I Messed up when I left the Mormon Church.

#exmormon #bookofabraham #cesletter #leavingchristianity ng

[@ubermormon9611]

What advice would you give yourself in the first year of leaving the church?

[@snivelinj7612]

Don't go back !

[@johnrowley310]

Take your new found 10 percent and invest it like Nelson does. That will be your for sure new blessing....

[@thomasmaughan4798]

@@johnrowley310 "Take your new found 10 percent" My brother-in-law said a similar thing; except that (1) he did not pay tithing anyway and (2) he was unemployed. So his pay raise was symbolic rather than actual.

[@lorincapson7720]

"Leaving the Church" stories are so interesting. Thanks for sharing. I've been out since 2014 and life just keeps getting better. Everyone leaving have a different reason for walking away but I've noticed the common reason is becoming aware and choosing to embrace our awareness. Instead of rejecting our thoughts by saying "Get thee behind me Satan", we keep that thought, that idea, that conclusion. Then "Line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little, there a little until we come to a perfect knowledge".

[@cameronbrown5134]

And can I just say that your expounding of the Gray Area we live in after choosing to leave and it being our most true selves is so resonating for me! You have a beautiful perspective on life and learning! Keep up the great content👍

[@ubermormon9611]

Thanks for the comment! Stay Gray!

[@crawfordcockers]

I think people who leave want to share with their family and friends for a few reasons. The first is it's a scary time and you're looking to self validate the decision because if people agree with you then you feel more justified. Secondly I think there's this desire to help people see how fraudulent the church is because everyone should want to help that person who is getting conned, or abused, or whatever negative element there is from being in the church m

[@ubermormon9611]

My problem was that I don’t think I don’t think I had the right intentions for starting those conversations back then. I do now and it goes so much better. Thanks for the thoughtful input!

[@scrambledegg347]

There is no easy way to leave the church. It’s a process and can be very angering. I believe you’ve offered very valuable advice. Not everyone wants to hear about the flaws of the organization they are fully involved in. I’ve learned to live and let live. We’re all at different stages in our progress, and some will always be stuck where they are.

[@snivelinj7612]

BS ! It was very easy to leave the Mormon Church-----when you've had enough just leave ! That's what I did. When the leaders came calling I looked them straight in the eye concerning anything they wanted to talk about. No more guilt or remorse for every little misstep , cause missteps in the church are not really missteps at all. I'm a happier man now !

[@scrambledegg347]

@@snivelinj7612 I did the same - just walked away and removed my name from record. But I think it’s more difficult for some because of their strong family ties to to church. Their families in very many cases disown them. A family member may also be their bishop or stake president. Not quite as easy in that circumstance. There can be huge ramifications if your spouse or kids don’t agree with your choice. It makes for a very miserable household. It can be as easy as 1-2-3, but there are many factors you may not be considering that make it challenging.

[@thomasmaughan4798]

"Not everyone wants to hear about the flaws of the organization they are fully involved in. " It is more of a waste of time to perform these recitals especially where no obvious cure exists. When you choose a political party, you do so because adding your voice to others creates power; but those others might not have exactly your same thinking or even any interest in you. So you can go through life *alone* or you can join to others that are *approximately* similar to you. Then you can focus on the good and the similarities, or you can focus on the bad and the dissimilarities. On this channel and any exmo channel there's going to be focus on the bad and dissimilarities. That's not really something most people find exciting interesting, illuminating, joyful.

[@Mustardmanor]

Leaving the church is complicated especially if your life centers around it. It is losing a sense of identity and community

[@ubermormon9611]

I couldn’t agree more. My life centered around it for sure!

[@Mustardmanor]

@@ubermormon9611 and oddly enough, the apologetic idea that people can leave the church but cannot leave it alone only fuels people's faith of its truth claims. In actuality, it shows evidence that it is a controlling organization which manipulates members every life choice. Without the church, people lose their community and sense of purpose. No wonder people cannot just leave it alone after that trauma

[@bryceburgart8544]

Great video. Still surprises me that the channel is kinda small. But keep this content up, fairly certain at some point it’s going to explode. If for no other reason than your awesome mic! Great insight and great opinion.

[@ubermormon9611]

That is really nice. Thank you for the HUGE COMPLIMENT!

