Mormon Stories 643: Mormon Missionaries Pt. 1 - Josh Tesch and Loss of Faith Due to Facebook

[@robincook4349]

I am not a Mormon and never have been but I watch a lot of the stories here. if Josh sees this he needs to know he did nothing wrong. He was just being honest and open and that is the best way to be. The issue with his family is theirs. I am a mother and grandmother and my heart just broke for Josh when he was telling what happened with his family. Josh if you still believe in GOD that is the only place to put your faith. Men and religions will always fail us. I am going to pray for your safety and you. You sound like a really great young man and you deserve the best in life.

[@lsun5322]

me too. I've never been a member, but have watched every episode. Thank you JD.

[@richardrussell623]

Josh's mission prez is why I'm glad I served foreign with foreign mission prez as too many of the American guys are self-righteous climbers who have no clue about true human nature. you're the best, Josh.

[@robertbehrmann5167]

Josh, I feel your pain. Seek God's love. It is ok to question and doubt. My faith crisis led me to head down so dark paths. Thru God's love I am rebuilding my relationship with Him. I am fighting to come back into the LDS Church and find a place within despite having questions. Don't give up on life. I love the Mormon side of me despite having left the Church for awhile. I've lived all over this planet. I am happiest when following the simple things I was 'brainwashed' into believing as a child in primary. But you have to find out for yourself where God wants you to be. God Bless you for your mission service and sacrifice you did offer the Lord. Thank you

[@markc9350]

Josh, wow your an inspiration. It is so very wrong for the church to fail you in your faith crises. We are taught our whole life as members to be honest and trust our leaders. You learned a lot about the "only true church" the lie has real human consequences. Christ would not do what was done to you. You are a honorable person who has my respect. Your mission is just getting started. Love you brother.

[@sissymae358]

Amen to that!

[@alejandrorios8550]

JOSHUA, YOU ARE SO PRESCIOUS TO GOD BECAUSE YO ARE VALIANT AND HONEST. I LOVE TO HEAR PEOPLE LIKE YOU. THANKS. A LOT

[@geofaddison4366]

Good for you Josh. I'm sorry about the way your mission ended and the problems that caused in your family. You got a raw deal from the MP, but in the long run you're going to be WAY better off. None of this is your fault, so don't blame yourself! Big hugs and stay strong, man!

[@chrisrowley1]

Josh you are a true missionary in what you are doing and who you are.

[@harvestjohnston9417]

Josh, you are awesome. You are a true pioneer, only you're on a path of honesty. It's better because you don't get stranded in the mountains and have to eat your boots. Be patient with your family and hopefully they'll come around. If not, make a new family with a group of true friends who accept and support you. The greatest spiritual experiences come from thinking about things and weighing your feelings and logic and coming to your own conclusions and you're free to do that now.

[@davidornelas6287]

Hi Joshua, just to let you know, that we support you, and that you have not done, anything wrong. You just has been honest, one day your family will understand. God bless you Joshua.

[@JustBreatheN]

Josh, I don't think you did it wrong about leaving. I had been home for 7 years before I exposed it to my parents and they treated me similar to you. My parents told me they wish I had gone gay instead of leaving the church. I wish I would have left the church sooner. I think you are a strong person for being honest with yourself. I hope you know that many of us envy you for having the balls to be honest when you were. I commend you.

[@morganpoland3245]

I always find it interesting that the church talks about "loss of Faith" when it really isn't. I have lost confidence in the church. I do not agree a lot of what they say or do, but I never stopped believing in God. Apostasy, per the Church, means not walking lock-step with their rules, it really doesn't have anything to do with God.

[@apolloomd4939]

Morgan, thank you so much for explaining how I feel so simply. Not a loss of faith but a loss of confidence in the church. Your comment was immensely helpful to me. please know that and thank you so much.

[@jeanettejensen8241]

And remember it’s a huge leap of faith to stand up and leave, faith in ourselves that we can make a choice that is contrary to the church and still be a good person

[@jtbrock]

Thanks for sharing your story Josh. You're a very courageous young man and I want you to know that I think you made the right decision on your mission. I know you don't know me from seeing this video I feel sorry for how your family is treating you. Hang in there. It will get better.

[@falconsfeatures9825]

It's funny how families react. In MIcah Wilder's case, his parents and siblings didn't basically disown him as it sounds has happened in Josh's case. It's quite extraordinary because in Micah's case, his mother was a full tenured professor at BYU. His dad was a high priest in the LDS sect. In time, the entire family left the LDS church which, of course, meant that Lynn Wilder, Micah's mother, had to leave the security of her BYU professorship. Although the "leaving" stories of Mormons have a familiar ring and the emotional stages similar, there are a lot of unique perspectives to each (story). In time it seems that most former Mormons land on their feet. However I think it comes down to finding a sense of purpose and direction. I hope Josh can get to that point sooner rather than later. The other distressing thing, from my perspective, is how many former Mormons become atheists, having no faith in God what-so-ever. I get it though. I don't know if this is true in Josh's case but it is with many former Mormons.

