tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342380624800894371.post9203329581829719105..comments2024-03-26T21:27:42.278-07:00Comments on Pure Mormonism: The Worst Testimony You Can Possibly HaveAlan Rock Watermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04971243364867111868noreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342380624800894371.post-36467677809184432922016-06-07T14:07:20.148-07:002016-06-07T14:07:20.148-07:00In the end, my problem was most certainly not with...In the end, my problem was most certainly not with "the church" but the doctrine. I love the people so much and their love for eachother and the support they show to eachother is amazing. I honestly started a research because a friend of mine who had been converted left the church after a google search and I felt that ethically, I wanted to be able to support my friends who I introduced to the church through finding these stories (which is often inevitable in this day of information). I have no problem with flawed people (like Joseph Smith or Brigham etc...) running a church. What it was is very obvious central doctrines and statements which were changed- like the first vision which set up for us the nature of God the Father- that he has a body of flesh and bone, but that wasn't what Joseph believed. In the lectures on faith his belief is stated that God does not have a body of tabernacle, but a body of spirit. Then there ended up being huge changes in every piece of Canon. It does not make sense to me that Joseph saw God the Father and Jesus Christ in the woods, then wrote the Book of Mormon with Oliver- stating that God the very eternal Father was the son of Mary (1830 version Book of Mormon), then went through and edited so that it supported a different nature of God (that he a separate being from Christ), and Sidney Rigdon helps write the official first vision statement which is quite different from the earlier statements- especially Joseph's own journal entry which he leaves out again and again that God the Father was there, a separate being. This is only the tip of the iceberg of canon which he altered in a way that discredited him and showed something was amiss in Joseph's prophetic honesty. Would God give us a dishonest and ingenuine prophet? I don't believe He would. But beyond that intellectual exercize, there was this moment of profound peace that washed over me when I recognized the genuine flaw- a full and bright feeling that assured me, "I love you. You are acceptable as you are- you are flawed like every other person, but grace and my love covers you and you will be ok. I am with you." It was like an ecclipse in my heart and I cannot even find in me the desire for LDS doctrines which had been once woven in my soul. I now attend 2 churches, LDS with the family and my Evening church on my own. Soon my ward will know that I am not "one of them". I fear they will shudder when they see my hand raise. I fear they will try to cover me up- though I have done nothing these past 8 months but offer supportive comments and a testimony of Christ while I attend. I know they have Christ and I know they have the Spirit, I only consider the LDS doctrines as fitting in three possible categories- the Book of Mormon is a support to their belief in Christ and his love, some other things aren't "damaging" as long as their faith in those things endures- but they are perhaps distracting, and the third category is rather small and doesn't exist for every member- that is those things which are damaging. So I have no need in me to cause a rucus, but in order that they can be aware of my family's situation and support us and so that I can be genuinely accepted or rejected, they will soon receive an email. Anyways, it's an antecdote about why this girl left. I was a true Blue Mormon. I think as far as I was concerned the people and the growth in a testimony of Christ was the pearl, but the unique doctrines were the pretty box.Sarah D Mizehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07395186549058613888noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342380624800894371.post-7429113555127483172016-04-30T08:40:38.378-07:002016-04-30T08:40:38.378-07:00You need to do some research on those weak respons...You need to do some research on those weak responses of yours Siegen. Stop spouting made up facts as "truth". EG: "at least Mohammed wrote stuff down himself" Not true. He had scribes. You simply use your own untrue "buncha bunk" statements such as that one to makes yourself feel better about not believing.<br />RAWLShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13882909083360225371noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342380624800894371.post-64149189414328071632016-04-28T20:21:17.374-07:002016-04-28T20:21:17.374-07:00Though I agree with your general mindset, that &qu...Though I agree with your general mindset, that "the Church" is only a vehicle to get us to Christ by allowing "the Gospel" to change us, I think your approach is a bit too aggressive and even completely flawed on just one point. That point happens to be that "the Church" actually is totally and completely true, but, as you mention, the reason it even matters if it is true is because it is a means Christ has established to perfect God's children. Other than that, great article!