Losing Your Faith as a Mormon Bishop and Bishop's Wife Pt. 4 - 967: Jeanne and Jason Booth
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- Опубликовано: 21 окт 2024
- What would cause a sitting Mormon bishop and his wife to lose their testimonies while he is serving as bishop - leading him to resign as bishop? Jeanne and Jason's story is another in a series of episodes where we interview past Mormon bishops.
The two describe raising their four children in the church, their varied callings, and how inextricable Mormonism was in their marriage and worldview. Jason's first call to a bishopric was not one he felt ready or spiritual enough for. Moved by the words of President Hinckley to “Forget yourself and go to work,” he accepted and immediately went to work. “He was a good bishop,” affirms Jeanne. Jason “upped his 'spiritual game'” by eliminating hard rock from his music collection. Jeanne and their children made similar steps to fit the mold.
Once called as Bishop, Jason began reading the LDS Gospel Topics Essays, beginning with “Race and the Priesthood,” which caused him to reflect on 2 Nephi Chapter 5 as well as his own experience teaching individuals in New Zealand. “It shook my confidence in the scriptures. It never occurred to me that prophets could be wrong...in ways that affect people's lives.” These essays served as the beginning of a series of events that eroded Jason's testimony.
Jason was further shaken by being invited to interview as a candidate for Stake President, causing him to wonder if such callings were really the result of inspiration or perhaps the leadership were just ordinary people doing the best they could. Expressing these concerns to Jeanne caused her grief, wondering how her husband could still be a good in person if he left the church.
Around this time, Jason found Mormon Stories Podcast, which helped him learn more about challenging issues in the church. Issues for Jason began to mount as he learned about individuals who questioned doctrine and did not receive sufficient answers. Jason goes on to describe what it's like to remain a Bishop after losing confidence in fellow priesthood leaders. As both of their testimonies crumbled, Jeanne and Jason describe being “heartbroken.”
What do you do as the bishop, his wife, and family when testimonies crumble?
Join us now on Mormon Stories Podcast to hear the full story. You will not find more sensitive and thoughtful people than Jeanne and Jason Booth.
It’s Jan 2023 so it’s been awhile since this video was filmed. I just left the church a few months ago. I love this platform! It’s helping me with my decision to leave! God bless all these beautiful people that have left the church! ❤️
Having served with Jason in New Zealand over 20 years ago. What a brilliant, good, sincere, hard working Man. Love and support you always my Brother!
LOL. I have also discovered coffee. So good!!
Jeanne, thank you for sharing your past feelings of unworthiness and the guilt of not measuring up in the church. I also felt the same. None of my children were active and my husband was also inactive. The feelings of failure of not measuring up and thought their souls were dependent on my actions. Now I am so thankful for loving myself again and my family unconditionally. So much guilt imposed on us in the church.
Bless you both.....you have not screwed it up. You have been allowed to step out of the box that has held you captive for so long, you are free of control. There are no more middlemen to tell you what to believe. You are free now to go within and find yourselves, who you really are and free to find your own truth. Meditation and staying in the now moment gives you a healthy base to grow spiritually and to open and blossom. Life is only going to get better and better....just spread your wings and soar!!! From an 82 year young lady who is an ex-mormon of 20 years now.....much love and many blessings!!
I have fallen in love with Jeanne & Jason. I have no background in The Mormon Church, but do have a long faith history. You both are so genuine & gentle. Their children are so blessed. 💜💖
Epic interview. Good job all around.
Such a lovely couple! Thanks for sharing. I appreciate your messages. SusanV
Thank you Jeanne and Jason for having the courage to share your story. You both are authentic, sincere and kind people who each wish to make the world a better place. Thank you John for bringing Jason and Jeanne's story to us.
I also am comfortable with the unknown.