[@NielsenFamily1138]

I left after the church promoted the jab. I didn’t believe that was divinely inspired and that led me to research church history which literally blew my mind. I don’t talk to a lot of ex members of the church because many are offended by what set me down that path even though I ended up in the same place they did in relation to the church. So, it’s easy to feel judgement from church members and ex church members in equal degrees. While, I wish there were others I could talk to about my journey and learn about others it feels like I’m better off doing my own thing and keeping to myself.

[@InNOWvations]

I looked at church history because so many of my children had walked away---I had to believe they loved sin or were intelligent people. I am so glad for anything that wakes people out of the propoganda that the church spews. Way to go. You conciously looked at your questions and it brought you out of the slavery of a manipulative system.

[@WatchingwaitingG2D]

Another fake member. So easy to spot.

[@justjamie7577]

I appreciate what you said. My kids left church and i don't care, i raised them to think for their selves. However they disowned me because I won't leave the church, they insist im brainwashed. What they don't understand and refuse to hear is that i had Mormon beliefs before I ever heard about the church. If i stay or leave it should be because i want to not because someone pressured me to, just like If they stay or leave it should be because they want to and not because anyone pressures them to.

[@ubermormon9611]

I’m sorry to hear that. I agree. I hope people don’t allow themselves to be pressured (as much as they can help it).

[@countkolob]

This is a great list. I definitely had the thing where I wanted to vomit out everything I knew about the church. Sadly, it had the opposite effect that I intended. Luckily, my wife and I have worked out our faith differences and are still going strong. When I was wrestling with my beliefs the internet and forums were much younger. There was a guy who went by LDSMan (if I'm recalling correctly) and he had a list of "rules" for leaving. The first one was Go Slow. There is always a temptation to share everything we know, but in many cases it backfires.

[@ubermormon9611]

I’ll search his stuff. That seems really interesting!

[@professorchimp1]

Faithful LDS here. You seem like a really thoughtful and overall great person. It’s great how you are trying to help others navigate their struggles. As opposed to spiteful ex-Mormons, you understand why people would stick to their faith for positive reasons, and you acknowledge beneficial traits you’ve acquired from the Church. You also want to be your own person, instead of becoming obsessed with taking down the Church like many others. Personally, I believe everyone should confront the history of the church head-on, and whether you choose to leave or not is up to you. You seem like you understand that their are many members who have done this and don’t hold the viewpoint that one must ignore the history in order to stay. Wishing you well.

[@ubermormon9611]

I appreciate that. I also wish you the best inside the church!

[@CLTobey]

You're putting out good stuff, but I particularly like this one. I found my heading nodding yes to pretty much everything you said. My loss of faith hit much later in life, around age 50, after watching my kids reject it all one by one. I still attend with my husband who believes in the church as it once was, but can't see what it's become. I even hold a calling in primary. My bishop knows where I stand. I think I've worked my way through the angry phase. Each week as I endure two hours of Mormoning, I play a mental game I call "Good Mormonism/Bad Mormonism." I force myself to look for the things that the church does well, such as giving us opportunities to develop new talents. I'm rambling here. Good work, and thank you for what you do. Podcasts like yours are super helpful on days when I don't have anyone to talk to about this stuff.

[@ubermormon9611]

I love this. Thanks for sharing your perspective.

[@Lorielsmith]

I play that game too!! Haha my kids are 9 and 6 so I still have to go to support my husband and kids. I hate that they’re being brainwashed!

[@ubermormon9611]

Ugh I’m sorry. I am having my second kid soon and I am so grateful I won’t have to worry about that!

[@ronjones4069]

Pray to a nonexisting god and you will get non existing answers. When you reallize there is no god, you will work our correct answers. You have all the strength and guidence you need within yourself. You especially don't need to listen to a god who needed to make his son have a bad weekend so you could be forgiven. Tha's just plane silly talk.

[@thomasmaughan4798]

"but can't see what it's become" It hasn't become anything. Church does not exist. People exist, and they vary considerably on just about everything. What exactly is "the church"? If you think it is the people you don't like, then there's no reason to associate with people you don't like. If you think it is God's preferred organization right now for Christians, then you ignore the people you don't like, maybe even serve them sometimes, and you keep your eye on Jesus Christ as revealed in modern times. I've had a few great bishops, one terrible bishop and most of them do their duty without being particularly exceptional. I look around at alternatives, and I don't see any that comes close to being competition.

