Why are we here?

[_MormonMendacity]

I'm here because it helps me to read what others have to say about their personal discoveries. I find it interesting how I glossed over things I didn't understand when I was active.

I have wondered about the four generations of my Mormon ancestors who stayed true to the faith and the stories of those who left. During my active years all of those stories seemed to focus on their desire to sin, etc. I'm sorry that I have not found a single history of my ancestors who left the church for thinking his/her way out.

I personally left because I spent a lot of time questioning my Moroni 10:4&5-based testimony. I remember sitting in a temple session in the Mt. Timpanogos temple and thought, "This is utterly ridiculous! I can not think of a more pointless thing to do than go through this." Because we were now doing the session without some of the earlier components I thought, "If this was really revealed to Joseph, how could it have been changed?"

I like reading what others have to say. It helps me know that I'm not alone in this and gives me hope for my TBM kids.

[_harmony]

... It helps me know that I'm not alone in this and gives me hope for my TBM kids.

You were once TBM. Your kids may not be as TBM as they seem. They may be wearing the same mask you once wore. I have some pretty liberal kids; not all of them are as conservative as the ward they were raised in.

[Nomomo]

... It helps me know that I'm not alone in this and gives me hope for my TBM kids.

You were once TBM. Your kids may not be as TBM as they seem. They may be wearing the same mask you once wore. I have some pretty liberal kids; not all of them are as conservative as the ward they were raised in.

Thanks.

I actually find a lot of hope in the Internet for opening their eyes. I think they not only get to see and experience some of the hurt exmos/questmos/doubtmos feel but they get to see how equally uncaring apologists are. Since my first experiences with alt.religion the terrible apologetics and rancor of so called "apologists" offended me more than exmos. I think they helped shake my testimony by their bad apologetics and hatred against exmos.

I plan to lurk/post for some time so I'll keep you updated.

[_OUT OF MY MISERY]

There is no truth...I see no good from any organized religion...everyone has the good in them...there is no good unless we want the goodness to come out...religion is not needed to have good....we are all that is needed for good.

So I guess you reject the organized religion described in the Pauline Epistles.

Or, do you read?

Do I read what????

Crap books...or novels...or religious stupid books...or school books...or research...or the Patriot Act...The privacy laws...contracts...

Well I guess you need to tell me exactly what it is I need to read????

because I am not sure what you want or think I should read????

[_moksha]

I suspect we all have our reasons for being here.

I'm here because it provides an outlet I don't have anywhere else -- certainly not at Church.

That is absolutely true. We really have so little discussion outside the lesson plans, and even those discussions are limited to the subject matter at hand. Plus there is always the fear that what you say many offend your fellow ward members and might be misunderstood when reported to the Bishop. The Internet is apparently the place for free and open discussions.

[_Runtu]

I suspect we all have our reasons for being here.

I'm here because it provides an outlet I don't have anywhere else -- certainly not at Church.

That is absolutely true. We really have so little discussion outside the lesson plans, and even those discussions are limited to the subject matter at hand. Plus there is always the fear that what you say many offend your fellow ward members and might be misunderstood when reported to the Bishop. The Internet is apparently the place for free and open discussions.

I remember when I was Elders Quorum president that we had a guy in our quorum who was always asking really difficult questions, and everyone continually shot him down. I said at one point that our priesthood meeting was not the appropriate place for such things, and I will never forget the pained look on his face when he asked me where the appropriate place was. I'm glad we can talk about things here.