I always thought that the reason friendships from church did not continue was that the members who we thought were friends, were SCARED, and thinking, "OMG....if it could happen to THEM, it could happen to me!" That is so scary to true believing Mormons. I would run into people at the store and always they would say, "We miss you." and I would respond, "I haven't gone anywhere. I am still in the same house, same job and I have the same phone number." They didn't miss "me", they missed everything we did in the church and our presence, which confirmed that they were on the right path. It seemed like they had no interest in us as people, and who we really are.....only in what we could DO for them, It was very, very sad.
Thank you for your tender story, went through the same and glad to be free. Much happier.
Jeanne and Jason - you are very beautiful people. I'm proud to share this planet with you. Wishing you love and joy in the future.
Love listening to your adventure through life.
(I was a Mormon for 35 years -- suffering from terrible self-deprecation for 35 years; now, I am free, and I love myself!)
Thank you Jeanne and Jason, you really seem like honest, strong and wonderful people. Great interview and it would deserve an update on their view on the Church, years later, surely they have even more insights now!!
Thank you so much for your story. I don't think many realize just how many people are out there struggling like you did and need to know there is light and truth and life on the other side.
When I first told my bishop I was leaving he asked me to come to meet with him once a month for a year to really decide if I was done. At the last meeting he tried to quote the book of mormon to me and I laughed and reminded him that if I had no faith in Joseph as a prophet, I also no longer believed in the book he wrote. I think the laugh threw him because he told me I was going merrily down to hell. Nice! What a guy.
It's been 20 years now. I've still never regretted leaving. Not once.
He wasn't at all concerned about you or humanity! It's all an unconscious attempt to protect his own fragile psyche. And he demonstrated that perfectly at the last meeting. He is a coward.
Building musical instruments is such a better use of time than meeting with people to grill them on their faith, beverage choices, and sex lives. Kudos!
This couple are a genuinely beautiful people. I realize as a born again Christian that what i have to say may not fit this narrative. I've been devouring Mormon information with the desire to try and understand them better. It seems to me for the most part that their faith in God, Jesus and the Bible is more institutionalized than personal. The culture of it definitely lends to a very wholesome life style. In my mid 20's I became very disillusioned with most of what was projected to me as Truth---To the point that I had go on my own quest a and pilgrimage to find pure truth. I'll spare the details about my journey through all the self realization, existentialism, Buddhism, Hinduism, astro projection, mind over matter, etc. etc. It was truly an amazing and heart breaking journey and experience. At the end my level of Meditation was so deep that I was on the verge of being totally demonically possessed. I'll never forget as I came to an end of myself. I was so broken and discouraged, despondent and depressed that I saw only one way out---suicide. Of all things I chose to kill myself with a knife---While in the midst of the act with blood on my chest the spirit of cowardice came over me and I began to tremble and dropped the knife and began to cry. I still remember my words as if it were yesterday. " God I have tried to find you with every fragment of my being and have failed---I cannot live another day like this but can't even kill myself out of it " ---At that moment I began to cry profusely and slid down on my knees and asked Jesus to save me. And save He did, that very night supernaturally. The crying was replaced with a joy and freedom I had never in my life experienced. That was many years ago and the hope and joy have only grown and matured. I shared all this to try and point out vividly the difference between institutionalized faith verses a real genuine born again experience.
Jeanne, I agree so much as to what you said, about families being together! What loving, just God would deny families togetherness, just because they couldnt or wouldnt go through the temple? Why would money and handshakes make the differance? I always tell my kids, you'll be with the people you love and want to be with you.
Friends are always there for you ,if they are real friends,should be a religion of love peace ,for all around us.careing.helping others .in hard times
Loved these interviews! Love this couple!
I get "I don't know"...I am what some call a agnostic...& I do believe God (if s/he, it is out there) accepts us as we are & that "he" also accepts "I don't know."
You guys are incredibly brave
At 12:20 is the reason so many leave and start living. Nobody will ever make me feel like a failure again.
You're right! The purpose of life is built into life itself -- the purpose of life (which is, simply, part of our eternal progression) is to LOVE yourself and to love others (that's all you need to know).
