the Romans called the early Christians. It is what Communists called the Buddhists. You don't like a church well fine, move on . grow up get a life stop sniveling. I am no longer the religion I was born into . It would be rude to bad mouth them. Try letting others have their own opinions , you know like freedom of religion.
When I was a Miamade (young women’s) a teenage girl wound up pregnant. As her friends we wanted to help her. We wanted to throw her a baby shower. I was told we couldn’t do that because it would “encourage her” and it would look like we were condoning that behavior. It was moments like this where I began to question the church.
Aww i hope that young girl found people who were able to support her
That sums up the attitude the Mormon church has towards people that don’t do what they want or believe in
@@sophiej1987 "That sums up the attitude the Mormon church has towards people that don’t do what they want or believe in"
So true. When my father lost my mother to MS, the Mormon church they had diligently served for many years were quick to remind my father the importance of keeping up with his tithing and serving the church now he was alone.
Because he was so very much alone and depressed, despite his faith he committed suicide.
My mother was given a full Mormon funeral service, but because my father had taken his own life he was denied a full Mormon funeral and the members agreed that while my mother was in the Celestial Kingdom, my father would never be able to see her - being in a lower level for eternity.
Such is the attitude the Mormon church has to real people with real life events; the doctrines are more important than people.
@@carlduffin completely true. Their Doctrine will always go above love and people. I’m so sorry to hear about your parents. Mental health is a topic the Mormon church completely undermines as well (a LOT of religion, actually), which is something that needs to be brought to serious light. Thank you for replying with this though, it’s easy to just say things but when we’ve lived things first hand, it’s very difficult and it’s something that takes healing
It's MIA-Maid. "Miamade" sounds perverted.
For people who aren't familiar with that, M.I.A. stands for Mutual Improvement Association. It was a program for girls in the church during their early and middle teenage years.
Nothing weird or twisted.
I am a teenager and have grown up in the church and have been questioning recently. I don't see stuff like this where it shows why people left the church but doesn't completely disregard it's good aspects too. It's nice to hear from someone that has been on both sides of the fence. I'm not sure if I am going to choose to leave yet, but it's nice to know that some people get me. Disregarding what I have been taught since birth is a very hard thing. If I leave, I know a part of me will be left behind but I hope that I can learn to accept whatever decision I make and I hope that my friends and family can too.
Wishing u well on whatever path you choose 💗
I have friends in LDS church and I myself am a Christian not in LDS and I have listened to my friends views, but I personally don’t think that I should read anything other than the Bible and the Lord said this. I have not felt called to read anything else. I just think that either way we’re still Christians and worship God either way. God even says that there would be many ministries but they would still worship Him. So we have no real issues between us, so if you have any doubts, just ask God to speak with you. I promise you don’t need anyone else in order to speak to God. He will speak to your heart or call someone to give you his peaceful answer or you’ll find it in the Bible. Ask him what to do. As long as you aren’t being led astray by others you should be okay. Either way God bless you on whatever you decide.
If you do leave bro. Please don't throw jesus away with the lds church.
Find peace in yourself and leave. Ditch shame and guilt, embrace your highest self. It’s not found in the temple or the church or in covenants but all within you. That’s the secret.
Praying that you will leave the lies of the lds church and cling to God and His true word (the Bible)!
This video turned out really good! It is music to my ears when I listen to others having the same aha moments as me!✨
Thank you for having me, your work is really amazing!
I was never MORmON but came close to getting baptized when I was married to a member 10 years ago. I do however come from a long, rich linage of Mormons; my father broke that chain before I was born in the 70’s. He studied the history before it was as accessible as it is today, and took our family out of it.
Thanks for having me on, Justin! The video came together beautifully 💕
Thank you for being a part of the conversation and sharing your stories!
It was cool seeing you on the video Exmo Lex 😃
Pallis Won ♥️♥️♥️♥️
Mormonism is wrong but unfortunately most Mormons feel so burned by religion that they write off anything Jesus-related, no matter how clear and logical the proof, because they think "if I could've been this wrong about the church, everyone else could be just as wrong in their Christian beliefs." Atheist materialism (which is what exmo Lex sort of turned into) is a self refuting worldview. If ex-mormon atheists did the same investigation into philosophy and metaphysics they would realize atheism is just as verifiably wrong as the Mormon church is. Nothing can come from nothing. We can't see God, but from the things we know for sure, we can know God exists. Kind of like gravity, we can't see it, we can't prove it materially or touch it, but we know it exists by using material proof that we do have to deduce that gravity is real! Good luck!
@@evenruderanger7617 actually, to be frank, gravity sort of isn't real... :)
Watch Veritasium.
I am actually still a teenager, but my mom has made it known that she is leaving Mormonism for good. She has been so open about what she found out. I am very glad that she did, because the religion is so cult-like, and, quite frankly, build off lies. The whole Book of Abraham thing, as well as learning that Joseph Smith is not a good person was very shocking. She’s told me all she knows, so now I’m trying to dig for more. I really like truth, so in a way, this is a coping mechanism. Thank you for this video, it’s very eye opening to watch. I’m already doing much better (two days after the revelation) and this video helps a lot with my emotional recovery. I’m already looking forward to the many things I will be able to experience without the chains of the church still wrapped around me. Once again, thank you for the video.
Thanks for leaving voluntarily...saved us the trouble of throwing you out. Your weakness and confusion are not missed.
@@johnlee1352 ??
@@johnlee1352 this is exactly why I don't want to be apart of the church anymore, it is just toxic
@@johnlee1352it’s giving cult
@@johnlee1352very loving and Christlike of you
I'm LDS and found this video very well done. I think there are many members with the same doubts, fears, reservations and questions. I have a lot of my own questions about so many things regarding my faith, most of which have not been answered yet. My goal is to learn as much as I can and grow in my faith and testimony, however my real goal is the pursuit of truth no matter where it leads me. Thanks for sharing.
That’s a great journey to be on. Definitely read the Bible and see what the Bible says of Jesus. It has so many manuscripts and is so trustworthy.
@@D.c.0 were you raised in the church or convert... I'm in 30 years, now early 60s.. frustrating and mix of feelings...why would Jesus bring us in only to bring out all these years later...
So you are stubborn after looking at all the other religions.
On 911 YOUR GOD LOVES 3000 +
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ruclips.net/video/xIErAz-ZO-I/видео.html
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@Brook Price
I don't know where are you with your search but check out Ray Comfort Living Waters Ministires, when Ray talks to a Mormon and definitely Jeff Durbin "Apologia studios" or Apologia church. You might be blessed by those. Keep searching.
