Mormon Missions Explained (Why I Regret My Mormon Mission)
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 22 фев 2024
- I can't believe I paid $12,000+ to do 24/7 sales for the Mormon church. What a waste.
A few resources I mention in the video:
*Missionary Doctrinal Handbook (Preach My Gospel): www.churchofjesuschrist.org/s...
*Missionary Rules: www.churchofjesuschrist.org/s...
Temple Recommend Questions: (newsroom.churchofjesuschrist....)
*My book, How to Leave the Mormon Church: An Exmormon's Guide for Rebuilding After Religion (www.amazon.com/How-Leave-Morm...)
*BYU article about missionaries dating each other: universe.byu.edu/2016/01/28/m...
*My Mormon endowment explained video ( • Secret Mormon Temple C... )
*My Mormon garments explained video ( • Mormon Garments Explained )
#exmormon #exmo #mormon #lds #utah #ldstemple #mormontemple #mormontemplewedding
- where to find me -
Patreon (ad free & bonus content): shorturl.at/8bpnw
TikTok: / alyssadgrenfell
Instagram: / alyssadgrenfell
Blog: www.howtoleavethemormonchurch...
Email me: alyssadgrenfell@gmail.com
- support my channel -
Venmo: venmo.com/u/Alyssa-Grenfell
Friendly Reminder: If someone brings you to another country and takes away your passport, that's human trafficking. But it does NOT mean you're trapped there. Contact your embassy and they will help you.
Friendly update, having served in portugal i could quit the mission and return home any time i wanted. Our apartments and ourselved were robbed twice, not carrying a passport solves a lot of problems. Also 18 year olds are not responsible, they lose stuff all the time.
@@ImAHusband809 Thanks for sharing your experience, but there's a difference between someone keeping your passport in a safe location with your consent, and someone taking it away from you without it.
Thank you! Exactly what I was thinking!
Comparing this to trafficking is despicable. Missionaries are volunteers who can leave or quit if they want to.
@@jeffsharp4982 Did you watch the video? She said some of them had their passports taken so they couldn't leave. I'm not comparing anything, that's called labor trafficking.
The church solidifies your belief that the mission is righteous by having you knock on door after door just to be turned down. It "proves" that these people are sinners. "They need to be saved." When in reality it's the children on these missions that need to be saved and protected from the church.
True. It really emphasizes that there is an "us" and a "them". If they continuously get rejected by the outside world, often on very harsh terms, then when they go back to the open arms of their church it proves that people of their religion are the only people that will ever accept and love them. Making them go out on missions is more a way to keep them in the church as opposed to gaining more followers. If they do gain more followers, it's a bonus.
Wow. That’s a twisted take. Sounds more like a you problem.
@@phillipcook3430who are you talking to? Have you never been around this?
@@phillipcook3430 Jehovah's Witnesses use the exact same tactic. Constantly being rejected only reinforces what witnesses are taught to think about "worldly" people.
this reminds me of the people who get sent to public college campuses (and likely other places) to shout about their twisted in-group beliefs about god to a crowd of liberal young adults who ignore them, stand and argue with them, or protest against them. the church tells them they're there to recruit new members and spread the gospel, but all that happens is that the recruiter becomes more ingrained in their own beliefs because they just spent the afternoon with "worldly" people that hated them, and when they go back to their echo chamber in church, they're met with kindness and compassion from the other members. it only works to further isolate and confirm the biases of the people who are already drinking the kool aid.
I am disabled and was a young widow with a small child. I had a barn that was falling down and the city wanted me to tear it down. I wasn't able to do that, so the city said "we know a Morman group that will help you." So they turned up to start tearing down the barn. 2 young "Elders" gave me a copy of the book of morman and I said I would read it. And I did. They left, saying they didn't have the proper equipment. When they returned a couple of weeks later, the young men asked me what I thought. I told them that I believed that THEY believed it was the word of God. But I did not. Suddenly, it was too big a job for the Mormon group...surprise surprise.
Someone recommended Mormons to rebuild a barn and NOT Amish?? Well that’s odd. Hehe
@@NoOneNoWhere72😂😂😂😂
Something similar happened to me. I just wanted to talk to some missionaries because I enjoy learning about other religions. When I started asking questions they couldn’t answer, though, and they saw that I wasn’t going to convert from my religion, they started saying they were too busy to meet with me.
@@christinashaw1859They have to get their numbers! Looks like you were a zero.
Pro tip. Lie. Pretend you're interested until the barn is built. THEN you can turn away.
I left at 165lbs returned 90lbs. I was in the hospital 1 month after I returned from the Patagonia of Argentina. Only good thing I learned Spanish. After 25 years I speak Spanish fluently and better than when I was in Argentina. My fiancee is Peruvian and only speaks Spanish. Leaving the church my depression has left. I'm happier. I received a 10% raise. I'm not in a cult that launders money and invests my tithing in Coors Budweiser and Phillip Morris.
Good grief - I’m so glad you’re out of there
I'm sorry, they invest in BEER COMPANIES?!?!
Phillip Morris the tobacco company?! The ones responsible for causing an addiction that causes cancers, copd, emphysema, cardiac diseases I’m so many people?… that checks out :/
@@FIRING_BLIND Yes you have not read the SEC report and findings?
@@FIRING_BLINDtobacco as well I believe
You just inspired my daughter, she is very strict member, she has been pressured by the Bishop to go on a mission, she always been involved in the my ward big time. I left the church 2 years ago and my son left the church 3 years ago. Now my daughter has been watching other channels like Mormon stories, she came last week and told me she is trying to find the truth, I told her everything about the lies of the church last for few days too. Now, I think she is leaving the church! Thank-you!
That's wonderful! And I'm so glad she's got someone to support her through it.
That's not a fun thing to go through alone, and having a parent on your side no doubt makes a huge difference.
It takes a lot of bravery and strength to leave a high demand religion. I wish you and you children the best life has to offer and am glad you found resources to help the process of leaving.
That is so great to hear
I hope you have something for her to fall back on rather than just telling her your feelings and wanting her to leave a faith she obviously had devoted her life to. Don't let her just be lost.
@@stacy6994 She is the one did the research and she is the one making her own mind up. If she wanted to go, she could. But she didn't want to go and she been thinking about this for a few weeks. And yes she has very close fiends still and she been going out with her friends and she has a great Dad that cares about her and she told me I'm her HERO! Now this week she is out for good! Hell yeah! Thanks for your caring for her too! That means alot!
One of our good friends’ boyfriend went on his mission to Mexico. He died from carbon monoxide poisoning in the cabin he lived in there. He was hailed as a hero back home. It was really traumatic
Holyyyyy fuck thats so sad :((( may he rest in peace.
was this recently? That's horrible.
@@libbythelobster it was in 2019. The worst part was he was doing the mission for his mom and then was going to leave the church as soon as he was back and marry my friend and live happily ever after. So devastating. I think about him every time I watch one of Alyssa’s videos.
💔
@@user-fp6fm2is4k oh my. That’s awful
I'll always be grateful for my mission. I was lucky, in winning the lottery and being sent to a foreign country where I learned another language and was exposed to cultures and other religions in a way that would never would have otherwise happened. I also saw close up how the church really operates in a way you can't appreciate as a ward member. I'd probably still be Mormon if I hadn't served my mission.
It was a terrible, traumatizing, abusive two years, but it changed my life for the better (just not in the way the Church intended).
You were just never worthy. It's proven by your lifestyle today.
How ironic that the very tool they use to get converts lost them one. Glad your mind was open enough to see things clearly. You could have gone all "white man's burden" and come home thinking those " godless heathens" are barbarians and need to have God beaten into them. Or you could believe "those people" deserve poverty and misery.
Way to take a loss and turn it into a win. I hope you are still close with your family.
@@john-paulsilke893 She's not. And you're a fake post.
so you'd still be an idiot if you hadn't been mistreated? That's not how curing stupidity works.
I have PTSD from sending my kid on a LDS / Mormon mission. Encouraging a mission was the worst parenting decision I made. The way the Church sets up the mission program is ineffective, and the way the Church treats missionaries is deplorable.
Oh, I am so sorry you are hurting.
You sent your child BELIEVING in the work he/ she was doing. And that is a massive undertaking. And your heart was in the right place , because it was the right thing to do. Please don’t do this to yourself; and your hurt child needs to know that you feel so much love for her and feel her pain. We, as parents, get only one shot at our jobs. And sometimes we make colossal mistakes. But this wasn’t a mistake that you need to take on. The Church is fake and shameful using our kids as employees in sometimes dangerous places, doing work for the Church for FREE!!
The Church and its leaders will stand before God just like you and I, and they will need a little upset in the end because God will hold those men accountable for what they have done to us.
Have you and your child gone to therapy? I suggest it 110%. And your child, knowing how much you hurt for her, will heal and the pain will fade away day by day.
I wish I could hug y’all! One is in the air for you
I remember as a kid the pressure to go was so severe... even just down to the primary song "I hope they call me on a mission"
I can remember even at 7 years old knowing I didn't want to go, but doing it anyway because of how severe the pressure is on you from all sides. And now in my 40s, I still think that was the worst decision I ever made in my life.
I’m so sorry- I couldn’t send my daughter on a journey like that
I don't think the church treats them too bad (overall) Again the mission isnt an all paid "cakewalk easier" Probably no tougher then joining the military though. (Im sure experiences, as anything in life can vary though). I went on one and learned a lot: language, culture, got to know people, made a lot of friends, + made some good experiences I'll never forget.
@@nute742 yes, I’ve heard folks on Mormon stories - some of whom have even since left the church- that talk very highly about their missions. More than once I have invited missionaries into my house for a refreshment. I gladly mastered for awhile but never agreed to accept their teachings and certainly not baptism. However, I’ve also heard some fairly disturbing stories from missions
I hate how they usually come on missions to Latin America. We’re not poor homeless pagans for these people to “save”. It’s also more common for them to go visit indigenous communities and try to force their religion on them by manipulation. Our religion and culture should be respected, not changed.
The Mormon missionary program is worldwide. Stop your insinuations.
@@JohnDLee-im4loShowing up on the doorsteps of thinking people with their own beliefs, cultures, and histories, all while pretending you somehow know the truth and are there to "enlighten" them (especially coming from teenagers) isn't just disrespectful, it's insulting.
@@JohnDLee-im4lo They mormon cult is not stupid. South America was the push when I went to Argentina. All my friends went to South America as well. My friend in Ecuador his mission was baptizing over 1000 a month. Now they are pushing in Africa because the Mormon cult is not having as much success in South America. Talking to the sisters we ran into over New years. They had 4 baptism they hated the mission. We took them to Fridays because it was an American restaurant. But my fiancee she won't let them into her house. She sent me a funny music video by a popular group in Peru. Bagging on them knocking on their door so they can't rest.
It's a world wide lie you mean
@@richharkness5942 yawn...get a new schtick.
Omg… I knew a missionary who went to my high school who missed his mom’s funeral and came back to a new stepmom… his dad was bishop and I still get sick over that.
It would be extremely unusual for a missionary to not return for a parent's funeral. I wonder what the circumstances were...Covid? Either way, that was rough.
