Mormon Stories

[@robertramsay5963]

I find it interesting that so many LDS depend upon "feelings" to guide their lives. Feelings can be deceptive, in my experience. The fact they didn't try to change your mind says a lot.

[@michaeldibb]

Thanks for the interview. Steve was the official photographer at my wedding in Harrogate. :)

[@mrgrnjns1111]

That's how my ex-communication went down I just got a letter saying they had ex-communicated me. Keep in mind this was exactly 2 weeks after I received a blessing from my bishop and stake pres. Which was a week after I got home from the hospital. From being in there for almost 2 months recovering from several strokes I had in a period of a week in early January of 23. I think it's because I was watching you when they came over lol. Failed prophecy episode. And I commented I have been struggling with my faith in Joseph Smith and the leaders being prophets. And they both said everyone struggles from time to time just get in the book and pray. Then 2 weeks later I got the letter. I also am a big in the cannabis activism scene here and was very public about it And being mormon. There never was a reason expressed to me for my ex- communication. They also excommunicated a local bishop a couple months before me. For apostasy. So they either labeled me an apostate or exed me for being involved in cannabis activism .. lol so be it . I'm way happier now. And have a stronger faith in Jesus Christ.

[@jimkiesow9349]

I had a thought at the very beginning of this interview. I am wondering how many of the people John has interviewed for Mormon Stories are now atheists, agnostics, Born Again Christians or "other"?

[@JohnSmith-mk3hj]

If I had to place a bet I’d go with atheist/agnostic for the vast majority.

[@GailOwens]

@@JohnSmith-mk3hj That is true I think 75-80% are non religious

[@Mabeylater293]

Stephen Bloor I'm curious if your journey out of the church would have commenced sooner if the church prevented you from ever marrying the person you loved, like they do with gay individuals and the immense pain they inflict on them. Just curious on your thoughts. Thank u very much for sharing your story

[@11JohnBooker22]

Thx again ........To understand WHY and HOW previous "friends" and associates in institutions,etc can become emotionless and robotic see: The Milgram experiment as well as the Stanford prison experiment. These experiments are chilling and upsetting as they relate to human behavior when authority is given and unrestrained or when an assumed authority figure orders are followed without question.

[@lashandajones2724]

John Booker You can relate that to the Germans who were good friends and neighbors to the Jewish people they would later turn thier backs on and even in some cases turn in back in ww2. Very interesting experiments...made me upset.

[@11JohnBooker22]

As fellow countrymen, you would have thought ALL Germans would have said "NEIN WIR GEWOHNHEIT" . When the nazi's(intentional) swept into power with less than 44% of the vote in 1933,the other 56% lost big time.Many,many Jewish Germans(some Jewish in name only)fought in WW1. Howard Stern's,yes that H.Stern, grandfather was one of the Jewish Germans who served in the German military. Howard's Grandpa got out of Germany years before the rise of Hitler.Howard wrote "Grandpa could see the writing on the wall and got Outenzee."(Not a German word). The Germans were a different people,genetically,from the Jewish population of German Jews.In a recent study by Jewish researcher E.Kobyliansky,he found that the eastern European Jewish peoples were 6 x's more distant from non -Jewish eastern Europeans than say Russians are from Germans. When these historic,religious or genetic differences are exploited for the purpose of political gain the end result is mass murder EVERY TIME. You made an excellent point of the social interaction between the German non Jews and those that were Jewish Germans.However I would never thought the genetic differences were so stark. Native peoples throughout the world,including the peoples of western Europe,middle and eastern Europe have slaughtered each other over the centuries.Through out Asia we see mans inhumanity to man,as well as in Africa,Easter Island,Polynesia and S.America.Sadly the Jewish Ethiopian's who,while not being murdered,are being relegated to secondary citizenship in Israel. It is SOOOOooooooo weird to have experienced "Shunning" from individuals or groups one was once united with formerly. Part of the "Game" mind control groups play is to make you BELIEVE you're NOTHING without the group.Often the group,cult,willingly gives a position of authority to the "Newbie".This calling,title,etc is only good so long as the new person OBEYS and shows NO decent.If the individual decides to question authority,condemnation is swift and the higher ups immediately denounce the person raising doubt as a questionable personality.They'll say, " Remember when you came here?We gave you a calling,position,authority due to your insight and helpfulness". We noticed some changes in you recently but we're all so busy trying to move forward that we thought you could handle this yourself.Guess we were wrong about you". Stuff like that,head games and passive aggressive statements by people the individual has come to respect and look to for approval. Threats of losing EVERYTHING can be a reality IF a person puts ALL their eggs in one basket.Working for the group,etc,etc is the worst life decision that is made by individuals under the control of a "Culture" such as the LDS corporation. Thank you so much for you reply. I hope my droning on wasn't to over the top. I have experienced so much of this crap that I can't just say "Yep" to a question or reply. When there's an opportunity to high light these low life's in the leadership of these horrid groups we're discussing,I run with it. Peace................ ;-)

[@klarity1111]

I'm still trying to understand where the "overwhelming feelings" come from that Stephen Bloor mentions here and that so many of us have felt while in Mormonism. I have had it described as a Dopamine rush, but why does our body release it on us? I have spiritual feelings at the church I attend now, but it feels totally different than the Mormon "spirit"--more gentle and subtle. Like what I used to feel before I converted to Mormonism.

[@srreiley769]

It happens in all religions - Christian, Muslim, Buddhists, Hindu, etc. All these different religions receiving answers that their path is the true path. And many people have the same types of feelings that are not religion at all. So either every path we follow is true or we are misinterpreting these warm feelings or perhaps we convince ourselves that the path we are following is the truth. The one thing I know for sure though, the Mormon Church truth claims are false. It is not the only true Church. Joseph Smith was a fraud. Brigham Young was a racist. And the people that are born into this religious lie, well I feel sorry for them. You are taught so many lies that it screws you up for the rest of your life.

[@klarity1111]

Feelings certainly can be powerful. Yes, the Mormon truth claims have proven themselves false. One of my biggest shocks was finding out that the Great Mormon Trek West was about Brigham Young and some of the apostles fleeing counterfeiting charges rather than religious persecution. Federal Marshals were pursuing them, not the mob.

[@jedimormon7138]

check out this group and location!gloriavale.org.nz/

[@klarity1111]

Countless numbers are walking out.

[@GailOwens]

Very true, but hopefully your feelings are backed by biblical truth. I am ex Mormon now Evangelical Christian. The feelings for me were because I fell do in love with everything Mormon.

[@Dev-jq8ch]

Thank you !

[@maxlee5783]

this cast provide a room for freedom of speech which is limited and prohibited by those who on the LORD's errand .....

[@maxlee5783]

church has been controlled by a group of so called "on Lord's errand '' who managing for gain and game ...leave the needy .the poor. the sick the afflict remained on their alone....(tw)at least i has been for 30yrs as a member of lds . i say this in the name of Jesus.amen.~

[@hectorcastro8136]

Sidelined???

[@kerryholyoak5720]

Censured