[@TheShodan92]

Thankyou...well said. I resonated with all your points. As an exmo I resigned about 7 years ago. Many who leave feel anger regarding the church, I didn't. But I have every ounce of empathy for them. Church leaders said we shouldn't question or doubt them or the teachings, when it's normal human behavior to do so. To ignore it is like trying to ignore a festering boil on the butt, hoping it will just go away but it gets worse and more uncomfortable to sit. I have learned to be less emotional with problematic truth claims or learning disturbing facts regarding the conduct of Joseph Smith. I concur with following a few rules of self governance which have been mentioned in your video. 1. Do not invest emotion if discussing topics with TBM's 2. Do not preach to them. 3. Respect the boundaries of others. (Especially family and loved ones who are still Molly[ TBM's]). 4. Remember, most TBM's are frozen. (Meaning they cannot or will not accept points which may be factual yet may contravene church teachings). I have much loved family members who are still Molly. I do not attempt to discus anything pertinent to Mormonism, but I'm open for discussion.

[@ubermormon9611]

Thank you for the really thoughtful comment.

[@drakosophos]

Very nicely said. A lot of great, relatable examples.

[@ubermormon9611]

Thank you! 🙏

[@tlcmeans]

When you decide to leave most churches, you just don't go back. You don't have to fight with family or convince them to come with you...they don't disown you. But cults are different.

[@thomasmaughan4798]

"But cults are different." A point he makes is there's a cult of ex-mormons. They will disown people that do NOT also leave the church. At a minimum, express contempt and disrespect for people whose choices are not the same as the Leavers.

[@WatchingwaitingG2D]

Or, in your case, lifestyle.

[@WatchingwaitingG2D]

​@thomasmaughan4798 you're both lying.

[@thomasmaughan4798]

@@WatchingwaitingG2D "you're both lying." I did not realize I'm a "both"; I'll have to work on that and see if I can get me up to three!

[@thomasmaughan4798]

As an elaboration, look at the Wheat and Tares blog. It is close to 100 percent anti-Mormon despite some participants claiming to be bishop or whatever. What becomes clear is they form a kind of anti-church or "cult" as you put it; with expected and compelled behaviors with ostracism and eventual banning for faithful church members who go there to balance the scale.

[@glennlewman4186]

After 15 years away, I came back, It have never been happier . give youself room to come back

[@cameronbrown5134]

Why was that opening monologue so exactly how I feel about Ubering or “graduating” from Mormonism??

[@ubermormon9611]

Because he have been through very similar experiences! And we now have the strength of a grown man and a tiny baby.

[@thoughtsonthingsandstuff974]

Good stuff.

[@ubermormon9611]

Thanks Jonathan. That means a lot.

[@MegaJohn144]

I left the church in 1982, and I don't regret a thing. I didn't try and justify my decision or persuade anybody else to leave. I still believe in God. I still believe the PRECEPTS taught in the Book of Mormon, but I don't believe in its history. One of the reasons why I left is because the church is NOT teaching what is taught in the Bible, Book of Mormon, or D&C. Instead, it's the philosophies of Brigham Young mingled with the philosophies of Russell M. Nelson. The church has continually lied about its history.

[@ubermormon9611]

Extremely well put!

[@peterwinstead7618]

Sharing truth is not facetious. Truth should be shared. Just because it’s a Mormon teaching to evangelize doesn’t mean it’s inherently wrong (see your last point :) ) People deserve to hear the full story and make an informed decision.

[@ubermormon9611]

I agree with you, and I’m worried about causing the backfire effect.

[@noscrubbubblez6515]

I spent many years in Church and Choir and went thru what I thought I was best suited. But I hated the suits and everything. Plus I was surrounded by swingers/couldn't break my image with churchianity. Then mid-life crises hit along business failure and I tried Japanese Buddhism- It is my current belief system and so much more intelligent than Western . Alas, I was never able to get others to join and when my parents passed- I back slide/retired/ gave up it all. Not missing any of it though I could walk in to sit in a pew or chant the Mystic Law at anytime. I don't even care about swinging. Now I avoid any possibly predatory people. try hard.

[@johnrowley310]

Just don't go. I have been out for 40 years. Never took my name off. They will still hope you will come back and treat you nice. Not a problem at all.

[@ubermormon9611]

Isn’t it just the best to have Sunday back?

[@scottmcloud257]

And all the reasons can be exactly the same, just weighted. Let's take an example of a restaurant. My friend doesn't want to go there because the bathrooms are always messy. I agree that the bathrooms are messy, but they have the best bacon in town. For me, the appeal of the food outweighs the bathroom. My friend loves the bacon, but has OCD attacks even thinking about the state of the toilets. We have considered the identical info. I keep going and my friend finds a new place to eat.