@@user-bw3fl7fj9w Your assumption is Jesus brought you in.
I converted to the Mormon church when I was 19. I stayed for 6 years and left when I was 25. I am now 67 and continue to follow developments in the fascinating cult. They try to convert non-Mormons and when they join they are made to feel second class by members constantly bragging about being a seventh generation Mormon and their ancestors were in Nauvoo with crazy Joe.
Why are there so few Black people in Mormonism if it's a faith of God? Also why don't Mormons question this? Seems to be accepted biases or ignorance.
More than 4 decades later and here you still are...bashing a faith you claim to have rejected 42 years ago...wow. Get some help. Move on already...
@@johnlee1352 he’s not wrong tho
I, agree with. 1452. MOVE on, already.
If you are following the TRUTH, why,why???? are you going on& on & on& on& on& on.
If, you RE happy without the CHURCH
( all of you gone). then, just live
YOUR life..
Geese!!!!!
I am so happy that this video was made and published! The world needs to hear both sides no matter what. Love for you all ♥
People leave all religions for all kind of reasons, not just Mormonism
Thank you for this . I left the church when I learned the handholds and symbolism in the temple were the same as the Free Masons . Joseph’s family were Free Masons .
Someone told me that's how you know the church is true... because the ceremonies match the masons........ yeah.
HeatherJSN Wow! It’s Unreal , isn’t it? I never heard that growing up. But I do know how frightened I felt during the temple endowment .
@Rebecca Stanley, I came across this comment of yours and I thought it to be pretty accurate with me as well. I recently resigned my membership in the church after being a member for a little over 20 years.
My former father-in-law was a freemason. They are NOT at all the same! I can guarantee that.
I still have some of their booklets and magazines.
My former mother-in-law was an Eastern Star matron for several years in a row. They were both completely active in the mason organizations during their lives.
I keep seeing people mention the masons and I have heard that word before but I was never raised with religion and I don’t believe in god or satan etc. Who are the masons/why is it bad? Thanks!
I lovee how this vid wasn’t a negative approach. The balance of positive and negative was refreshing.
I agree! and I am so greatful for that!!!!
I was born and raised in the LDS church and I was a 6th generation Mormon. I had some questions about the religion and when I started reading the New Testament in context, I realized the Bible taught of a different Jesus, a different God, a different Gospel and a different priesthood. I left the Church and became a Christian at 30 years old. My husband is Christian and we are now ministering to Mormons to teach them the truth. My LDS family is all leaving the church now after reading the Bible and seeking truth for themsleves. There are so many things in the Mormon Church that are backwards to what Jesus teaches in the Bible. I pray for people who are Mormon that they would seek the truth which Jesus is the Truth and Jesus is the Word and is God John 1:1 Truth is found in the Bible, there are many religions that started with one man who had an encounter with an angel or who thinks they heard from God that the Bible was interpreted wrong so they rewrite the Bible. Not all roads lead to heaven so it's important everyone does their research on what is the truth.
Thanks for leaving voluntarily...saved us the trouble of throwing you out. Your weakness and confusion are not missed.
@@johnlee1352 Jesus said “Bless those who curse you” so may God Bless you abundantly in Jesus name. 🙏🏻
@@stephaniecastro1835 You’re a shining example of a good Christian. The one you replied to is a shining example of who you should never be, regardless of your religion.
@@stephaniecastro1835 Your ancestors weep for you...
@@stephaniecastro1835 so happy to have you as a true child of God, love you sis ❤️
these intros sound typical of my growing up mormon. 40 years in, left in 2020
Thank you so much for making this video Justin and reaching out to my favourite ex Mormon/Post Mormon members so they can be apart of this project. The video came together so wonderfully. I can relate to it a lot as someone who has been navigating a faith crisis.
Thank you everyone for sharing. I know how hard it is.
Im actually serving mission, im also struggling with my testemony after reading the history of our ancestors prophets,against Black peolple, and, temple sealing! i dont want to go home before my mission! just praying for God strenght.
I’m currently in dealing with something similar. I’ve converted at age 15. My advice: do research than pray and see if you should stay. Maybe you can help others you teach and learn more about you and your relationship with God. Do what’s best for you! Friend :)
Stay strong! It seems it takes a lot of time and research for each person to come to his or her conclusion, but follow your own brain and feelings
The CES Letter will save your life. I'm not mormon, never been a mormon thank God, but I moved to Salt Lake City 2 1/2 years ago and found out about mormonism. I heard the CES Letter has opened people's eyes.
Thank you so much for all involved in this! Being an ex Mormon is so hard.
Why so?
@@Jmwamuchemi I think it's because families that grow up in the church are very traditionally minded people. I haven't attended in the past 3 years and even though I stopped attending only 3 years ago, I had been veryb back and forth about the Church during the past 9 years. Overall, it is a considered a religious taboo to leave the Church when your whole family is stuck in their ways. It's no different than a parent not accepting that their child is gay. In my experience, it took a while for them to finally accept that I left the Church, maybe about a year ago. It is deeply emotionally damaging when your own family, who should always be your safe place, only cares about how people will view them if their son leaves the church. I am still picking up the pieces to this day. In my opinion, it is very hard to be an ex-Mormon. For some it might be easy. But for me it's hard, not because it is emotionally damaging at an internal level
@@Jmwamuchemi okay, think of it like this: so every member has known or at least heard of how people join the church then their families & friends immediately or gradually cut them off, try to get them to leave the church, etc., among many other things. It’s literally just an uno reverse. Someone leaves the church, you can guarantee their families & friends are literally doing exactly the same with the exception of course being they’re trying to convert you back into the church (opposite of getting you to leave).
@@Jmwamuchemi I live in Utah. My religion is my culture. Leaving it would mean leaving my childhood, my family, and a huge chunk of my identity. If my religion is a lie, then my culture is a lie. But like she said in the video, after all I have learned, it is just as scary to believe my religion is true. I’m going to leave, but coming to that conclusion was terrifying.
