The Day I Realized I Was in a Cult

[@SparkyTom1]

As a former Freemason, when I saw the temple ceremonies though a hidden camera on KZbin I was surprised how much of it was plagiarized masonic ritual. I was literally able to chant along with parts of it.

[@ryonadams7501]

It seems to me that at least two of the handshakes, the aprons (I know, they claim they are like fig leafs, but come on), the compass and square, and the previously used throat cutting gesture and blood oath are all almost verbatim ripoffs from Blue Lodge Freemasonry. It's just funny how they try to pass that off as some type of esoteric Christianity.

[@alexandersnider734]

Wait til you learn how many college fraternity rituals are basically the same way.

[@ryonadams7501]

@@alexandersnider734 Oh don't worry. I was in a fraternity in college. It wasn't like this Temple thing.

[@kirrillyw]

I’m curious what made you leave? My grandfather was a mason too, and he left, but never really spoke about it.

[@david-bl8lx]

Joseph was anti masonic while writing the BOM, you can read it in the book. He then later became a free mason years later. A few months later the temple ceremony was revealed to him from god...lol

[@annamariaml9137]

I never understood why my 19 year old sister left her endowment ceremony looking SO freaked out. Now I get it.

[@KUR4H]

@@svetlanachiriac8095 SO people aren't allowed to look into outside sources besides the church? sounds like something someone apart of a cult would say. You do realize Joseph Smith was a free mason, and the rituals done in the temple are very similar if not identical to masonic rituals, even free masons who have seen the rituals agree that the rituals are very reminiscent to theirs.

[@SandraJacoby]

@@svetlanachiriac8095what are you doing commenting on this video ; sounds like maybe you’re doing some research ??

[@spookeymo]

@@svetlanachiriac8095 "please only listen to people who are extremely brainwashed and would never dare speak critically of the church"

[@merittahughes9942]

You know the members of the church is not going to share what goes on in there because they are not supposed to. I also left the church but never went to the temple.​@svetlanachiriac8095

[@nancyo7753]

@@svetlanachiriac8095 I challenge you to visit the places listed in the Book of Mormon.

[@lukatv9861]

For me its the fact that adam is seen as "lord", "king", etc. And eve is just... A companion. Not a queen or a lady or even a wife. No. Just company for the first man so he's not lonely. Gives me kind of "easily replaceable" vibe.

[@BoxGhost-b9i]

Not easily replaceable, just one among many companions, is the intended interpretation.

[@lukatv9861]

@BoxGhost-b9i yeah but like you see my point. Eve is made to be unimportant and her only purpose it to have kids

[@typicallyusual6984]

You should look into Lilith then. Her lore is pretty interesting

[@subcitizen2012]

Given the number of ribs left in the cage, I'd say yeah.

[@SW-ii5gg]

​@@typicallyusual6984I was married to her.

[@Deliah_36]

Today I sent the letter resigning my membership to this church. The feeling is so liberating and peaceful.

[@pensivelyrebelling]

Do you have to write a letter to resign? I’ve never been to a Mormon church, but grew up in Baptist churches. We usually just quit attending.

[@OrganicSass]

How do you do this ? What was the process and to who?

[@aspenhardware852]

Congratulations!!!!

[@Melbellee]

wouldnt it be safer to have just ran without saying anything

[@randallmarquis3714]

​@@OrganicSassyou send a letter to the church headquarters in Salt Lake City

[@lolno5947]

as someone who was never mormon, the fact that they have a literal video that they show on a projector is so funny to me

[@david-bl8lx]

I think the salt Lake temple still does the live action version sometimes. The movie is easier since they have 337 temples world wide with nearly 100 of those are being built. The current leader really want to build as many temples as he can. Every six months, he announces at least 10 new temples to be built.

[@davidtaylor5189]

@@david-bl8lx Manti is only "live" endowment left. SLC will be film/powerpoint.

[@PhyreReighn]

I was at Ground 0 my first time through and Salt Lake City Utah had it as a live play. Even worse! smh

[@PhyreReighn]

@@david-bl8lx Along with the Golden Trumpet on top! lol- Multi level marketing to heaven will get them salvation!

[@PsiPhy]

​@@PhyreReighn That's literally Moron i (dah) 😂

[@idontwanttousemyrealnamema4492]

I went through the temple to be “sealed” to my family. I was underage at the time but after it happened EVERYONE in my family was so excited and asked me what I thought. I blurted out “you all looked ridiculous”. From then I was deemed the black sheep of the family.

[@MissyZilla]

I’m sorry that happened!

[@RyuTama42]

“And now you are sealed as a family for all eternity! You will never be parted!” “You guys did look kinda silly though” “Outer Darkness for you, blasphemer!” Smh.

[@golden8972]

That happened to a former neighbor of mine. She told me that when she went to the temple for the first time and saw everyone in their temple clothes (they might have still been in the dressing room), she burst out laughing bc they all looked ridiculous. From that moment on, she was the odd one out.

[@mikusheadphones]

Same same samr. I literally thought i was getting oranked when the nursery (despite be being like 12/13 at the time) temple workers took me to my parents. It was insane and everyone made me seem like a bad person for being so unahppy and terrified

[@paulamortensen36]

@@idontwanttousemyrealnamema4492 if your being sealed to your family age isn’t a factor

[@rubyraaa420]

When I was in middle school I was obsessed with One Direction & I would put their names into the prayer box in the temple😂 I was being so serious too, I wanted them to be blessed by God. Im disappointed they don’t read the names out loud because it would be absolutely hilarious to have a group of Mormons pray for Harry Styles in their holy temple.

[@yula3723]

Haha love that ✨teenagers being teenagers✨💃

[@natm2443]

This is so sweet tho lmao

[@SkyR45]

THAT is hilarious

[@doblepollodoblequeso]

i am crying of laughter oh my god i love you so much😭 love from a fellow directioner kid

[@cache_valley_cryptid]

Thats so wholesome omg 😭 and they def shouldve read those smh

[@etatauri]

I am of the opinion that any organization that withholds information of its core function is not there for the benefit of the people, but rather for the control of the people.

[@---zc4qt]

Mormonism is one of the only religions that one is NOT allowed to research about its history once one becomes a member.

[@marshall3973]

I can't imagine going through this whole sacred ceremony only to be told your new sacred name is Deborah 😂

[@Aaron.Thomas]

I always wondered what happens when your new name is also your actual name? You just happen to go through the month they use your name...

[@karalewis8654]

​@Aaron.Thomas the name is based off of the day you do the ceremony. If the day lands on your actually name you get name either Adam or Eve. She said this once in a previous video.

[@MissyZilla]

Imagine if your new sacred name is Karen. 😂

[@seppyq3672]

My name was Lucy. Which made me laugh because at the time, Lucy was my favorite character in the musical Jekyl and Hyde. She was a prostitute. 😂

[@deborahrivera9371]

💔💔😔

[@elvishsoda]

As an atheist, I find it so wild that they literally make you watch A MOVIE in this "holiest of places". Doesn't it feel unserious to see? I mean seriously, a movie? is it not in some way blasphemous to emulate a holy scene? Thank you so much for this amazing video and for granting insight into something I've never heard about before.

[@DarkFire1536]

Yes. I haven't been to the temple in five years. I have heard they have a new movie. At the time I was attending, they were showing two different versions of the movie, with all of the same dialog, but different actors. In my opinion, the movies are so incredibly cheesy and cringe, they in no way made me feel more spiritual or enriched my beliefs. In one movie, the guy who played Satan, looked like your typical 1980's teen movie, popular cool guy. It was ridiculous.

[@LittleMissLounge]

LMAO, it's hard not to picture it starting with someone wheeling in an old-ass TV or projector like teachers used to do.

[@largashbur]

Yeah, that's actually a good point. it's just that movies like this are kinda common for at least the Utah area Mormons though, like there's a few with this same production value that they would play in seminary (the mormon class you can take during high school, the high school basically releases you for one period on your schedule for it and after 4 years of it you actually graduate, but that's beside the point) to explain different concepts - or just for funsies since for whatever reason the hardcore kids had already been watching these movies enough times before they got to seminary that they already were fans 😭 lmao it honestly sent me cause my family was never that hardcore so it was wild to me to watch these 14 year olds get fkn HYPED for Johnny Lingo and His Eight Cow Wife like wtf

[@largashbur]

my point I was trying to make was that the movies are kinda normalized by the time you get to the age where this is happening. I'm so sorry I went off on a tangent

[@mayochupenjoyer]

i was raised atheist by two parents who constantly bashed religious people for being stupid and gullible. it took me a long time to realize that indoctrination has serious psychological effects and it’s not people just “falling for obvious lies”

[@contingency58]

As a child that was baptized Lutheran but was never brought to church by my religious father and was raised secular by my mother, I LOVED attending church with friends when I was younger. Any and all churches. I attended youth group lock-ins at a friend's Baptist church, sunday services at another's Catholic church, listened to my uncle preach at Concordia, I had a substantial appreciation for religion without understanding the history of it. This ended in middle school when I became incredibly close with a girl who's family was Mormon. During a family dinner that I was at, I was told that I wouldn't be able to sleep over at their house as they had to visit the temple in the morning. Thinking nothing of it, I assured them that I had visited many different kinds of churches and asked if I could tag along. Her parents became incredibly offended and then proceeded to be silent for the rest of the dinner, making things incredibly awkward. There was no explaination, nothing. My friend and I drifted apart soon after and I've always suspected her parents of encouraging the rift. It's always baffled me, because I was ripe for recruitment. I get that you tend to be born into Mormonism, but the fact that they got angry as opposed to endearing me towards their religion has always been interesting.

[@maryswanson9982]

You probably lost your friend because her parents knew that your parents weren’t interested in becoming Mormon.

[@chaoticsix]

They were trying to say no politely and you didnt pick up on that so they were annoyed.

[@jordanvdark]

@@chaoticsixgetting annoyed at one push back? either youre emotionally immature, or you have something to hide about your practice. an average response would be "thats lovely to hear but we use our relgious time as family time, so we would like it to be just ourselves. thank you for offering" or something simpler than that.

[@cierstrife8802]

my mormon friend had to have 2 weddings. One for her Mormon friends and one for her non Mormon friends...because we weren't allowed at her Mormon wedding.

[@rebeccarisk1772]

Going through the temple was the final, traumatic straw for me. After years of really trying to build up my spirituality and save my failing mormon marriage, I finally felt ready to get sealed to my husband in the temple. I had never been, and was completely unprepared. I, too, was expecting a beautiful, spiritual, life changing experience. It was definitely life changing, but I was *so* freaked out. *This* is what my life has been building up to? What the fuck just happened?? Is what I was thinking afterwards. The whole time I'm having to fake a smile and tell everyone how great it was. I never went back, and left mormonism and my idiot husband behind at the same time and I've never been happier!

[@mx.chi2]

So happy for you!!

[@carsah]

It’s always nice to hear when people make it out, whenever I run into someone who left the church it’s like a weird bond that is shared, built purely off trauma

[@newlevelsofsuccess]

I worked with a guy who was a bishop and he told me he had to council someone who was suffering from temple shock…yep, they have a term for the trauma you experience.

[@mr.blonde5344]

I'm glad you escaped.