@@kristinab1078 not covid. His choice. This was like 10 years ago, and similar to what Alyssa said he thought “it’s what she would have wanted” and was encouraged by his dad.
Wow, that’s rough and really sad
That’s horrible
@@kristinab1078it’s not unusual at all. They can come back but a lot choose not to because skipping it somehow proves they are righteous and dedicated to God. I’ve seen it a lot.
One time some missionaries showed up at my brother's house. My brother is an amateur theologian, he gets excited to talk about religion with anyone. So he scheduled a time when he wasn't busy for them to come back. Then he researched everything he could about the Mormon church. When the missionaries came back my brother was ready to have a spirited debate, they were not ready for him at all.
You're brother sounds so cool, I would pay to watch that debate tbh.
That’s great!
I did the same thing. I'd heard all my life that Mormonism was ridiculous. Well I had to find out for myself.
I went to Temple and everything, in the end the role of women was what really put me off.
The missionaries were really no match for me, but they had an Elder on call to try and come in for the save. Of course sending in a more indoctrinated salesman did not work.
I just want to see this played out in a movie - as a whole movie, lol!
I opted "out" of going on a mission and was tossed "out" of my house. The church was way way more important than me.
Were you completely disowned or you just couldn't live at home anymore?
Thats so traumatic, I hope you're doing better now.
Well, fuck them. Glad you got away from them.
As a non religious person my whole life, I remember when 2 young American men appeared on my doorstep. I was away from home in NSW and living in Western Australia. I was a similar age to these Mormon missionaries and they were sooo out of their depth. Even the most everyday things shocked them. The only time they looked at ease was whenever they were going over their “script”. I felt so badly for these guys that I had them in each week for a good meal. They turned up without fail, and eventually we came to an unspoken agreement that they wouldn’t push the religious stuff.
At some point one of the guys left and was replaced by another person who was not as “easy going”. The fear on the face of the one regular guy was evident when he appeared at my door acting as if we had never met.
I played along and offered them to eat with us. Honestly, these guys were really really hungry. It was heartbreaking.
I sometimes wonder all these years later what happened to them, especially the one guy who always brought his mission partners to our home. I wonder where he is today and if he’s still in the church.
This is actually a good idea, to connect ex Mormon missionaries with the people they taught via an online platform. As a former investigator who never joined, it would be cool to see whether "my missionaries" are still in the church.
Feeding cult slaves is always a good idea, as most controlling religious groups starve their zombies. A starving person can think of nothing but food! It's the thinking that causes problems...
That was such a thoughtful gesture to give those young men a meal each week. I'm assuming they were far from home, hungry, and as you said, out of their depth. They probably think of you and remember your kindness.
@@kristinab1078 yeah, I meant to add that I was away from home too but not as far as they were so I really related . Also, my father was American and ex navy so whenever US ships visited sydney we would often have sailors visiting our home for a meal etc.
It kind felt like a similar situation except for the religious aspect.
Thanks for your nice words.
But what if it was Satan who inspired him to do this?@@kristinab1078
I served in the Philippines, Bacolod mission from 2013-2015. I loved being in the Philippines. The people were amazing, the food was delicious, and it was truly an incredible experience. I truly wish I could have been there outside of the church organization. The part that I've come to regret the most was asking poor, hardworking Filipinos to pay tithing to a multi billion dollar church while they struggled to put food on the table every day. It's something I still can't wrap my head around. The mission culture there was very strict and we were constantly reminded that exact obedience brings miracles. We had a mission goal of weekly baptisms and were the top baptizing mission in the world at the time. I don't regret going and I'm so glad I did but I will always regret why I was there and what I asked people to do. Missionary culture in 3rd world countries is American colonialism by proxy. I unknowingly extorted them of their tithing to sell them shame, guilt, and bind obedience. I can't take that back.
Amo man gihapon ako; nag-misyon ako didto sang una pa gid. Sa akon man manamit gid ang pagkaon, maayo gid and mga tawo, pero di ko gusto nga nagbutig ako sa ila parte sa simbahan (biskan, sang didto ako, wala ako nagpati nga butig ini). Di ko gusto nga halos tanan sang mga ginbunyagan ko amo mga bata pa. Di ko gid gusto nga basi nagabayad sila sang ikapulo. Tani less-active na sila tanan. (For the non-Bacolodnon out there: It's the same for me; I served in Bacolod a long time before this commenter. To me also the food was delicious, the people were awesome, but I didn't like lying to them about the church (even though, when I was there, I didn't think it was lies). I don't like that most of those we baptized were just kids. I really don't like that they might now be paying tithing. Hopefully they've all gone less active.)
@@dallenford9592 Tuod na! Tani nagpalayo sila tanun sa simbahan kay wala siya pagpakabalaan o kalipayon nga magpadayon. Tani makita nila ang madamong problema sa Simbahan ni Jesucristo sang mga Santos sa Ulihing mga Adlaw parehas sa aton di. Ako man nagbutig sa ila kag wala ko nabalan nga butig na sadto. Grabi palugput and simbahan! Nagpadala sala sang mga bata pa nga magtudlo sang madamong butig. Pasensya ko sa tanun nga sala nga natabo to. (English) It's true! Hopefully they've all distanced themselves from the church because it's not sacred or enduring happiness. Hopefully they see the many problems with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints like we have here. I also lied to them, not knowing they were lies then. Dastardly(?) Church! They sent children to teach their many lies. I am sorry for everything bad that happened there.
how long were you at the church and when did you leave? how’d that go? also, it’s really difficult for mormons or even anyone to sniff out the white nationalist colonization.
Sounds like you had a nice poverty tourism trip!
@@alsin7085 I grew up an active member in a small Utah town. I'm still technically a member but I've been inactive since 2016ish right after my mission. I took an institute class and tried singles wars for a while before quitting. It took me another 6-7 years of living away at college and being inactive to come to grips with reality and question the church. Since June of last year I've been studying church history, the CES letter, Cult programming, psychology, sociology, American history, and so on. I've had several deep conversations with my still active parents and they have been working through some of their own realizations but they're still active and it's not my goal to talk them out of it. They are concerned about me and I still visit often but we've found mutual ground. I have a sister who's going through the same things and we talk often. I'm truly grateful that my family is open minded and receptive enough to talk about things. It's been a journey of self discovery and it's a rabbit hole I'll never find the bottom of and that's ok. The hardest part is realizing that so much of our culture and childhood is built on lies, power, corruption, manipulation, and indoctrination. It's humbling and frustrating to admit but we've all been duped and continue to be duped. We live in a pyramid scheme of political, economic, and religious extortion going back centuries. The LDS Church is really just the tip of the iceberg.
am over 40, 43 to be exact. When I grew up in Utah. I was of the generation of "Every Young man must go on a mission." This was one of the most traumatizing experiences of my life, looking back at it. I am a late in life ASD diagnosed. Looking back in therapy at my life and experiences, I was constantly abused by "Good Mormons" in our Ward. Going on this mission, I was continually abused by my "Companions" I never knew why but now knowing that I am different, I can now see that is why I was singled out and mistreated. I was sent home earlier because of health issues, and when I got home, I could not ignore the whisperings of other Ward members gossiping about why I came home? And making the remarks that it was medical, was just something they could not accept and figured that I really did something immoral or wrong and that this was some cover up by Leadership. After hearing this, it broke me. As I was trying my best to be the "Good" Mormon. This is what lead me to leave the church. So I regret the trauma and abuse that happened to me on this mission, I am grateful that it allowed me to see the light and to leave.
Thank you for sharing your story, I hope time brings healing for you, peace and blessings and have a nice time zone!
And As someone who is biologically female and is diagnosed with ASD, but was denied that diagnosis for all of my childhood, and had to get diagnosed as an adult,feel this in my soul but for different reasons,knowing you’re different but not knowing why?
I get that.
Im 34 yo female catholic. I recently found out im autistic. Thankfully i became catholic voluntarily at 22 yo after reading the Bible. I find quite good about it. People in the Church arent like a closed off group and i dont really need to talk to anyone specific. The priest in my parish are nice and people have a right to individuality. Unlike most protestant, mormon or JW its not mandatory to give money and if you give is when and how much you want to. Its been good for me...but i also know theres good and bad in the catholic Church depending on location, culture or religious orders/groups involved.
My social skills have never recovered from the “open your mouth” requirement to talk to everyone you can. What a relief it was to finally be done with that. I gave 100% on my mission and felt great about it at the time.
You’re not alone brother
Yes, Catholicism is so old with so many traditions. It's OK to leave a parish to find a community you feel comfortable with. It is an evolving church. I keep the idea that things need to be In the Spirit of the Gospel. We have free will, and no one can keep God from loving us.
I run into Mormon missionaries relatively frequently in Germany. The experiences have been fine to irritating. I do sometimes feel a bit bad for them because I can't imagine they're particularly successful there, and it must be very discouraging.
My favorite was the guy who 1) asked me if I wanted to learn more about Jesus after I told them that I was Catholic (to gently indicate that I wasn't interested) and 2) insisted on speaking mediocre German despite me telling him I was from the US.
I said i was Catholic and was told "ultimately we're all followers of Christ"
I live in Denmark and had a pair of mormons often visit me. I told them right away that I am spiritual, not religious, but that I was always willing to listen to their perspectives and learn about their lives if they would like to share. I invited them inside for a chat 3-4 times, but I never learned much about mormonism. In fact, I remember another video where you talk about the script mormons should use? Never heard it, and I thought about that a lot... I don't think 'tired' covers how these women's energy felt on me, exhausted and near-passing out is a better fit.
Whatever they are doing now, I hope they are happy and living a joyful life. I somehow strongly feel that they're not mormons anymore, and if they are, I hope the light returned to their eyes. The herbal tea and snacks they had at my home was clearly a much needed break from this insanity and I wish I had asked them if they would like to just take a nap on my couch or perhaps get an actual sit-down-meal or two...
My goodness I'm so sorry girls.
Edit: Hearing that you also have stats to report back on, now convinces me that these two mormons came by my door for a break. Not to recruit. And that's perfectly fine with me!
That's so kind of you to offer them tea and snacks and friendly conversation. I'm sure they remember it fondly and with appreciation. 💜
When I lived in NorCal, my family regularly had Mormons serving mission visit during the summer. We would give them water and tell them about the cult we had escaped (iblp) while asking if what we were taught was accurate.
@@princessjesstarca I actually served my mission in NorCal! More so up north past Sacramento. Thank you for treating them well, a mission is grueling and oppressive.
Any man made religion, is no religion. Mormonism is a man made religion.
I never had mormons by my door, Jehova's will appear btw. I don't think there are a lot of mormons here to begin with. Or don't come in my neighbourhood bc most of them are muslim. But if they will come, I will treat them how you did. Give them a break, a cup of water (tea or coffee is a no no) and let them rest.