@Ellie Carlson
Check out the Living Waters Ministires of Ray Comfort and Jeff Durbin Apologia church
*in all seriousness,*
I am 10 years old. (Almost 11) My dad is mormon so is my step-mom. My mom & step dad are atheists. I, myself I am a atheist. I live in a very religious place. It is hard for me to be myself, but yet I’m living & I’m happy of the person I have become. It makes me happy to see people leaving that cult. Yes, there is *SO* much evidence that it is a cult. I totally understand the guy who is gay in the video, because I am apart of the lgbtqia+ community. Please don’t ever judge someone for that. Lots if love & support. 💕
Good for you sticking up for your beliefs and for others! Keep it up :)
I recommend broadening your understanding of religion.
Your dad & stepmom are Mormon. Your mom and stepdad are atheist. However, you are only 10 years old. You have a long long time to become familiar with any type of religion. I would be willing to bet you get along better with your mom than your dad and stepmom? You can be who you choose but give other religions a chance. There are so many different beliefs to check out. You have a long way to go Sweetie.
Wow these reasons sound really familiar! This is a great wake up call to those who 👂!
Great video, Justin. Thanks to all those who shared their stories & experiences. I appreciated that they shared their perspectives without bashing those who choose to still belong to that faith. Thanks for compiling these stories without a hidden agenda.
I left the church at 17. I had to go on an interview with my bishop for baptism of the dead. When he asked if i had any gay friend i replied yes. My best friend was a lesbian. He told me he was unsure how this would effect me being allowed in the temple to do this "righteousness and holy" act. Mind uou baptism for the dead is getting baptismed and basically converting someone after their death. When i told him i didnt understand how my best friend being a lesbian effected me my bishop told me i was "tainted" with her sins. I came out as bisexual within a year of leaving the church. Another time a bishop and young womens leader was telling my and my other young women that our bodies are temples and gifts from God and that if we abuse our body it was a sin. Looked directly at me and said being overweight or obese is a sin and you will go to hell for not respecting the temple the Lord gave you. I am very glad i got out of this church.
I left the church at 18. I didn’t have a leader THAT disgusting, but I remember all the times I’ve been to the temple and how weirded out I was about the traditions, and baptisms for the dead. It just never sat well with me- considering agency was supposed to be so important- that living people were converting and getting baptized for everyone that’s dead. Like that is so weird. And I ignored that because I wanted to just trust that it’s right like I should, but then a little bit of research confirmed how weird and wrong the temple practices are.
what is the process that one has to go through to leave the church? is there like some paperwork or something? asking for a "friend".
@@ainsleyhelliot There’s a website that actually helps members with this because there have been many who have had to lawyer-up to get their records removed so the people who help with this, know how to go about it. If you have TikTok, look up “ExMormonMindy”. She used the website to have hers removed. I’ll look for it when I get a chance & will post it here.
I am so saddened to hear all these stories of loser bishops who will never be worthy of the very things they think they were trying to get you to adhere to so you could have all the blessings.
Those types of bishops may have just been stupid, or too lazy to pray about things and receive revelation. Maybe they just were guilty of repeating something they heard from someone who was judgmental, or even homophobic.
Ever wonder why many bishops never are called to be forward to any higher positions in the church????
It's because of their errors and own personal faults.
You should have never been told such ridiculous things.
One of my best friends is bisexual, and I know her life situation and how it came to be. And I do NOT condemn her. We ALL have stuff we have to work through. NONE of us are exempt from trying to figure things out in all sorts of uncommon ways.
Heavenly Father knows are hearts, and THAT is the only way we should deal with people who live on this earth with us. Just look on the HEARTS of ALL people.
Oh, and baptisms for the dead are in NO WAY converting someone into the church. It is just an ordinance that is done by proxy if that person who passed on wants to claim it. ---Jesus' followers were baptized for the dead. The Apostle Paul used it as his pivotal argument for there being an actual bodily RESURRECTION of the dead... "and if the dead rise not at all, then why are they then being baptized for them?"
Again, I am so sorry for what was said to you.
As someone now struggling with my weight....most of it has been after my joining the LdS church 30 years ago...I agree that being overweight or obese isn't good, but in no way would God put us in hell for it. That's just craziness.
Thus was nicely done! Another part of me wishes I could see these interviews in their entirety!
Good news! We upload full length interviews as well as a directors commentary show called, “the super secret podcast” for our patrons!
I am glad how well rounded this video was, it was refreshingly positive at the beginning about their church experiences and I am really glad they mentioned the not so positive experiences/ things that led to their faith crisis because it is all valid. There can be a lot of toxic positivity within the church. It's not very healthy.
Also some members in the church like to project this image that people that leave the church never had a true testimony of it's teachings....but that's simply NOT true in most cases I've seen. No one should make that assumption, it's extremely invalidating and gaslighting. Also for people who leave the church, just because you leave, I've learned that it's okay to go through grief and feel upset, but it is also okay to let yourself reminisce and remember the positive experiences you had in the church without discrediting your experience as a whole. It's all okay. Let yourself feel a normal, healthy, full range of emotions.
I live in Herriman Utah and we are the only family that do not attend the LDS church in our neighborhood and it's so awkward with the neighbors not to mention sad. I have 4 kids and the other parents do not let their kids play with my kids because we do not participate in church activities. I told my kids that they are more than welcome to attend church and find out for them selves and make their own decisions. They refuse to give it a chance because they feel so out of place as it is so sad!
That is so sad!!!! I’m a member and just moved to Utah from Vegas. Utah culture is super super weird and unique in that aspect... if I had older kids I would love to hangout with you guys! I hope they make genuine friends soon.
@@jt2481 thanks! Funny I also lived in Vegas for a few months in 2017
I recommend going to The Well, in Sandy. It’s a good place. I promise you aren’t the only non-members in Herriman. There are a few dozen churches that are non-LDS in the area. I also highly recommend a field trip with the kids to the Cathedral of the Madeleine. It is a beautiful church, and the priests are quite kind.
Ugh...Catholicism.
After studying the depths of that creed (see my top post here for my credentials), the way the Emperor Constantine twisted and perverted the Gospel for the sake of expanding his empire and deepening his control and hold over the peasants through threats tied in with pagan superstitions, it is disgusting and oftentimes horrific. The murders of the 60 men who refused to vote for the definition of "God" that Constantine wanted to use to expand his control was only one of the offenses of that period in history.
For more information read The Great Apostasy by Talmadge.
@@six1nyne This is absolutely the fault of the Mormon parents. I have heard so many, TOO MANY, cases of Mormon parents refusing to allow their child to be friends with non Mormons. Hell, I had to hide 4 of my friendships from my mom because they were atheists (chill, really nice people whom I’m still friends with to this day). Mormon culture is perhaps one of the most cultish things I’ve witnessed, especially in small Utah towns.