[@bubblegumplastic]

I'm sorry you had a terrible husband, I'm glad you're doing better now

[@Kat-amber-t2z]

Honestly, when I hear someone say that they got out of a cult I pay attention, because most people never have the mental strength to do that. Someone who's done so typically has an intelligence and a self-awareness that most people seem to lack, as well as courage. Those are the kinds of people we ought to be listening to imo. (As well as experts in fields. Can't forget them.)

[@CT_1999]

💯

[@1620rx]

They try to make the strong feel weak. 😢 It was so difficult to even think about leaving let alone doing research that you knew was taboo to everything you have been taught.

[@Mrs.Robinsons]

LD$ is a Fear base threat/religion. Hence the doomsday nickname "Latter DayS" Saints- These are the saints who will be saved as long as they meet the Temple expectations. Therefore it is terrifying to research or do anything otherwise. Fear is such a negative energy that Ive never met any of them truley at peace.

[@JAILClostedSarahAdamSFamilies]

what about all the anti white, white genocide cults

[@jeffisnot2826]

Just like de-tranzitioners

[@Marshmallofluff3]

My mom and dad have been active members for over 35 years and my dad has been a bishop for the past 5. They just got the courage to leave the church a month ago, and my siblings and I are so happy for them!!!! All of us have left at different times, but they were very loyal to the church. I never thought I’d see them leave but it’s truly a blessing! My dad says now he can refocus on finding God. It takes so much away from any genuine connection to God because it’s all so centered around Mormon principles and teachings.

[@JustDr3-TV]

That's so comforting to hear 🥰 I do think the number one thing God our heavenly father wants is for us to just have a close personal relationship with him ❤️ I'm finally working on mine after years of depression and drug addiction and I've never felt more whole growing closer to my God

[@TheKatarinaGiselle]

That’s amazing! How are they doing so far?

[@JMMavulule]

​@JustDr3-TV I'm doing it on my terms and I do spirituality to each its own.

[@callmeqt1269]

that makes me happy for y’all - congratulations

So your dad can Bash his Bishop now 😅😂😅

[@travisbirdsong2419]

I've been going to a Mormon church for a few months. They make themselves appear to be a Christian church and it wasn't until I was discussing religion with my Muslim friend that I noticed these inconsistencies and the more I researched, the more shocked I got that I didn't see them sooner. The people at my local ward are some lovely and awesome people, but the doctrine I'm starting to uncover now is that they are literally a cult. I've also not been attending church recently, now they're blowing up my phone, and when I don't answer they randomly show up at my house, both missionaries and Elders Quorum members. Creepy af.

[@faellemanu]

I was reading Jehovah Witness and Scientology former members and they all say the same thing. If you stop coming, they show up and try to make you feel bad for leaving their church, which is a cult. It's very creepy they all have these patterns and they think they can have control over someone's mind, body and faith.

[@Kimiyoutoob]

Trust your critical thinking skills. You can still have a belief in higher source & knowledge your truth with it. Anything else is simply someone else’s interpretation

[@MacyIntheMiddle]

The washing and anointing script reminds me of the heart ceremony at build a bear workshop

[@MomJeansReads]

It’s probably another Mormon owned company 😂

[@n4musica]

I just looked it up. The CEO is Mormon!!

[@DeweyLovesDuckies]

Build a Bear would have to be Mormon. That creeps me out a little. My daughter and I had some sweet days there.

[@hulapineapple]

@@n4musica Incredible!

[@buttershy_]

​@n4musica omg we need to get a video about this 😂

[@fatemeetsluck]

Good points about "worthiness." I found it baffling that spouse abuse did not disqualify members, which led to my shelf breaking

[@RyuTama42]

Yet, I was not worthy for my temple recommend because I took prescribed caffeine pills for my crippling migraines. 😒

[@hunterharker-j5i]

They’ve actually just recently started addressing in general conference that domestic abuse is not okay. It’s strange that they have to publicly address that, like it’s suddenly a huge concern, yet they’ve never implemented any type of consequences or laws when it comes to having a loving family. Strange priorities.

[@fatemeetsluck]

@hunterharker-j5i the problem then is they fail to define abuse, or worse, redefine it unscientifically to protect the top tithe payers from being held accountable

[@5h4d0w5l1f3]

​@@hunterharker-j5iOnly because they had to start making performative "improvements" after some documentaries came out. I don't believe anything about the culture has actually moved away from spousal abuse and control: they're just saying it is.

[@Aashka_The_Mystic]

It's all about controlling women, that's how all religions and cults are

[@anubis9139]

20:43 - When I when through about 9 years before you, I was instructed to be naked under the shield. They changed that several years after. I remember how uncomfortable I was when the old man doing that part of the ceremony would reach into the cloth without even letting me know what was happening and he would touch me in different places on my body. He never actually touched my crotch, but he got uncomfortably close. And the fact that he just started touching me without even warning me or letting me know what was happening was nuts.

[@chendaforest]

Its so creepy and disturbing that was allowed.

[@syfields8154]

Are you a female? Or male?...Either way that was sexual abuse!

[@robemega]

I think you were a lucky one

[@knan75]

I knew a medical doctor who lived in St George years ago and was the only doctor in town. When Mormon men were going to participate in a temple marriage they would go to our doctor friend for an injection of testosterone so they would experience more pleasure in anointing the private parts of the bride. Isn’t that disgusting! Uggh!

[@terrillmel]

Ah yes. Strength in the loins. I remember it well.

[@RomelloWilliams-q3y]

It takes a tremendous amount of strength to question everything you've ever known and open yourself up to other possibilities. Leaving your belief system and the social circle that came with it is a tumultuous event. Congratulations and I hope you're a happier person now!

[@sofie491]

As a jew in a heavily populated LDS state your videos are not only educational but informative. You share things my LDS neighbors or friends would never say. It's been super helpful learning more about the truth of the LDS whilst living in the midst of them. Great neighbors but definitely a cult.

[@tuiteyfruity5010]

I always love when I get to say the last time I went to Utah was for a bar mitzvah XD I have to wonder what it was like for my friend growing up Jewish in Utah…

[@Willowtree82]

The same can be said for ultra orthodox Judaism. Especially those where the rabbi has to check with wife of man's vagine with a white cloth to ensure she is no longer menstruating. A lot of in the comments here study all aspects of different religions and while doing my research on ultra orthodox after I seen videos of women speak out about it here on KZbin, I found a website that was for this group and there was a section of the website where the women were having a conversation and all of them were so upset they had to have that done to them. I felt so bad for them 😢

[@Willowtree82]

In ultra orthodox, the white cloth that is done with women to ensure they are no longer on their period 😢

[@doggygaming950]

Personally I struggle to comprehend the difference between a cult and an organized religion. I have read the Bible and I feel very bad for people that believe they need to follow all these rules else face extraordinary torture for eternity. Anyone that thinks the creator of the universe goes around killing firstborns on passover unless they've marked their doors with blood...

[@TaurusMoon-hu3pd]

Try "Jewish in the bible belt" 😢

[@jecicox7605]

When I went thru it, I remember being naked under that poncho and they touched your skin in those spots and it was all I could do to not freak out. As a survivor of CSA & SA, it was rather retraumatizing. I wish it could have been done a different way. I never told anyone, but that's why I never really wanted to go back.

[@weaviejeebies]

As a survivor of CSA, too, I was horrified, repulsed and overwhelmingly disappointed in the church and every LDS person I'd ever looked up to. That was the exact moment when I realized that all of it was a ridiculous and creepy con by Smith just to lure women into predatory spaces. I don't care that women attend to women for the washing/anointing. It breaks down boundaries and sets up the belief that the church overrules your bodily autonomy and privacy. It's grooming. It makes you feel like objecting is sinful. I had grown up in a deeply dysfunctional home and spent my young miserable life wishing I could've been born to an LDS family like so many of my parents' friends (this was in AZ, in the 80s, soooooo many LDS neighbors and I looked at them like they were so much better than my sleazy dad and passive enabling denial riddled mom. The temple sure was a spiritual moment, but not in the way they wanted. My immature hope that there was a culture or tribe I could join where vile people are shunned and kids are safe, where you are the same person at church and at home, and where social rules actually mean something and are placed in the center of your life...well, that died right then and there, first during the anointing but 100% shredded during that ridiculous endowment.

[@alexia3552]

That's active sexual harassment even without the past experience of trauma. And I am so sorry you've gone through all that. None of what happened to you was okay. Believe yourself, your feelings are valid.

[@mar420.74]

Remember that isn't your fault and on top of that cults ive realized through seeing them just. well they have control over everything, they'll just make you think whatever they think is okay or right when morals are set in stone, I hope karma is well upon them, that's not okay

[@tamidawn8383]

I experienced the same. It was traumatizing.

[@cerin59]

​@@weaviejeebiesDamn. You said so much with such nuance.

[@hannepicklesimer8133]

I went through during covid before getting married which felt like all eyes were on me. Everyone who was there was there specifically for me. It was literally me, my fiance, and my parents. I hated it so much and spiraled so badly after leaving. It felt like my whole body was falling when I finally realized that it wasn't true laying in bed that night. That all the years of being sceptical but still pushing forward to hoping it would all made sense just snapped. Everyone told me I looked so happy on my wedding day, but I felt empty and scared. Idk what to believe in anymore and the only thing that held me together was my amazing husband. We've both left and feel more connected than ever, but I will never forget that "Im in a cult feeling". Thanks for sharing you experience Alyssa! I heavily related to your experience!! ❤

[@azariahunter3024]

This sounds so gutturally terrifying I’m so glad you made it out!

[@PhyreReighn]

We were married 10 yrs before going through the Temple. Once we got there I felt the very same. I never told anyone at the time & continued to play, pray, and Pay! Decades later, after the very shadow of evil had its way in our home for decades I left (name number & all) and became Christian. We are all very happy

[@terrikennedy3088]

If you get hold of a regular Bible, read the Second book of Peter, Chapter 1 v 16 through Chapter 2 v 3. That is Peter explaining how to discern between the Gospel of Jesus, from those trying to take advantage of the "new faith movement" to gain the power of blind followers. It begins with verse 16:"For we have not followed cunningly devised fables: when we made known unto you the Power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty." Jesus died to remove the guilt and shame of man. Verse 3 of Chapter 2 begins with: "And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: ..." That's what Joseph Smith did, and his legacy is being perpetuated by the lust for power and control built by Smith using his well honed "con man and conjuring" abilities. Today's "prophets" gain the same satisfaction from being treated like Gods special guys as the men back in the 1800's did. The truth will heal you from the perversion enforced against you by Satan's LDS methodology.

[@PsiPhy]

​@@PhyreReighn Leaving mormonism in UTAH is like running from an Amish community, Hence there are programs to help us escape!

