Do exmos feel guilty about their apostasy?

[_Runtu]

The Gospel tastes good. It edifys and instructs and causes growth. It testifies of Christ and increases knowledge of the Gospel. It brings knowledge and a foundation of your place in the scheme of things and gives purpose and direction to life. Anything contrary to this is not of God.

Gaz

That's just my problem. I realize that I was trying to make myself believe it tasted good, but it didn't. Polyandry doesn't taste good. Fake scriptures don't taste good. Endless guilt trips don't taste good. And on and on.

Once I quit trying to make it taste good, I realized it didn't and never would.

[_Gazelam]

I have never understood this issue of guilt that permeates the complaints of anti Mormon posters. I am in the church, and I don't have this "looming" guilt that makes being a member miserable. Do I have problems and am I in a state of repentance? Sure, but I don't walk around feeling guilty about my growth issues, they are just part of the ride. Do you walk around feeling guilty when you screw up at work? Or do you just chalk it up to an experience to learn from so you don't do it again?

Line upon line, precept upon precept.

Gaz

[_Runtu]

I have never understood this issue of guilt that permeates the complaints of anti Mormon posters. I am in the church, and I don't have this "looming" guilt that makes being a member miserable. Do I have problems and am I in a state of repentance? Sure, but I don't walk around feeling guilty about my growth issues, they are just part of the ride. Do you walk around feeling guilty when you screw up at work? Or do you just chalk it up to an experience to learn from so you don't do it again?

Line upon line, precept upon precept.

Gaz

It's not a complaint. It just was. I notice that you didn't comment about fake scriptures or polyandry.

[_MormonMendacity]

I have never understood this issue of guilt that permeates the complaints of anti Mormon posters. I am in the church, and I don't have this "looming" guilt that makes being a member miserable. Do I have problems and am I in a state of repentance? Sure, but I don't walk around feeling guilty about my growth issues, they are just part of the ride. Do you walk around feeling guilty when you screw up at work? Or do you just chalk it up to an experience to learn from so you don't do it again?

Line upon line, precept upon precept.

Gaz

I would post...but you don't really want to know anything, do you? You were sent here to instruct...not to be instructed.

[_Trojan Tapir]

There is a way to discern the Holy Ghost. First of all, the Holy Ghost is always accompanied by the spirit of revelation. In other words, you wil never have the company of the Holy Ghost without learning something.

D&C 50:19-25

19 And again, he that receiveth the word of truth, doth he receive it by the Spirit of truth or some other way?
20 If it be some other way it is not of God.
21 Therefore, why is it that ye cannot understand and know, that he that receiveth the word by the Spirit of truth receiveth it as it is preached by the Spirit of truth?
22 Wherefore, he that preacheth and he that receiveth, understand one another, and both are edified and rejoice together.
23 And that which doth not edify is not of God, and is darkness.
24 That which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day.
25 And again, verily I say unto you, and I say it that you may know the truth, that you may chase darkness from among you;

The Gospel tastes good. It edifys and instructs and causes growth. It testifies of Christ and increases knowledge of the Gospel. It brings knowledge and a foundation of your place in the scheme of things and gives purpose and direction to life. Anything contrary to this is not of God.

Gaz

Leaving the church tasted great. It edified, instructed, and caused growth. It testified to me that the divinity of Christ is just as fraudulent as the Mormon church, and greatly increased my knowledge of "the gospel", in that I now know beyond a reasonable doubt that "the Gospel" is nothing more than a man-made creation. I've never had greater knowledge, understanding, and purpose in my life than now.

Anyway, you neglected to answer my question. Where do my good feelings about leaving the church come from? Satan?

[_Randall]

I'm not an exmo (yet), but I would probably be considered apostate if anyone knew the depths of my disbelief. I don't feel guilty about it at all - I just wouldn't want my family, bishop, etc. knowing what I post about it on internet. I'm not sure if that is guilt or something else.

[_Mercury]

"I had only traveled a short time to testify to the people," said Brigham Young, "before I learned this one fact, that you might prove doctrine from the Bible till doomsday, and it would merely convince a people but would not convert them. You might read the Bible from Genesis to Revelation and prove every iota that you advance, and that alone would have no converting influence upon the people. Nothing short of a testimony by the power of the Holy Ghost would bring light and knowledge to them - bring them in their hearts to repentence. Nothing short of that would ever do."