Wow!! Thanks a lot for the video man!! Very powerful!
I really loved the way these people spoke about their experiences. Hope you all are happy and feel at peace with your decision, you came across as extremely likeable and thoughtful.
I left the Mormon Church. It was much Too Stressful for me..it broke my health.
Sorry to hear that. Take care of yourself always and in these times.
@@Cate7451
Thank You! God Saved me and is With me..I will be fine.
@Ninet Tayeb
God has ask us to Obey His commandments as we live our Lives..That is important. Churches and church work is totally made up by men. It is not required by God.
@Ninet Tayeb
That is what I found too. I was controlled and bullied. It was a terrible experience. I suffered so much because of that church. I am still Healing. I hope you are doing better.
@Ninet Tayeb
I am so sorry you had such a bad experience..I understand. I was born into the church so my experience started early and I grew more accustomed to it. The man I married was very hard on me as well as the people at church.. but Jesus Saved me from it. It was difficult..but I didn’t find any other church to be much better. I have concluded that I do not belong in church. I Live like Jesus now. I just walk out my life and help whomever God Brings my way. I have found this to be most satisfying. God Loves ALL people..Not just the Church people. There are a lot of people out there need help..from time to time. Jesus did not go to church and was very upset with the churchmen of His Day. People fail to see the Real Jesus. He Saved His people from church and churchmen..that is who the Pharisees were.
I left this church around the age of 29 or 30 ( 53 now ) - I am a woman and I quickly found out that unmarried women in the Church are pretty much outcasts, people whisper point and stare because you are a woman that no man wanted. Being a convert was against me ( instead of " Oh I am decended all the way down from when the church was founded ") , I am a very tall woman at 6'4" so no male would go near me, let alone date me. So one time I was so upset about being very unwanted and like a 5th wheel in the Church, I started quietly crying during the service. My Bishop saw this and afterwards, all he said was that I needed to get help for that, the end. I think that was my last day ever at the church and have not gone in 23 or more years. I am a non denominational Christian, and just read Gods Word from the Bible.
More than 2 decades later and here you are...pathetically bashing a faith you claim to have rejected. You've slid off the path and I say good for you...and even better for us! Thanks for leaving so we didn't have to throw you out.
I was shunned by the women of the church because I had never been married nor was I interested in marrying anyone ever. I left the church a month ago after 12 years. I never made any friends even though I was in the same ward all those years. No ones even noticed.
@@seahorse9940 My heart goes out to you - they have no tolerance for differences.
I grew up watching my mum be a single woman in the church ..and worse she also had 3 kids. She joined the church after she left my Dad. The mistreatment she got was crazy..she was never invited over anyones house for dinner in case she stole their husband. We couldn’t have missionaries visit for dinner for same reason. No one wanted to marry a woman with 3 kids already …they wanted a ‘fresh pure woman. Why she stayed active I didn’t klnow. You are basically an outcast or a project of you are single …it’s horrible.
When I divorced my narcissistic husband I never went back to church. I didn’t want the same treatment for myself …suddenly I was now nobody since I didn’t have a husband. I lost my whole social group as it was marrieds only. I don’t believe my worth is tied to having a husband ..so I left..ain’t nobody got time for that garbage .
@@fesswah ...well, you know how "they" are...
Great presentation! I thoroughly enjoyed hearing each person's comments. Thank you!
I would love to date an ex-Mormon guy. The strength of character and intellect it takes to leave the LDS must be very high.
I would never date a Mormon. Frankly, I can't even keep them around as friends.
And they most likely just hang around you to get you in to the church as an ex Mormon I know lmao
That’s…a fantastic point. Thanks I guess. This just hit me (a soon to be ex-Mormon) really hard.
Being around Mormons is tough. They are very judgmental and think they are better than you in everything. Be careful what you say around them, they love to gossip.
As a Mormon, you’d probably question what I’m doing here 😂
I’m inactive for my own reasons, but I still love and have faith within the church.
Thanks for sharing your experiences ❤️
An unusual position to occupy when it comes to the LDS.
I used to feel the same way until I reread the Bible again. Good luck :)
You listen to testimonials yet continue being Mormon?
I hope you figured it out by now. Whistle-blowers should not be ignored especially when their are thousands of them. Your probably gentle like a dove but need to be shrewd as a serpent.
Just don't believe Joseph Smith
Im LDS. Still practicing. Its fascinating listening to people explain what happened.
It's sad how lost religion in general can make some people feel. Yet on the other hand, how some people describe being found by it, is so enlightening.
Human nature is constant conflict and making sense of unintelligible situations.
All I can say for certain is please stay safe and take care of yourself.
Leaving the church was very difficult. Later i realized the process of getting out was a cathartic and was also soooo fun to figure out that i wanted OUT!!!!! Left in 1994 and am grateful every day
Thank you for this video. I am a TBM. I went through a faith crisis of my own, many of my friends and family have as well. In the end, I regained my faith, but many of my family and friends didn't. This video is helpful for me. I love and care about my family and friends who don't believe the same things I do. The last thing I want to do is hurt them more than they are already hurt. Sometimes it is hard to navigate relationships when a faith crisis happens. I hope I am better at it after seeing this.
Joseph Smith was a sexual predator and con. How can you retain faith in the bullshit he perpetrated? I was never Mormon, but reading Rough Stone Rolling and then doing research it just seems clear that Joe was a confidence man who finally landed on a successful con.
@@blackalien6873 My own journey is a very personal and special to me. I share it with people who really want to know and choose not to share it on a social media thread. I am hoping for a place where we can all be more tolerant of others. Have a great day.
@@davidjanbaz7728 I have seen their podcasts.
@@QuackerMomma I REFUSE to tolerate the intolerable. The "founder" of your religion was a sexual deviant in the proper use of that word. He manipulated and coerced with threats women and GIRLS to get them to have sexual relations with him. If he had just stuck to conning people out of their money, I wouldn't be so worked up. But as a woman, myself, reading about how he conned women into sex left my skin crawling.
@@blackalien6873 I won't argue with you.✌️
Wow amazing stories! I love the realness 👏👏
Hmm... if the Prophet said they shouldn't go by the term "Mormons" anymore, would they ALL be ex-Mormons? :-P
lol!
Lol
Or anti- mormons
Lmbo
Love this!!! LOL!!!
Thanks for the laugh!