[@Mrs.Entwife]

My family is very similar to Josh's. If you lived at home you had to go to church or you were out. Ever since I have left the church communication with my siblings and family is very minimal. However, the relationships were always superficial but leaving the church pretty much eliminated any common interests we had.

[@kidlifecrisis9927]

his reaction to the CES letter was my same reaction... cried for a week. Felt betrayed and cheated.

[@janemaas4225]

I just had this video show up in my YT feed. I do follow MSPC. After listening to Josh’s story I think that Josh’s Mission President knew exactly what he was doing. He may not have thought through the ramifications but he was definitely on a power trip. Josh’s parents are being enabled by their Ward members and leaders by telling his parents how sorry they are that this happened. It’s difficult for Josh but I pray that he can move past all of this and create a wonderful life for himself. The unkindly remarks made to Josh, including his parents, are from unaccepting narrow ignorance. Josh keep up your great works and feel positive about your choices and what you are doing. 💜❤️

[@KyleSfhandyman]

You are awesome Josh. Sounds like you have some strong human personality traits that will get you far: honest, helpful, courageous, kind, cute (wait that isn't a personality trait, it will still help). You've saved your future kids and grandkids a bunch of torment. Hopefully your siblings will see the light and raise their children in truth. You don't need a god to be good.

[@michelleernst1135]

I really can't understand your family's reaction at all. I get them being disappointed if they're TBMs, but I cannot fathom cutting off my child because he or she has different beliefs. What the hell is wrong with people?

[@susanwilliams70]

I'm sorry you were not honorably released considering you stuck it out & continued to do what you were supposed to do during your mission. I sent my last mission president a letter explaining my situation (anxiety over a number of things. I was honest but never openly expressed any big doubts). I got to go home early & finish my mission in my home ward. I was lucky to get an honorable release.

[@Lisarata]

But doesn't it feel great to own your thinking? Glad to know you still love Mormons. I believe in them.

[@eadsta]

Honesty should mean more than that to the church. I am so disappointed in the mission president. The mission president should have had more compassion for Josh and his family. Hugs for Josh. So much for honesty in the church, right? This is heart breaking.

[@nettiedodar1]

Josh I am so sad for your service in the mission field being negated for being honest. You will still be going through the grieving process. I think it's reprehensible that the church is so unsupportive of people going through a crisis in faith particularly when the foundations and doctrines of the church are unravelling. It exposes how brainwashed church members are and what a repressive culture mormonism is in fact. I am so sorry that such a rift has been created between you and your family, for all the reasons you stated. Given how wealthy the church is it surprises me that there isn't more support for missionaries who need monetary funding to stay on their missions. You still have a long way to go to find yourself, good luck with that. Much love to you, honesty and integrity will serve you well. Don't lose that Josh.

[@deskjockie4948]

The Mormon church seems to have the attitude that if you have a faith crisis, or 'lose your testimony', then you should be cut off like 'deadwood', a kind of pruning to 'cleanse' the church. Eventually, the only ones who remain faithful members will be those who either haven't ever tested their faith or will believe anything without questioning.

[@falconsfeatures9825]

Sounds a little bit like Micah Wilder, member of the Christian band "Adam's Road", story. I think he got sent home with like thirty minutes left on his mission. Micah's violation was that he was asked to give his testimony at some rather large gathering of missionaries. He got up and testified to his faith in Christ. Bad move from LDS perspective. The head huncho said he sounded like a Baptist. It seems that Micah had really gotten into reading the NT while on his mission and what he found in the Bible didn't match with the "restored gospel". Both could not be right and he obviously didn't buy the LDS company line, "as far as it's translated correctly". He chose the NT gospel and that got him into deep trouble.

[@dianethulin1700]

Boy I'm just seeing this now. I'm sorry! My boyfriend and I would have picked you up and brought you home to S.F. and helped you! Being stuck in Oroville? Yikes!

[@makesen]

The difficult thing about "inoculation" to difficult issues is that the apologetics is still an incomplete rendering of history, and when a searching soul discovers the "spinning" of facts and omission of facts, the stunning realization that the church has and still is suppressing full truth is still a devastating experience for a truth seeker. The church essays provide a faith promoting plausible story, but it is by no means the whole story even from church archives. The initiative will have effect of extending the echo zone, but it does not illuminate the full truth.

[@11JohnBooker22]

In an elementary manner the church seems to want it's "Charges" or employees,members to admire the Emperor's new clothes and not have an natural and normal aversion to lying like egg suck'in dogs. Proverbs Chp.12 vs 22: "The Lord hates liars, but is pleased with those who keeps their word." Thx for keeping your word Joshua.

[@gaozhi2007]

Not much has changed.

