This is the one of the most disgusting chapters of LDS church history-and we were all here to witness it. As I think about those who were complicit in this deception I can’t help but feel disgust towards men that I used to really look up to.

GBH, Thomas S Monson, Faust, Uchtdorf, H David Burton.

Even after I walked away from the church, I still viewed many of these men as the “good guys.” Despite my disagreements with the church, I believed these men were fundamentally (more) decent people.

None of my favorite exmo sites and podcasters has pointed out the elephant in the room: that half of the speakers in Oct general conference were people of color, many of them from countries not the U.S.

Surely this is a turning point-- the church bending its focus away from US wards + members toward a Third World identity. Additional evidence of such refocusing is the increasingly noticeable decay of US wardhouses along with the diminishing relevance to US members of church programs and community.

Have others noted this shift? Have I missed an important discussion?

EDIT: I’m a sociology teacher, so I find this whole thing FASCINATING from a sociological perspective. I’m not interested in him romantically OR in converting to their religion! I’m just genuinely curious about the whole dynamic

Hello! I’m not Mormon, but there are a TON of missionaries in my country, especially in my city right now. I’ve met quite a few of them and usually end up chatting with them, which I’m totally fine with. I’m Catholic, but mostly for the philosophy of it all.

BUT I met two missionaries in particular, and I’m pretty sure one of them is just a little TOO sweet and charismatic for his own good. 😭 He talks to me about all sorts of things that have absolutely nothing to do with religion, and of course, after all the banter, he invites me to church and other activities. He also texts me and calls me late at night.

Now, I KNOW missionaries are trained to build trust and connect with people to encourage them to join the church, but something about this feels a little off!! Like, is this a recruitment strategy or is this man just naturally charming???

And just to be clear, I’m NOT falling for the whole conversion thing. I’m genuinely just curious about attending a Sunday service, seeing what their religious practices are like, and maybe joining some of their sports activities. That’s literally it!! I’m here for the cultural experience and the extracurriculars, NOT the propaganda. 😭

Talented mf, God bless him. But if he thinks he’s converting me, he’s severely underestimated my ability to be nosy without committing to anything.

“Mormons” is no longer offensive!

So I’m completely outside the mormon world and so was my best friend until about a month ago. Missionaries contacted her a few months back she started taking discussions and she recently got baptized.

I’m posting here because I’m genuinely worried about her and don’t understand how missionary culture or rules actually work. One of the elders who taught her has stayed in very close contact with her even after her baptism and she just confessed to me that she has strong feelings for him.

They talk almost every day. Sometimes it’s about scriptures or church stuff but often it crosses into personal life. I want to share a few things she’s shared with me that felt off.

She studied finance and ever since she mentioned that, he frequently tells her how smart and brilliant she is. He also compliments her appearance regularly telling her how beautiful her outfits are and noticing when she does her hair and makeup.

She cooks for Sunday meetings and always makes sure he eats because he’s "too busy" in return, he says things like "I’m so glad I have you" and "I’m so grateful for you".

When she was invited to an upcoming YSA activity by other guys in the ward, his reaction wasn't to encourage her to socialize. Instead he told her "Let me know if they disturb you or anything." Isn't a missionary supposed to encourage new converts to integrate with the local YSA?

She just invited him and his companion over for dinner because he brought it up a few times, saying things like "We would love to come to your home"

She has been my best friend since childhood. She looks happy right now but I’m terrified she’s being led on or caught up in a situation that’s going to break her heart. I know almost nothing about Mormons but from what little I’ve read, this doesn't seem like standard behavior for someone on an mission.

Any perspective would mean a lot. Thank you.

I’m about 95% out, and so is my spouse. We’re both born in the covenant, with young kids and a Utah ward-centered social life. I asked to be released from a leadership calling and it’s being granted soon.