[@ubermormon9611]

And some will go BECAUSE OF the dirty bathrooms.

[@thomasmaughan4798]

Excellent metaphor!

[@thuggie1]

I never thought about getting others to leave anything, I left as I did not believe its claims. The first thing I should believe in is myself and my abilities to grow.

[@thomasmaughan4798]

"I never thought about getting others to leave anything" My best and oldest friend tried for years to persuade me to leave the church. He eventually died from complications of his unhealthy choices. I think many people that leave the church feel guilty or something and seek others to join them in their journey. I'm libertarian; you choose for you and I choose for me.

[@shelleymays8529]

If you're not growing and learning, than you're stagnant. However, Being stagnant can feel safe. I've decided what I know, and I don't want to defend it. So tbm's are in this safe place.. For me understanding that I had been lied to for 45 years, mattered. So I left..Each to his own understanding. Take care and enjoy your new journey.💚💜💙

[@ubermormon9611]

It must have been really scary to leave after 45 years. I left after 22 ish so o can only imagine it ran even deeper for you! I hope life continues to improve for you.

[@ShinkeiDEI]

Sorry man but this is not my approach, it does sound like leaving the church but not it leaving alone. Also although we brand ourselves exmormons we are not a monolithic organization with rules and dogma, so each person walk the path their own way. Sorry if I come a bit aggressive, just my 2 cents. Regardless, much love and a big hug.

[@christopherhardy8937]

Leaving the church was the best decision i have ever made. Please use critical thinking and rationality. I have honestly never been happier

[@ubermormon9611]

I am so happy for you!

[@amyjudy33]

Thank you for this video, I appreciated it a lot. I'm a couple weeks post-telling my family I don't believe and won't be practicing/participating and it's rough. It's really nice hearing it gets better.

[@ubermormon9611]

It gets better than it ever was!

[@rogermartinez8606]

Brave man to get out of that church.

[@ubermormon9611]

Thank you!!

[@thomasmaughan4798]

7:10 It may also happen that the "people that stay" simply don't care all that much about the factors that you considered important; and DO care about their reasons for staying, which you label as racism, bigotry and so forth. As the old saying goes, sticks and stones may break my bones but names can never hurt me. Naturally, I see no racism or bigotry in the temple. I feel the joy of the man who has waited 200 years to have his temple work done. Most of the time I do not feel that; but on rare occasions I sense the presence of the spirit for whom I am doing temple work. Next to that power and joy, shall I be concerned in the *slightest* at your judgment of me? I think not. My membership in the church has nothing to do with Kinderhook plates, or how many wives Joseph Smith had, and so on ad infinitum.

[@johnrowley310]

Why would I go into a temple and be lectured by Satan? or has that part been taken out???

[@thomasmaughan4798]

@@johnrowley310 "Why would I go into a temple and be lectured by Satan?" I'm reminded of a certain hobbit that asked Gollum (Smeagol) a trick question; "What do I have in my pocket?" Only you know why you do whatever you do.

[@nae0067]

I am glad I asked my believing family sincere questions when I started doubting so that they were not blind sided when I left. I had a friend that would only talk about why he left if after they asked twice just to make sure they really did want to know. I regret using Mormon language like I lost my testimony or I fell away I wish I would have said the church didn’t work for me. Great advice!

[@ubermormon9611]

Mormon language runs deep. It slowly loses its power as you find yours. Thanks for speaking up. Hope to see you around!

[@thomasmaughan4798]

"I lost my testimony" I consider such a thing impossible. How can you un-know a thing you know?

[@nae0067]

@@thomasmaughan4798 When you realize that you said you knew something that you didn’t.