[@bdshafer]

Blessings Josh!

[@kenbrown6095]

this is so sad! why a family would treat him so bad for just searching and truly wanting to understand. i hate how the church pretty much promotes this kind of treatment if one decides to search for truth and finds the truth they don't want to talk about. frustrating....

[@MattandSmuggsMcGuireK9]

another smart kid

[@heartgirl40]

jeeze! How awful Josh's parents are. blaming him for the cost of the mission when it's not like he set the price or anything. And his dad saying he'd have been better off dead is so gross! Hang in there, Josh

[@smallmeadow1]

Wow. I am not a Mormon, but all this emphasis on eternal family keeps people infantized in their relationships. All the put-downs are painful and shouldn't be tolerated.

[@harlanlang6556]

Josh is a prime example of how inner struggle and standing up for what you believe produces good mature people. Is Josh open for adoption? I kinda understand how his parents feel, but they did something right in producing such a kid with a big heart. The world is so much better off because Josh is walking the planet. Having a faith crisis is part of maturing and pondering. We should welcome it as the beginning of a more mature stage of being human. We teach children according to their developmental stages. I think that the more fundamentalist churches such as the LDS never get very high up on the scale of spiritual understanding. The idea that they believe that God is a physical being like a man says it all. It seems that all the thoughtful, pondering type Mormons become ex-Mormons. The same thing is happening in other churches because people are the same everywhere.

[@klarity1111]

Josh would have loved the 70's, when about 1/3 of the young adult population was hitchhiking all over the place.

[@11JohnBooker22]

That all seem to mostly dry up by 1975 in the mid western states.However I do remember seeing dozens of hitch hikers(Including family)regularly on the sides of Hwy's and roads but not Interstates as much.

[@klarity1111]

Where I live in the Northeast, it was still growing strong in 1977. But by 1980, it was dead. The interstates are a big part of why hitchhiking died. The other reason was safety concerns.

[@Dale65378]

Mosiah 27:23 the limbs of Alma received their strength, and he stood up and began to speak unto them, And it came to pass after they had fasted and prayed for the space of two days and two nights, the limbs of Alma received their strength, and he stood up and began to speak unto them, bidding them to be of good comfort: Mosiah 27:23 so we can see that the 2 days was mentioned for alma to receive his strength for his limbs But that's a lie because alma was not speaking until day 3 in Alma 36:10 And it came to pass that I fell to the earth; and it was for the space of three days and three nights that I could not open my mouth, neither had I the use of my limbs. Alma 36:10 So it was a false prophecy that the mormon god gave unto alma to right.

[@chuckborough8108]

John - I would love to get a message out to ALL missionaries. You are adults. Even with your parents' cooperation, a Mission President has no authority to "send you home." To do this without your agreement would require him to kidnap you. He may be able to have you ex-communicated - but you can still stay - still teach if you like, etc.

[@sirpercivalsmallcock-jones9585]

The Catholic church? As in Roman Catholic? I think you'd better check your Holy Bible to discover the major differences between Christianity from a Biblical perspective and "Christianity" as taught by an organization led by a man in a funny hat. When I attended a Catholic church service and saw the priest bowing down to a likeness of Jesus, I knew something was very wrong. carm.org/is-catholicism-christian

[@sirpercivalsmallcock-jones9585]

***** I'm not a Mormon, and I never led anyone to believe I was. Take time to check your facts before you post, and you won't look so foolish (oh, and calling me names like "dipshit" is hardly Christian now, is it?). Since you've more or less forced me, let's have a look at some of the things wrong with the church of Rome, when you compare it to the Christian faith as defined by the Bible: I mentioned in my last post in this thread the priest who bent down and bowed his head to a statue at the beginning of a church service. The Bible says "Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image... neither shall ye set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it" (Leviticus 26:1) Catholics ask the Virgin Mary to "pray for us sinners". The Bible says "no man cometh unto the Father, _but by me_. (John 14:6). You get that? You're praying to the earthly mother of the Saviour, when Jesus makes it clear we should go only to him, without the help of an intermediary. Catholicism teaches the idea of the paying of indulgences in order to reduce the temporal punishment a departed soul must undergo. The Bible teaches no such thing. There is no "purgatory" in the New Testament. Catholic priests practice transubstantiation, taking the phrase "this is my body" literally. Again, the Bible teaches no such thing. It is a symbolic practice; nowhere do the scriptures suggest that the communion bread/wafer and the wine become the actual physical body and blood of Christ. Christ died once for our sins; he doesn't need to be crucified over and over again like that.

[@lucyprusak935]

Search for truth

[@charlesmendeley9823]

No offense to Josh, but my advice to current missionaries: lie them straight in the face. When you do your exit interview, lie! Do not let them ruin your mission. They have no power and authority over you. Just my two cents.

[@lucyprusak935]

So sorry about your family , but God will restore your family. Draw closer to him,Thank God you know the truth