<br /><br />You might like some of my blog:<br />plpulsipher.blogspot.comW Paul Pulsipherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12606705618368423509noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342380624800894371.post-41694868873065115752016-02-03T06:17:07.994-08:002016-02-03T06:17:07.994-08:00Just wanted to say that my testimony has always be...Just wanted to say that my testimony has always been (ever since I have understood what my testimony was about) was of the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. Your description was of a culture, not of the church.<br /><br />My life has taken me to many places where there was no "church" per se, on board a ship in the middle of an ocean and in foreign countries where the "church" presence is minimal or not even allowed publicly.<br /><br />So, yes "the church is true" is an accurate statement when it means the gospel of Jesus Christ and that the Church is the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. I do have a testimony that Joseph Smith was and is the prophet chosen by Jesus Christ to be the instrument of that restoration.<br /><br />Did I just say essentially the same thing that you did?<br /><br />GlennGlenn Thigpenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16289698106336334148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342380624800894371.post-70503339415088602572015-06-30T15:52:47.925-07:002015-06-30T15:52:47.925-07:00It's really funny to see to these "half-w...It's really funny to see to these "half-way out" Mormons preach about how "the Church is corrupt but the Gospel is true" and such. <br /><br />I've got some news for you: the Church and the "Gospel" may be technically separate, but they sure as hell aren't separable. Anyone who tries to justify "original/true teachings" from the "new bureaucratic ones" is just deluding themselves because Joseph Smith was as much a con man as the corporation that has followed in his place(not saying they'd be on the same side today). <br /><br />More than that, it's pointless to separate the "true Christian teachings" away from the false ones because Christianity itself is a buncha bunk. Scholars still aren't sure if Jesus himself even EXISTED, much less was the miraculous man he supposedly was (at least Mohammed has that going for him, right? He wrote stuff down himself!) <br /><br />So while I admire someone "going deeper" and exposing the 'hidden corporation', please realize that you're making yourself look silly by only debunking the stuff you want to debunk while still maintaining your irrational belief in something else. <br />The problem will still always lead back to the fact that there is no validating evidence for the Judeo-Christian God (or any other, for that matter), there is no evidence for the iconic story of Moses or Noah's flood, all Abrahamic theology gets debunked by science eventually(ahem, Genesis), Christian morality is contradictory, Jesus' story is contradictory and shaky in a historical context (especially if you compare it to other "Messiahs" of that age, or heck, look at ancient Buddha or Zoraster or anybody else), Joseph Smith was an industrious misogynistic charlatan con man (very common in the 20th century), there is no validating evidence for the Book of Mormon or any other doctrinal text, every Church leader following has blurred and changed the original doctrine anyway, etc etc etc etc.<br /><br />Please stop being a blind apologist and think a little bit. You're already smart enough to question the organization, so just go the whole way!!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14476528069338332739noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342380624800894371.post-63838074686314966152014-11-12T14:39:28.024-08:002014-11-12T14:39:28.024-08:00"It's not the church, it's the gospel..."It's not the church, it's the gospel." Exactly. What this tells me is that one should thus jettison the church! The gospel may be sought without any organization, with a nice 10% salary bonus as well.jeffomatichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16417003241279299306noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342380624800894371.post-72668959165716794032014-10-23T10:39:06.459-07:002014-10-23T10:39:06.459-07:00I know the box is true. It is crazy how humans wan...I know the box is true. It is crazy how humans want to make there lives so overly complicated. The church seems to build box on top of a box. It's like a Matryoshka doll now.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02624853971129396721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342380624800894371.post-91310987661563008362014-03-02T09:22:16.774-08:002014-03-02T09:22:16.774-08:00I realize this is an old post but wanted to pose a...I realize this is an old post but wanted to pose an observation/question here.<br /><br />I don't think we can separate "the Church" from "the gospel" so cleanly.