[@runningfromabear8354]

​@@PhyreReighn religion seems like one of those things you need to be primed for as a child. Like eating marmite, it needs to be conditioned to enjoy or want any part of. I feel like England's school system unintentionally vaccinates against religion. The public school system is Church of England. Our assemblies, our holiday's are all Christian based. We start a religious class around 9 years old. But none of the teachers or head teachers are believers. I'll say the quiet part out loud: We're learning about the history of the culture at school. Not a faith. In my teens we lived in the US and because of the community we lived in, you had to go to church to have any social life. It was a rude awakening that people believed stuff from the old days. Like I knew some people were spiritual but not that anyone believed the scriptures. I always aced religious classes. I memorized verses easily. I could recite prayers and could draw and label maps of the fertile crescent and around the Mediterranean. I enjoyed history classes too. There's no separation of church and state but protections have come in so not everyone has to participate in religious parts of education. Their parents sign them out like sex Ed. But it was a giant leap to digest Christianity as more than something like the ancient Greek gods or Hindu gods. It all sounds made up and going to church for a couple of years made it sound crazier. The hate and vitriol coming from the members didn't align with any of verses I'd memorized from the new testament. It's really hard to see the difference between religions and cults. They all look like cults to me.

[@RisottoNero-z1w]

Man, that "I LOVE THE TEMPLE" screaming page is so chilling.

[@CanadianChick811]

My mom walked into the room just as Alyssa changed into the temple clothes. "Is that a Leprechaun is their wedding dress?"

[@meghansullivan6812]

this made me lol!

[@MissyZilla]

😂

[@brinagotsued]

I love your mom! 😂

[@CanadianChick811]

@@brinagotsued LOL, she was raised VERY Catholic (isn't anymore) and didn't push that on me or my brother. Her opinions about religion now are a hoot.

[@leafllt4288]

A couple years ago the Washington DC Mormon Temple was open to the public. My husband and I were really curious, because we drive by it on 495 basically every day. I was honestly so disappointed... it looks so grand from the outside I was anticipating a cool cathedral like building, but honestly it just felt like an awkward conference center to me.

[@StrudelNoodle]

Lived in Fairfax for 12 years. I’ve wonder the same thing. Thanks for the reality check! Lol

[@MissyZilla]

That kind of represents the entire religion. They represent their religion in deceptive ways.

[@andromeda8rose]

I went into the Mormon Tabernacle in DC as well before it was reconsecrated. There are some parts that are quite beautiful, like the stained glass and the outside, but the parts inside that are "impressive" (such as the baptismal font that is massive and atop 12(?)) golden bulls is very standard. Most big temples look essentially the same inside from what I've seen of other videos and pictures

[@knan75]

Yes, the rooms were decorated with fancy wall paper, glittering lamps & chandeliers, ornate chairs, etc., that brought to mind a luxury hotel lobby from 100 yrs ago. It looked gaudy at best!

[@HeavenlyEchoVirus]

Golden bulls?! Like, 10 Commandments smashing golden calves but more and bigger?

[@emilyvanvoorhis]

I grew up in the evangelical church and went to a Christian summer camp. I remember a counselor suffering from really bad menstrual cramps and she was rolling around on her bed moaning “why did Eve have to sin?” I was never taught theology like this from my parents, but it was certainly going around.

[@TiffanyRedGreen]

As someone who suffers bad menstrual cramps, that's kinda funny....

[@iamataldi]

Eve making us rely on ibuprofen and burning our stomachs with a hot water pad 💀😍

[@TheChancesmom]

@@iamataldiThank god for menopause.

[@Seramoonn]

Yes I definitely heard this too at some point in my life growing up religious! Was it not literally in the Old Testament? I don’t remember, but I know that I learned that all the pain of being female was attributed to Eve’s sin. Like damn ok lol

[@LisaEichler-Johnson]

That is so fraked up!!

[@coleendahleke8130]

THANK YOU!! I was born into the church in Germany (my parents were converts) but I left the church at 19, before I was endowed and the not knowing always bothered me. I left church because I did not believe in God or Joseph Smith anymore an I felt so guilty and disrespectful for lying al the time. The more distance I got from the Church the calmer and better my life felt, and I didn't even have all the facts!I have watched a few of your videos now and even now, 13 years after leaving the church I am learning so much, that I didn't know, see so much much, that aparently was universal and I am so glad I decided to live another life. I believe you are doing a HUGE service to education and to people in general, it must be so draining for you, to speak about this. Keep up the good work!

[@cassandrahabert1207]

Fascinating that the new name is supposed to be secret, but if you know when someone went to the temple you could just look up what that name was that day...

[@_KungFuBarbie_]

I never thought about that that’s hilarious

[@thesleepydot]

that was the first thing I thought of lmaoooo As if knowing that everyone that went the same day as you shares your “secret” name wasn’t obvious enough

[@amoureux6502]

I expect you aren't actually supposed to know this in the church, it's just that in the internet age it's pretty hard to keep anything like this "secret."

[@corynnyoung8445]

Tempted to call my mom by her “secret” name and see how she reacts…

[@a.r.tavares1322]

I found it weird that Nimrod would be one of the secret names for men, given that in the Bible Nimrod is depicted as the ennemi of God.

[@mellissaredman4243]

The fact that Mormons and Christians alike glaze over Mary Magdalene (friend of Jesus and the first person to see him alive again) always irked me so much. She was unmarried, untethered to a man, and yet very clearly a person who was near to Jesus and quite important. She was there all night during the crucifixion and was the first person at the tomb. The fact she was there, ready to perform the invisible labor of tending to a dead body but is instead rewarded with seeing Jesus alive again is HUGE and yet women are just supposed to sit here quietly and find husbands to speak to god on our behalf. It’s MADDENING.

[@loureedpipes]

Very well put, very slay

[@AlbertoAlejandre-b1h]

In Catholocism the Virgen Mary is given her due place, and she is WAY above Mary Magdalene. You miss the greatest woman every glazed over by mormons and protestants: the Mother of Christ, who bore the Word in her womb. You protestants are a silly bunch.

[@mellissaredman4243]

@ I didn’t “glaze over” Mary by discussing another figure. Remember what Jesus said about pulling that plank from your eye?

[@mellissaredman4243]

@ oh and, it’s worth noting that she had no children. So maybe giving birth IS NOT the only thing women are good for, yeah?

[@monarchblue4280]

​@@mellissaredman4243 Well, tbf your point about Mary Magdalene being neglected was to support your thesis of "Women not being given adequate recognition in Christianity + just serve husbands" and Albertos gave a significant counter example to your broader point rather than your specific comments on Mary Magdalene. Also, whats all this about him getting the "plank out of" his eye? There was no hypocrisy here? I don't really thing he said YOU glazed over her, but rather was commenting on the view of women in Mormonism and some protestant movements. I don't think we should be too jumpy to accuse people of hypocrisy, y'know? Regardless of that, Catholicism does hold St. Mary Magdalene as a Saint with many orders of Nuns, charities, hospital's, and churches named in her honour and she is distinguisged as an especially honourable person that men and women should learn from. Even Pope Francis recently commented on her in a positive light saying similar things to what you've said concerning being caring, the first witness to the Ressurection etc... and framed her as an example of hope and strength. So, at least in Catholicism, her recognition ain't too bad and is probably gonna keep rising. Thats a bit comforting, I hope.

[@costernocht]

I'll never forget touring an LDS temple before it was consecrated. When our group reached the Celestial Room, which resembled a very posh hotel lobby, the bishop made it sound as though it was the most majestic place possible. I'd seen the great cathedrals of Europe, so I was unimpressed by the Celestial Room. My thought that the time: "You suffered greatly traveling across the country in pushcarts and wagons, and braved all manner of difficulty to settle the Salt Lake valley, and THIS is the best you can do?" It just seemed so cheesy ...

[@dancer483]

I also toured and I remember thinking it looked like a rich person’s living room.

[@Connor37911]

Me too. I was quite young, and we were invited pre-consecration to the DC Mormon Temple by Mormon neighbors. My memory is foggy as I was little, but I think there was a marriage vow room that had a bunch of lighted mirrors, so the people exchanging vows in front of them just saw an “endless” series of the 2 of them thru the mirror trick. I thought it was cool at the time.

[@lornahuddleston1453]

I'm impressed with your story. Cult is definitely the right word for it. You are making a difference by sharing your experience. I was in the church if Scientology for a few years in the late 1970's, and that was also definitely a real cult.

[@butterflysystem4012]

Lmao that's why the new name is secret. If people told their friends they'd realize they were all given the same name 🤣

[@whatisthisaccountlol-c8s]

LOL

[@nathanjohnson9715]

it also means that no one would know you were lying if you told your friends that your new name was "Superman Einstein Bigballs Skywalker"

[@MrsGoodlife]

i thought it’s public knowledge that everyone gets the same name on the same day. in case you forget your new name they can look up when you had your endowment and see what name was given out that day lol

[@FoxbrushDraws]

@@MrsGoodlife It at least wasn't public knowledge when I got married. In the same ward, I was told temple names were special revelation from god for me, and my husband was told the truth that it was dependent on what day of the month you get your endowments.

[@FoxbrushDraws]

That's actually more or less why there is a list now, because all the women in the early church realized that they all got the name "Sarah."

[@rainedonkat]

My mother always told me that the name you get when you receive your endowment was actually the name you had during the premortal life, so it was supposed to be like super special and encapsulate who you are in your soul. It's funny to find out that they're actually just copy-paste based on the day you get it done lol. 💀✋

[@joesimpson9230]

The Book of Mormon is true, and another witness of the same gospel of Jesus Christ as the Bible. Joseph Smith was a true prophet who worshipped Jesus Christ. The church was infiltrated by wicked men. When Joseph Smith was murdered, Brigham Young usurped control of the church and led some of the saints to SLC, Utah (many refused to follow him). Brigham Young introduced many false doctrines into that denomination including polygamy, men becoming Gods, Adam God, blood atonement of men, penal oath temple rituals, a Heavenly Mother, Lucifer being Jesus' brother, incorrect definition of Christ’s church, etc. None of that is in the Book of Mormon or teachings of Joseph Smith, but Brigham Young and the wicked leaders under and after him have pretended that it came from Joseph Smith in order to gain acceptance for their own evil and lustful desires. The LDS church of today is Brigham Young's denomination and is apostate from the teachings of the church under Joseph Smith.

[@gunkulator1]

@@joesimpson9230 Copypasta is so compelling...

[@disgruntledmoderate5331]

​@@joesimpson9230Joseph Smith introduced polygamy himself. Brigham Young was following in his footsteps.

[@nickywal]

@@joesimpson9230 Ah yes old Joey the saint, sealed to multiple women and at least one 14 year old GIRL. Yep its all Brigy's fault

[@MissyZilla]

Imagine if you were named Karen forever. 😂

[@raymondjones4390]

SCANDALOUS that you show your shoulders in this video! Seriously, as a very happy Exmo, deeply appreciate your videos.

[@brumbrum3266]

Not the po R n shoulders !! 😨🫢🥰

[@azariahunter3024]

She looks awesome doing it too!😊

[@jacoblewis2961]

​@@azariahunter3024 she's an attractive woman!