Coloradan ex-Mormon here. I’ll admit, I never really had any bad experiences with the church. It was a neat place to make some good friends and I still hold no ill will towards any of the people. But I didn’t like the organization and how strict it was. Plus I never really believed in it, just went because my dad wanted me to.
As a current member of the church, I applaud the courage it took to share your feelings. Keep being the best version of you that you can. I know that is what is truly important.
See Mormon stories podcast!
@@davidjanbaz7728 interesting...why?
Yep, I'm familiar with the podcast and the letter. Listened to much of Mr Dehlin's podcast (he's had some of my friends on) and read all of Mr. Runnells letter. I didn't find either very compelling. If it helps others, I am happy for them.
Some of my favorite youtube people all in one video! This was an awesome compilation. Thanks Justin for putting this together.
Leave them..but Forgive them..and yourself..quickly as you can.
One of the most instructive and sensible postings I have seen. Very watchable.
This is an incredible uplifting video to watch! Thank you for making this ❤
Thank you! The fear that the church is not true hit me first. Then the bigger fear hit me, what if it is true? I’m going to be alone for eternity, not because of my choices but because of husband’s and my family’s choices.
That is how mind control works.
My offering to you is - if you are in the church (any church) because you are afraid of not being in it, then it is not the place to be.
I wish you well on your journey.
(ex-Mormon church member)
As a member of the church I feel that we need to remember that heavenly father will sort everything out in the millennium.
You won't be by yourself. I have had a faith crisis like ppl say but then it made me push more into it and to be fair I won't leave as its helped me too much
Yes …and they try and make you feel better by saying ..Oh you’ll be married off to someone in heaven as one of their numerous wives …and the thought of that makes me sick…to not be seen as anything but a number who is there to birth spirit children.
My LDS husband was abusive yet he is the important one who counts and myself who was faithful is rewarded by being a nameless incubator.
@@anthonynettleton8346 Yes but what if you want to be by yourself …that’s why I left. My husband was one of those unrighteousness dominion types and I have no interest in ever having a relationship again due to it. I left the church because there is no place for me …if I want to be alone after I die then I can get that by NOT going to church 😂. I have ZERO interest in being married to another LDS guy.
Thank you all for sharing your stories. I'm seeing a lot of similarities between leaving the Mormon church and leaving Christian fundamentalism. It's a difficult journey.
u should do one for seventh day adventists for people who left and people who joined
I converted to SDA if they want to include me.
I believe there is one already in the works. Keep an eye out for it!
Or JWs
If you're Mormon in Utah, your neighbors, and your family members all follow this church like a cult. It makes it very hard for people to leave, and when they do they get treated like they never existed. It's very sad what they do to their ex-members. They make sure nobody hangs out with you, and they won't even let their kids play with your kids. I know this because my family was not Mormon and when we moved into a new neighborhood I met a few kids across the street and I started playing with them. Well then the parents came over and asked my mom about our faith and if we were interested in going to church. My mom said no, because we were Christian, but we didn't go to Mormon churches. After that I was never able to play with any of those kids again because the parents wouldn't allow it. They stick to their own unless you are interested in the church... now tell me that doesn't sound controlling and weird
Are you not aware of the constitutional right people have to associate with whom they choose? If you don't like the exclusion...move away or find new friends. Stop judging people for their constitutional choices. Sounds like you're the bigot.
@@johnlee1352 I'm just stating facts, I'm sorry it hurt your feelings. If you want I can give you a napkin so you can dry your tears
@@johnlee1352 “stop judging people for their constitutional choices” lmfao what? Just because something is legal doesn’t make it ok
John 3:3 🕊
"Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God"
This was wonderful. It's funny, how so much of what I heard from these individuals mirrors my experience growing up Adventist. Yet both churches hold that belief that they are THE church with THE truth and everyone else is living in sin or deception, etc. All I know is, after watching this, I felt like there was a personal connection between myself and several of the participants... like I made a new friend, which is ridiculous because none of them know me lol! But it was obvious that they were baring their hearts, and it was lovely. Thank you for doing your best to build bridges, not walls, Justin :) Can't wait to watch the one on Seventh Day Adventism!!
isn't it amazing? i felt like there were so many common points here!
Thanks to all who participated in this video.
My wife stopped being mormon just before we met. Those creepy people harrased my wife and step kid for over twenty years. Telling them she no was no longer a mormon was not good enough. They never accpeted that she had left. They tracked us down on more than one move. It was so weird to continue receiving the personal letters and newsletters, after we had moved twice. But even more creepy was when they kept showing up at the door. Sometimes for an update (by men), on every holiday with cookies (by women)... again, at three different residences. I threatened to report them to the police. They didn't care. Still sent letters and showed up at the door. It was more than two decades of stalling and harassment. Any time I asked what it takes to get them to piss off, they insisted the air MUST meet with some higher up man, not even sure what his title was. Eventually, I found a form letter online than said it works. We filled it out, sent it in, and IT WORKED! We're finally free from those glass-eyed cult members with their sci-fi backstory. Praise Jesus! J/k, we're devout atheists. 🤣
Devout like a Zealot, now that sounds religious: but i am glad you're out of that cult !
Study the bible.
Even atheist can't not praise Jesus, he's real. Because his name is still being talked about modern day. No one would know his name if he wasn't real.
Your atheist I'm christian ✝️
BUT NOT MORMAN
The same thing happened to me and I moved out of the country. It was so annoying. They showed up at a relatives house looking for me. It was my never-mo husband’s uncle..none of them knew I grew up Mormon. There were 6 mormons and they freaked the family out. I repeatedly told the church to leave me alone and then finally resigned...but in the end I had to call a lawyer before they would leave me alone.
This was a really interesting video, thanks for sharing!
That was enlightening. Thank You.
Amazing video! Great editing and subject matter
Really interesting. Thanks for sharing these stories
I left the catholic church, as someone who was actually attending church.
I was so torn but once I saw the truth from scripture I made the break and have never looked back 😊 God is faithful. Seek truth
How do you know your god exists?
@@blackalien6873 He is real! How do you know you wont go to hell? I mean if were wrong we wont know but if your wrong you will know if I'm right and you seek GOD we will both be in a much better place in the afterlife my friend I love you GOD BLESS!!!!
@@justice777B Why don't you use this same illogical logic in response to all the other gods and religions? Why aren't you worshipping Vishnu in case he exists? Why aren't you doing secret masonic rituals in a Mormon temple in case their space-god Elohim is real? I don't worship your god, or any other gods because I act based on the evidence. So far, other than fairy stories in a book, I have not been presented with any real evidence that any of the gods worshipped by humans is anything other than made up fantasy characters.