[@thomasmaughan4798]

@@nae0067 "When you realize that you said you knew something that you didn’t." Your sentence seems incomplete. On careful review, it appears that you said you knew something, you might even have believed you knew something, then realized you didn't actually know the thing. It was probably an intangible such as "I know the church is true" which is pretty bad logic since it basically has no meaning or many meanings depending on what exactly one means by "church" and "true". Explain: "church" is not a CLAIM. Claims can be true or false. Church is either many people with vaguely similar beliefs about religion OR the building in which such people meet regularly. Since I do not believe a person can "un-know" a thing, I accept that as you refine your definition of "know" from "believe" to "certain" based on some sort of evidence, that things can fall off the wagon, so to speak. There's rather a lot of evidence but some of it requires attribution; it does not point to a single thing. I believe that the purpose of life is for you to discover you; and me to discover me, and make choices based on the Real You and not because you love or fear God, love or fear the enemy of God. You must choose according to your NATURE. Once you have chosen, THEN it will not contaminate your choice for God (or his enemy) to reveal themselves to you; you have already chosen. It is less common for a revelation of this degree of certainty to come before you have made the decision. It isn't all at once. The initial gift, the sense of peace, can be the holy ghost but it can also be other things so it isn't all that deterministic. It is designed to give you *enough* confidence to continue on a path that you might later abandon, as it appears you did. This is the essence of Lehi's dream, that even people that reach the tree of life, and presumably have a certain knowledge, can still choose to abandon the path. If there's simply another path, well, I don't spend much time contemplating the infinite paths and where they go.

[@nae0067]

@@thomasmaughan4798 How do you know you know and not just think you know?

[@thomasmaughan4798]

3:25 "We want to be our own people". The problem with this thinking is common to all atheists. If the only thing that you have in common, isn't even a thing, then *what DO you have in common* ? In other words, *there is no our* when the only qualifier is a thing you are NOT. You hint at this phenomenon by pointing out that *evangelizing against* Mormons is STILL an attachment to Mormonism. You cannot just *walk away* and *do something else* . There is nothing else for such a person.

[@johnmcdonald4938]

I attempted to address this issue of why people leave the church or stay in the replies to another question but I think it is important to try to answer it here as well. Here goes: People who leave our church give many 'symptomatic' reasons; "I don't believe in Joseph Smith" or " I have trouble with Polygamy", or "the church is hiding its money" etc. However, ultimately it boils down to the following: has your association with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints brought you into a love relationship with Jesus Christ? If it has then the church's demands upon your time, money and lifestyle will all be gladly paid and given. (It has been worth the effort.) However, if the culture, doctrines and lifestyle of the church has not changed your relationship to Christ into a love centered focus on him then the commitments needed to be a member will become onerous and burdensome and that person will eventually leave the church. No judgement here! Just getting down to the core of it. To all who have left or are leaving; blessings and love to you as you continue your search elsewhere! We all have hard paths in this life and leaving the church is not an easy one by any means (nor is staying a member without its challenges.) It is difficult though to replicate what we have here in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints as we are, like it or not, a Christ centered church without compromise. All other Christian faiths have Christ as well to varying degrees but He shares center stage in their focus with politics or social issues or you pick your topic or whatever the flavor of the day is. That is why so many ex members become agnostic or atheistic because once you've been to the mountain spring drinking from the tap just isn't the same. Blessings to all who read and share here as we are all trying to find our happiest place. Good luck to those who leave the church as the 'grass isn't greener'. I speak as one who has been a member for three plus decades but was active in many other denominations and faiths prior to becoming a member. Good luck and god's blessings in your searching! Your searching elsewhere doesn't diminish or threaten me and I hope that you can be happy for me without judgement or derisiveness that I am content to be a member. We all have different paths but hopefully we are all trying to get to the same mountaintop.

[@RichardHolmes-ll8ii]

What is your response to the reality of Paul Gregersen debunking the arrogant Egyptologist opinions against Joseph Smith?

[@ubermormon9611]

This would be the first time I’ve heard of him so I’ll need to look into it. What claim is he making? Is he contradicting the essay released by the church that stated that the Egyptian hieroglyphics were incorrectly translated by Joesph Smith?

[@RichardHolmes-ll8ii]

@@ubermormon9611 The church essay doesn't either say the Egyptian hieroglyphics were incorrectly translated. The essay only states that the translations don't match up.

[@RichardHolmes-ll8ii]

Here's the kicker. The translations were never meant to match up. The assumption that the translations were supposed to match up is indeed the assumption debunking your anti-Mormon and Egyptologist cult.

[@RichardHolmes-ll8ii]

@@ubermormon9611 Do you agree that Paul Gregersen debunked your anti-Mormon and Egyptologist cult?

[@RichardHolmes-ll8ii]

@@ubermormon9611 It's been 10 days now. What is your response to the reality of Paul Gregersen debunking the arrogant Egyptologist opinions against Joseph Smith?

