DiscussMormonism.com

Interesting clip of the impact just one YouTuber can make. When you think of the thousands and thousands (and growing) of former Mormons on social media, it warms the cockles of one's heart.
https://www.tiktok.com/@alyssadgrenfell ... 5902184746

I wonder how much DiscussMormonism.com has cost the Church over the last couple of decades? I know of at least two very high income posters here that left the Church as a direct result of this board, Wonhyo and Sanctorium. I'm sure there have been MANY more.

I’m guessing at least 50,000 people have left the church due to John Dehlin’s Mormon Stories.

And, since we’re on the subject, I wonder how many people DCP has driven out of the church with his unethical and atrocious behavior, and all of that crappy content/videos he puts out every Friday?

I imagine that there were plenty of TBMs that fled the theaters (and the church) out of sheer embarrassment after watching Witnesses and Six Days in August.

She's such a lovely person, and someone who apologists like DCP simply cannot label away as a "rabid, mouth foaming, angry atheist."

I think it's clear the LDS church is losing their best people, and (on the whole) those with low IQ or low moral character are quickly becoming the majority left behind. The Mormon church's future is looking quite dark unless they start loosening their stance on LGBT, historicity, the culture wars, and everything else that makes them so toxic.

drumdude wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 17, 2025 3:02 am

She's such a lovely person, and someone who apologists like DCP simply cannot label away as a "rabid, mouth foaming, angry atheist."

I think it's clear the LDS church is losing their best people, and (on the whole) those with low IQ or low moral character are quickly becoming the majority left behind. The Mormon church's future is looking quite dark unless they start loosening their stance on LGBT, historicity, the culture wars, and everything else that makes them so toxic.

Great points, drumdude.

LDS apologetics were something that contributed to my departure from the Church. I still don’t care for how LDS apologetics work, or rather don’t work. No hard feelings for apologists, but I personally found their methods counter-productive.

Kishkumen wrote: ↑

Mon Aug 18, 2025 2:42 am

LDS apologetics were something that contributed to my departure from the Church. I still don’t care for how LDS apologetics work, or rather don’t work. No hard feelings for apologists, but I personally found their methods counter-productive.

The gaslighting, the complex and strained (beyond credulity) explanations and mental gymnastics by the apologists contributed to my departure too. My sincere questions were never met with direct answers, only more mental gymnastics. I finally realized I couldn't believe in a religion with such a fragile foundation that required constant gymnastics and ridiculous apologetics to support it.

Everybody Wang Chung wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 17, 2025 2:46 am

I wonder how much DiscussMormonism.com has cost the Church over the last couple of decades? I know of at least two very high income posters here that left the Church as a direct result of this board, Wonhyo and Sanctorium. I'm sure there have been MANY more.

I left prior to the infamous CES letter but this board was instrumental (along with MormonThink) in helping along my apostasy; they certainly lost a chunk of funds on my account.

Abaddon wrote: ↑

Mon Aug 18, 2025 4:29 pm

Everybody Wang Chung wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 17, 2025 2:46 am

I wonder how much DiscussMormonism.com has cost the Church over the last couple of decades? I know of at least two very high income posters here that left the Church as a direct result of this board, Wonhyo and Sanctorium. I'm sure there have been MANY more.

I left prior to the infamous CES letter but this board was instrumental (along with MormonThink) in helping along my apostasy; they certainly lost a chunk of funds on my account.

Collateral damage. Look at their enormous hoard, one in which they themselves were embarrassed to let the members know it existed. The amount of people who leave has had little significant financial impact as of yet.
Of course they cheated to get that amount but it doesn't matter anymore because they are now self sufficient and don't need tithing anymore. However Bednar says people need the blessings so there is that!

Oh certainly. My account is but a drop in the bucket. But it was my drop that's now going to my own 401k account.

But yes, we need the blessings of paying. It's in the same vein of "the church will be fine if you leave it, but you need us more than we need you."

Everybody Wang Chung wrote: ↑

Mon Aug 18, 2025 3:35 pm

Kishkumen wrote: ↑

Mon Aug 18, 2025 2:42 am

LDS apologetics were something that contributed to my departure from the Church. I still don’t care for how LDS apologetics work, or rather don’t work. No hard feelings for apologists, but I personally found their methods counter-productive.

The gaslighting, the complex and strained (beyond credulity) explanations and mental gymnastics by the apologists contributed to my departure too. My sincere questions were never met with direct answers, only more mental gymnastics. I finally realized I couldn't believe in a religion with such a fragile foundation that required constant gymnastics and ridiculous apologetics to support it.

Unfortunately, my experience has been that the Mormon religion is not the only one in which the maintenance of belief ultimately demands unacceptable intellectual compromises.

Chap wrote: ↑

Mon Aug 18, 2025 5:41 pm

Everybody Wang Chung wrote: ↑

Mon Aug 18, 2025 3:35 pm

The gaslighting, the complex and strained (beyond credulity) explanations and mental gymnastics by the apologists contributed to my departure too. My sincere questions were never met with direct answers, only more mental gymnastics. I finally realized I couldn't believe in a religion with such a fragile foundation that required constant gymnastics and ridiculous apologetics to support it.

Unfortunately, my experience has been that the Mormon religion is not the only one in which the maintenance of belief ultimately demands unacceptable intellectual compromises.

Belief in the supernatural doesn't come very easily for many of us. The question is, what are you going to replace it with that takes you into the realm of existence after death and continued eternal progress?

I'd be interested in what folks here think in that regard.

Regards,
MG