@@blackalien6873 if you look at all those other religions you'll see alot if not most or all are using christian principles practically using my faith as a crutch while rejecting it's scripture my faith as a christian stands on it's own two feet without fail GOD BLESS YOU!!!!
@@blackalien6873 just adding on something I should of also said is if you base your belief on evidence then you would search for the answer to life people who believe in facts dont believe in coincidence and perfect accidents they believe in a source you believe in nothing youll fall for anything the christian faith has never been disproved and has been proven true over and over again
My BYU bishop asked for a DETAILED description of my sexual encounter w my fiancée. My intuition knew he was getting off on it. My kids have no idea how lucky they are they were never subjected to that…….
Hi from Jakarta, Indonesia 🇮🇩. Thank you so much, guys for the testimony. I'm very blessed, because today I got video call from my Instagram friend. At the first he asked me about my Faith then after 2weeks, we start to doing the Bible study. I'm very excited, but when we doing the Bible study at 9AM (Jakarta time) and at 10PM (his time). Makes me wondering how important or what makes he so excited to doing the Bible study. Then he starts to give the information about Joseph Smith and LDS and very shock! Because never cross my mind about the human being that declare himself as prophet. Then I'm just ask Holy Spirit, pray, asking my Bible study besties and doing my research one of my research is trough RUclips...and I can decide that, I was wrong, repent and ask God for the mercy. Last thing : 1 John 5 verse 18-22. Keep the Faith and God bless y'all 🔥🙌🏻❤️...Thank You, Lord! 🔥🙌🏻
We are saved by grace. It is a gift. No works will save you
That’s a lie
why is temple work necessary then?
Faith alone is dead. If You really do believe the bible you'll know that works is necessary. It's written.
@@r.viray_2829 what do you mean by works is necessary?
@@anotherusername6668 what do you mean its a lie? At least tell us why its a lie not just point out its a lie 🤦♂️
I am still a member of the church trying my best to be a good person. I can completely relate to a lot of issues that ultimately led to some of these guys leaving.
If you attend or not, be sure and pay that 10% :)
Hi Justin,
Excellent, excellent video!!! I'm amazed at how much you all are helping people by coming together and collectively sharing your experiences and viewpoints!
Thank you all!
I'm from Germany and I left about 10 years ago Missionaries came to my door when I was 15
Mormons come to my door, I try to tell them about the real Jesus.
To all you Mormons your have been taught a lie. You will not be gods. Jesus is not Satan's brother. Read the bible for truth. One is saved by grace not works.
I pray my Mormon family gets out
@@ebear6555 You are totally mistaken. This is not what is being taught in the church. The Book Of Mormon is another testimony of Jesus Christ meaning that it is like the Bible but having more stories.
God, his son Jesus do not make mistakes or lie. What Jesus said 2,000 years ago was the truth and still is and always will be the truth. On RUclips watch weekly church services of "The First Baptist Church of Roy".
Listening to them reminds me of my experience in the church not as a Latter Day Saint but as Cogic/Baptist. I use to deal with Pastors that would throw out at people indirectly over the pulpit and would try to put myself or other members of the family in position as a way of making people jealous. The teaching of Bible from a one sided perspective also pulled me away. But the sexual, racial and religious discrimination that I was also hearing was the final straw. Watching this confirmed a lot about what I had been seeing in the church.
All or almost every Mormon I ever met was such a nice person.
I have had the same experience. But then again, many members I know have one foot out the door, do not attend, are "inactive," and do not follow many of the rules.
Yes…the reason I left was as a parent I refused to let my children have those interviews. I remember how horrible they were and I can’t get away from the feeling that it is extremely inappropriate for a male to take any child but especially a girl into an office alone and ask all these questions. No where else in any other child organisation are adults allowed to do this …no teacher, scout leader etc etc are ever allowed to be alone with someone else’s child. I could not put my child in a potentially dangerous situation like that just because the adult is the Bishop.
I also had trauma relating to male abuse myself and I could not understand why if I needed something I couldn’t talk to the Relief Society President instead …I just couldn’t handle any more males telling me what to do .
I actually still keep all the standards and believe in God…but no more male run organisations for me. I have no interest in being one of many wives after death .
22:43 I like that part when he quoted scripture from the Bible. Revelation 22 v 18
Love the content! Keep it up!
i had what i thought was a good friend. she was raised in the mormon church and decided to go back to it. because i was not a mormon and did not want to be she dropped me and never spoke to me again. i was so hurt! i did go to the mormon church one time and i was so very uncomfortable there i was shivering. i swore i would never go back. i attended the women's sermon i guess it was called? and YES< it was heavy on the guilt. i did not need anymore guilt either.
I'm surprised that no one was concerned about the Mormon god being a mortal man who became a god, and is not the eternal God of the Bible.
I am a former (born in) JW and hearing stories so similar to my journey of waking from cult indoctrination has been such a heartening and powerful part of my recovery. Thank you for sharing these.
Come to Jesus Christ.
@@emze.6516 why?
That was so interesting, thank you
Watching (listening) on my commute home and ironically the van in front of my has a BYU plate frame and stickers.... oof lol
Speaking of refusal to marry one's Dad St.Dymphna The Saint of Mental Health and of whom's day of May 15th is my Birthday refused to marry her own Dad and so thusly she got executed by the sword.
This also happens in Australia when I joined the Mormon Church as a male adult I grew up with a strict Catholic background and attended a Catholic school for boys but my parents were hypocrites and rarely went to church.
When my sister missionaries had left I noticed a change from most of the members and leaders in the church. I am a heterosexual man and I recall a leader asked if I was a homosexual. I just laughed at him. I wasn't allowed to go on dates with young women or associate with nonmembers. I stayed for five years until I had enough of the BS and left in 2000. I never went to the temple because I stopped paying tithing and drinking coffee. I worked hard for my money to support myself.
The leaders were very good at bringing members down and making them feel worthless. Lucky I am a tough Aussie bloke who is resilient and very assertive dealing with toxic people from church. However, I saw many vulnerable members who are just ordinary decent people who have personal issues in life. Some left in tears because there was a 'Us and Them' mentality from wealthy and pretentious members.
Those who left became disillusioned and misguided by all the empty ceremonies, magical rites, false doctrine, and sanctimonious members who had a chip on their shoulder.