I think this is something that is difficult for some that have been raised in the church as opposed to converted. When you are brought up around the Holy Ghost, it can be harder to recognize him. I went through this with my brother, i had to teach him to recognize the spirit, when i did he said "Oh, that's what that was"

Then a member insulted him, and he hasnt been back since. Was that Murphys Law guy a Mormon?

Gaz

Speaking as one who ACTUALLY went through the process of discerning crafty lies from truth, your characterization is confusing. I was insulted more times than I could shake a stick at while I was a strong member in the church for over 25 years. THen you come along and say that all it takes is an offense? No. An offense, if reason for leaving the church usually is the straw shattering the vertebrate of a dromedary. It is the culmination of being fed up with the lies, manipulation and pain of membership in that damn cult

Once again, get over yourself. Your no savior.

[_Runtu]

I have never understood this issue of guilt that permeates the complaints of anti Mormon posters. I am in the church, and I don't have this "looming" guilt that makes being a member miserable. Do I have problems and am I in a state of repentance? Sure, but I don't walk around feeling guilty about my growth issues, they are just part of the ride. Do you walk around feeling guilty when you screw up at work? Or do you just chalk it up to an experience to learn from so you don't do it again?

Line upon line, precept upon precept.

Gaz

Interesting that you equate my statement of "endless guilt trips" with my having something to feel guilty about. Are you suggesting that there aren't and weren't a lot of attempts to make members feel guilty for not measuring up. Did you go on a mission?

[_Gazelam]

When I teach a class, I never, to my memory, try to make people feel guilty about being obedient. I may try to remind them of their responsibilities, but guilt trips? i don't view the gospel that way. To me a sin is a sin, we all commit them. The thing to do is simply move on and take it as a lesson learned. As an example of how to remind people to be obedient and fulfill their responsibilities I like to use D&C 84:54-62. I think that is an excellent example of a call to responsibility.

As for responding to fake scripture and poly-whatsit. I am not aware of fake scripture in the church, and I don't really know alot about the other. I am somewhat familiar and have read a few sites, but frankly I don't have enough information to form an opinion. I know Joseph was a prophet and that the church is true, that's all I can say on the matter.

Gaz

TROJAN,

I would say your good feelings came from shirking the responsibilities that you had. That would simply stem from pleasure, not happiness or the spirit. Pleasure is a temporary and fleeting thing, but in the long run leaves you hollow.

Gaz

[_Trojan Tapir]

When I teach a class, I never, to my memory, try to make people feel guilty about being obedient. I may try to remind them of their responsibilities, but guilt trips? i don't view the gospel that way. To me a sin is a sin, we all commit them. The thing to do is simply move on and take it as a lesson learned. As an example of how to remind people to be obedient and fulfill their responsibilities I like to use D&C 84:54-62. I think that is an excellent example of a call to responsibility.

As for responding to fake scripture and poly-whatsit. I am not aware of fake scripture in the church, and I don't really know alot about the other. I am somewhat familiar and have read a few sites, but frankly I don't have enough information to form an opinion. I know Joseph was a prophet and that the church is true, that's all I can say on the matter.

Gaz

TROJAN,

I would say your good feelings came from shirking the responsibilities that you had. That would simply stem from pleasure, not happiness or the spirit. Pleasure is a temporary and fleeting thing, but in the long run leaves you hollow.

Gaz

Gaz,

Which responsibilities are you assuming I "shirked"? If a Muslim were to lose their faith in the Koran and feel good about it, would you chalk that up to God confirming the untruthfulness of Islam, despite the fact that certain "responsibilities" according to the Muslim faith were no longer looked upon as such by the "infidel"? How do you think Islam would interpret those good feelings?

Also, when would you expect the hollow feeling to kick in? I've been out of the church for over two years now and I have yet to experience any hollowness. I would assume that the "pleasure" you are referring to would be a fleeting experience, such as the pleasure you get from a good meal. How would such a fleeting feeling last for such an extended period? I'm certainly not claiming that every aspect of life has been perfect since leaving the church, but I have a general, overriding feeling of peace, confidence, and clarity regarding my decision to leave the church and experiences related to that decision are consistently met with similar feelings. Do you expect this feeling to fade over time and be replaced with hollowness?