There’s an expectation that I’ll stand up and bear my testimony. My bishop is actually a great friend, and we’ve had several honest talks about where I am. He knows I’m uneasy about it. His suggestion was to say “believe” instead of “know” any of the gospel principles I may still hold.

I appreciate that he’s trying to help, but I’m not sure even a softened version feels honest to me right now. It saves face for him with the stake leaders who have shown little regard for me and my family. I’m leaning toward not showing up at all and just letting my bishop know.

For those who have maybe been through this: did you take the “believe” route, say something true in a different way, or skip it? How did it land with a leader who was also a friend?

As a kid, I found an old sheet with several holes in it. I ran around making spooky noises telling my siblings that I was the hole-y ghost. I got in so much trouble.

Anyone else have a funny story from the craziness of LDS teachings?

This rehashes an older, but in my opinion seminal episode of Mormon Stories Podcast.

The author William Davis points out how Joseph could have dictated the whole Book of Mormon in the timeline he had.

Davis assumes that Joseph worked on the outline and overall story since 1823, leaving him years of preparation before his first start in 1828 with Martin Harris as scribe.

He used skeletal outlines which he could have learned during juvenile debate class and as a Methodist exhorter and passively from listening to many sermons prepared in this style.

These skeletal outlines or "heads" supported him before each dictation session in staying on the overall structure of the book.

The book is a major work in understanding the production process of the Book of Mormon.

okay. i did the endowment in 2016. when i went through, the video was a relatively recent one (effects, editing, acting etc were all very modern) and the actor playing lucifer was HOT. short, wavy ginger hair, nice face, they had him wearing a black doublet with silver fastenings or something similar and he appeared out of the mist and young teen repressed me went “HUH, INTERESTING”

except now i can’t find it anywhere

like, not only can i not find a recording of the video, i feel like i can’t find MENTION of it anywhere. i just keep getting rerouted to the 2014 NewNameNoah one where lucifer is bald.

anyone else see this one? where did it come from? where did it go??

Neither is cleaning the temple grounds or performing templework for the dead.

It's free labor for a multibillion dollar org and a waste of time. Not a service project.

Thats all.

For those that converted as a adult and later resigned, when you were considering being baptized, did you know you had to pass an interview ?

During a recent conversation with him about what I went through as a (nonconsensual) Mormon teenager, he said, sarcastically:

"It's amazing what the Almighty can accomplish when He has access to your bank statements and a cooperative bishop."

That pretty much sums it up.

The number of times that churches refer to Jesus on their official website homepages:
Lutheran - 6
Catholic - 2
Presbyterian - 4
TCOJCOLDS - 30

“This will be a year of hallelujah. This will be a year of hosanna.” - Emily Belle Freeman

https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/2027-youth-theme-website-logo-music-album-released

I hope I am not the only one who decided to rebrand the Mormon Corporation as the Cult of Joseph Smith for Lecherous Deranged Sheeple. I think the General Authorities should be addressed as the Board of Directors.

In 2021, a ward was split due to construction of new homes and in anticipation of the influx of members, a branch was formed, promised to become a ward within 5 years. The branch has failed to reach ward status, despite the population of said town nearly doubling. The YW, YM and Primary classes meet together on Sundays and for activities due to lack of numbers. While re-combining the two units would make logical sense, I doubt it will happen.

(In a state bordering Utah)

Vintage like the body suit would be cool or new is okay, for an art project. Gay exmo. Dm me :)

Three scenarios:
1) Average US household income ($87,460), paying gross tithing (i.e. 10% before taxes)
2) Low/single income ($50,000) or paying net tithing (after taxes) on average household income
3) High income ($100,000), paying gross

Assumptions:

-40 years of working & paying into the system (aged 25-65)

-Fixed salary and contribution amount

-Money gets invested instead in safe assets. If it doesn't get invested, then simply look at the total contributions figure.

-Not accounting for inflation (no salary growth or time value of money)

-Ignores post-retirement 401k/SS tithing payments