[@tanyakilbane7636]

And people in their underwear 😮😢😅

[@christinemerritt974]

Porn Shoulders😂❤

[@Fuchiboca]

I am so very proud of you for doing this. I escaped the nonsense about 4 years ago and have never been happier in my entire life. My parents and siblings are still immersed in the "church" and my older brother is a bigwig in the COB! Please keep doing what you do for people like me! 🙏☮️❤️

[@buttershy_]

the story of adam and eve being the reason for women feeling pain during child birth isn't just a mormon thing, i think it's the vast majority of christian denominations. i learned about it in religious education at my secular school in england

[@PercabethYessss]

same but just a general church with “no denomination” whatever that means. idk it was when i was younger and i didnt ask abt denomination back then all i thought was “this is the sole belief” yk? but nowadays i have no idea

[@vasetitoleafoa5583]

When you exit one religion, please do not get involved in another. They are all cults and according to Jesus's own words they are: •False christs •False prophets •False teachers. In any organisation there is always going to be a leader etc., who controls/dictates. The Christ that LOVES would never rob us. We are not forced to belive. The choice is ours. Acts 5:29. We ought to obey God rather than men. I stopped going to any church since 2008. It is a sign of confusion and insecurity to be taught by mere mortal men about the things that are of the Spirit which are to be understood only by those who listen as the Holy Ghost teaches and reminds of the words of Jesus. John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Is there a better teacher of the New Covenant? Is there a better teacher of the New Testament? Is there a better teacher of the person in Christ? Do we trust the Lord in his word? If we do then why keep following men blindly? What did Jesus say in Matthew 24:23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ or there; believe it not. Mark 13:21 And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ, or, lo, he is there; believe him not: also Luke 17:21 wrote the same warning out of Christ's mouth: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for behold, the kingdom of God is within you. Stop seeking. The kingdom right here within us. Trust and believe in the risen Christ and satan will be powerless/breathless. ❤

[@stuffystuffsityas6302]

Old-age shaming and blaming of women. Eve was to be the first women and of course only she damned humanity lmao, heavens forbid Adam does anything but sit there lookin pretty.

[@zkris02]

⁠​⁠@@PercabethYessssa non denominational church is a church that only wants to focus on learning and building your relationship with God without all the unnecessary restrictions that each denomination creates

[@schisomors]

⁠@@stuffystuffsityas6302i think its interesting how this view differs between each christian denomination. blaming eve is probably the most popular (something i saw growing up in catholic faith) but i think nowadays its more “equal”. i have a jw friend who constantly says “this is all adam’s fault, ugh” at any inconvenience in life which really surprised me as i always thought jws would fall more into the “women bad and inferior” mindset. and apparently its not only that friend but many of their fellow jws, both male and female, started saying that as well after meeting them lmao. but yeah, most of the fault falls on eve as “shes the one who was seduced by satan and then seduced the poor, innocent adam”.

[@MrEroshan]

I lived in St. George for 20 years and really liked LDS folks, basically, all my friends were LDS. They are nice and law-abiding folks, but critical thinking is not their strong suit.

[@raven-the-guy]

had a friend who was LDS in high school and a year above me and we didn’t stay in contact afterwards (we weren’t really close). last i heard he went to byu and due to starting a crisis of faith, postponed his mission trip. he was a sweet guy and i hope that no matter where he ended up with his belief, he’s doing well.

[@radybay9088]

They just don’t critically think about their religion. The messaging and indoctrination runs deep and there is fear that satan is doing everything in his power to get people to leave the church. The fear of satan is so strong that nobody dares to critically think because they are taught that anything that is against the church comes from satan.

[@saturnia_]

i live in st. george right now and…these people are genuinely dumb. mostly nice, very dumb though

[@kathymunsee6468]

You got that right. Follow the prophet follow the prophets. Do not think on your own. Follow the prophet

[@PhyreReighn]

@@kathymunsee6468 mind manipulation starting pre-school age. It takes courage to be the Divergent !

[@heatherlynnrigaud7385]

I grew up in the church and did all the things you did: seminary, summer camps, Baptisms for the Dead. My family left when I was 15-16, so I never did the 'big' temple ceremonies, but watching your videos, a bunch of stuff clicked into place. Even before I left, I remember being really outraged at the idea that my very faithful mom, who had had 7 children, been a teacher and leader in relief society, and had done everything the church had asked of her- had less authority with God than a 12 yr old boy- disgusting. Thank you for sharing this.

[@JanetFrisby-wl6zb]

And yet they don't

[@carsah]

@@JanetFrisby-wl6zbA Decon’s Quarum president can be the bishop for the day, no women can, isn’t that crazy?

[@jamesdelaigle1067]

You seriously do not understand the Gospel. I recommend you watch the pod cast Stick of Joseph. All the responses on here is from people who have not looked seriously at the gospel just living along the top, skimming information instead of studying and gaining a real testimony.

[@1patato.youtube]

So sad

[@carsah]

@@jamesdelaigle1067 the reason this argument doesn’t work is because it’s argued from our point of view as well, it’s not fact it’s belief

[@NinaSofia_]

Oh my God I admire you so much you have been able to articulate what I never could. I went through all of this and more that I can never even speak about but I admire you so much. I’m an old woman and I’ve never been able to speak about any of this I’m sending you big big love and hugs. I know you’ll do great things going forward and I’m wishing you love and protection on your journey. 🥹😭❤🤗😽💖🙏🏽🎉

[@Hannie9896]

I’m still in the mormon church, in fact, I’m not even at the age where I can do endowments. I’m already doubting the church in multiple aspects and my opinions go against a lot of ideals of the church, so watching your videos really gives me comfort and reassurance that I’m not alone in doubting it and I’m not “sinful” or “weird” for doing so. I love your videos, they make me feel like Im not the one who’s weird for thinking like this. 🫶

[@Geoplanetjane]

Hmmm

[@SandraJacoby]

@@svetlanachiriac8095if you were a Scientologist I’d say hi OSA, not sure what the LDS call people who creep comment sections

[@jewelgazer]

You sound like a wonderful person 💜💜💜

[@sarag1158]

congratulations! You have critical thinking skills and this stranger on the internet is proud of you. I hope these comments make you feel less alone too. You won't be stuck there forever

[@GrandmaKnightLife]

@@SandraJacobyI’ve taken some Scientology courses. What’s OSA?

[@alison8629]

I've never had a true "spit-take" moment, but I had just put my glass to my lips when you said all the women endowed on that day got the same name 😂 that is amazing.

[@sweetsanddandy8639]

Efficiency! lol

[@TrentR42]

Walking around heaven and try to find your spirit spouse in a crowd.... 😩

[@JosephHHHo]

Is Wednesday Adams an exmo?

[@kateanf]

Every video you post is like a documentary to me. I am very far from religion and mormonism, but your channel and your story captured my heart. You are an amazing person for being brave enough to share your experiences, a person who makes an effort to educate others is always worth admiring, thank you for your content❤❤

[@kateanf]

@svetlanachiriac8095 as an atheist and realist I don't believe that world can be divided as evil and good. In real world nothing is ever this black and white. Your "evil" and "good" dosent mean anything to me. What actually matters is real facts and evidence material. Only after seeing the whole, truthful picture from all different perspectives, you can truly decide if something is good or bad. Blindly following something "good" just because other people told you it's "good" is naive, you are living in the world of lies that other people created around you. Wake up and use your own critical thinking.

[@alyshaking]

​@@svetlanachiriac8095 mate, stop copying and pasting - it's giving "I can't think for myself AND produce an original response" 🙃

[@SandraJacoby]

@@svetlanachiriac8095again why are you on this site commenting

[@chrisevans9688]

Chris Evans good news did it tomorrow and back in town right after that time it came out and it now and did you take me out now that big time now and see you before now back on Monday night and now we can do it so you can see it so you will good news now that

[@christianaboonecontreras6144]

​@@svetlanachiriac8095rivers are good 😂

[@992dancer]

Growing up I always thought going into the temple would be closer to a beautiful meditative experience and then i was SHOCKED by what I experienced when I finally was allowed to go inside after already being a member for over two decades .

[@vvetapop]

What was it really like? I've been agnostic since i was 10 and my family is Evangelical so I've never heard or seen anything, I've always wondered what goes down in there

[@Nikki-sf6bs]

@@vvetapop This video is exactly what happens. There are others also online that have video of the entire ceremony

[@S7ZEE]

That’s funny, I go monthly and would consider it a beautiful meditative experience.

[@vvetapop]

​@S7ZEE Its a shame I'm considered too vile of a human being to be allowed in and find out :/

[@S7ZEE]

@@vvetapop Yup, too bad. It’s understandable that a church would have standards for its own congregation in order to enter a place we consider holy. If you don’t want to live those standards then have a good life but no reason to have animosity for those who do.

[@robertmurphy5281]

Hi Alyssa, I just want to thank you for all the information. After 33 years of marriage to a wonderful Christian woman, I was widowed. I started dating a Mormon woman a year and a half ago. She knew I was not mormon and she knew my feelings. She started by saying omy Christian religion and Mormonism had a lot in common. She was also a Mormon missionary.I told her I didn't understand how they could send someone out as a missionary if they didn't know anything about any religion other than mormonism. I have spent the last year and a half making her realize that there is nothing in common. She told me that I didn't understand it because I had never read the Book of Mormon, so I read it. As I read it I started showing her how it is not an addition to the Bible, but goes against it time and time again. She didn't expect this. After reading it I told her that it made me believe more than ever it was a cult and she can't say it is because I never read it. She has slowly started to agree with em on a few things and now understands why it is offensive to my Christianity and Armenian heritage. I told her in the second month of dating that if she ever expected to get married in the Temple she was dating the wrong guy and to end it then. She got mad and didn't understand it, but she also said I treat her better than any LDS man she has ever dated (she has never married). I told her this was because it is ingrained in their religion that a woman is secondary to a man, from temple ceremonies to believing secretly that polygamy is ok (they still believe that they will have that in the celestial kingdom). I also showed her how they are about money first and are fixated on sex (in their ceremonies and always talking about it). She has not come to believing her religion is wrong, but I can tell she is questioning things that she doesn't have answers to. She also now believes that there will never be a time I will convert or even accept anything about Mormonism is good and Godly. She knows I see it as heretic religion.

[@PeopleAreBeautifulbyChris]

Can you provide one or two examples of where the book of Mormon goes against the bible time and time again? The Book of Mormon has blessed my testimony of Jesus Christ as the Savior of all mankind and the Son of God.

[@SevenReads007]

It’s good that she has someone willing to be patient with her, I know a lot of people will be on their guard if they feel challenged in their beliefs. I can’t imagine never being viewed as a person, just an accessory. I hope she feels as loved as she certainly is!

[@robertmurphy5281]

@PeopleAreBeautifulbyChris here are just a few of the many contradictions. Rather than God confusing “the language of all the earth” at the tower of Babel as the Bible records (Genesis 11:9), the Book of Mormon contends that the language of Jared, his brother, as well as their friends and family members “were not confounded” (Ether 1:33-37). Contrary to the Bible prophecy concerning the Lord’s birth in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2), and the fulfillment of that prophecy in Matthew 2:1, the Book of Mormon reads: “And behold, he (Jesus) shall be born of Mary at Jerusalem” (Alma 7:10, parenthetical comment and emp. added). The writer of the Book of Mormon was simply wrong. The Bible tells us that at the crucifixion of Jesus, darkness covered the land for three hours (Matthew 27:45; Mark 15:33; Luke 23:44). However, the Book of Mormon states three different times that there was darkness “for the space of three days” (Helaman 14:20,27; 3 Nephi 8:3, emp. added). Of course, this is a big difference. The Book of Mormon has people wearing the name Christian in about 73 B.C. (Alma 46:13, 15), the Bible clearly reveals that the disciples of Christ “were called Christians first in Antioch” (Acts 11:26, emp. added). This was in approximately A.D. 40, and thus represents a difference of over 100 years.