<br /><br />Where, in this breakdown, do we put men in authority to grant/deny necessary ordinances for exaltation? When a black person approached the prophet pre-1978 and was denied entrance to the temple, and the requisite ordinances therein, was that the fault or the church or the gospel? Doesn't the gospel include the divine authority and direction granted to the First Presidency and Twelve? When Elder McConkie says that those who question the eternally changing doctrine should repent and believe in a living prophet, does that mean that the prophets of old are part of "the church" but the prophet of today is "the gospel"? Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15883391130483315079noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342380624800894371.post-80248768766154397702013-06-04T17:37:54.835-07:002013-06-04T17:37:54.835-07:00John Taylor said Joseph smith was second to Christ...John Taylor said Joseph smith was second to Christ not Joseph smith himself. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342380624800894371.post-11290463483393830722012-08-26T21:04:27.555-07:002012-08-26T21:04:27.555-07:00On my mission to NJ back in 2002-2004, my Mission ...On my mission to NJ back in 2002-2004, my Mission President said that the Apostles wanted us to give two minute testimonies centered around the Savior whenever we bore testimony. The Apostles had all of the Mission Presidents share their testimonies, but cut the meeting short because they took too long. Our Mission President had us all do the same exercise. I wish more members heard of that council.Erik M.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342380624800894371.post-67732547976869600112012-05-31T06:41:41.878-07:002012-05-31T06:41:41.878-07:00Though I attend a non-LDS Church with my wife (I g...Though I attend a non-LDS Church with my wife (I go mostly alone due my wife chronic pain that makes it impossible to attend regularly) we also go to a Sunday School class for 55+ years old that start an hour before the regular worship. Some know that I am Mormon but don’t really give me any grief over it, thankfully.<br /><br />Late last year, I remember bearing my testimony to some of few them after class. Man, you should have seen the shock and horror on their faces after I was done. It all started when this woman, Paula, was expressing concern to a few of us, about Ginger’s sister who lives in AZ who was going to serve a short mission for the LDS Church that calls for more seniors to serve. Paula worried about this Ginger sister if she was “save” or not because she is a Mormon. I asked Paula why would you think that? Paula said that Mormon don’t believe in Christ. Well, that got me going and I said yes they do which her response was no they don’t ( After reading this post and comments, you would think Paula is right). That kind of went back and forth a couple more times.<br /><br />I finally said well if they didn’t, why would the name the church “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints” if they didn’t believe in Christ. I just got a blank stare and resulted her saying about some story of a Mormon who did something bad, nothing about the Church doctrines. Our main teacher Eldon and his wife Shirley was part of the discussion. At which point I finally said that I know the Book of Mormon is the Word of God and that Joseph was Prophet that I even compare his calling is same as one of the old Testament Prophets. There was the shock and horror on their faces that prompted Eldon to relate a story how his son moved to city in Utah north of Provo to open an auto shop that he had to close down because no Mormon would give him the business because he wasn’t Mormon. <br /><br />Anyway, the discussion didn’t get too heated and Shirley wanted form a prayer circle around me which they did to say a prayer to help me find the truth or something like that. I humor them by letting them do that and after wards we broke to go to the main services. There wasn’t much of fallout and I am always welcome with the group and their activities. <br /><br />Well, what does this have to do of what is being discussed here on this post? I am not sure, though I do understand that when I have gone to my ward’s fast and testimony meeting, I mostly hear that the “church is true” and the current President is the prophet, more than hearing about the Savior and His Atonement, Joseph Smith, the Book of Mormon or the Restored Gospel. And sometimes some members ramble on about a story that may or may not have anything to do with their testimony. I think that when I hear a member express their testimony of the divinity of the Savior and the Restored Gospel, I feel the Spirit more than someone saying that this church is true that sounds mechanical.<br />Reading many articles and comments on this blogspot called Pure Mormonism has caused me to pause a moment in my to reflect and how I approach things. Which if this helps me to become more “Christlike” the better and not become too judgmental to my fellow beings. Thanks for you all in sharing your thoughts and feelings.