I love you two. Thank you for sharing.
After serving years in a non denominational church I have not been in church and going thru dark times and I have to say I have been treated well and nobody is keeping score. Today I called a very devout friend I hadn’t talked to, and said do you want to go to Target and she was super about it and no problem and was so fun which encouraged me to maybe be in church. She said just so you know when I texted a thanks she said no worries we move God doesn’t. He’s always there for us.
Thank you for sharing! Very nice couple with a great presence!
The best world view, IMO = "Do no harm, but...take no shit!"
So many good people have been hurt by L D S I FEEL SO SAD for them I also miss the church and the doors should remain open for all who question.shunning is not right it must stop
Just an amazing interview John. The Booths did a wonderfully job expressing where they stand. I wish they lived here in Arizona. We would invite them to dinner! Thank you Booths for helping me along the ‘alternative ‘ path! ❤️
You should look at the islands of Comoros which went by the name Comora, the capital city is Moroni and has been a port city since the 10th century.
This 4 part series was PROFOUND. It hit everything I’ve felt. When Jeanne talked about having bought into the belief that only Mormons possess this “specialness” , it hit me that this issue is a critical problem and concept to overcome and let go! Thank you!!
Not a reflection on members of this podcast but I find the idea that only religious people can be "good" is incredibly insulting. I don't go to church, I don't pray, I'm not sure what I believe in and am actually fine with that. But I do my best to be a decent, kind person - I'll help others out, I'm considerate, I give food to people who have less than me and make donations. But of course I'm far from perfect.
Apart from the laws of a church/synagogue/mosque there is the law, 3rd Pillar of every Government, by which we all have to live. That should be guidance enough and frankly, is a more tangible way of punishing someone for breaking the law, instead of a confession to "an envious man"* in a box or room and being asked to say a few hail marys and a prayer.
Non-religious people are perfectly capable of being good. Even if they drink wine, tea, coffee, even take drugs. Those things don't automatically make you a bad person.
And if there is a god, I'm sure it would understand the fallibility of human beings, especially if it created them.
*quoting Alanis Morissette in her song "forgiven"
Yes, John. I know you have been seeing my comments. Loved the part where they talk about their up-to-date beliefs and how they got here. . Best part of the podcast. Loved it. thanks dude.
Please remember Community of Christ, Ogden, Utah! We have a fair amount of former Mormons as well as the Salt Lake congregation. I'm the pastor and a former Mormon. Thank you.
VERA CHRISTENSEN Community of Christ originates from Mormonism it’s basically Mormon lite, if you leave the church because it’s false why would I want to go to another false made up church?
Tom Miller yeah very true and thanks! My brother and Sister in law go to the community of Christ.
Women shouldn't be pastors
Well stated, seems to be a very nice couple!
What’s the big deal about coffee? Isn’t Utah the highest usage state of anti-depression and anti-anxiety drugs in the US? Why is some caffeine not allowed? What about decaf, I hear that’s not even allowed. Sounds so hypocritical.
Kendalika Thank you. Bizarre!
I’ve often wondered that too. I live in SLC and they drink the heck out of sodas and energy drinks!!!
Because it is a written commandment & you need to adhere to that law in order to get a recommend to enter the temple. That’s all the reason needed. 🤷🏻♀️
My former mother-in-law drank Tab back in the day (full of caffeine). She was a relief society president and her husband was a bishop. But they didn't drink coffee. I always took Excedrin for persistent headaches (aspirin and caffeine) and drank Dr. Pepper, but not coffee. I had a temple recommend at the time. No one ever questioned it. Some of the odd things that don't make sense. My daughter said (tongue in cheek) that it's the temperature that makes the difference.
There are three personality types; those who are content to control their own behavior, those who want to control others, and those who want to be controlled. All social problems derive from the 2nd and 3rd types, including every form of government. Religion has always been appealing to the third type, and superfluous to the first.