These kids on a mission have knocked on my door many times, they always look so sad, I invite them in and let them chat, I've offered them drinks and meals and a few years ago when they weren't allowed be in touch with home, I offered them phones to call their family, many have broke down crying in my home..it's torture on them, they should be enjoying life at that age, not following silly rules
Sounds like you should be converting and saving them instead of the other way round. 😪
We had a pair of male Mormons hit our apt complex a few years back. I let them in because I wanted to hear what they had to say. One recited something from the book of Mormon he had memorized and I quickly realized while talking to them that they were just young boys who knew nothing. Anyway, I was very polite and then when I politely said thank you but I guess this isn't going to work when they wanted to baptize me after just speaking to me for 2 minutes and opened the door for them to leave, they outright asked me for 2 things, (1) For Food (we didn't have anything prepackaged and I felt funny giving them homemade food that for all they knew could have been tainted/bad/poisoned) and (2) For Money, which I didn't know that Mormons were allowed to ask for, and I didn't want to fund the LDS org. so I said "no". They both looked absolutely exhausted...I wish I had known that they got about $100 a month to live on, and sometimes the card with $ isn't given immediately, and sometimes they don't live with families that provide 3 square meals and a bed. We ended up giving about $50 to their Mormon handlers on their behalf because we couldn't find them later...I hope they got at least a little of it. I felt sorry for them; I really did.
@@bettywith2girls you're a good person.
This is what my mom used to do. She was very direct with them and told them she wasn't converting but would listen to them and invite them to eat or have dinner, she used to buy ice cream or whatever they were craving bc she knew they were struggling. They don't come anymore bc I went to church for about 3 months and omg... the things I saw and heard, I guess the bishop told them not to visit anymore.
I dated a Mormon for 3 years in high school. Him and his whole family tried to convert me during this time (I was 15) while he was actively not following the law of chastity and lying to his bishop and I saw how mentally degraded he was from lying to his church and his family because we BOTH would have been ostracized if he was honest (I WASNT EVEN A MEMBER, why on EARTH did his mother think she had any maternal power over me???). Not to mention his younger sisters always commented on my clothes and how they weren’t modest enough. He didn’t end up going on a mission after high school even though his family expected him too and instead continued on my “conversion process” because he wanted to marry me and I became intensely depressed because I couldn’t understand why a church would not allow my family to see me get married or really have a close relationship with them at all if I joined. I didn’t get baptized. After he had SA’d me I left him and quickly realized the bullet I dodged.
I can’t believe I almost converted and thought about going on a mission myself at some points. It gives me chills. His younger brother left the church and the family entirely and I don’t think he has barely any support from them. The church created a toxic and mentally disturbed environment for their family and I genuinely hope those young girls in his family can realize how powerful and amazing they are by themselves (WITHOUT A MAN). Fuck the patriarchy.
It's just, if I comes to what Jesus has asked us to do, absolutely nothing this church is doing is regarding that, it sounds much more than a cult, more like a cult mafia concentration camp combined, nothing of their actions is about spreading love, especially if people are being shunned, officially or not.
Generally, I would recoil at the use of the word patriarchy. It's so overused these days. BUT it is entirely appropriate in this case!
I went to the Temple a few times. What set me off was seeing men and women separated after the service for lessons. I asked why and was given some malarkey about men needing to go learn how to be leaders in the church... And women, you know, going off and learning what they needed to learn as women - wink, wink.
An elder tried to calm me down and explain that oh well "we put women on a pedestal" this isn't what you think, etc etc
Obviously that was the end of Mormonism for me.
Unbelievable how much control the church has with its members through guilt, manipulation, and coercion. I continue to be happy and freed up since I left the church twenty-three years ago! I now live my life without always feeling guilty for everything I did and everything I didn't do - and I'm not talking about major "sins" like drinking or smoking, or committing adulty. Or heaven forbid, drinking coffee. I'm talking about being made to feel guilty for not reading the scriptures 30 minutes every day. Or for not attending the temple at least once a week. Or for not saying my prayers every night. Etc. , etc. And when you DO actually do things they require of you, then they raise the bar. It's never good enough. You're always falling short. They use guilt to control the masses. I just came across your channel yesterday and it's such a pleasure to hear you speak so beautifully and precisely about your experience in the Mormon church. Love the sleeveless top!! :)
It's interesting that a church that places a huge emphasis on family wouldn't encourage someone to attend their mother's funeral while on a mission.
it used to be absolutely no contact other than letters/emails. Now they allow weekly phone and video chats. Keep trying to appease people.
Wow, I just learned this today. Shocking.
It doesn't matter cause your going to meet up after the resurrection, if your good Mormons
You sound absolutely nuts right now@@mistydawnoliver6717
Idk that and as an ExMo even the military in the U.S. can grant special leave for things. That's pathetic not to allow someone to go home for their parent's funeral.
I remember having two missionaries when my youngest was a baby. As a young mom home alone I looked forward to having these regular visitors and allowed them to teach me and show me videos while we chatted and ate muffins etc so I would have company, they would get a snack and some "credit". I remember thinking how appealing the life they were describing sounded and I even went to the chapel? for an event with them. The people were so kind but I also knew full well that I would never convert because as kind as they were the belief system seemed way too farcical for my logical brain. But I did get a taste of how people can fall into an organization like this. I was lonely and they were kind... Sometimes that's all it takes.
Thats what happened to me with a Christian group. I was in college for summer classes and lonely. They were so kind, picked me up and bought me things. They ghosted me once they realized I wasn't ever going to get baptized in their church.
Being lonely and they were kind , sounds like you should consider yourself lucky I know people that have gotten pregnant under those conditions .
spiritual matters need to be assessed with spiritual sensibilities not logical. thats why people leave cos they have no testimony of the holy spirit.
Same with me, I was a young adult, my mom had finally left my abusive father and I was very lonely when they showed up to my door one day when I wasn't feeling good and had stayed home from work. I stayed for about 2 years but never really fully bought the whole Joseph Smith story and started investigating mormanism and finally left...the missionaries still come to my home to this day trying to get me to come back.
Loneliness is the greatest reason for joining a church. The sense of community and belonging is very appealing.
I had been a member of the church for a little over a year when I went to the temple to receive my endowments, which completely freaked me out BTW.
A week later my bishop called me into his office for a conference. He wanted me to “pray “ about going on a mission. Mind you at this point I was 28 years old and had been living on my own, including 3 years of military service, and I was a junior in college.
However, I did pray about it and decided that the answer was going to be NO. I returned to the bishop and gave him my decision along with all of the reasons for not going on a mission (well not ALL of them: I had some extremely personal reasons for not going on a mission).
The next week at church, people I didn’t know from the church came to me and started giving me all their reasons why they had served their missions and they asked me when I was going to serve one myself. It wasn’t a big leap to figure out who had put them up to it. I went back to the bishop and told him again why I couldn’t even think about serving a mission at that time.
More and more, I was getting pressured to go on a mission, and the stress became stronger to the point that I was becoming depressed and suicidal. I went back to the bishop one final time and told him that under no circumstances would I consider a mission and if the pressure campaign didn’t stop I would leave the church and forbid anyone from the ward from contacting me.
He didn’t like that too much and told me that until I became more righteous he was suspending my temple recommend and that I should not take the sacrament until further notice. Also, he relieved me of my calling as a ward clerk. I told him in so many words where he could stick his calling and all the rest, and told him very specifically where to shove his mission.
I left his office without another word and a week later sent him a letter telling him to remove my name from church records and under no circumstances was anyone from the church to contact me. In essence, I excommunicated myself and could not have cared less. I have been very happy being outside of the church and have never felt like I have missed a thing.
What made you join the church? Are you a Joseph Smith fan?
@@millevenon5853 absolutely not. I have nothing good to say about the man.
As for why I joined the church, I was young and searching for truth, but I found that the truth was NOT found in the church of course, as time went on I eventually came to the realization that there was no truth to be found in any religion regarding a god or eternal life. I came to realize that I had never truly believed any church or religion that I had ever known had anything that could remotely be called an eternal truth. I realized upon looking back on my life that I had been an atheist. I still am and cannot fathom that there is any argument short of empirical evidence that would ever convince me that any god exists or that there is anything even approaching eternal life. I believe that we have one and only one life and that is in this world, and because of that we need to make the most of this life. Do what makes you happy😊 and not what some religion tells you you have to do to be righteous enough to live for eternity.
good for you!
Nice job, seen through the con
Nice. Wow, that was so very stupid of that bishop. How are they even able to retain anyone when they treat people this way? Unbelievable.
I’m not sure why the algorithm recommended me your video but I’m glad it did. I was a Peace Corps volunteer in a very poor sub-Saharan African country, so naturally there were a lot of missionaries there, both Mormon and otherwise. One thing I will say is that all of us PCVs were continually impressed by the commitment to learning the language by the Mormon missionaries. We were the only two groups of foreigners who actually made the effort to learn the indigenous language of the country, whereas other aid organizations and churches relied on using the colonial language, even though that was not what the majority of the people spoke. There was also a so-called “Mormon dictionary” that was always really coveted by the volunteers (as well as locals who wanted to learn English) because it was the only good, thorough English dictionary for this particular language. No one else had ever put in the time to create one.
One other impression we had of missionaries was that we always wondered why, with all of the money and energy they spent sending people over to that country, there didn’t actually seem to be that many converted locals. So that certainly speaks to your question of “does it actually work”.
How was your experience as a peace corps volunteer? Doing a sabbatical with them has been on my mind lately
That's a great insight to this video. It seems to me that the conversions to Mormons is secondary to puting young Mormons through a grueling, last round of indoctrination. It would explain why it is such an honor to complete one.
As a combat veteran, the Mormon veterans, are given the same respect we get when we return.
@@boat6float Alyssa talking about returning home from a mission sounds like what I've heard (as a civilian) about leaving of the military. Going from a strict schedule with a sense of purpose to then having no structure and no purpose is a tough thing to deal with mentally
As someone not from the US, Mormonism looks both incredibly weird and also 100% US-American. The more I hear and read about it sounds more like an MLM rather than a religion.
That's why some of the largest MLM's are headquartered in Utah. (The largest being doTERRA)
it 100% IS American, since the weirdo who started it was American (and eventually kicked out due to polygamy), and it's weird to EVERYONE. It's not recognized as an official Christian sect and the book is pretty much an off-the-rails version of the Bible and it doesn't make sense. The Bible makes more sense.
I know right! I'm German and Mormons are both looked at as an incredibly weird hyperreligious cult and that just would NOT be able to exist here. How are mormons so important in politics in America? How??? If it was revealed that big politicians or celebs were part of that hyper-christian cult it'd be a huge scandal!
As a person that lives in the UK and is an ex Mormon then you have to think Mormonism isn't that scary to a person as yes I was born around church but never actually committed to anything. I was baptised in 2016 and left the church in 2020 however I still am friends with members and ex missionarys and for me even though I have left the ones that actually got to know me are still friends with me and the ones who got to know me and then went home but didn't really care they just wanted either converts or help on there missions then they seem to have gone from my life but I will always be greatful and have find memories of both sets of ppl . The question for me is do they actually believe in Christ I want to say yes in there defence but I don't think it's the real Christ of the bible as I can't see how the rules actually help you become closer to Christ as the guy at the side of Christ on the cross didn't have all the rules and regulations and he got to be in heaven and also the fact they don't believe in hell doesn't actually make sense as if there is a heaven there has to be an alternative like anything if there is love there is hate etc etc
I might be wrong here, but i think, based on context the OP meant "UN-American". I.e. a typo. Feel free to correct me if i am wrong, OP.