[@Anti-Mormons-are-Idiots]

It’s the guilt you feel from trying to convince yourself you have done the right thing when in fact you haven’t. It doesn’t get better, you just get more and more bitter and critical until one day you explode or come back!

[@ubermormon9611]

How did you arrive at that conclusion?

[@johnrowley310]

You want to follow a convicted con man having sex with prepubescent girls stating he was greater than Jesus and you're calling me the idiot. ...

[@JamesRichardWiley]

The Mormon Church was founded by a known grifter. Case closed.

[@ubermormon9611]

Agree to agree

[@andrewmartin1776]

It’s hard for people to say the full name of the church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Jesus Christ’s name has power. I think people feel that, and avoid that power because they are not comfortable with that relationship. Maybe I’m wrong. I hope those who are struggling with difficult church questions will act in faith, keep an eternal perspective, and find their information from trustworthy sources. Doubt your doubts first and then go to the source of all truth. Humility is a huge part of that.

[@psmith535]

No, the second leader was the known grifter. So many lies about JS. So many excuses for BY.

[@coffeedrinkingisnotasin6049]

​@@psmith535Joseph smith allegedly lied about his ability to translate. Not once but 3 different times his "translations" were not correct. Look up the Boook of Abraham, The Greek Psalter, and the Kinderhook plates. All not accurate translations. Joseph was a good story teller and a charismatic leader. He was intelligent and not an uneducated farm boy like we were told growing up. He came from a family of educators.

[@ubermormon9611]

there is a chance they were both grifters.

[@sharipeterson3654]

Try getting out of the edifice and look for the soul of the gospel and contribute the goodness the soul of the gospel offers.

[@ubermormon9611]

Do you think you could reword that? I’m having a hard time understanding the point you are trying to make. I am not trying to be offensive.

[@sharipeterson3654]

@@ubermormon9611 it’s not about how you feel, it’s about Christ and how you can serve him and not yourself. Christ should always be the focus. I am a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day. Saints, and I look for Christ every day in my life, and not with the people do for me, or how they make me feel. It’s probably because I’m old and I don’t care a lot about worldly things or thoughts.

[@johnrowley310]

@@sharipeterson3654 What does Christ have to do with eternal sex in the Celestial kingdom????

[@RichardHolmes-ll8ii]

I don't understand why one would leave the church.

[@ubermormon9611]

If you stick around and withhold judgment, this channel will help you understand without trying to convince you.

[@TheShodan92]

Richard, there's a number of exmo's who don't understand why people would stay as well. But, as an exmo I understand why members stay, and why others leave. Do you consider there are people who leave to have a legitimate reason, even if you don't agree with their reasoning?.

[@RichardHolmes-ll8ii]

@TheShodan92 One couldn't have left due to scripture. As LDS scripture stands up to scrutiny. Especially since Paul Gregersen debunked the arrogant Egyptologist opinions against Joseph Smith.

[@TheShodan92]

@RichardHolmes-ll8ii You drifted abit there. I made no mention of the reasons why they may, or may not leave. I only asked if you think anyone who has left or are considering leaving have a legit reason to do so?. Can you answer that?.

[@RichardHolmes-ll8ii]

@TheShodan92 What are the legitimate reasons for leaving then? Name at least some.

[@WatchingwaitingG2D]

Yeah you look real good since you left the church. Well except for you never were a member.

[@ubermormon9611]

What makes you say that?

[@solosild45]

I dont understand how Anybody can leave the church when they have had a testimony,? I am struggeling myself but I know that God knows that I know the church is true 😮❤

[@ubermormon9611]

I’m working on a video about this. I’m sure people in the comments would be willing to talk to you about what caused them to leave after having a testimony.

[@nello1591]

Personally, part of what shook my testimony was finding the full story around the things I "knew" were true. Jospeh Smith, the Book of Mormon, polygamy, Book of Abraham etc. I felt I had testimonies of all these things and more. As I looked deeper into the history, I felt it had been skewed over time to fit a more comforting narrative. Finding this made me realize that I was putting my faith into something that I felt had been altered to be palatable by the church. Later, I've come to realize that almost every religion have people saying the same thing about their faith. They have spiritual experiences that for them confirmed the truth of their own religion to them. This is just a small example for me how it happened, but like he says in the video, the reason for one person leaving is different than another. For me, I felt the truth I thought I had crumble apart in my hands and felt that the picture I had was never what I thought it was.