[@PeopleAreBeautifulbyChris]

@@robertmurphy5281 I’m sorry but this is such a stretch! But it’s so cool these are the best contradictions someone can come up with. When it was supposedly made up by a farm boy with no education

[@PeopleAreBeautifulbyChris]

In less than 90 days… in comparison the Quran took 45 years to compose

[@spookypineapple]

Man I had basically the exact same experience growing up LDS, except I'm a dude. I remember thinking constantly about which temple I would want to get married in, and all of the rules I had for women I would be willing to date, and where I would want to serve a mission. I left around the age of 20 and went through the temple several times, and had the same concerns and felt extremely weird by the entire process. Thanks for talking about this so publicly and helping others see what's actually happening in the temples.

[@spookypineapple]

Holy shit there's a list of assigned names?? I went through in 2011ish and could have sworn my new name was "Ammon," but that isn't an option. Was this 100% the case in all temples?

[@savedbygracethrufaith]

Congrats on escaping Mormonism so early.

[@spookeymo]

@@spookypineapple not mormon but watching Alyssa religiously and i think she said it is the case, always

[@jadecantfindthispassword]

@@spookeymoHeh, isn’t that ironic lol

[@EmmaAloha808]

What do you suggest to say or share to my brother at 50 who called me and said he was being "baptised" on this Sunday? Hes been to this Church of LDS for 3 months. 🤦🏽‍♀️ Been a christian all his adult life. 🤷🏽‍♀️

[@jayh3969]

“Baptisms for the dead” sounds an awful lot like making a collect-call… “Your soul has been baptized; will you accept the charges?”

[@TrishSullivan]

I told my kids that if any of my descendants ever baptizes me into Mormonism after I’m dead, I’m coming back to haunt everyone.

[@i.rateyourcomments]

@@TrishSullivandon’t waste your hauntings on that 😂 it’s not like being baptized for dead people does anything anyway

[@DanBurress]

Please be very careful not to mock sacred things.I have participated in Baptisms for those who never had the opportunity to hear of the mercy of salvation in Christ, while they lived.It is a doctrine and plan of salvation and mercy in Christ.Why not come and worship with us on any Sunday you choose? Come and see as I have,many years ago! Yours in Christ, Dan.

[@dolphinsupreme1697]

​@@DanBurress no it's a gross violation of someone's autonomy, we don't force people to donate their organs because bodily autonomy is fundamental to our society

[@BlueSparxLPs]

@@DanBurress It's incredibly disrespectful to the dead's original beliefs or lack thereof, to baptize them into your religion without their prior consent.

[@Toomies08]

Never Mormon, but I find it to be SO scary how trusting people are with temple "worthy" members. Like you mentioned predators can hide behind that title, and members let their guards down. How many people have been abused by members they thought were worthy? That's awful.

[@JanetFrisby-wl6zb]

How many people everywhere

[@Toomies08]

@JanetFrisby-wl6zb that is true, I barely trust ANYONE with my kids. But I haven't been conditioned to think someone carrying a card makes them "safe". It's a false sense of security, and that's sad to me.

[@perhaps1094]

@@JanetFrisby-wl6zb100+ comments of straight copium

[@carsah]

I also feel like it’s important to mention the Boy Scouts being part of the church for as long as it was, all the leaders were “temple worthy” but 20 years later we learn all the boys were SA’d by the leaders. I don’t even want to think about things like girls camp and the men leadership there. That could be truly disgusting.

[@Roescoe]

For sure. It's most definitely not Biblical. This video convinced me Mormonism is really an offshoot of freemasonry

[@xaviernew5173]

When you starting to sing it triggered my fight or flight ^^' I left the church earlier than many others I know, i refused to attend anything church related when i was 16. I forget how much of my formative years were in the church, and how many of those songs just take me right back there.

[@angiebear8727]

I’m not Mormon but my step brother and his family are. I now know why my niece left and rebelled so thoroughly shortly after participating in this ceremony. I’m proud of her.

[@Skyhawk98]

“It was all swerved and looked evil and all swerved” 😂

[@alyssadgrenfell]

The swerviness was REALLY important 😅

[@Kopie0830]

Like a horn perhaps?

[@Newhandle16]

Gay WoC raised Mormon probably within a 4 hour drive of where you were raised and I fell away from the church around 12/13 cause I knew I never wanted a husband and logically there is really no point in being a single woman in the church because you don’t have access to the priesthood. It was sad that I didn’t believe in the church anymore. Imagine me at 19 suddenly realizing I could probably just google what happens in the temple and I do and I realize that my entire foundation is fucking shattered. I realized there was a huge difference between not believing in the church and realizing the church isn’t true. I was in actual psychic/spiritual pain for several days before I could process how devastating it was that a religion I hadn’t really followed for almost a decade was a huge lie. It was so surprising. Anyway my brother and two of my cousins quit the church either during their mission or immediately after. They all said the endowments made them realize they’d been conned.

[@Newhandle16]

And since this’ll probably be my only comment on your videos, I remember being in Primary and all of us learning about how the Lamanites were cursed to punish them for Nephi’s death and me and my melanin were just sitting there real cute because I was five and confused and apparently cursed

[@misssunnydee]

I'm so sorry you had to go through this. I can't imagine the pain of having a foundation ripped asunder, even when you'd already decided to leave that part of your life in the past. It remained your reference for everything. I truly hope you've been able to create a new foundation for your life and are happy. What's more: your skin colour, your sexuality... they don't define you - or at least not in the way that's important >> they say absolutely nothing about what kind of person you are, whether you're trustworthy, sweet, good etc. Never let anyone tell you that these things make you less, or strange, or whatever they come up with (least of all yourself! ). We're all different as human beings, and that's what makes us unique. It doesn't mean we're not equal. We are! Much love from the Netherlands.

[@burntorangehorn]

Disillusionment can be so painful, but in hindsight I feel like the part of me that felt the pain was the culty programming. My scars are from the religion, not my break from it.

[@mayag7120]

This is so validating to read. I also stopped believing awhile ago but I'm just now starting to research and realize how wrong and how untrue it all is, and it really is a different feeling.

[@celteuskara]

Gaywoc... Sounds like a new kind of Ewok.

[@scorpionink4735]

Mormonism breeds the best liars... Sorry you had to go through this Alyssa. You're awesome. Super brave of you to speak out. Helps me recover. Sad most my family is in it still...

[@aprilthefourthbewithyou3278]

I was raised in a charismatic Christian sect called Assembly of God and we were told that all Mormons were in a cult, which ironically lead me to believe AoG is a cult too and I relate to a lot of your content, keep sharing your story and thank you!

[@SW-ii5gg]

I was a Royal Ranger at F.A., were you a Missionette?

[@Wall2000x]

@@aprilthefourthbewithyou3278 AoG has cult like teachings and attitudes. The younger members have been really f'd up by their believing parents. When I stopped going all those friends disappeared over night.

[@carlgrimeseyepatch27]

I grew up in the AoG church and i was a Missionette! I am no longer religious at all 🙌🏾

[@jacksauce]

As I southern Baptist/non denominational Christian I find stories like yours and others like Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses fascinating. The more I learn about these deviations of Christianity the more and more I’m thankful that I wasn’t raised in them. I also see just how many stark differences there are between those faiths and my own.

[@davidspencer343]

​@jacksauce the fact you don't see the irony that no one in a cult thinks they are in a cult. You ARE in a religious cult with wild beleifs and traditions. Hope you see the light some day

[@ka8544]

Wow Alyssa, when you talked about wanting to leave during the ceremony you perfectly described abuse and attachment trauma.

[@NNafe1]

When I went to the temple and we did baptisms for the dead, that was the moment for me. Making literal children baptize strangers that had no say in the matter.

[@SevenReads007]

I’m curious how that works? Do the kids baptize the bodies or do they pretend to be the dead person?

[@Arualiaa]

@SevenReads007 They pretend to be the dead person.

[@NNafe1]

@SevenReads007 you act like a proxy for the name on the list that day.

[@rebeccaford1625]

The dead has already made their decision...heaven or he'll. There is no changing this. We we we decide where we go.....God wants everyone to choose life!!

[@lornahuddleston1453]

I'm not Mormon, but it really pisses me off when I'm doing genealogy only to find the LDS have had the nerve to baptize by proxy people in my family. What incredible arrogance. There should be a law against that practice.

[@mosselyn5081]

I was raised Catholic. Some of what you said about how you felt after your endowment ceremony reminds me so much of my first (and subsequent) experience with the Catholic sacrament of confession. I knew what to expect - give them that - but it still felt weird and uncomfortable, and I felt neither more nor less absolved of my "sins" than before. It was the first real wedge between me and my faith.

[@nedwards58]

In my endowment, we were naked under the shield. I remember thinking about my wife being naked under her shield as I was getting anointed by a priesthood holder, who is touching my wife? A man? No, apparently women "now" held the priesthood and she got her endowment from a women. When did women ever get the priesthood. Either you have it or you don't. Oh, another fun fact: I remember when I went into the changing room and the temple worker told me put a lock on my locker. I asked him "Why? We're in the temple with virtuous who have their temple recommend." To which he replied: "Oh well, there has been some theft in the temple." Wow!!!

[@lisagrace6471]

I questioned women and the priesthood based on the bible and early women in the church before I went through and before it was an internet movement/PR thing. When I went through I was like....wait, women exercise the priesthood in the temple? Quite confusing to have the rhetoric outside of the temple be SO different from what was within the temple. Don't get me wrong, I loved that, but then women were not acknowledged as "holding the proesthood". UGH. It was all sick and gross. I am glad to hear that you cared about your wife enough to wonder and be concerned.

[@JanetFrisby-wl6zb]

They provide locks

[@brodrickbaker]

@@JanetFrisby-wl6zbI think that’s beside the point…

[@saladnoodle6435]

​@@lisagrace6471 the reason for this is bc they NEED the women to actually perform any spiritual work they have it set up so that people only see men as capable of priesthood. they dont want anyone outside of the temple to know that women are the true priests of the world, theyre just being used by men that take the credit

[@00MissDani00]

Your channel is wonderful. I’m an ex-mo as well. The thing that “broke the shelf” for me was indeed a worthiness interview at 17 where my bishop, with the door to his office closed, asked me point blank if I masturbate. I knew it wasn’t right, and I couldn’t be part of the church anymore. I left the church as soon as I was 18.

[@cindys9491]

Eww. Not cool of him. You'd think they'd at least have a woman ask instead, if anyone.

[@DarkFire1536]

The fact that bishops are instructed by the church, to ask this question, will never stop making me feel sick and angry.

[@donaldhysa4836]

Well... do you?

[@alexparraparra4484]

@@donaldhysa4836ew.

[@stuffystuffsityas6302]

@@donaldhysa4836 ew Donald Ew.

[@Thirteentheon]

I'm a granddaughter of members of the wagon train that settled Draper, Utah. I never practiced, but I was familiar with the undergarments that my grandmother jokingly referred to as "the magic underwear". Fast forward to my time in the military, and a Mormon woman in our shared dorm just refused to switch her laundry from the washer to the dryer. So, I moved her "magic underwear" for her. She lost her shit, I don't remember what she said, but I do remember replying, "Maybe you should stop leaving your devotion to the Lord to get moldy in the wash, then!"