I am in my 55s from the east coast. Never Mormon. Moved to Vegas. Met my first Mormons at my new job. I managed a mental health medical office. We had a Mormon practitioner and had a stream of missionaries coming in 2 by 2. I was co fused when some would ask if they could attend their friend’s appt. Uhhh, no. The majority of their medical claims would be denied. 2ndary ins would be “missionary medical”. All denied and pushed to the patient. Our LDS practitioner came to me to let me know we couldn’t bill them and should write off all billing as they paid for their own missions, could not afford care and needed it. I gasped and shouted, yes shouted “WHAT!??!!! They PAY the church and to be salespeople? Are you kidding me?!!!” She mumbled that they receive a stipend.
This started my dive into Mormon history. Unfortunately, the practitioner gave her notice. I started to ask too many questions.
Btw. Thank you. You are an inspiration. I loved your book and love love love your content.
That is always what has blown my mind too. It would be one thing if they were just giving their time and the church covered the costs which it easily could but the fact that it costs them money to proselytize for the church is insane.
I’m tired so forgive me if I’m not reading this right. She was committing fraud?!
@@love2sing20101No, it’s not fraud. Most insurance contracts require you to attempt to get payment from their contracted patient a total of three times. It’s not fraud to write it off after that. There is no law that requires a physician to send someone to collections.
I’ve worked for a couple of Mormon doctors and this happens a lot. We would keep a ticker and after the 3rd bill we’d write it off. I’d usually tell the patient to call me if they got a final notice bill just in case it got past me. Doctors can do this with anyone, but it happens a LOT with Mormons. If the doctors won’t do it, they sometimes get a visit from someone higher up in the church to “persuade” them.
@@love2sing20101I think it means that they missionaries would get medical care. The church's insurance always refused to pay for it. The Mormon doctor said not to bother billing the patients because they couldn't pay.
This video saved my life and gave me clarity of my journey in the LDS Church.
I just recently left and I want to go to therapy bad after my experience.
The change in behavior after I was baptized was so profound I had no support at all after I was baptized I was so alone because I wasn’t raised in the religion.
I wanted time to learn more and be baptized, but the pressure was bad and I should’ve trusted my instinct that that was a red flag.
When I told them I had an addiction problem they were so supportive until I got baptized they acted like I didn’t exist and the girls weren’t nice so I relapsed. When I told them I relapsed all they said was okay go take the sacrament..
There’s obviously more, beyond more that I experienced in only 3 months… but you have gave me the exact closure I needed and I thank you so much
🤍
This has reminded me to be kind and welcoming to any missionaries I encounter. They’re essentially children in a horrible situation cut off from family and friends. I would invite them in on the condition that they let me feed them. Several years ago I invited a couple boys to the house and gave them some pie. I think letting them see true kindness from someone who still doesn’t want to convert is an excellent way to show them that non Mormons aren’t evil and cut into that persecution complex that they’re being taught.
I spent over 50 years 8n a similar cult, Jehovahs Witnesses. So repressive and controlling. Both my wife and I so sad that we missed out on so many great experiences humans can achieve. So happy for you Alyssa that you were able to get out while you are still young. Thanks for taking so much time to help others get out.
i was raised in the jehovah’s witness cult as well, though i was lucky enough to get out early. i pity the genuine friends i had there that still follow this ideology and wouldn’t get along with me now because i’m bisexual. thankfully i didn’t last long enough to make it to the missionary stage lol
Jehovahs Witnesses have absolutely nothing in common with the LDS church, other than the door to door missionary work, which the JW do not even do anymore.
The LDS church:
Does not teach to stay away from the worldly people completely.
Does not teach higher education is wrong(actually have some of the most educated people of any religion)
We can get blood transfusions
We have holidays
Kudos for getting out 💪🏼❤️ ...I was older also.... can't change the past. Now I'm having a blast learning about so many things. So glad to be out of the fear, self blaming, patriarchy, "worthiness" etc. Out ❤️💪🏼
We get JWs door knocking here where I live. It’s always bothered me they bring their children out to knock on strangers doors I feel so bad for their kids. I’m glad you got out
@user-xx3sd5wb9j I have faded after giving over 65 years although I have lost everyone I could not live a lie after my eyes were opened
I grew up with a lot of abuse when I was younger. From my family, from a church. It wasn’t great.
But I have to say, when you were talking about the endowment- you didn’t “allow it to happen to you.”
You protected yourself.
You were still a child. The adults around were supposed to protect you.
I’m so sorry that they didn’t.
But it’s incredibly beautiful to watch someone take their life back and tell their story.
Thank you. ❤️
Totally agree. There's this myth that victims "allow" abuse and it's just victim blaming. Victims are never to blame for what their abusers choose to do to them, not even 0.0001%
I'm taken by her humor and compassion. She's such a lovely human being, isn't she?
What happens during the endowment??
Hi what's the endowment???
Secret Masonic stuff. She has another video about it. @@jakemichaels9902
8:41 Love all the broken "rules" captured in one shot lol Fancy earrings, spaghetti straps, a tattoo and drinking coffee no less! So awesome to see you living your best life and sharing your story with smile. Keep being you
The missionaries I met in Myrtle Beach had joined my community’s Facebook group. They posted who needs prayer, and my husband and I both hit the like button. The ladies messaged us to proselytize immediately. We felt such compassion for one of the girls, but we couldn’t get into an authentic conversation because they responded to everything with, “I love that scripture says _______.” It was so sad because the one girl would start to be more herself, but her companion would step in, and she would become a robot. 😢 We never cut her off and when we did talk to her on her own, we strongly hinted that she was welcome in our home if she felt uncomfortable. I hope she appreciated it, even though she never took us up on it. :-/ I often wish I knew how to contact her now, years later.
When I was in high school 50 years ago, I remember the guy with his locker next to mine, seemed fairly withdrawn and upset for a few days. I asked him if I could help him out as he seemed upset. Also, please note, my father had died while we were in high school and he kept my spirits up as I grieved. Anyhow, this particular day, he told me he was angry he had to go on a mission after high school. I did not know that Mormons were expected to do this. He had some plans he was looking forward to but as he said, "the stupid mission" was going to ruin it for me. We walked together on our ways home that day, and he told me more about the mission. His worst fearvwas being expected to get married once he returned from his mission. He was in envy of our friends going travelling to Europe after high school. He really wanted to go with one of the groups. I feltt extremely sad for him. Our paths drifted apart after high school, but I did hear that he left the church. I hope he went travelling with friends.
Anger is good in that situation! That's what got him out. That anger. Now he's better off for it.
One of my childhood friends was Mormon and when she was at BYU she became engaged to a man right before his mission. He then went on his mission and she never heard from him again. In my opinion, he clearly left the church but she claims he's still just out serving his mission (7+ years later?). She married someone else but wow, the delusion.
Maybe she made him up. Seriously maybe he did leave. And god had someone better for her.
I worked at a public library for 6 years and we saw missionaries all the time. I always genuinely checked in with them to see if they needed anything and they all looked like they were so tired and miserable 😢 I wish we could have offered them more resources but they were on that strict schedule.
My son was approached by 2 mormon missionaries on his way to his physics class at his university. They asked him if he knew where his soul was going, and he told them, "To physics class," and he continued on his way to class.
I was SO proud of him!!!!
I was so glad he was not on a mormon mission like the 2 men, and was focusing on his education, exactly what young adults should be doing.
I was straight up lied to about what the mission was, and it didn't even occur to me at the time to look anything up online since I'd been trained not to do that. I was told that I would mostly be doing service and then would be teaching lessons as well and inviting people to church. I was NOT prepared for the high intensity sales cult that I was thrown into. I was sent to a foreign country and wasn't allowed to leave when I asked to. They took my ID and passport and locked it in a vault. They proceeded to breathe down my neck and work me to the bone 12-14 hrs a day, 6.5 days a week. I was trained to use skeevy sales tactics to exploit people's weaknesses to get baptisms. You have absolutely ZERO privacy at all times, and it takes a toll on your mind. When I came back home, I couldn't be by myself for a month without having a minor panic attack. I even tried to sleep in my parents' room because of how nervous the idea of being alone made me.
I can genuinely say f*ck the church and f*ck the mission. If you're considering going, you need to have someone on the outside who is entirely willing to fly over and get you out, because the church will trap you and control you. Also, just don't go on a mission. You don't miss out on much
this is so awful omg i hope you've been able to find some proper peace since
Im sorry man. What a trip. Take care of urself 🫶🏻
Thanks for leaving so we didn't have to throw you out. It's a shame the Mormons would send out such a particularly weak and confused vessel to represent them in the world.
Whoa!! That's so culty! Sorry you had to go through that.
That is horrifying
I encountered two sister missionaries at my library job and they looked so stressed. The newer sister was overwhelmed and cried a lot. Her partner encouraged her to keep her testimony strong. My heart broke when she said I'm not perfect enough. My heart went out to them and I hope they find their way out.
Is it a public library? Did you offer them help? After learning more about mormonism and the mission I'm now going to go out of my way to approach missionaries and check on their wellbeing. They're borderline human trafficking victims, no joke.
I am an active member and I joined the church when I was 36 y.o. Lots of things I hear on this channel is culture to me. I felt and heard the pressure and guilt. I have never been to Utah, but probably this is how many kids grow up in Utah? It is sad. Everyone is free to join/leave the church. I assume many of those young kids who go on a mission are still figuring out what life is and what their own faith is. Don't judge the entire church by a few encounters you had. We all are different and each of us makes his/her own experiences. E.g. I will receive my Endownment soon, in the next weeks, and I am looking forward to it. I know it is my path. I am able to understand though that young people before going on a mission find it weird and strange. I am doing it because it is my choice. They did it because they were told to do so.
@aisera1986 did they tell you that Joseph smith "translated" the book of mormon with a rock and a hat and had 40 wives, some as young as 14. That he forced to marry him by telling them their salvation depended on it? That he married these women the knowledge and approval of his first wife Emma? You say everyone is free to join the church. Did you know blacks weren't allowed in the priesthood untilb1978? Over a decade after the Civil rights movement in the United States? Why would join this church in 2022 with all the info that's available now.
Yes, our library was where young missionary women came to use email. My heart went out to them also. I can't imagine sending my kids out into the world under these circumstances. I feel so sorry for these young people. I am extra kind when they come to my door. They have never been pushy or rude, even when I tell them I am a Catholic. I pray for their well-being. Thank you for your courage, and I hope you find spirituality again, possibly in Italy.
@@aisera1986 You joined with life experience and of your own accord. That's a very different experience than being raised in it, and having very little choice because of the culture you live and breathe. I'm glad you feel positive about your experience, but personally I think raising a person in this type of environment is not healthy.
I regret serving my mission over 40 years ago, in Spain Barcelona. I do not regret living in and exploring a different country. I could only explore on P days though!
But I am so terribly sorry that I brought so many into a brain washing culture focusing on taking money from members and controlling them. I too was blind. I am so sorry!
I'm from Brazil, and here we have a big percentage of Christians, especially Catholics. When we see mormon Missionaries, we actually find it funny. It's a little offensive as well, in my opinion. As ACTUAL Christians, we know the Bible very well (I've read the whole thing myself), and we know Jesus. We come from hundreds of years of Christianity being the predominant religion in our country. And then there come the Mormon Missionaries, people from a cult trying to convert us to a deep web version of the gospel we already know, who think they are actually telling us such big innovating news.