<br />CraigAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04265181335274398788noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342380624800894371.post-73992734487945635002012-05-19T02:19:05.633-07:002012-05-19T02:19:05.633-07:00Gotta say wow, I read this and suddenly all the pr...Gotta say wow, I read this and suddenly all the problems I'd recently been reading about washed away. This viewpoint certainly clarifies things and hopefully will help someone who's inactive return to the gospel.Philnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342380624800894371.post-56265254243489240122012-02-04T09:11:17.576-08:002012-02-04T09:11:17.576-08:00Welcome back, Shaun. Your decision to have a Chris...Welcome back, Shaun. Your decision to have a Christ-centered life and gather up all that is good and true is what Joseph Smith said would make us all "true Mormons." I've found that many of the things that have thrown me off kilter about the Church are often cultural things I accepted only because they were part of what I learned growing up. Not everything we've heard is the gospel truth. <br /><br />I think what we deserve to do is pray for conformation about those things that don't seem to fit, rather than accepting the whole mish-mash as somehow "all true." "Prove all things," as Paul said, and "hold fast to that which is true." We can then let go of those things that don't work for us or don't ring true, and that's what will make us all true Mormons.Alan Rock Watermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04971243364867111868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342380624800894371.post-36974619558936299692012-02-04T03:11:58.004-08:002012-02-04T03:11:58.004-08:00Thank you for this post! I'm actually returnin...Thank you for this post! I'm actually returning to church after leaving a short while ago because of these very things. As a convert with no previous religious instruction, I loved being taught the gospel, but after a while I started to get really disillusioned about the greater emphasis being placed on the church and its workings rather than Christ, and instead of working harder to open the box I merely put the box on the shelf and walked away.<br /><br />Having come back and started reading this blog, and having spent some time at other churches and reading non-Mormon literature, I've realised that it's not actually the worst thing in the world to be a Mormon, and what's important is keeping and living the faith for Christ. because really He is the most important part of the gospel.<br /><br />At this moment in time, my thoughts on the Restoration and Joseph Smith ate mixed, but having read a few of your early posts on this blog I'm certainly finding a new respect for Smith and the early Mormons that I wouldn't have had even a month ago.<br /><br />What I really want for me and my family is to have our lives centred on Christ, and what you're writing about makes so much sense to me. I've learnt very quickly from attending church again, talking to my wife and reading this blog, that I don't have to get hung up on the finer points if they're not relevant to my salvation, and if at the end of the day I'm making Christ a fuller part of my life.<br /><br />Thank you brother!Shaunhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12549263926368058355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342380624800894371.post-27887207161047831472011-10-10T10:51:56.762-07:002011-10-10T10:51:56.762-07:00Before I even knew about this article, I had felt ...Before I even knew about this article, I had felt for some time that the testimonies in church were more like Rameumptom prayers proclaiming "we believe that thou hast separated us from our brethren" when talking about being part of the one and only true church than actual testimonies of Christ and his Gospel. <br /><br />I decided to tally during a fast and testimony meeting and 13 people testified of church, 7 of the prophet and only 4 about Christ and/or his atonement. I'm lucky to be in a great ward and don't wish to judge any of them individually but it is apparent that our current mormon culture values church membership and church leadership more than it does Christ and his atonement.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342380624800894371.post-73799318909019557032011-10-07T14:22:37.784-07:002011-10-07T14:22:37.784-07:00We had a regional leadership meeting with diminuti...We had a regional leadership meeting with diminutive elder Quentin l cook in my stake building in australia, about 18 months back. He quoted the same pearl box story, and gave pretty much the same instruction ad what you gave. It suggested radical change, and emphasized Behaviour more doctrinally aligned, and leas traditionally - or should I say autoresponse - motivate. It was glorious. But I have watched my ward and stake leadership attempt and fail to implement his apostolic directives, and revert back to their box worhsipping. Very sad. It seems as if people prefer to be told they need to go to the temple more or do their hometeaching rather than be given soul saving instruction. I hope elder cook doesn't get jaded by this and fall into lock-step with some of his mates. The other astounding intellect at that meeting was a young seventy by the name if Brent h Nielsen. His name sounds like it's out of central casting but he laid down some stunning truths in his talk. And back it up a few months later as the visiting authority to our stake conference with one if the most sprit filled discourses I have heard in ever. Keep an eye out for him. If visiting a conference near you go and check him out.TheChiefnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342380624800894371.post-84904677258389188782011-08-14T14:19:50.733-07:002011-08-14T14:19:50.733-07:00Let's not forget that, prior to his death, Jos...Let's not forget that, prior to his death, Joseph openly taught that he was the physical body of the holy ghost.Dave P.