[@vmsilverknight4661]

This is a very well done explanation ... Thank you for your honesty ... If this makes just one young woman question or pray for guidance will be time well spent ...

[@CoreenMontagna]

46:50 it’s funny to me how cheap the temple garments are. Like, shouldn’t they be of heavier, fancier fabric? lol

[@melissastory1993]

Profit margins 😂 it is a business after all (Pun not intended, but lol)

[@amyerwin7958]

I have a friend in Utah who rents an apartment next to a temple garment factory for lack of the proper name. He told me once “dude, they’re just cranking out Hanes!” 😅

[@TheAlastairBrown]

It's amusing for a Church with $200 billion dollars they still shove in credit card terminals to take payments for sacred garment hire. 10% of your salary for life*. (*garments not included). 😅

[@Aaron.Thomas]

Wouldn't fancy be the opposite of heavy? The point of "fancy" clothes - silk, fine fabrics, etc - is that you have the kind of money to waste on something that will wear out soon, that you don't have the kind of menial labor job that requires heavy clothing, that it's light and airy and unimpeding, and serves no functional purpose because you can afford to make other people do the functions for you... Well either way garments are not very good.

[@ulawan5]

​@Aaron.Thomas it goes both ways. Historically, luxury fabrics CAN be thin and fine, but there's a grandeur to something expensive with a thicker hand and more weight. Think of royal furs, curtain brocades, silk velvet, suede leather, the thick wool felt of an expensive suit or coat. All still high maintenance, but with that substantial heft of luxury If they wanted the aprons to LOOK good they wouldn't use polyester satin, they'd use linen or wool or something not so clearly artificial and mass produced and so obnoxiously shiny that it looks like a halloween costume piece beyond parody. Look at freemason temple outfits and you can see what actually good execution of the idea looks like

[@anthonycampbell4534]

My temple experience was horrific. At that time mimicked slashing our throats. It freaked me out. I looked at my dad but he just looked forward. It was horrible.

[@MissyZilla]

Why did they do that?? Can you tell more about this?

[@andginisin]

@@MissyZillaiirc, they used to vow they would slit their throats and/or disembowel themselves before revealing the secrets of the temple.

[@LittleMissLounge]

@@MissyZilla Alyssa mentions it a few times in the video, like around 58:00. Supposedly, it's not done anymore, but I've heard anecdotes to the contrary. Wikipedia has a page about it labeled "Penalty (Mormonism)" that goes into detail.

[@galaxychar]

That must have been so scary.

[@anthonycampbell4534]

@galaxychar I wish my parents would have warned me about it beforehand. When we got to the Celestial Room, I went to ask my dad about it. He told me we would talk about it later, and we never did. I went on my mission shortly afterward. That was in 1985

[@lotusthemermaid]

I can't believe I've never heard of all of this before. I knew that Mormonism was a cult because of some of their practices (ex-communication, restrictive rules, oppressive leadership, etc.), but I never knew just how cult-like it actually was. I really appreciate you talking about this, because I understand how difficult it can be to go against your programming. I was raised conservative Christian and I've deprogrammed from almost all of it. I've kept my faith, but I'm now a progressive feminist and openly queer. It took many years and a lot of shame and pain. You're not alone and I'm proud of you for getting out! Thank you for telling your story. 💖

[@DanBurress]

Look, why dont you come and worship with us on any Sunday you choose? It would be better to see things as they really are.I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

[@DanBurress]

The Ten commandments are not repressive rules, they are a safety net designed to keep you from self inflicted misery, and from that causing misery to others.The principles of the Gospel if lived set you free,in the best sense of the word.

[@loureedpipes]

​@@DanBurressI agree that the 10 Commandments are designed to outline what will naturally give a human being a hard time, but I don't think that the 10 Commandments was what the original commenter was referring to by "restrictive rules"

[@JMMavulule]

​@DanBurress I'm naturally autistic have strong intuition and I'm asexual without your Jesus and I love nature and respectful morals comes from within not a book❤

[@detown50000]

I find it enlightening to learn about other’s experiences. You come across as a good person and one who has leaned from living; with the ability to change. Such is life, and you are commendable. Salute

[@birdlyword2]

Alyssa, thank you for normalizing talking about what happens in the temple. So much of what you said aligns with my own experience and reactions. I'm old enough that there was actual touching during the annointing, and I pantomimed the threat of my own violent death as part of the endowment. The secrecy is so deeply ingrained that even though I left the church over 3 decades ago, I still have never even told anyone my temple name. (Edited for spelling.)

[@VelvetCrone]

thank you for sharing. I'm sorry you had to experience that. It's what children who get inappropriately touched by adults often experience; threatened with violence or death if they tell. It's very serious trauma.

[@MrGrifft]

"I still have never even told anyone my temple name." Just tell us the day it was assigned, easy loophole.

[@birdlyword2]

@MrGrifft LOL, a few years ago I couldn't remember the date and didn't want to dig through my records sovI just went online to the list and found the month I was endowed, and there was my temple name, confirming the actual date I had been estimating.

[@ElizabethNicoleSchwartz]

Two videos in the same week? We are blessed. Pun very much not intended.

[@ElizabethNicoleSchwartz]

@svetlanachiriac8095 I really don't appreciate being preached to. Goodbye now.

[@zjmyoutube7168]

@@svetlanachiriac8095 Hail satan, may he free you from bondage.

[@svetlanachiriac8095]

@@ElizabethNicoleSchwartz I understand you, but if you say that you have been to the Church, you have heard that only the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ makes us truly happy! And if the Son makes us free then we are truly free and happy!

[@ElizabethNicoleSchwartz]

@@svetlanachiriac8095 my goodness, stop. There's no excuse for this.

[@belorama8]

​@@svetlanachiriac8095gross. I was having such a good day before I saw your response to such a nice comment.

[@Goldenretriever-k8m]

The ceremonies and rituals aren’t what make it a cult necessarily. The money, the control, the cutting you off from outsiders and shunning you if you leave, I think also the close minded beliefs that are in so many religions, in conjunction with the rituals and the super intense control.

[@mikusheadphones]

I was sealed to my parents at 13 in the Logan Utah temple. So during moat of the ceremony i was stuck in the literal nursery and then when they took me into the sealing room, i started laughing and thiught i was being pranked and tried to walk out. My mom gave me the look of "i know this is insane, we'll talk later" nd i immediately started sobbing. Not tears of "sacred" feelings or "spiritual" feelings, i was terrified and felt beyond trapped.

[@AlCapwnd-tb5ow]

I’m sorry you had to deal with that, for me it wasn’t as blatantly insane but I had a somewhat similar experience. I never understood if the things talked about in church, prayer, my ccd classes etc were supposed to be literal or metaphorical but I knew I was never allowed to question or ask questions. In all honesty it was the same for Santa Claus for me and when my parents finally felt the need to “tell me the truth” I asked if it was the same for god and I’ll never forget the scolding I got for even suggesting such a thing. That’s when I learned to never ask my parents anything instead I’d ask Jeeves (lol)

[@karlypearl]

Your hair and makeup look SOOOOO good in this !!!!

[@alyssadgrenfell]

Thank you! I don't straighten my hair often but I think I like it!

[@rachelgroth7108]

YES my exact thought. Amazing

[@rachelgroth7108]

@@alyssadgrenfelldid you lighten it? I am slightly curious if you’ve ever dyed it, especially during the rebellious era

[@jamiesyse9823]

I don't agree

[@helenr4300]

The washing and anointing must be so tough to face without warning. The original full bath and hands on anointing would have been so traumatising.

[@FrumiousMing8]

The part about Eve being cursed with painful childbirth is in the Bible, at least the ones I was taught from growing up in a Christian church. Really messes you up when you're a young girl (a child) hearing about that. Telling us that childbirth is painful because of something someone else did at the beginning of time. And then expecting/telling us that we should only want to be wives and mothers. Childbirth is terrible and awful! It's a punishment from God! But it's also an incredible blessing and an amazing thing God gave you the ability to do. ✨ Make it make sense.

[@hellyeah_ellajane]

I left the church at 19 years old but I’ve always been curious about the endowment process. Thanks for shedding light on it, there’s so much bizarre and insidious crap within the temple protocols.

[@savedbygracethrufaith]

Congrats on your early escape from Mormonism

[@svetlanachiriac8095]

I'm sorry that you believe that false testimony. You gave in to the evil one to steal your blessings! We need these lines from the Temple, don't you see that she speaks out of offense? Many people leave the Church out of offense, instead of killing their pride, they care about pride! Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is faith, repentance, baptism, the Gift of the Holy Spirit and to be patient until the end, this means holding on to the iron spring that he saw Lehi, you remember that many threw away the fruit and left for various reasons. We must hold fast to the Lord and His Word, not to our offense, to forgive and remain a Church for us, for the love of the Lord, for the promised blessings, members are not perfect, just as we are not, and neither should we , we are all in the school of life! May the Lord bless you and give you His wisdom!

[@savedbygracethrufaith]

@ you sound like a joy 🤣 not judgmental at all 🤣

[@wen8013]

@@svetlanachiriac8095oh wow. This is a true cult. They have brainwashed you. You don’t think for yourself. Get out while you have an opportunity.

[@jadecantfindthispassword]

@@svetlanachiriac8095What does any of that mean. What are the morals to be taken from that? And why stay where the people at the top of the church control nigh everything socially, and instill shame and abuse into those who can’t do anything. For someone of god, you aren’t very empathetic.

[@cordeliacullen2621]

Whooooaaaaa I was always told by Mormon friends that CTR was "choose the right" as in "choose the right actions" or "choose what is righteous", this is the first time I'm hearing it as "current temple recommend" and that makes much more sense, looking at Mormon culture.

[@PhyreReighn]

Im at ground 0 here and our CTR rings are Choose to Resign !

[@TrulyMadlyShallowly]

Wait where is that?

[@LongSeanSilver]

Please, for your own mental health, at least listen to these other people that have their questions and concerns about the church. Listening to others knowledge and concern isn’t letting yourself be influenced by evil. You were influenced at one point in your life to accept the church, it doesn’t have to be scary to listen to others and at least try understand where they are coming from.

[@PhyreReighn]

Yes TrulyMadly: Thousands a year are writing statements to LD$ offices for a release. Name Auschwitz (LDS) number and all! "Choose to Resign" (you can always get baptized over again) gives them something to do.

[@PhyreReighn]

@@svetlanachiriac8095 According to their scriptures (2nd Nephi) the mormons believe the "fair skin is pleasing unto their god" So do you mean the Catholic god, the Protestant god, the mormon god, the Jewish god? The brown god or the black god. The world wide web is not in your emotionally unstable delusional bubble.

[@johnway2699]

When I was confirmed in the Catholic Church, at age 13 (45 years ago), I suppose, I just pretended to still believe. If I knew the word agnostic yet, I would have called myself that--it took me years to admit I'm an atheist. However, I let my parents, especially my Mom, go to their graves not know I was no longer a believer in God. I admire your courage. Perhaps more than just not wanting to make my mother cry, I didn't want to deal with their potential efforts to re-convert me.