While I’ve never been Mormon I had a good friend who was a nice person but very vulnerable because of her past, I was invited by her and so I proceeded to go, mind you I wasn’t just your average joe, I had plenty of Bible knowledge under my belt but I pretended like I didn’t know much.
Eventually I talked to lots of missionaries and everything they taught me was pretty interesting but made no sense and I played along; I noticed quite a good amount of people lacked Bible knowledge,
the pictures of white Jesus’s definitely made me wonder if they ever read exodus and well my poor friend fell for a lot of the lies, I didn’t help that she was basically lost in life and the false doctrines damaged her and many others without them realizing it. It got to the point where she started doubting if god was real. I went out of my way to gift her a Bible before we parted ways and hopefully one of the few seeds I planted grows.
I used to be Catholic too but after all the bull crap and things that happened I left on my own.
I guess I'll never experience two hour services.....I left shortly before that.
Three hour stretches were certainly drab and insipid. And that was my only day off work!
spent the entirety of my childhood attending 3 hour services....then had extra duty after I was old enough to be ordained into the priesthood. All those Sundays, early morning seminary, and Wednesday Mutual.....and I'll never get that time back.
@@michaelfisher7170
Yes, how dull! I know what you mean 😵
The " church does not even do church. Just talks about their " prohets" ...who are elected not chosen by God. It is all so sad that millions are taught a lie and they believe it. I pray someoneone can bring my family out of that cult
Growing up partly JW, they/we always looked kinda down on other religions and we thought we were the only true religion. I'm just spiritual now and I see truth in all religions.
But what is the TRUTH from GOD's point of view?
Either baptizing babies is absurd, or it isn't. Either paying your way out of the consequences of your sins is viable, or it isn't. Either the Catholic invention of the Doctrine of the Trinity in 325 A.D. and the murder of the 60 men who dared to defy the Emperor Constantine is a lie, or it isn't. Either praying for the dead to get out of "Purgatory" is what God wants. or it isn't. Either praying to "dead perfect people" instead of to God is a good thing, or it isn't. Either there is one big all-equal communist "heaven", or the are varying degrees of glory... One is what God has set up, and one isn't. Etc., etc...
The ONLY Truth that actually matters in the end, is God's TRUTH. Matthew chapter 7 --- keep seeking, Keep asking, Keep knocking...
@@catherinepietsch6299 Maybe God needs to work on his communication skills.
You need to fear any church that claims it is the only way. Saying "Christ" is the only way is not the same as saying a "church" is the only way.
I was otherwise "in full fellowship" but did not do a mission in my teens for individual personal reasons. Being in my late twenties by then and single, "The Brethren" determined that LDS Young Women should only marry returned missionaries. They began a General Conference and Ensign Magazine campaign directed at YW likely in hopes of coercing YM to comply with their self-paid mission "service". After two years of social discrimination by obviously mind-controlled Mormon girls, and with options denied and compromised, I ended up in an ill-advised marriage that failed. I view such social engineering as being an evil and uninspired abuse of power upon affected members that is reminiscent of cults and ponzi schemes. That reality led me to an Internet search for truth that opened my eyes.
It’s really wrong to do this …base someone’s worth on whether they went on a mission or not. I married a return missionary and he was a complete narcissistic abuser. Mission servicemeans nothing . I had a lovely male friend …who did not go on a mission but who was otherwise perfectly faithful . He never got married as when he dated girls their parents always broke it up as he wasn’t an RM so he gave up . He is in his 50s now. He stayed in the church and yes ..:still unmarried …doesn’t matter the age …they all want an RM.
Min 30 the loss of sense of community...It's a common feature in religious experience, likely even in political communities or in other kind of separation...when I decided to left ( entering into the crisis of faith that did lead me to agnosticism ) the catholic group where I was involved in for years here in Italy ...one of the most enduring feeling is the loss of so many dear persons I did share so many moments and hopes with
This is so wrong! These are grown individuals that consensually have a Same sex relationship whereas kids that are sexually abused by an adult in church and it is brushed under rug and ignored. Even denied!
We used to have so much fun for FHE. We had lessons and then an activity that was fun. It's the only thing about the church that I miss..... 40 years ago I left because I was lesbian. I never thought that the church could get any worse on its stance on LGBT members and then they did. When i told my mom that my daughter couldn't get baptized even if she wanted to because her other mom (my-ex) was married to a woman she told me to stop talking badly about the church. I said but MOM that's the new policy. It's not talking badly it's talking truth.... She told me they must have a good reason. And then they back tracked.... I'll never understand Mormon god...
I feel kind of disappointed they didn't mention the patriarchy more and body shaming was a huge one I would've liked mentioned. I also would've liked if they had mentioned the churchs response to sexual assault and rape. But I like how they mentioned the good things such as them being kind. Not all of them are, but it is nice that they acknowledge how nice they can be.
God was a man ... sorry that hurts your feelings lol :P
@@ralphwiggam7630 If god exists, they wouldn’t have any of the genders/sexes that we do. We were made in their image according to Christianity, not the other way around.
The Mormon Church is proof of how far deceit and lies can go. Joseph Smith managed to start a religious that breaks radically with Christianity and establish it despite dubious claims. Over time it has grown almost unstoppable despite its dubious origins. So much so, that scholars have written books to defend and validate it.
After 17 years, of being a brown guy married to a white woman, trying to be a good Mormon, my 17 year old son shot himself because he did not feel worthy. I never considered how the pressures for us to comply would destroy our family so completely.
I’m so sorry ❤
People seem to hold strong to it at times because of their ancestors!
My husband. Sweet sweet man. Had a call from a Mormon today they asked if we wanted the book. We said yes thinking they'd send it.. now they're coming to our house on Thursday.... When I say I'm DREADING it. We clearly can't say no 😅😅😅 HELP #closetatheist
Just start asking questions in the CES letter and they'll leave
@@h.r.9563 no we won't as I am a member and I have read the letters that isn't suppose to be taken as fact . Really I honestly don't see how this can affect your faith in christ as this is a man interpretation..
I was brought up in the Methodist church. I say this in a lose sense because looking back, it seemed that my siblings and I were sent on Sunday morning to give our parents some quiet time because they never went themselves. We didn't have to go anymore if we didn't want to once we turned 15. We all chose not to.
Personally, I have my own faith in God. I won't presume to speak for my older brother and sister. This is their business.