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342380624800894371.post-53022976024819252552011-08-14T12:30:58.178-07:002011-08-14T12:30:58.178-07:00Perhaps members might "improve" their te...Perhaps members might "improve" their testimony and focus more on Jesus Christ if only the leaders in SLC would stop promoting Joseph Smith 24/7/365. That he, Smith, declared himself to be second only to Christ in importance does not help in changing the paradigm.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342380624800894371.post-69031691842933427322011-05-25T17:36:08.767-07:002011-05-25T17:36:08.767-07:00I find myself in a position that is opposite the o...I find myself in a position that is opposite the one you describe.<br /><br />I am a member of the Church, but I find not "gospel" worth the name in the Church (or out of it, for that matter).<br /><br />The so-called "gospel" claimed by the LDS is such a mess of contradiction, absurdity, and arrogant self-promotion as to leave many rational people disillusioned by it.<br /><br />The people and the Church? Friendly, fun, and well-organized as one of the best run corporations I know.<br /><br />It is the gospel, not the Church that I believe is "not true".Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342380624800894371.post-22963649015894061372011-05-11T15:03:02.233-07:002011-05-11T15:03:02.233-07:00Yep. I'd say many members cough up the pablum ...Yep. I'd say many members cough up the pablum about Jesus Christ being a "spirit child" without even bothering to think about how that would make the atonement null and void.<br /><br />Mosiah 13:28 - ... were it not for the atonement, which God himself shall make for the sins and iniquities of his people, that they must unavoidably perishdoyle_meganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14670666670201894017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342380624800894371.post-2885801834792096562011-03-15T08:41:09.250-07:002011-03-15T08:41:09.250-07:00Jesus Christ is the Father of Israel and therefore...Jesus Christ is the Father of Israel and therefore most references in scripture to the Father pertain to him. That's a fact.<br /><br />However, if you point this out to most Mormons, they will freak out and say you don't understand the Godhead. But just because there are members of the Godhead supporting the Lord does not change the fact that Jesus Christ is, in fact, Lord. Otherwise, the church would not be teaching that he is Jehovah.<br /><br />P.S. When I was younger, my parents taught me that Jesus is our Elder Brother. That meant that he is the Lord (note how the title of Elder Brother is capitalized) and that he is even as a brother to us. But now I've seen church materials teaching that Jesus Christ is our older brother and a spirit child of Heavenly Father. That's ridiculous. The Lord can't be one of his own angels. Neither does he have a beginning or an end.whitehuskyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10462985530221490302noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342380624800894371.post-51365856495911162522011-03-14T16:38:20.039-07:002011-03-14T16:38:20.039-07:00whitehusky,
If you haven't read a reprint of ...whitehusky,<br /><br />If you haven't read a reprint of the original 1830 Book of Mormon, I suggest that you do so because, in it, Nephi's vision couldn't be more plain that Jesus Christ <i>is</i> Heavenly Father! The changes made to it (and to the original record of Joseph Smith's First Vision) that introduced the concept of multiple gods is but one of the reasons why the church is under condemnation and why the Lord never authorized any additional editions of the Book of Mormon.Dave P.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342380624800894371.post-27658999696680167832011-03-14T11:55:43.538-07:002011-03-14T11:55:43.538-07:00Well, if people could just confine themselves to a...Well, if people could just confine themselves to a testimony of the church ... and that it is the restored gospel ... that would actually be an improvement, but they won't.<br /><br />I can't tell you how many testimonies I've heard on wonderful spouses, wonderful friends, wonderful family ... wonderful kids! One divorced mother got up and gave a testimony of her son and how much she loved him and how perfect he was. Not a word about the Son of God. Besides all this, her kid is an obnoxious brat and bully who has no respect for adult authority. So her testimony was wrong on that count also.