I know they are the victims of the church, we feel bad for them as well.
I get your point, but at the same time it's just so funny to me that you don't realize you are also in a cult. Your cult is bigger, more global, older and less demanding. That's why you can't recognize it as a cult. Every religion is a cult with no evidence to support it whatsoever.
the no-first-names rule sets off so many alarm bells in my head. Stripping someone of their name is like the cultiest thing in the book
Regarding how to get the Morman missionaries to leave you alone: My MIL is an Anglican born and bred, a librarian specializing the teen literature and education, and as a bonus was very well-educated on Christian faiths in general. One time, she had a couple of young missionaries come to her door and ask to talk to her about the Church of LDS. She welcomed them in, gave them some water, and they had a full two hour conversation where, for each aspect of the lesson they "taught" her, she would respond neutrally, with an air of great interest, and in her very British teacher kind of way, she would ask little questions that weren't overly obvious about questioning the faith, but were questions that were designed to make a person think critically about their own beliefs. The two young men thought they had a sympathetic ear, and were very enthusiastically trying to answer her questions. They took her questions as her genuinely wanted to learn more about the religion, but weren't able to answer most of them (because obviously, critical thinking isn't a big part of Mormon proselytizing . They eventually left with a promise to return after they'd talked to an elder so she could get some answers to her questions. She never saw them again. The mission president probably heard the questions, immediately knew what she was trying to do and wouldn't let them go near her house again.
Would love to know what questions she asked hah
That’s stupid she wasted a lot more time. More likely she just got off on being a smug adult to kids.
You should be concerned for their well being. They're cut off from family and friends, and have their passport taken away from them and are working for no pay! They are human trafficking victims.
@@Hallahanify My MIL lives in Canada. There is a robust LDS community in her neighbourhood. Could they have been US citizens? Maybe, but chances were pretty good that they were local Canadians.
@@ladyelainefairchild3546 Well, it paid off. Her house was never bothered by the LDS missionaries ever again, and this was after semi-regular visits previously when she didn't have the time to sit down with the kids that came to her door.
'Serving' God out of obligation vs. serving God out of joy.
stupidity either way, who cares?
I mean either way it’s because of fear - fear of hell. Which is quite self-centered imo.
it is still highly pressured to go on a mission. I was with one of my friends and their mom and they were saying that right after high school they go on that mission. I considered going on a mission for a long time, but after finding your videos, it really helped me know that it was not for me and I really appreciate that.
Once when female missionaries knocked on my door and saw me answer the door with crutches and my broken ankle, they immediately offered to come in and help me around the house. Obviously it's safer because im a woman, but after i told them no thanks and they left, i was thinking omg that is so unsafe to be going around offering to come into stranger's homes. They dont know me at all and for all they know, i could have a psycho male relative or husband or it could all be an act to lure young women inside. I hate that the church gives them the illusion that just "because they are in pairs, they are safe." It's so dangerous what they make them do. I felt very scared for them, even though i live in a safe neighborhood. I could only imagine what their parents must be feeling sending their kids out into the world like that
exactly crazies not safe at all
Perhaps they put their faith in their beliefs.
The "broken arm " schtick was Ted Bundy's idea. This kid's really are putting themselves in danger.
if they come back, you should let them in. They are very nice and I assume you are not a bundy relative. Time spent with you will be safe.
You can request men or women to visit on the internet!
I grew up attending the Mormon church because my mother is a member (as was most of her side of my family), but I hated it and refused to be baptized. The minute I was old enough to refuse to go, I never attended again except for family events (funerals, etc.). I've resented my mother's commitment to the church pretty much my whole life. However, after hearing your story, I can let a little bit of that go. At the very least, she was (and is) one of those people who is kind and has been the "mom away from home" for missionaries for many years now. Her house is clean and she doesn't mistreat anyone. And she's a chef. I still resent the church and feel my childhood scars may never heal, but today I got a silver lining, which I appreciate.
Good i hope you heal love ❤ you deserve this
Did your dad play a role in supporting you through this? My daughter is in a similar position where her mother is a member but I’m not. She’s still a few years away from baptism age but I want to be as supportive of her and help educate her and protect her as best as I possibly can.
i'm glad you coukd control what you did. you did well
I had a friend living with me for a while, who was born mormon but never active in the church. He was diabetic. One day he got into an arguement with his mother, so she called her church and gave them my address. They started coming by, wanting to talk to him, but always coming by when he wasnt home. He moved out and the next time they showed up they had a plate of some sugary sweet treat. I laughed and commented about how the treat they had would possibly kill my friend because of his diabetes. For as much as the mormon church researches where you work and how much you make so they can make sure you are paying the correct amount for your tithe, I would have figured they would have known about his diabetes, but they were clueless.
As a latino who has been visited by mormons several times, it feels condescending and dehumanizing because plenty american mormons see latin people (specially latin americans) as poor unintelligent pagans who need to be saved. Im not religious myself but all the places I’ve lived have been very religious neighborhoods (catholic and/or christians). I understand obviously not all missionaries are like that, BUT all the experiences I’ve had with american mormons have been that way
How sad cause I see Latinos as very religious people .
My sweet grandmother lived with us in middle GA, didn't drive and was lonely during the day when we were at school. She often invited mormons and Jehovah witnesses in for refreshments. She rolled her eyes when i asked her if she was considering converting.
My mom did this when I was a baby, she was 18 with a toddler and no car. They often just enjoyed talking and not getting cussed at😅
Yup, these guys can provide a valuable social service.
My grandfather used to let them in when my mother wasn't home! He used to discuss the Bible with them!
I would do this if I saw them…I feel bad for them. I don’t see them around our neighborhood. I’d guess people in the area scared them away 🤣
(I live in Philadelphia, the neighborhood I’m in can be pretty rude-it’s relatively safe, but they take no crap)💩
My grandma had dementia and when she still lived at home had many of those missionaries prey on her hardcore. Tried to make her sign stuff until my mom threatened to call the police on them if they ever showed up again.
I knew a girl who walked around on a broken foot for months because her mission president’s wife wouldn’t let her see a doctor. She walked on the fracture so long that she had to come home and get surgery. . . . and then go back to finish her mission.
Wtf? That's horrible.
Ugh. Not Mormon, but this stuff happens in super conservative Christian colleges and stuff too. People are accused of being dramatic or faking to the point that they aren’t even sure of their own maladies - and then later you find out it was truly something bad and you’re suffering more as a result.
No compassion.
Can you make/interview a video on black mormons?
That is not the first LDS story I heard like that. Another one was that she hurt her back.
I’m inches away from leaving…I’m a convert, relatively new. Bishop is making it very hard for me to receive my endowment… moving the goalposts after completing each task he gave to me.
I saw my sweet Missionary Ladies just dying of the pressure that’s laid on them by families, the Mission Prez, etc. broke my heart. Especially since many of them are home now. But I see these girls with faraway , hollow looking eyes. I keep up with two who are at BYU , now, and they all said it was so hard transitioning back to a more relaxed atmosphere back home or school. I feel that I need to let them know that they can decompress with me.
Thank you for your strength and love, to help those of us struggling with many issues in the LDS community.
No judgement, but I'm curious to hear what brought you to being baptized?
As a convert that left the organization, all I can say is that life is good. I personally do not miss anything or anyone from that time. I wish you the best!!!
Quite frankly, if you love God, just join any mainline Christian denomination
@@bumblerofabee I researched, I was careful, I loved hope the people loved me and I loved them (never had that at Mass). I had my first Temple recommend, did work for my deceased family. Then I got sick, had a brain tumor removed, got sick again. For a tee months I was not able to pay tithes. I watched EVERY SUNDAY ZOOM meetings when I couldn’t make it myself.
When it came time to ask my Bishop for a recommend for my endowment( took classes and read three books at his behest), he said not until he sees me paying tithes for many months ( I had started up again and have paid since September). He also wanted to see my “face in the meeting again”. And silly me, I argued my case saying I felt heavily prompted by the Spirit to get heading at the Temple. He suggested again, more time at the sacrament meetings. Even though the Elders had told call for each session I was on Zoom.
So, one day just three weeks ago, it hit me that this 200 billion dollar company did not need my measly tithe. I dug deep into You Tube videos, learned that the endowment ceremony was JUST LIKE MY SORORITY INITIATION, right down to the embroidered symbols in the magic underwear. The handshake, the secret word and name, even down to the apron! And I had heard that Joseph Smith and a lot of the early Church members were Free Masons, and that is DIRECTLY what their ceremonies look like… the same script.
I was a Catholic Convert, and was trying to get away from the “mysticism and secrecy” of Catholicism. Well, I just walked into another field of landmines.
I really believed in the baptism, but when it came down to the confirmation of the Holy Spirt. Or ghost. Or whatever… I explained to some people that I already received the Spirit and we had a pretty good relationship. I went from no church for years to this church that I thought it really had the message.
My dad had just seen a60 minutes article on TV, about the Church and how much money was just sitting in accounts not being used and of course, not needing to be reported.
I watched it… it’s still on You Tube as of yesterday, and watch the one from 60 minutes of Australia. If the Church had that much money, and bought a well for clean water for every village or hamlet in Africa, THAT would be doable! And, the Church is using money to buy up property that it doesn’t have to pay taxes on the funds earned. Just more for the rainy day fund.
Like I said at the beginning of my Ted Talk, I have been prompted to dig in and find the truth, and this church is just a money making machine. It keeps people by making them feel significant by ridiculous ceremonies and a sense of belonging. And these people aren’t stupid!!! We have doctors, professors, engineers… how can they drink the cool ade!?!
And for those of you too young to remember what the cool ade reference is, look up Jim Jones and his organization from the 70’s and early 80’s in Guyana ( I think) just Jim Jones…. You’ll find out the reference used by so many people today who are in their 50’s on up.
I know this was long. And if you read it all, then God Bless.
I believe in God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit, just not in organized religion any more. And I have been looking and losing out too long.
I hope this helps.
Sorry for all the misspellings.
@user-df5gp7tu9k hey, as an exmo I just want to say I understand your answer. I was raised in the church, and growing up I've always had a strong community around me. Sometimes lds apologists like to say, "the church is true, it's just the people who make mistakes". I dont think this is true. Maybe i was just lucky, but besides a few of my church leaders, my peers in the church were and still are some of my best friends. After learning that what I was taught was wrong, I decided to mentally leave. However, I still meet very often with my lds friends, and I love them all so much. Heck, the only reason I watched this specific video is because I've been worried for one of my friends that is planning on going to byu, and I wanted to learn more about what actually attending the school is like in order to better support her. I'm still technically a member, but I plan to remove my records in the future. If you decide to stay a member for the community, I hope you also stay in touch with your own beliefs and values. The main reason why I left besides learning about the things hidden from me, was because I realized that my personal beliefs and values don't align with the church, and that's ok. And it's also ok and normal for your beliefs and values to change over time. I wish you luck in your ventures.