My wife and I, married 31 years, have gone to different Methodist churches in Florida and West Virginia where we live now. We don't know what the deal is but neither one of us feel the fellowship, church family feeling that everyone else seems to feel. We have friends there and I mowed the church's 2 acres of grass for 10 years before my physical disability worsened and I would do anything for anyone there but I feel like a distant cousin rather than a brother.
We keep our own beliefs in God and I don't foresee anything that could change this.
In my younger days, I went looking for a comfortable Christian denomination to join. I went to a Catholic church with the girlfriend that I was dating at the time, I went to a Baptist church with an old friend and to a Jehovah's Witness meeting with a guy that I met at a bowling alley that I worked at. Every one of them seemed to have a, for lack of a better word, kink that didn't set right with me. I don't mean a sexual kink but maybe discrepancy would be a better term. Every Christian church that I have ever gone to taught me that you confess your sins to Jesus. Catholics say you have to tell a priest. This sounds like shaming to me. When I talk to Jesus, I feel that I can say anything without holding anything back. There are a few things in my past that no human knows and I'm good with that. Jesus knows and I know that I am forgiven. The Baptist church, to me was all hell fire and damnation. Between the service that I went to and the radio program that I used to listen to on my 25 minute drive to work at night made me feel like no matter what I did, there was no salvation to be had. Honestly, it was depressing. I had to stop listening to that radio program. I never tried Mormon but it sounds very close to Jehovah's Witness to me. Everything that is taught is "new" information that has come to light in the last 150 or so years. To open a JW bible is like opening a modern day reference book. There will be things like "And God said this or that.*" (Notice the asterisk.) You look at the bottom of the page and it will say something like The word "that", according to Webster's dictionary or World Book encyclopedia, means such and such. Well, in my opinion, God and Jesus and the entire bible were in existence long before Webster or World Book. If they want to play that game, After 36 years of sobriety, I could go back to drinking and justify every drop according to "MY" interpretation of the Bible. I quit drinking in 1985 and smoking in 2003. I quit drinking to keep from killing other people, (I used to be a violent drunk), and smoking to keep from killing myself after watching my mother die from lung cancer in 1996. Neither were for religious reasons. We alcoholics can justify anything and if I can get the Bible to back me up, so much the better although I do miss my cigars more. I hold no ill will toward any church or denomination and I know that they are supposed to guide their congregants in accordance with their interpretation of the bible. I know that, on a local level, Christian churches, generally speaking, are supposed to answer to Bishops or other higher ups. When you have a "modern" church that preaches the word of a prophet that is substantially younger than 2,000 years old, or where the preacher and church elders have near total control over the congregation, it begins to sound like a cult to me. Scientology, The church that Jim Jones controlled in Guyana, Branch Davidians or any other where the preacher will take the Bible and twist it's meaning to suit their own purposes or sexual perversions can burn to the ground as far as I am concerned.
I am a moral person but, far from perfect. I know right from wrong. I treat my family right without abuse. I treat the people that I come in contact with care and respect until they give me a reason not to. If I go into a church that purports to be Christian and the preacher tells me that I have to take a second or under aged wife, this is where I show him my tail lights and tire smoke. If the minister of my church asks my wife and me to take in a widow who had nowhere to go and take care of her, we would say yes before the echo died. We would feed her, clothe her if need be and put a roof over her head and take care of other needs as they came up but nowhere in the Bible that I know does it say that I have to violate the wedding vows that I promised to my wife to do any of this. This would be the word of man, NOT MY GOD..
I converted and after my divorce from my husband who converted me I left. When I moved states I saw their true colors. And saw their true colors when they tried to convence me to stay with him when they knew how he was treating me. And when I needed help as a single mom I was isolated it's like they didn't want me here. Now I do have great friends who's in it but we don't talk about it no more.
❤ My husband was abusing me and the Bishop told me I just needed to get some anti depressants as most women including his wife had chemical imbalances. I remember thinking to myself ..Yeah and if I was married to you I’d want to be on them too 😂. Honestly ..how can you feel validated when the Bishop thinks of women that way 😢 So the Bishop did nothing as clearly he was on my husbands side.
When my husband got busted watching porn the Bishop again did nothing …and my husband was 1st councillor in the Bishopric at the time …clearly it’s just a big boys club .
Have you ever considered making a video of why people leave the Adventist church?
I have a video thats scheduled to upload on why people leave Christianity in general. At this present moment, no firm plans on an Ex-Adventism video. But... who knows, maybe!
There needs to be one on people leaving "religion"... on people turning away from "religianity"
So many people today are realising that we should not be tied in with religion but instead be following Jesus.
Many Christians are coming out of religious institutions and turning back to Jesus.
@@JustinKhoe I converted to SDA if you want to include why some have joined.
I was raised in the church of lds but my family never fit in. My mothers side was believers. My father hated church. So my family was different. We were the "bad ones". So a lot of the girls would confined in me about things they did the church viewed as wrong.
Moving from overseas here to Australia and attending Sunday service in a new ward, i felt all alone, i knew no one and was not greeted by any of the church members...can you imagine how i felt...being new and not knowing anyone really made me question the members authenticity...as i was told that where ever you attend church, you will be welcomed and looked after...it did not happen that way for me...however my thoughts were "it does not matter if the members do not welcome you, as long as you are here to serve, revere, and praise the Lord" for he knows the intent of your heart...this is what made me put aside my doubts...however one of those doubts was to do with polygamy in the church...when i found out that Joseph Smith was married to so many single women, also married women and even a 14yr old, turned my whole world upside down...I was truly gutted to the core...and im still struggling with this today...Lord!!! please give me the strength to cast away the doubts and to embrace the truth...i pray in Jesus sacred name AMEN
Jesus Christ said, "Follow me." There is no salvation in any church.
Please read your Bible.
The true and living God offers salvation, eternal life and forgiveness of sins for free, if you are interested.
That is how much God loves everyone!
I John 1:9
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Eph. 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the GIFT of God;
9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Romans 3:24 Being justified FREELY by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the GIFT of God is eternal life, through Christ Jesus our Lord.
Sorry that happened to you ..but honestly it’s just Australian culture.
When I visited UTAH for a while as an Australian I could not stand how welcoming the Mormons were😂. It was so over the top I couldn’t shake the feeling they were faking it and not being genuine..just doing it because they were told too. Couldn’t wait to get back to Australia where the most members do is say Hi and then leave you alone to yourself 😂 Don’t take it personal ..it’s just how we are.