Being here, for the duration, is about rising to one's highest potential, being a light where useful.
12:17 is the part where you learn the benefits of leaving the church.
I no longer believe in my beliefs. I observe not believe. A belief has no relevance to the truth.
It is or is not what I believe does not matter.
It seems evident that the LDS church becomes such an overruling force in a person's life that if a faith crisis occurs, all faith, the restored faith and even the underlying Christian faith are thrown out. Joseph Smith has created a mechanism to not reform Christianity, but to destroy it. How very clever of him. And that is perhaps why Revelation (the Bible book) warns against adding or taking away (Rev. 22:19). Would that the cancer of LDS teaching could be removed without destroying the organ.
The Mormon Church IS "the great and spacious building" -- which points its finger at those who have found the iron rod and left the philosophies of men which are in the Mormon Church.
I couldnt agree any more with the spirit being in the LoveLoud stadium that night. It's was incredible and made this grown man cry like a baby haha.
You are either with us or against cult behavior
Mistakes are a part of spiritual growth thru repentance. No its the other way around, leaving the church is apart of grasping the rod of iron. Living thru the words of Christ and not general authorities.
Some ex-Mormons need years and years before they can accept a way of faith again. Some never get there. But everyone's story is different.
Such a beautiful relatable story.. you have helped me so much Thank you listen to Amy Calls NDE Near death Experience she has a beautiful story of life after here I think it will give some answers for you she was LDS it really is a beautiful story of more truth beyond here. Your strength is powerful you have opened my heart 🙏♥️
If you’re interested in Buddhism there is a RUclips channel called Buddha at the Gas pump you might be interested in.
Oh great, from one false religion to another!
Richard Dawkins and Sam Harris == Red Pill 101
Amazing authors, thinkers, and fellow Homo sapiens.
Greetings Dr. Dalin is there a reason why ex-Mormons seem so emotional, or at least seem very emotional? It seems very strange to me as to why this seems the case with your guests? I am a non-Mormon, never have been one (I am Catholic). I see Fatih as something which requires intellect and reason. Would you be able to provide some thoughts regarding religion and psychology?
What was that thing he said that lots of Mormons have problems with. Scrupulosity or something?
John Fairbanks it’s basically religious OCD. The person is constantly preoccupied with doing the right thing morally, ethically and religiously.
I love this couple. I'm not a Mormon anymore, but a Christian. I was involved in the new age/occult before the Lord led me to Christianity. Buddhism is part of the occult, which means it's Satanic and the worship of other gods. I don't want to offend anyone at all. I'm just truly concerned. JESUS IS STILL LORD AND SAVIOR irrespective of the Mormon church being false. That's what's sad about leaving Mormonism, is former members don't trust the Bible, which is the infallible word of God. You're in my prayers. I love you.
Amen! Well said.
Good and evil are concrete. God and the Devil are abstract and more subject to interpretation of odd Ideas.
From lost to lost... This is the fruit of mormonism. I suspect they never knew Jesus, never understood Grace, were never born again, and were Bible illiterate. Their faith was not in Jesus but corrupt men and institutions. I left mormonism for Jesus, his Grace, and his Spirit.
This makes me sad. They seem so lost now. They don't know if there is a God. They don't know if there is Jesus Christ. I've definitely have had problems with other members in church. Even leaders in the church. I've tried to not let this ruin my relationship with God and Jesus Christ. One thing is for sure Jason and Jeanne are great people who care for their family. And they are caring of other people as well. It was really beautiful to see how choked up Jason was when he talked about how he wouldn't be able to serve the members in the ward as their bishop. They are truly loving people and I wish them nothing but the best ❤❤❤
I pray J&J find Jesus!!! Draw them to you, dear Lord!!!❤️💕🙏
Totally his fault. They already reached out in all honesty, humility, and desperation. Your Jesus or God was totally silent. God's problem! Not their's.