I served a mission in a different religion for 6 years. So many parallels. My spouse and I left when had kids and felt we had to be realistic about what we wished to pass on to them. We had hundreds of concerns with the religion that all came flooding out and it felt so freeing to be done with it. We were deeply in it and we went to deeply out. We're grateful every day to have made that journey and save our kids from it. We're science educators and engineers now and our kids regularly express gratitude for us evolving when we did.
The renewed emphasis on senior missionaries, in my view, is the church leaderships reaction to losing so many gen x’ers, millennials, and now gen z. They milked the boomers the best and are coming back for one last squeeze. I also know that there is pressure on seniors to donate their wealth to the church in their wills.
I know people who donated money to the church in their will but left some of their children out of the will who really needed financial support. These adult children are still active in the church and had a good relationship with their parents.
How is there pressure? I’ve never been asked notified hinted or anything to donate my money to the church.
That's so sad. I always wonder, how many of the leaders genuinely believe everything they teach? And how many are in it for the wrong reasons at the end?
@@bonnieudall6976 you don’t have enough money for the church to go after you then
My dad was asked to pay tithing from his retirement. My dad told them, I earned this money and it's been taxed, I'm not paying tithing from it. Good for him.
I went to mission on 2009. Went to the missionary training center in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic because I was assigned to Puerto Rico (my own country) I struggled a lot with who I was back then, because I knew I was a lesbian but I was hard on myself because of the indoctrination. For my luck, the first town I was they were celebrating Pride and I remember my heart pounding nonstop but I wrote on my diary trash about the LGBTQ community.
I lasted 18 days in this town, I talked to the one in charge (the mission president) and told him I wanted to go home. At first he wasn't convinced that I should go home so I had to lie in order to go home.
14 years since I walked away from mormonism and I still believe it was the best thing I've ever done in my life.
LDS don't hate LGTBQ so I don't know where that hate came from but OK.
Thank you for sharing this 🩷
@@jacobsamuelson3181I was in the church for 30 years, and while the people in the church are mostly decent and really don’t hate others. It’s the teachings of the church that condemn those in an lgbtq lifestyle. Which… I’m sure it would feel quite hateful and oppressive being taught that god will never be okay with who you are at the very core that you can’t change.
@@jacobsamuelson3181 yes they absolutely do stop lying. The bible absolutely does so stop lying.
@@jacobsamuelson3181 They may not hate them, but they certainly don't welcome them. The suicide rate amongst the LGBGTQ LDS community is horrendous. Get your facts right.
Thank you for posting the truth about missions and the church in general without the negativity. I am also a returned missionary who deeply regrets going on a mission. I hope your clarity and tone helps others avoid missions, especially young women.
nothing negative to combatting stupidity by calling it what it is.
I went to basic training with a kid who pretended to do all the leg work and saving up for his mission. But he also did delayed entry program and prepped to go to basic, a few weeks before he was supposed to start his mission he left for basic without tellung anyone. We learned when he told the drills hes not a missing person if that came up, we were all like wtf and he filled us in.
My dad served in Paris France in the 60's. There was no MTC then and the mission was 3 yrs so people could learn the language better (at least that is what I was told). He met my mom over there. She was a recent convert that converted to get out of her parents strict home and have a social life. They married 6 months or so after my dad finished his mission. She spoke no English and moved to Murray UT and was super depressed for a long time. At the time she said they didn't even sell yoplait or yogurt at the grocery store. It was complete and total isolation and culture shock. Phone call were too expensive so the only contact she had with her family was letters. She was appalled by the temple and the garments but was too afraid to ask her parents, who had little money to help her get home. She had my brother a year later and then the deal was sort of sealed. Anyway, it is nice to have family in another country and the language connection. My parents and 2 of us three children have left the church and life has been over all much brighter on the outside.
I can’t imagine the culture shock from Paris to Murray! One of the bishopric in my byu ward was married to a German woman he’d converted on his mission. She didn’t speak much English and looked so sad. And being in a ward with silly students she didn’t have anything in common with couldn’t have helped. The church does so much damage in unexpected ways. I hadn’t thought of her in years.
Imagine converting to Mormonism in hopes of having a social life. Glad things got better for her
Wow it breaks my heart to think of how she must have felt!
Did you move away from Murray? And did your mom get to experience France again?
My mom had a guy friend back on the 70s when she was in college who believed all 4 of the Mormon missionary girls that were trying to convert him were actually super into him because they were so attentive. He was flabbergasted when they scrambled to leave after he asked them all out at the same time. I guess he thought if they were Mormon they'd be into the idea of dating one guy?
ಠ_ಠ
Lol well, poligamy is their thing, why didnt they accept his offer?? ahhahhaa
Gives “love bombing” a new twist. All that attention and interest can be misunderstood. A single male convert in my old ward was obviously smitten with one of the sister missionaries. When she was transferred we never saw him again.
Lol, do FLDS send people on mission? That might work 😅
@@Ballykeith They might. When I was in a singles ward in SLC, a nice looking guy was visiting from southern Utah. Said he was there to “increase his flock.” We backed away.
I served a 6 month mission with a Christian organization called YWAM last year. I’m still untangling everything that happened during that time- I like to say I’m “reconstructing” my faith. Although our upbringings were very different, my heart is struck by these videos. I started crying when you talked about your sister who served in the Philippines (that’s where I was sent too).
Thank you for opening up your heart for us to see and connect with ❤
I worked so effing hard when I was a missionary and probably a year in I realized how freaking tired I was because of the 7 day work week. Like legit, it was like 80hrs a week for 2 years and I am telling people Sunday is a day of rest, and in reality it was one of the days with the most to do. I started changing this with other companions later on and we would buy grocers is smaller quantities throughout the week and allow Sunday to be more of a rest day for us. This significantly improved how much we could accomplish.
But yeah, this was something that I didn't like, which was one of the starter reasons to leading to discover that I didn’t believe in the church.
I was able to diagnose my depression on my mission. Plus I met some really cool people. But also some of the worst people I’ve ever known. I am out of the church now and, looking back, regret spreading the message and cultivating recruits. It was always emphasized to me that I was searching for families, not individuals. In retrospect, this message ( baptizing families over individuals) was meant to bring a larger tithing base that will stay in longer.
I was speaking with some missionaries back in my 20s and they were very insistent about if there were any other people in my family that would be interested in hearing their message. Asked me 2 or 3 times in our first conversation. I thought it was because I was a woman and they can't be alone with me but maybe it wasn't just that.
It could have been for both reasons. Missionaries truly believe in their message. That message is mainly bent towards having an “eternal family” which means that the message would be strongest if given to a family. That being said, the church has rules for missionaries, and one of those does control interaction with people of the opposite sex.
Thanks for leaving so we didn't have to throw you out. It's a shame the Mormons would send out such a weak and confused vessel to represent them in the world.
My husband and I had 2 sister missionaries knock on our door one evening in the last city we lived in. We decided to go ahead and schedule to let them come back and teach us a gospel lesson because we truly had nothing better to do and we both like learning (we were both Christians and had no intention of becoming Mormons). We did all 5 lessons, attended church once. The family next door to us was a big Mormon family so we spent a lot of time with them too. Very sweet young ladies but probably truly stunned by our weird sense of humor. When they asked us what they assumed would be an easy question “who would you most like to be sealed to for time and all eternity?” We both looked at each other, looked at our sweet pitbull and answered “Her!” They truly didn’t know what to do with that one for a solid minute there 😂 When we had to move out of state a few months later, the sisters, the family next door, and a bunch of random elders serving in the local area that we didn’t even know all showed up at our house to help us load all of our boxes and furniture into our pod. While we never converted and it was never going to happen from the beginning, we were truly grateful for the family next door for basically treating us like family and for all of the help of the sisters and the randoms elders to help us pack. Still think the LDS Church is a bit culty though, although a lot of the people might be wonderful.
Loved your comment, especially the incident with your dog! It's funny how it's just assumed that everyone would want to live with their family for eternity. Some people can't stand their family or have even been abused by them.
My old neighbors were Mormon. Well the wife and kids were. The husband Catholic. Well the husband had a brain tumor that was cancerous and after a 5 year fight he passed away. Leaving his wife with 3 young kids. Well a freshman, 6th graders and a kindergartener.
After the funeral we went to their house for the reception. I have a physical disability that I use crutches to walk around with. My family never helped me that much because I didn’t need it and they knew what I needed help with. So we go to the funeral and there are a lot of young Mormon men from their Ward there. They were trying to be overly nice and helpful. To the point it got really awkward. I don’t need help up one small tiny step the size of a curb but even lower. They tried to help me up. Then they tried help in other ways. Thing is it was actually not helping me and they were getting in my way. I had to say. Thanks but I don’t need all that help. There’s helping, then there’s bring in the way. I’m always very suspicious of people who are overly helpful. It’s because I’ve seen too much of it being a fully functioning disabled person.
@@drbulbulI know the “right” answer they were looking for was each other but dammit, we love our dogs too! Why can’t we have them in the celestial kingdom. If we can’t have sealed to us and reunite with them too, it’s not really the highest level of Heaven, now is it?
@@Milk427That does sound very annoying and irritating. I can understand why you felt the way you did. You know how to function on your own with your disability and sometimes when people fuss over you too much, it gets in the way of your functioning and frankly, creates a scene.
I have invisible disabilities, chronic pain conditions. So while I don’t understand exactly what you’re going through, I have some understanding from the perspective of being disabled as well.
This family that did treat us really well and the sister missionaries really did think that they could pray away my pain though. The missionaries tried to no avail. The family tried to no avail. And they asked if I would be willing to have a priesthood prayer or something for it. I consented. I think it was their bishop or something that came over to their house, and he and all the family, and missionaries layed hands on me and did a group prayer over me. It felt awkward. I don’t like to be the center of attention at all. And if I have to be, I’m only comfortable if it’s around my people so this was weird for me. I think they were confused when their blessing didn’t change my pain levels at all.
I was raised as a Utah mormon. Baptized and everything. I started doubting when I was in high school (almost 20 years ago) and completely turned away from it at age 19. It's amazing the difference between different groups of mormons. Some are wonderful and will help everyone and anyone, no matter their beliefs. Then there are others, like some families in my neigborhood that won't allow their kids to play with my kids because we're not mormons and therefore a bad influence or "not worthy". Which is funny because their children have had major behavior issues and one of their children they ripped out of school because they found out SHE liked other girls. My kids are well behaved, adjusted, and are kind to everyone because we have taught them to just be good people and not forced doctrine and rules down their throats. I am now in the process of officially "resigning" or removing my membership from the church.
You spent 12k just to spread the gospel? And I thought college was a rip off
I learned way more on my mission than from the 4 years of engineering school plus another two of business. Immersed myself in studying the gospel for at least a couple of hours each day and then spent time meeting people all day long and listening to their stories. Also had a lot of fun doing it and had some challenging experiences that have prepped me for life 20 years later.
@@phillipcook3430 quit coping
nope. religion drains most cash from the dumb, ie believers. Of any sort, not targeting any specific religion, all of it really.
@@phillipcook3430 Have you read the SEC Report? Just google "SEC Ensign Peak" and read the 9-page pdf that comes up. Please read the 9 pages and then return and report here what you learned.
And then STUDY the CES Letter. It's a website.
Could you please post your rebuttal to the questions asked in the CES Letter?