[@Kat-amber-t2z]

It might be brave to be honest, but you were smart. My Dad is STILL giving me books on apologetics hoping to reconvert me. (I was/he is a Christian.)

[@joshkaye5303]

But what is the alternative? evolution? complete randomness creating complete harmony? the first speck of life having the immense intelligence to think before it had even grown a brain? impossible..... there is more to this world than meaningless nothing. Just look deeper.

[@Emmashful]

@@joshkaye5303oh but nature is not harmony! It is chaos!

[@johnway2699]

@@joshkaye5303 The first speck of life was single-cell organisms. I don't know who taught you that they had immense intelligence, but that's just bizarre.

[@kingchey772]

@@joshkaye5303 The world as it is now is chaos and the first specks of life did not have intelligence. Make your own meaning to life, it won't give one to you

[@charleslloyd7762]

I remember the exact moment I left the church. I was 15 and my seminary teacher held up the Book of Mormon and told us "You should always obey th4e law unless someone leaves the church. Then it's your duty to punish them any way you can, to file false police reports, whatever it takes." I had already been molested by a group of Mormon men on multiple occasions. Worse, before my mother died they sat in front of me and told her I was no good and she should give all her money to the church. Worse my father's mission buddy sexually assaulted my 73 yr old mother and they covered it up.

[@juicyboxesxo]

im so sorry to you and your mother

[@grizzlywizzly]

That’s horrible… I’m sorry to you and to your mom… your family deserved better. I hope you’re doing alright now

[@kibblesnbits9146]

Religion doesn't "make people better," nor is it a "nothing sandwich" religion poisons EVERTHING. (Thank you for that point, C Hitchens)

[@NopeShutUp]

i am 17 years old, i’ve always had questions with my faith, i grew up in the church, i relate to a lot of this, the first temple i ever did baptisms at was louisville kentucky, my dad was a very enthusiastic church historian, we went on lots of trips to church history sites, its nice to hear from someone who left the church who was so invested and even went on a mission, i feel like i learned a lot from this video

[@lordberossus2545]

Wait till you do not rely on your parents to be vocal about the things you have learned from videos like this.

[@thepickledpixie9052]

You might be interested in Cults to Conciousness. Host is ex LDS and provides a platform for people who've left high demand religions to talk about their experiences.

[@RisottoNero-z1w]

Good fortune on your future journeys.

[@Lakadaisy_and_Foghorn]

The pain childbirth line is straight out of the Book of Genesis, in the defense of LDS (not a phrase I'd ever thought I'd say). I don't think I noticed it as a child when there were Old Testament readings at Church, but as an adult it's one of many reasons I no longer engage in organized religion.

[@stephaniethesoprano]

yes! When she was talking about that I thought "is this not a thing that's already known?" I didn't notice it when I was in church (as a kid/teenager who was checked out from the beginning) but I took a couple of religion classes in uni where we academically examined the old and new testaments and I remember reading this there. It was kind of nice [albeit horrifying] examining the bible from a purely academic standpoint and not a theological/spiritual standpoint.

[@anna_in_aotearoa3166]

That was a really interesting moment in the video! I'm assuming academic Bible studies probably isn't a thing in the LDS, just as it isn't in most fundamentalist Christian sects, so understanding of historical & cultural context of scriptures is probably not a thing members acquire? But that moment made me also wonder how much relative emphasis is put on OT & NT Bible in contrast to the Mormon-specific texts...? Having been brought up in various Christian denominations, I only began learning about the actual archaeological & historical context of Jewish, Islamic & Christian religious texts myself well after I became an atheist. A lot of what one learns in church contexts really seems to be basically myth-making based on modern reinterpretations of text.... and I feel like this ignorance of real-world contextual info (both ancient & modern) is a huge part of what makes it possible for most of the major religious communities to even retain their members.

[@kestutisaliukonis8543]

Need atheist religion , atheist ignorant spiritualing and mistic aspekt religion .

[@troublesomebirdsong]

The idea of Eve heroically 'choosing' to eat the forbidden fruit as a difficult decision in order to gain knowledge of good and evil and have children (as opposed to just being tricked by the devil into breaking the rules) is an interpretation I've never come across in regular Christianity. Kind of fascinating, really.

[@Nikki-sf6bs]

I was raised Mormon. Left when I turned 18. I cannot believe ANYONE who goes through the temple ever stays in the religion.

[@susannelson6213]

I went through the temple in 1976 as a new bride, and I was told that we would learn the name of Mother in Heaven. Well, that didn’t happen! Also, I giggled through most of the ritual, and was horrified at the death oaths!

[@DarkFire1536]

I remember always being taught that the temple was a place of higher learning. Um...no. 😅

[@lissaanne2294]

I remember being in Young Women’s and asking the YW President what an endowment was, and she said she couldn’t tell me because it was so sacred. I asked her how could I know if I wanted to do it, if I didn’t know what it was, and she looked so confused. Then I was confused about why she was confused. Seemed logical to me! I wasn’t aware that it was an understood expectation, not a real choice. If she had even said it’s another level of covenant, or it’s a ceremony when you get garments for the first time, I would have just said, okay, cool, and gone with it. The secrecy of it made me uncomfortable. 20+ years later, glad I never ended up going. I would have had a panic attack.

[@JessicaSanchez-t8f]

I was once a Mormon. I became a member when I was 14. I was baptized with my aunt. We first met with missionaries and we went through the process. It seemed so nice and I grew up going to Christian churches and am still very much Christian today. I think of myself and others think of me as a fairly good person and of good morals. But the Mormon faith made me feel like there was so much more and better I can be. I thought, wow. I can be even better. I went to “institute” every Wednesday and went to Hiram college. It’s in a town where Joseph Smith lived and during a time when he received “the word of God” and was tarred and feather. I attended the church next to the house he lived. I thought it’ll make me feel the spirit better. But the more I learned and the thicker I delve into the faith the more I realized it wasn’t biblical at all. Over all the years I was a Mormon the thing that bothered me was that they don’t read the Bible at all. All the homes I visited and all friends I made and was so involved. I was excited about going to “the Temple!” As if it were some sacred and pure place where God and Jesus would recognize my true belief and love. I was dedicated. I grew up on Bible stories. I knew more about the Bible than most my age. But if I ever referenced to the Bible in front of my Mormon friends they said I was wrong and that wasn’t in the correct scripture. I thought… the Bible isn’t correct? I began to grow with the realization that this isn’t very Christian at all. This entire religion was more like a cult in disguise as a Christian faith. That’s when I chose not to go to “The Temple” and I refused a temple recommendation. I chose to walk away. On occasion I would go to the Mormon church to pray and I would give my tithings. But, it was for me and to Christ and that was it. Not for Mormons and what they believe. I haven’t revisited a Mormon church in many years, but still like to an attend Christian churches and tith and pray. I’m finding that all religions and most churches are losing their way. But, the Mormon church has never truly been Christian at all. Simply a cult in disguise. But, this all made me realize how truly strong I already am and even the intimidation of the LDS couldn’t truly take me. This “Onward Marching Soldier” marched right outta there and is still marching today.👍

[@JessicaSanchez-t8f]

FYI it’s a good thing I never went to the Temple as I would have felt like I condemned my soul. 😬

[@itzylyx]

when i got out of class i saw i had a text from my friend she said u posted I AM ESTATIC

[@alyssadgrenfell]

omg that is so cute, I love being part of the group chat 💙💙 haha

[@itzylyx]

@@alyssadgrenfellIM SO TELLING HER U REPLIED SHES GONNA FREAK OUT

[@Stellatus.mp3]

The temple is honestly quite a traumatic experience. The gut-wrenching whiplash that comes from your normal life being flipped while everyone else acts as if nothing is going on. It feels nauseating to relive. That's a feeling I've simply never felt elsewhere.

[@Strykerfraze]

Hi Im not religious at all but am a person who loves knowledge and science which means I'm into learning everything. Your videos are very important and and I wish you all the best for what you do. I admire and have learned a lot from you. I once had Mormons come to my door on a very stormy day a few years back in Scotland. I normally would politely say no thanks but this day I felt so sorry for them being soaked. I invited them into my home and got them warmed up and what a conversation we had. They left warmer and with a lot to think about. I wish I had the knowledge I have now because of you. Greetings from Scotland

[@Pfpfpfpfpf2020]

For just a split second I thought you were describing the plot to Heretic 😂

[@Strykerfraze]

@Pfpfpfpfpf2020 I have just looked up the plot to that film. That is funny. 😂

[@svetlanachiriac8095]

To find out the truth about a person or the Church you must go directly to that person or the Church, to find out the real truth, but not from the enemies of the person or the Church, they leave the Church because they did not receive what they sought to manipulate, but if the man sincerely comes to the Church and finds the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and His teaching.From the Church leave those who are selfish, who love only themselves, and do not want to follow Christ but their lusts and pride!

[@svetlanachiriac8095]

The members are not perfect and they don't have to be, that's why we go to the Church to learn to believe, to repent, to forgive our neighbor, to love him and to make covenants with the Lord Jesus Christ for the salvation of our souls, this is wonderful. But to speak evil of what she alone did not want to follow is rebellion against God!May the Lord Jesus bless you with His wisdom, not with offended and critical people, or is this what you want?😊

[@ChristopherSadlowski]

​@@svetlanachiriac8095 ::looks around:: Uuuhhh...I don't think you're going to find many potential converts on this channel.

[@kr4703]

Truly appreciate your videos/shorts. My wife left the Mormon church three years into our marriage. I am grateful for all those who loved us through this process. You are a gem of a person..grateful for you, your husband's support of you, and your brutal honesty. Thank you for what you are providing others

[@susancampbell7548]

I grew up Mormon. My parents converted when I was a toddler. Our family was sealed when I was 5 - in the 70’s. Our family has mostly fallen apart. My gut instinct was always something was wrong with it all. Also, being one of the first families in our province, we had church in our living room. I believe this cult gave my father a stronger sense of power in a very unhealthy way. I’m grateful you share your thoughts and experiences, as they are so validating and I also hope it helps others to decide if it’s right for them knowing the secrecy. If a church needs to keep secrets, there’s a reason, and it’s never for good.

[@susancampbell7548]

@@joesimpson9230 don’t care.

[@ezrafriesner8370]

@@joesimpson9230the Book of Mormon is silly. Jews coming to the new world and becoming native Americans? Give me a break

[@blammela]

Easy to convince men into these sorts of cults. Giving undeserving men unearned power.

[@susancampbell7548]

@@blammela so very true

[@MarthaEllen88]

I am from conservative Evangelical background. I am very thankful for Mormon stories, as they help us realise where we who have left conservative evangelicals/charismatics have been indoctrinated...culty ideas and practices... Taboos ..one way of interpreting the Bible.. just helps as we recover too. So much sympathy and empathy. Church dominated my childhood too ... and thinking how much time you have put in over your life.... For us a lot of Mormonism and the temple ideas seem so strange but then you see the exact parralels in Evangelical fundamentalism....

[@andginisin]

Learning about Scientology helped me leave the Mormon church. So many parallels. Funny how it’s hard to see the weird shit until you can identify it in someone else.