<br /><br />Nope. You're not going to hear much about Jesus Christ being our Eternal God and our gracious Savior. Forget it.<br /><br />And if someone isn't substituting their "wonderful" family in for Christ, they'll substitute Heavenly Father.<br /><br />This week in Primary I can't tell you how many times Heavenly Father was mentioned ... in place of the Lord. Instead of the Lord catching up the city of Enoch to be with him, it was Heavenly Father. The only person to even mention the Lord was a recent convert. Everybody else left the Lord out of it entirely.<br /><br />Nope, Jesus. Your name is on the outside of the church, but don't come inside. Stay out there so we can ignore you.<br /><br />What is it with these people? Don't they realize that the reason we come together on Sunday is to rejoice in the liberty we have in Christ, to thank our God and Redeemer for our salvation? That's the whole point of Sacrament Meeting.<br /><br />I may be the only Primary teacher in our ward who teaches that Jesus Christ is our God. Sure, I mention Heavenly Father and the Holy Spirit, but I want the kids to know who Jesus is. I have yet to hear any of the Primary leaders teaching that Jesus is our Lord and God. No, not a word of it.<br /><br />The last time we had fast and testimony meeting, no one was getting up. So I got up and testified that the Lord God Almighty humbled himself to come to earth as our Savior, that the scriptures called Jesus our Most High God, and that he hears and answers prayers.<br /><br />You should have seen the surprise. I'll bet a few of the members thought I was way out of line for talking about Jesus as both our Lord and our Savior, but somebody's got to do it.<br /><br />Sometime.whitehuskyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10462985530221490302noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342380624800894371.post-55316454318680996182010-02-18T07:16:01.528-08:002010-02-18T07:16:01.528-08:00No trouble at all, Feathertail.
You are correct i...No trouble at all, Feathertail.<br /><br />You are correct in your assessment that the reasons people leave the church are not so simple. I have found among my acquaintances that have decided to sever their membership, none have done so for the reasons I used to believe, i.e., "They have sinned", "they want to sin", "they can't live the word of wisdom", or the most common belief of all: "Someone in the ward said something to offend them".<br /><br />No, in almost every case, it was because they learned things that were true about the church that the corporate Church has been trying for years to insist weren't true. They can't reconcile what they see as betrayal of their trust.<br /><br />John Dehlin has posted a very important video on YouTube called "Why People Leave The LDS Church". When I say it's important, I mean it's an important video for active, believing members to watch so that they can better understand and accept with love those whose beliefs no longer dovetail with our own.<br /><br />We have to stop treating these people like pariahs. Freedom of conscience must be respected. God himself respects their choices; we can do no less.<br /><br />We in the church don't do ourselves any favors by attributing false motives to a phenomenon we don't try to understand.<br /><br />I would welcome a personal email from you, Feathertail. I can direct you to those among whom you are sure to find acceptance. <br /><br />You can reach me at RockWaterman@gmail.comAlan Rock Watermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04971243364867111868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342380624800894371.post-38613500636729446062010-02-18T03:29:42.855-08:002010-02-18T03:29:42.855-08:00Um ... Brother Waterman?
I just spent a few hours...Um ... Brother Waterman?<br /><br />I just spent a few hours reading your blog. The things that you said, almost everywhere here, echoed my own feelings. This comment, though:<br /><br /><em>Maybe some are telling the truth when they claim that they were happy, actively practicing Mormons, until they learned of some terrible fact that they just could not reconcile, but that's not what I have observed. When it comes to those I know, and have known, those who want to believe find reasons to believe, and those who want to disbelieve find reasons to disbelieve.</em><br /><br />It's not true. I, er, apostatized about three days ago. I wanted to believe that the Church was true, in spite of the imperfect people. But I found out not only about questionable things that Church leadership was doing, but also read a ton of accounts that cast serious doubt on the idea of its ever having been true to begin with.<br /><br />I guess that that doesn't count for much here, but I'd be honored if you had some suggestion for what I should do, or if there's anything I should reconsider. Because I'm scared and unsure of myself right now. I would've contacted you directly, but you don't have any contact information listed. So I decided to post here instead.<br /><br />I'm sorry to trouble you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com