[@coffeedrinkingisnotasin6049]

Because now I have a testimony that it is not true

[@johnmcdonald4938]

What is missing from every person's life who leaves the church and what is present in those that stay is whether or not they have progressed to the point in their spiritual lives where they love their Savior Jesus Christ through the ministry of the Church. If the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has led you to a point in your life where you love Christ through the influence of the Church, its teachings and its culture then you will stay. If your love for the Savior has not been increased through the church then the daily actions and requirements of living as a member of the church will grow to be a burden. All other comments, reasons, explanations, etc. are just symptoms of the core of the matter. Christ is at the center of it one way or the other! No judgement here if you choose to go; good luck to you and God's blessings to you in your journey! I'm just stating the fundamental truth of the matter as to why people leave or stay. This same principle applies to all Churches-- the difference is that other churches have varying degrees of a Christ centered culture and doctrine. Some emphasize one aspect of the Gospel or another but other Christian churches all have other aspects of the Gospel that rival or exceed their focus on Christ. This is a hard fact for those who leave the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints because at some level we all know this. This is also why most who leave the church become agnostic or atheistic; like it or not there is no substitute for what we are exposed to in the doctrine of this church. This is why people can leave the church but can't leave it alone.... its a tough place to be. To all ex mormons--- Blessings and happiness to you in your search for peace! I mean this sincerely and wish you the very best!

[@coffeedrinkingisnotasin6049]

@@johnmcdonald4938 the reason I left the church and can't leave it alone has nothing to do with Christ. It has everything to do with being given a disney version of church history. Church history was watered down to make it palatable to the masses. For example being told Joseph Smith refused alcohol for his leg surgery. Making it sound like he adhered to the word of wisdom as a child. Turns out he owned a bar at the Nauvoo house and drank the day of his death. Another example is being told he went to the Grove to ask which church was true. Turns out that the earliest account of the first vision (only one writen is Joseph's own hand, the 1832 account) says he went to the Grove for a forgiveness of his sins and already had the conclusion that none of the church's were true. When getting wittness testimonies you always want the first hand account closest to the event. I was never told Joseph was married to children when I was in church. I was never told about the Book of Abraham not being an accurate translation. I was not told about the Kinderhook plates or the Greek Psalter. I have given you am plethora of examples of why I left the church. You want to talk about facts. The simple fact is that the church misled me about church history and the character of Joseph Smith. I wish you the best of luck as well. But as I have been told by their fruits ye shall know them. The fruits of childhood polygamy and taking tithing from the poor over them feeding children. Making promises in the temple to put the church over everyone else. This is not a fruit I want any part of. I can speak for myself why I left I don't need your help.

[@ranzelganzon850]

Fault finders leave the Church eventually !

[@ubermormon9611]

Ouch

[@andrewdurfee3896]

That's about what it boils down to. In some way or another the Prophet didn't measure up to some idea of what a prophet should be. Just like those who rejected Jesus Christ. He didn't live up to their expectations of what a savior should be even though He was sinless and offered more then temporary deliverance.

[@johnrowley310]

Truth finders...

[@RedCholla]

Here's a question for you. Does God expect anything of you? What might it be? - In my experience most departing cult members go straight into atheism. Yet, God is and I urge you to look for him in Reformed Protestant community. The theology is understandable and not twisted and also the community is not legalistic. It rests in what you chose to do with Jesus Christ (but not the Jesus you have been accustomed to). - Both God and truth exist. Please accept some direction from me and search this out. Let me suggest; with a pastor. - God bless you. I mean you the best.

[@thomasmaughan4798]

"I urge you to look for him in Reformed Protestant community." WHICH reformed protestant community? Hundreds, maybe thousands of them exist. What is their authority? They have none; cannot even claim it. Catholics claim some sort of authority because of antiquity; assuming that when the popes excommunicated each other that didn't completely erase authority from the Earth right then and there. Mormons claim the restoration and I believe it. So what do the apostates of Catholicism have? Not much, and they are extremely diverse.

[@siahtype359]

Having useful conversations with Mormon loved ones hahhahaha now that’s comedy. Such a funny guy

[@ubermormon9611]

Badum tish

[@thomasmaughan4798]

"Having useful conversations with Mormon loved ones" Right below having non-useful conversations with Mormon haters.

[@siahtype359]

@@thomasmaughan4798 oh stfu douche. Mormons hate everyone. When you condemn the entire planet in a death cult. You don’t get to whine when people laugh at you