[@origamikiddo2625]

Yes, I've seen parallels in many different "religions" and to me it speaks to how Satan twists the truth and true worship of God to these skewed, outwardly nice religions but with parallels and easy prey for predators and those wanting power and control.

[@stephaniethesoprano]

I had so much church induced anxiety as a kid, along with being a high strung, anxious kid in general, and the last church we went through was an Evangelical church. That church did me in, even though as a kid I never really "got it" in terms of spirituality. I don't think it was extremely fundamentalist, but good god I had no idea what was going on most of the time. I remember during Sunday school one time we were in our small groups and the leaders asked if anyone wanted to let Jesus into their hearts that day, and I raised my hand because I thought that was the right thing to do... no one else put their hands up and the leaders were SO excited that they had a kid volunteer for this.... I don't remember exactly what happened after that but they gave me a bunch of little pamphlets and fawned over me the rest of the morning. I never figured out what I accidentally agreed to but maybe one day I'll figure it out...

[@jacksauce]

I’m a non denominational/southern baptist and I appreciate stories like these because they help reinforce the good beliefs that I already have and restructure some of the things that I need to work on. No one has all the answers, but the best we can do is have faith and trust that God will move us in the right direction if we ask Him to. The biggest thing for me is personal freedom. The only thing that truly matters to me in terms of my faith is that I believe that Jesus died for my sins and that He is actively helping me grow in life. I don’t need to go to church to figure out where my true convictions lie, although sometimes it might help.

[@jenniferhoza3388]

I live in the Pittsburgh area and there was a temple being built that I would drive past often. And one of your videos they mentioned how there was an open house before it opens, and I was intrigued to go. I kept my ears open, so I wouldn’t miss it. I’m Catholic, so I was expecting something that looked like a cathedral. The chandeliers were beautiful, but your description of the celestial room was exactly what I thought. It looked just like a fancy hotel lobby. There were so many long hallways and doors that broke up the architecture. My mother-in-law thought so too. We weren’t sure if maybe we would get some sort of feeling of peace there, but we just saw it as a sterile beautiful building. I’m glad I had a chance to go because it was so interesting. The information I learned from your videos and even more fascinating experience.

[@MissyZilla]

It’s a fancy dressed up convention center lol

[@joshhutchersonisfine12321]

Im Catholic too and I completely agree. Her videos are very interesting.

[@VelvetCrone]

someone above said like it looked like a rich person's living room, and I said to myself, like a rich person who didn't hire a designer? But to be fair, if you've never seen real affluence, it looks like the idea of a rich person's house. i grew up poor and used to think a chandelier equated to affluence , myself. eventually i worked for rich people in their homes, and saw art, and color, and texture, and comfort and ease. the pictures of the celestial room look like a place where one is afraid to sit on the sofa or step on the carpet. the room is designed to make one feel uncomfortable and unworthy.

[@galaxychar]

It’s quite interesting reading comments like this, it seems like a lot of people have religious belief related to vibes, in this case the way the architecture of a building makes you feel. I don’t understand why people don’t examine this.

[@hawkeyefile]

Liminal spaces is what the temple is all about

[@Jolyvision-media]

I’m 41 years, I grew in Muslim cultural family. I always wanted to stay free from any ideology. I was always afraid of religions, cults, secret society and every political parties, Mormons, freemasonry included in them. As far as I can remember, so many people tried to drag to there belief, and to seeing in what pyramidal organization deception they are involved. All my family turned their back because it didn’t abide to their beliefs. I spent years studying the main religions and philosophies. Sometimes I wonder if I did well for not involving in any ism, (catholicism, islamism) because I miss being in a community but I don’t want to get what to think 💭 specially the fear mongering and sectarian thinking, and brain washing to hate others, (racism, etc)

[@ragzy9]

I also wonder what I have missed in terms of feeling like I belong to a group. Still see myself as a seeker. Probably never will be part of a party. But I do involve myself in workers rights. You could always practice Taoism or something similar that is s more individual kind of religion. Quakerism looks interesting too if one seeks a group. And there is theosophy.

[@LisaFerguson-lw8il]

The baptism for the dead is so insulting. I was baptised at 10 days old and have no desire to be baptised into the LDS church. In my opinion it really is a weird cult.

[@xunzi4327]

Why is it insulting?

[@NYEmma]

@@xunzi4327 Because whatever religion that people chose to have, or not have, while they were alive is what they wanted. Anyone who decides to "rebaptize" them in a different religion after they are dead, has a lot of nerve.

[@xunzi4327]

@ I think you fundamentally misunderstand the purpose of baptism for the dead. It’s not absolute, and is conditional on that persons acceptance.

[@xunzi4327]

@ also it’s pretty ironic that I asked them a question and you answered for them.

[@gunkulator1]

No need to be insulted. Mormonism's magic spells don't work. All that happened is that one strain of voodoo pretended to supersede another strain of voodoo. All religious arguments boil down to "My imaginary friend is totally better than your imaginary friend!" At the end of the it's not worth an ounce of your consideration.

[@glenmorrison8080]

I am sooooo grateful for having been raised without religion. It is one of the greatest gifts my parents gave me, literally by doing nothing.

[@lenore2660]

Wow. While Mormism is a cult. I cannot imagine not having my faith. I was raised catholic and was born again at the age of 16- I began reading the Bible which led me in the right direction and helped me make godly choices. The problem is religion will lead you astray while the Bible brings you to a true relationship with God.

[@galaxychar]

@@lenore2660 Why do you think that book has any significance anymore than the Mormon one does? It is all BS decided by a bunch of men a long time ago. I am also grateful I was raised without significant religion, I was lightly tried to be made christian as a child, never believed in it and would have been very damaged by it as someone who doesn’t align with their ideas for women at all or a lot of their other views.

[@saladnoodle6435]

​@@lenore2660 true connection is knowing that you dont need anything outside of yourself (priests, churches, a book) to find your god all you have to do is look within. thats what they dont want people to know. they want us to be constantly looking outside of ourselves for guidance, and that is what makes people so easily programmed and controlled

[@ryanmccarthy2033]

Because of the evidence behind it. While scientific discoveries prove the mormon book wrong scientific and Archaeological discoveries only coincide with the bible. Plus why would 12 witnesses rather be tortured and die instead of deny Jesus christ. If you are thinking Jesus didnt exist than you cant believe anyone from history. I mean there is way more evidence that he existed than anyone from or before his century. Do you believe in ceasar or plato? Than you would be Is intellectually dishonest to not believe in Jesus. Then you have the shroud of turin wich is just simply amazing. But no wait with all the science that we know today you want to believe that complex life came from literally nothing. I don't think that you realize how complex certain systems in the world are.

[@beeler123]

@@lenore2660the difference between faith and a cult to you is what you were raised with. How do you not see the irony in your own statement

[@sirenofsound]

It's fascinating that the same thing happens in Scientology- nobody can talk about what happens at OT 8, not even with each other. I'll never forget Leah Remini talking about how betrayed she felt by OT 8.

[@cruztastrophe]

I know she's done a lot of media about the church of scientology. What specific interview are you referencing? I'd like to check it out.

[@QE1beth]

I went through the temple (1st. Time) in '77..i was horrified! This was back when they had blood oaths!! All those yrs. Of being told this was a beautiful, inspiring experience! IT WAS NOT!! I STILL SHAKE WHEN I THINK ABOUT IT!!! 😢

[@johnjones_1501]

My favorite ex-Mormon quote of all time is that the difference between a cult and a religion, is that a cult has a guy at the top who knows he is making it all up and in a religion that guy is dead.

[@JanetFrisby-wl6zb]

Wait what

[@f_f_f_8142]

@@JanetFrisby-wl6zb Most cults start with a single leader who proclaims to have found *the truth* through some devine revelation. Mormons had Smith, Scienetlogy had Hubbard, the Children of God had David Berg, Islam had Mohammed, NXIVM had Keith Raniere... These leaders find themselves worshipped by thousands of people that would do anything they say, so they suddenly discover things like that it is really important that they personally have a lot of sex. Smith and Mohammed introduced polygamy into Mormonism and Islam respectively so they could take dozens of wifes. Berg and Raniere just straight up forced women into sexual slavery. Now the joke is that once the founder dies the people who assume leadership presumably actually believe the doctrine the founder invented for some selfish reasons.

[@Pair-O-Bulls]

Thats perfect ! I couldn't have said it myself. Be TRULY SPIRITUAL my brothers and sisters......and stay AWAY from religion

[@Pair-O-Bulls]

Side note : L. Ron Hubbard the founder of scientology was actually quoted as saying "If you wanna get rich, start a religion"

[@posthawk1393]

Except for Christianity. Christianity is different. Also, all religions give purpose to life and serve a benefit to some degree. Some religions, like Islam, are quite terrible though.

[@drtaverner]

An uncle of mine married into the LDS. I have cousins both exmo and current. The Church is an on-again off-again special interest for my inner Cultural Anthropologist.

[@шибкоумнаяоднако]

At least, no goats were harmed during temple ceremonies. Good for goats.

[@donneigh]

Some jokes never die 😂

[@Carebearritual]

you’d rather human children be harmed?

[@Kartoffelchen]

@@Carebearritual Are you OK?

[@marshallwayne-uf4pq]

​@@Carebearritual your comment is a good example of a "Strawman fallacy".

[@Carebearritual]

@@marshallwayne-uf4pq you know what a joke is right

[@jsinmcc92]

I was in a Pentecostal cult called The Potters house for years it really messed me up appreciate you standing up for the struggle

[@YourfriendRaymond]

I've never been Mormon but I used to live in Southern Utah for 10 years and I've struggled trying to tell people about how horrible of a cult that organization is. Videos like this are SO IMPORTANT in helping to protect people and give them the knowledge that they aren't alone and that they aren't bad people for having doubts and concerns. You are very brave and very strong.

[@JanetFrisby-wl6zb]

A cult and yet easy to leave

[@dallinspackman9341]

​@@JanetFrisby-wl6zb it isn't easy to leave. You may need a notorized letter stating that you want to leave, but more importantly there are huge cultural, social, and familial pressures that make exiting difficult, especially for those who were born into the Church. These undue pressures relate to the BITE model presented by Dr Steven Hassan, an expert it Cults

[@DanBurress]

Leading people over the cliff into the dark abyss of atheism is a path that cannot bring any kind of happiness,in this life and most certainly in the next.I am sorry sister Grenfell has decided to make war on her former faith.It will not go well long term.I am past 70 years of age, and have NEVER seen stuff like this, produce any fruit you would want to eat or share with others..ALL of the chickens will come home to roost eventually, for good or ill.If you sow wheat, you eat bread, if you sow plants that bear nothing but thorns, you will starve.A lot of us are praying for sister Grenfell, the door of mercy is open through Christ, but she must make the decision to come to grace or not.

[@jp263]

​@@DanBurresslmao

[@ka8544]

Thank you Alyssa. Minutes 1:14-1:18ish. I was raised atheist but I experienced CSA by a childcare worker and I experienced attachment trauma from my parents, and this fucking hit me. Even as I type it continues, like how everyone pretended that the temple was totally normal and not horrifying and abusive. Wow to all of this. I’m so proud of you for looking these things straight on and communicating so effectively to people who need to hear it and know they aren’t alone.