@@phillipcook3430 "The gospel" is made up garbage, so that doesn't count as learning anything. You would have been better off going to school and then doing a study abroad for a year. You would have learned so much more.
I live right by a Mormon church so I see missionaries all the time, I like to be nice to them but make sure that they know I'm not interested. the number of times I've told young missionaries who are my age (19) about my degree program and they would proceed to tell me about what they wanna study will always stick with me about how young the church sends out their member even if they are legally an "adult" I say this as a young person. there was one young man who will always stick with me, I was wearing a Queen shirt and this young man got so excited after reading me a verse that I enjoyed Queen as well and we got talking and when I mentioned I was studying psychology he just started talking about how when his mission was over he planned to go to university to study neuroscience. it sucks that even if it was his choice to go on the mission he was missing out on something that most people consider a big part of becoming an adult and growing up just stuck with me
I’m an alcoholic. (Dry for 6+ years). I used to do work trips to Sandy Utah (30 minutes or so south of Salt Lake City). I’d go to AA meetings in Sandy when I was in town for work. The groups were FULL of ex Mormons who turned to booze due to psychological pain caused by the LDS church. I respect anyone who chooses to live a certain way. But when you force your children to live that way and they risk alienation of their families if they don’t follow these rules, it can cause serious mental illness. I met a ton of ex Mormons whose parents and other family members cut them off from all communication due to them leaving the church. They almost drank themselves to death due to the depression from this. It’s so sad. I’ll try to say a prayer tonight for all those victimized by the LDS and any other cult that ruin their children’s lives due to their insane beliefs. Your family is all you have. Love them unconditionally.
Are you a former member of the church? If not,(and if you don’t mind me asking) why did you drink? I have a very close family member who was loved a great deal and turned to alcohol because he had friends that did. After attending AA meetings with him I’ve found that many people do want to blame others for their addictions. It is natural, I suppose, and may sometimes have been a key factor.
I didn’t start drinking because of this church. I very likely would’ve drank if I’d not been part of it. There are many, many people like me.
Every single person has their journey, and I think part of that is coming to understand the choices we made in our own lives and to not blame others for our choices. I’m working on being accountable for my own life and choices. I haven’t also made the best choices, myself.
Anyhow, so happy for you that you’re sober. Know that you’re pretty awesome. I admire anyone that does what you did. I’ve seen some of this in my own family and it’s so exhausting, but we’re all trying. We just gotta keep on day by day.
@@daffodilfleurno. I’m not a former member of the church. I guess I drank because I “caught the bug”. I come from a family of alcoholics. I’ve also struggled with mental illness a lot in my life. Look. I’m happy the church works for you. I have nothing but respect for those who choose a faith and find fulfillment within it. But I stand by my statement. Forcing children to follow a faith they don’t want under the risk of being disowned is wrong. You must love your kids regardless of their faith choices. The AA meetings were full of former Mormons who were kicked out of their families for not sharing their faith. And that’s wrong. Very wrong. And it’s this behavior which classifies a faith as a cult.
@@Blackbeard0531 I’m LDS, and for many of us in this church we have the family bug, as well. This is one reason why I love having the Word of Wisdom, because no matter our family circumstances, if one follows it, it’s a 100 percent success rate of not becoming an alcoholic. Or a smoker. As for mental illness, well, we have members with that, too. I’ve a close relative who’s severely schizophrenic (in a group home) and we text every day. I’ve struggled with depression, at times, myself. So, just want to say I am sorry you’re going through that because I can comprehend a bit of what you’re speaking of when it comes to it.
Yes, absolutely the church works for me. It’s not perfect because nothing is, but I see the good it does. Jesus Christ is my guiding star. I can’t understand why anyone would see us as cult members, but I’ve been learning Hebrew and studying Judaism this past year and I read something that stood out to me that came from a Jew and that was that maybe I just need to be okay with the world seeing me as weird, unacceptable, or whatever, and not forget to embrace the things I love so much. Like the church. No religious community is perfect, most people with kids hope for them to follow what they’re taught and do so out of concern, but every one has a story. Every story will be told and every tear wiped away, but that’s one day to come, in many cases. In the meantime, we just keep going.
May God bless you and keep you on your journey through sobriety. Know He understands you perfectly and loves you immensely. Have a great day today!
What cope lol. I think it's more likely they turned to booze because they thought they wouldn't actually experience the negative effects because the Word of Wisdom must be nonsense. Imagine blaming the church for causing you to drink after you left it. Poor exmormons.
@@fbi9792 well, if by leaving the church you are disowned and ostracized by your entire family, than yes. Leaving the church could be a reason to drink.
I remember the 2 Mormon missionaries that came to our house when I was in college. My friend and I had rented a small house off campus. We ended up becoming good friends with our two missionaries. They did do their teaching but we used to also go bowling and do other fun stuff together. I was already a Christian and really had no interest in converting to Mormonism. I just remember them being very kind and polite young men. They were never inappropriate. It was nice but they did seem really, really homesick.
This actually helps me feel so much better thank you! I started getting out of the church 9 years ago when I was just about missionary age. I skipped my mission and sometimes i regret it because i feel like the experience would have been cool. But knowing other people regret going and think it was a waste of time helps me feel a lot better about not going.
You dodged a bullet.
I'm not LDS. I lived in Osaka Japan for six years. I met many missionaries over the years. When they approached me, I quickly explained I'm Jewish and I had no interest in Jesus. However, I always offered food and drink. These young men were always starving and in need of help. Over the years, my home became a regular stop for these missionaries. They always knew I'd listen and share American holidays with them. Many were so lonely and just needed an encouraging word.
I am autistic, late-diagnosed, many years after my mission. But looking back, knocking on doors (tracting) was absolute **torture**!!! I was told it was because my testimony wasn’t strong enough.
I have severe social anxiety and while I wasn’t a missionary in my evangelical church growing up we had to “outreach” which is basically the same thing but as a kid or teen and without any training. If the people in my group weren’t watching I would throw my flyers in a bush and pretend I had handed them all out. Absolutely awful.
People say wrong things that are not in harmony with the teaching of Jesus. I believe that Jesus is so very grateful for your service. It might not mean anything to you know, but it means everything to Him. So don't feel bad about your sacrifice. You did good, even if you think your mission did nothing to help anyone.
@@cpt.walker6273 The audacity!!!! To think that you can speak for Jesus. So. Freaking. Shameful.
Thank you for posting this. I have ADHD and I was wondering what absolute fresh hell it would be for someone to serve a mission and be neurodivergent.
@@soapyluluThere are many ways to serve in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Missions that let you stay home and serve in lots of ways. If you are wanting to serve, but don't know how talk to your bishop. He can provide that info. As a side note, the church has an extensive application system that provides them with any and all health, medical, and mental issues you have. Also, the bishop will know you and your needs and he too provides info to the church. We have an ADHD, and other mental issues, missionary serving from your location now. He stays home and goes out serving and is enjoying it immensely.
Assigned companions sound too much like the Handmaid's Tale's "walking partner" 😅
The author of that book took inspiration from different really conservative Cristian practices, so this can be the inspiration for the book.
This!
Its also a practice in statist countries
that’s exactly what i thought!
@@ProudAjaxNo country does this except for religious reasons (e.g. Afghanistan), what are you on about?
I'm with you. I totally regret my mission. It was a waste of 2 of what should have been the best years of my life. I could have been in college. I'm thankful that I finally got out of the church in my early 30s but I have been completely incompatible with Mormonism from my earliest memories and should never have gone on a mission in the first place. You described it well - I just got caught up in the momentum of having to serve a mission.
When you knock on hundreds of doors and almost no one wants what you're selling, you're in the wrong business.
Served in CDNM with you. Glad to know I'm not the only one out now. Thank you for sharing your experiences!
Fellow exmo here. I have a complicated relationship with my mission. I loved the place I went, the people I met, the language I learned, and the culture I got to (kinda) experience. I don't regret that part of it, so I don't really view it as a waste of time, though it helped that I left after only a year. What I regret is the way I manipulated vulnerable poor people from a distant country into paying 10% of their income to an American real estate corporation. That remains my biggest life regret, and I hope that the people I baptized were able to find their way out. Though based on the activity rates we had in our wards, they probably did lol.
Thanks for leaving so we didn't have to throw you out. It's a shame the Mormons would send out such a weak and confused vessel to represent them in the world.
Thanks for leaving so we didn't have to throw you out. It's a shame the Mormons would send out such a pathetically weak and confused vessel to represent them in the world. On behalf of faithful Mormons, I would like to apologize to all the people this poser ever taught...the church should have sent them someone of quality.
Property Reserve Inc.* ... do you even Mormon bro!?
If I'm gonna spend my own money to live in another country for two years, I'm gonna do it on my own terms, not on company time, and not to preach a book that's not even true.
This video was incredibly educational and so are all of these stories people are sharing. Thank you for putting this together ❤️
I was a psych nurse in Provo. We had many inpatients from the MTC who decompensated from the pressure. (Suicidal ideation, eating disorders, depression, cutting, etc.) I didn’t understand the pressure they experienced. I can only wonder how they made it through.
That was just the MTC, which is studying, following a schedule, eating and exercising. Most disciplined, mentally healthy college age students can handle it. If they were falling apart at that point (only 5-12 weeks), they were not good candidates for a mission. They likely felt pressured to go even with existing or subclinical mental health issues that became more pronounced in a more rigorous setting. It happens at military boot camp too.
I hope those people are strong enough to survive it when they realize Joseph Smith lied.
@@kristinab1078To be fair, "disciplined" and "mentally healthy" doesn't describe most college students I know
the holy spirit doesn't lie. @@alsolark3029
This is exactly why I want to be a pshychologist, I want to help them as much as I feel the two missionaries I met back in February and since then became my best friends helped me. I can’t stand knowing all the nonsense they have to go through.
So disgusting that the Church makes so much money and will try to spend as little as possible on the missionaries 😞
I get the concept of having the younger people to saving up, but their money should be 100% refundable if they complete their missions.
A story from the Bible for you. A rich man approached Jesus and said I am a good man what else must I do to go to Heaven? Jesus said give up everything you have and own and follow me. The rich man walked away sad because he knew he could not let go of his money and possessions." The moral of the story is that if you truly understand and believe in Jesus, you will do and give anything for Him. That is why we give 2 years and pay for it ourselves. It is an offering to Jesus. A show of faith.
yet its their parents who force them into the church and to do this so.
@@bbanglix Not true. That is an ignorant comment. It sounds like you are just grumpy and have no clue as to what really goes on. I have 4 boys. 3 went on a mission. One did not. No pushing. No forcing.
It's an offering to the church, one of the many man created institutions which all proclaim to be the one and only to properly represent and serve the same god. If the money and time truly went to god and not to the church, it wouldn't be so rich, and the terms and conditions of the mission wouldn't be so strict and specific to that particular church.@@cpt.walker6273
Alyssa I've been away from the church for 30 years or more. It does get easier as the years pass, but it was the worst time of my life.. it is great you are doing this..❤
Thank you for sharing! I had a very similar experience I was in the Las Vegas, NV West mission- we would get sisters from Temple Square for a 6 week period and from the stories they told me I was so thankful I had not been assigned there - they would sob when it was time for them to return that’s the kind of pressure they were under to look perfect and work extremely long hours standing almost the whole time. I often wish I had never gone on a mission, however, it is what ultimately led to my awakening and I’m not sure I’d be where I am now - legit my temple experience was the first moment where I was WTF and I could not believe how calm everyone was it really shook me. I mostly feel guilty for all the people I led to the Mormon church.
I went to the Navajo Reservation. I still hate that I spent that time re-teaching Native Americans an incorrect version of their history.
Yeah, that was really bad. At least you realize that now. You should make donations to charities like NavajoStrong or Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance. Also support books and other media by Native authors and write positive reviews for them. That's how you make amends.
When i was 12 mormon missionaries showed up at my family's door when i was home with my little sisters. I thought they were the pizza our dad ordered so i opened the door. They asked if i believed in god. I said "yes, I'm catholic" then shut and locked the door
All Protestant people,including Mormons, are in truth errant children of the catholic faith.
Next Mormon I come across. I’m asking them if they want to go chat over a coffee at a burlesque bar.
Every time you say the word 'mission', my mind goes: "Ooooon myyy miiiission "
Two by two, we're marching door to door
'Cause God loves Mormons and he wants some more
A two-year mission is our sacrifice
We are the army of the church of Jesus Christ
Of Latter-day Saints
Subscribed! From one exmo to another l, awesome job! Keep it up!
Even Jesus thinks Mormonism is bs! Leave the church today and be like Jesus!
@@dark_quEEnisCringe apparently he also had to learn the hard way
I love you, Jesus! Didn’t know you were an exmo too 🎉
She needs to realise everything mormon she did was a waste of time! and life! Just like every other theist!
@dark_quEEnisCringe You don't know Jesus, burnt toast.
To me the thing that’s the most upsetting about that hoarder house situation is that someone from the church saw how that woman lived and didn’t even offer to help her… shouldn’t the basic aspect of religion be the community? Having others be there for you? What kind of person sees an elderly woman with a bad hoarding problem and not only doesn’t offer any help, but also uses the woman to get free housing for their missionaries? That’s so cruel…
Well there's not really much you can do for them. They don't want to throw the stuff out. They won't accept help with it.
Daughter of a hoarder here: they don’t *want* help and will get extremely upset or violent if you try to clean or move anything. It’s a mental health issue just like depression or bipolar. You just have to bear it and ignore it or not go in the house. Nothing you say or do will make a difference-it’ll just lead to defensive behaviors.
This is probably the 4th or 5th video of yours I’ve seen and I just wanted to thank you for your content and for sharing your experiences. It helps so many people!
$100/ a month is not enough to eat on 😮
Yeah unless you weigh 100 pounds and only buy chicken breast and rice lol it’s pretty much impossible
My brother and his wife passed away while I was on my mission and I was essentially forced to stay, they'll say I "chose" to stay but literally everything you said is accurate I would have needed to be released to go home for their funeral and at the time I was so convinced god wanted me to complete my mission that even though I was literally so broken up inside I stayed out of fear of judgement and failure to obey god. It's been seven and a half years since their death and I still deeply regret not coming home for my own brother's funeral.
I want to thumbs this down so badly- I feel so awful for you but it sounds like none of it was YOUR fault.
I’m so sorry. May their memory be for a blessing.
It's alright. It wasn't actually your choice, and you have nothing to feel ashamed of or guilty of. But it's understandable the way you feel. I know your brother would've understood
Good video. I left the LDS church in 2005 and have never really looked back. I have 5 kids and 4 of them have left the church as well, one of whom served a mission. I have never really regretted paying tithing, at least until the recent scandal and finding out the church simply kept my money and never used it for charitable purposes. Now I have regrets about it. I was one of the producers for The Best Two Years so thank you for the shout out. Your channel is great, your commentary is spot on. Think the work you do here is important so I hope you keep it going.
You could probably make your own video about your experiences!
Thanks for leaving so we didn't have to throw you out.
@@JohnDLee-im4lois that how sweet, good Mormons talk to others? No wonder people are leaving the church
@@fidadefoe You need to leave if you haven't...
I've never been Mormon, but grew up surrounded by them (high school seminary and all) as a kid in Idaho. I appreciate your channel as it has helped me make sense of some of the things that happened in my childhood. Thank you for all that you share!
I love your shorts. They're very enlightening. I've had a few experiences with Mormons. I moved to Utah for a year with some friends. Their whole family is Mormon and they work at Desert Industries. They really wanted me to go to church and work with them. Never did. I encountered missionaries once before moving to an indoor apartment complex with a key fob system. When I moved away a sweet Mormon lady drove me to the airport when my ride flaked. The only real information about the religion I ever got was from a girl in high school. I personally think she hated the religion or got bullied often for it because she was very reluctant to give any answers to my questions. Truly wanted to be her friend, but she was very closed off. Hope she's doing better.
"A cult within a cult" reminds me of the "Sea Org" in Scientology.
I thought the same thing. At least you don't have to sign a million year agreement to be a misssionary?
Billion year actually. They have no room for slackers who only want to serve one million!
@@kenofken9458 To a young man who is not allowed to masturbate , two years might actually feel like a billion years.
I never went on a mission because I resigned as soon as I turned 18 and joined the military right out of high school (out of one cult and into another, but that's a story for another day).
However, I was always confused by the push to convert people. In my mind, converting them and giving them "the gospel" was just giving them the ability to mess up if they failed to follow it properly. I always thought that it was better for those who didn't know.
Goes to show perhaps that I never believed myself to have even the slightest shot at the Celestial kingdom, even as a young kid, haha.
Thank you for your service. 😊
Some people just know that religion is not for them. I was raised catholic and fully believed in ALL of it until early adulthood, but my sister was practically a non-believer from birth. She still makes fun of me now “for taking so long to come around” (I was only 19 when I left, but my sister says that was 19 years too long) 😂🤣
Personally, I'm grateful for my experience in the church b/c this is where I learned about Jesus Christ. I've experienced the redeeming love of Christ , and it's something that has remained deep in my core. Once you know, you know. When I left the Mormon church, I carried that forward with me.
@@kristinab1078I grew up in a fundamental evangelical church. I left the church when I turned 18 but I still have my faith and I still believe in Jesus. I completely understand what you are saying.
Btw, I remember getting really, really angry when I found out a few years later that the Mormons had baptized my great grandfather after he had passed away. He had his own faith so it felt weird and very disrespectful. I think I even sent the Mormon church a very angry email. I have no problem at all with Mormons and I respect other people’s faith but I sure didn’t feel like they respected my grandfather’s faith.
I was seriously injured on my mission. I was left in a wheelchair after being hospitalized for 6 weeks in Uruguay. When I got back to the US, I was still restricted to a wheelchair, had several surgeries scheduled, and my lower body was numb. After 90 days, the church refused to help me with anything medical and told my parents I needed to be put on their insurance. This was 16 years ago. I still need to go into surgery later this year to help correct something from my injuries. I use a walking aid to this day. For a long time, I defended the church's decision to abandon me after my mission. After I left the church, I've had to come to grips with how I addressed my issues in those following years and how I was lost in the sauce. It's hard, but I'm making progress
The church has $250 Billion Dollars in one investment account alone. And they won't pay for proper medical care for their own missionaries. This church is a Fraud and harms a lot of people. I'm so sorry they harmed you.
We need to prevent people going on Missions by teaching them to Do Critical Thinking. This is something kids should be learning at least starting in Middle School.
Do you think this would help: Ask people to question that if God meant our lives to be a Test, why would he make the test UNFAIR by giving the Answers to the Test to Any specific person only or to Any Specific Group ONLY. Shouldn't people at least need to answer that Question?
When I lived in a small ranch town in Montana, we had 2 different missionaries. One set baptized somany people by being overly friendly with them, and when the missionaries left all the people they baptized, quit going to church. The other set acted really strange and ended up getting caught in the bar, which explained their behavior, but what shocked me was they didn't get sent home they were just separated. FYI I left the church for the last time 16 years ago.
I grew up Mormon, was active until my early 20s. Fast forward to now, 30+ years later. I’ve been married and divorced, moved to another state 20 years ago, married again, lived in 4 different areas here. I never “officially “ left the church. Last year, on a random Saturday, two lady missionaries turned up at my house, asking for me by my maiden name. They politely asked to come in to talk. I politely said no thank you. I should have asked how the heck they located me through all that time, moves and name changes.And how I ended up on their radar in the first place. I was so surprised I didn’t think of it at the time. That was more than a little disconcerting.
My family hosted many missionaries for meals over the years. Regardless of how I feel about the the church, I still,have a healthy respect for those who choose to serve missions. It’s a huge sacrifice on their part and I learned a lot more details about the rules and culture from your video.
Well, missionaries are expected and forced to do it tho.
Google your name/city you live in. I’m 99.9% sure whitepages, truth finder etc.. will pop up with all your past names/addresses and phone numbers. I go frequently and delete out my information from websites.
I work in a public library in MN. We see missionaries (men and women pairs) in using the computer roughly every other week. I always thought that was curious because I thought they weren’t allowed to use unsecured computers. Now I know better.
My mother was a computer teacher at an elementary school, and once a week, they were allowed to come in and use the computers in her classroom to read and send e-mails to and from home. My mother worked that out for them after they'd told us that they we're limited to just 30 minute's per missionary at the libraries computers, and that was only if the library had enough computers available. The library also began complaining because it was a small-town library that didn't have a lot of computers, and they'd get 4 or more missionaries going sometimes, and then there'd be no computers left for the general public.
I had a friend just come home from her Mission in MN!
At the library where I worked, we figured they were communicating with family on the computers. Then an active Mormon coworker was at our branch one day, and told us he noticed they were watching porn-- a few words to??? and we never saw them again.
When I was a young boy a couple LDS missionaries came to my house and we went through the whole talk and my mom and I got baptized. We were a low income family and my mom was a single mom of my little brother and myself. The church basically told her until she remarried I was the man of the house (at 10 years old). I even went to the Mormon Boy Scouts and the dads would rotate being like a “temporary dad” for the Boy Scout events. We were there about 8 months but we ended up leaving because they were pressuring my mom to marry some guy in the congregation.
I served as a Christian missionary-not Mormon. Hearing about the rules y’all had and the amount of control over you is baffling to me. What struck me the most is the sentiment that the church isn’t there to financially support you. Since I was a child, I’ve been taught that the church is one body meant to support and care for each other-but especially those in need. As a missionary, I was fully financially supported by the church. I caught the flu while on mission and was immediately taken to the hospital for care. I had missionary insurance through the organization I was serving with. It was a very pleasant experience.
We were asked to serve and encourage existing believers more so than convert people but we still did some street evangelism. We always stopped for meals. We always had free time set aside in the day. No restrictions on what we listened to or read. We were asked to wear clothing that was respectful to the culture we were serving in. Our goal was to share the gospel and pray for the people in our location, but there was no pressure to “get converts” because we see it as a personal choice that the Holy Spirit must encourage. There’s nothing I can say or do to “make” someone receive Jesus. No one comes to the father but those who he draws to himself and we know that many will reject Jesus. We ultimately want to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. When I obey the voice of the Lord, I see fruit. When I strive in my own desire to see converts, I see fruitlessness.