In February 2015 a small Facebook group of former Mormons was asked, “What is the #1 or main reason you left the LDS Church? What started your journey out of Mormonism?” This is what they said:
“Discovering that it was false. I actually watched a speech by Lyndon Lamborn which opened my eyes.”
“Going to BYU, and then my bishop dad excommunicated my brother,…the Mormon church has torn my family apart.”
“I missed Jesus and knew I had journeyed far away from Him.”
“Research on [Joseph Smith], and his occult gnostic activity and involvement.”
“Started watching Mormon to Christian videos on YouTube, couldn’t fathom how they came out of the Church and had a greater faith in Jesus.”
“It was the old testament for me.”
“My [husband] started watching this Christian pastor on TV…”
“The lies I found out that [Joseph Smith] told…especially the one where he said that he had done more than Jesus Christ himself!”
“It was realizing that becoming a God and Goddess of our own worlds meant having multiple gods!”
“There were a few [Bible passages and Mormon teachings], while still LDS, that didn’t make sense… [and] Finding out about [Joseph Smith’s] polygamy (and polyandry).”
“Found the BIBLE IS TRUE.”
“Reading the New Testament was a game changer for me. It put me in the awkward position of having to choose the teachings of Joseph or Jesus.”
“It all started for me when my wife started watching Doris Hanson… The one thing that really got me was Joseph Smith’s boast. After I read it in History of the Church I was out.”
“The Bible–I finally (after a LOT of time) saw that it and what Mormonism taught contradicted each other.”
“I ran from the LDS church convinced I was not worthy to be a member, since I could not gain a testimony of the deeper doctrines…”
“It was a long process that started after I attended their temple. My gut kept telling me it was not from God…”
“One big speed bump: Sir Alan Gardiner’s classic text Egyptian Grammar.”
“What started my journey out of the LDS church was going through the temple…I was so confused…I had a bad feeling in the temple.”
Though this is certainly not a scientific study, a common thread that runs through many of these responses is a personal hunger for God and His truth. While still Mormons, these people wanted to be closer to Jesus–they “missed Jesus” and they discovered ex-Mormons “had a greater faith in Jesus.” These people wanted to be loyal to Christ–they were deeply troubled by Joseph Smith’s boasting that “he had done more than Jesus Christ himself!” and they were compelled to “choose the teachings of Joseph [or] Jesus.” These people saw the truth in God’s Word–they “discovered the Bible is true,” and they realized that “the Bible…and what Mormonism taught contradicted each other.” These people longed for God, but they couldn’t find Him in the Mormon temple—after they experienced the temple they “had a bad feeling” and “knew it wasn’t from God.”
When engaging in evangelizing Mormons we often ask, “If the Mormon Church wasn’t true, would you want to know?” It’s a sad reality that many Mormons do not want to know. But the former Mormons quoted above did want to know, and they had the courage to seek and find the truth (Luke 11:9).
Why? Why did it really matter to them? Why not focus on all the good cultural things that Mormonism has to offer and leave the rest alone? In the words of another former Mormon from the Facebook thread:
“[My husband] found God in the pages of the Psalms and recognized his need for a Savior was not being met by the LDS Church. No matter how faithful he was to the Church’s teaching, he knew it was not transforming his inner sinful self. He was still a sinner until Psalms showed him why and who could save him forever.”
This is why. Everybody needs a Savior, and there is but One who can transform our sinful selves into something beautiful. Only One can forgive our sins. Only One can cleanse us. Only One can make us “alive in Christ.” And that One is not found in Mormonism. Yet, amazingly, Jesus stands at the door and knocks, willing to receive all who abandon false beliefs, false prophets, and false gods as they turn to Him (1 John 1:9, 2:1).
May God grant you, Mormon friends, the courage it takes to seek Him.
“As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God.”
–Psalm 42:1
I’ve been praying earnestly, some times several times a day, for a young LDS man that I know. Our latest go-round on fb didn’t end well in my estimation. I was really torn. Should I play a game of nicey nice with him or should I lay-out the facts?
When Mormons see, hear and/or read the facts about Mormonism and how it contrasts with orthodox Christianity, it sounds like YELLING to them. But if we don’t lay out the facts and instead approach them in a manner of “common ground”, we are doing them a disservice. Common ground would be something like, “Isn’t the Savior wonderful?”, or “Don’t you love the way heavenly father blesses us?”
We could go on forever doing that and they’d never come any closer to a knowledge of who Jesus is and what He has done for us. If we take that approach, they’ll never have any idea of what the truth really is; about Mormonism, about Christianity, about the nature of God, Jesus, about God’s plan of salvation.
My impression is that the LDS who leave the sect, and it appears to be a flood these days, tend to do it on their own initiative after some research and study. Our job is to get their attention. Sometimes that gets them angry. Well most of the time that gets them angry. I think it’s particularly difficult for those who are embedded in the Mormon culture and social structure.
But there’s a whole other group who just fade-out from the LDS scene. They just don’t dig it. They don’t become Christians but rather don’t want the hassle of Mormonism. When you think about the fact that two-thirds of those on the rolls of the LDS church are “inactive”, there’s got to be a whole lot of fade aways out there.
Sharon —
You’ve hit upon one of the key facts about Mormons:
“When engaging in evangelizing Mormons we often ask, “If the Mormon Church wasn’t true, would you want to know?” It’s a sad reality that many Mormons do not want to know.”
Many LDS, in fact, will be very candid about that. They don’t want to know. It often takes something traumatic to cause them to face reality and the truth about their lives. In the meantime, we have to keep praying that they will develop a keen yearning for the truth, for that is the only thing that will make them — or all of us, really — truly free. John 8:32
I think its interesting there are a few there that speak directly to the burning in the bosom…
I often cite Micah Wilder’s exit story because, in my thinking, it’s dramatic and a great demonstration of how the Holy Spirit uses Christians to bring the Good News to Mormons. What is easy to overlook is Micah’s reaction to the Baptist pastor using the Word to totally destroy everything he believed in. Micah reports getting angry. It wasn’t the pastors manner, but the conviction that comes with exposure to the truth.
John Dehlin of Mormon Stories did a presentation titled “Why They Leave”. He was trying to get the LDS culture to be a little more understanding about those who leave. He’s also done some follow-up research using a survey approach.
It’s very difficult for LDS to reconcile the idea that a former member stops believing and leaves. But it’s often the most ardent LDS believers that flip and I think it’s because they aren’t lukewarm. We had a frequent LDS poster here years ago who shows up and reveals that he’s not in the program any more. I asked why he left. Basically what he said was that he got tired of trying to defend Mormonism. Point was that he couldn’t defend it any more.
I left because of sin, at least that was what I was told.
Dear Sharon,
Thank you for this excellent post. I enjoyed reading the many thoughts shared. It is a blessing to glimpse the moment when everything changes for an individual; when they come to experience God’s love, acceptance, salvation. I am so happy for our LDS friends whom God has drawn to himself. As with you and others here, I too pray that more may come to know God’s grace. Blessings!
Vax
I was going to mention that LDS say that members leave because they were offended by someone or they had fallen into deep and serious sin. It can never be that they don’t believe that the LDS church is the one true church, that Joseph Smith was a prophet or that the BoM isn’t true. One of our more challenging LDS poster from the past insisted that people left because they had stopped reading the BoM. That’s pretty creative. Why would someone read the BoM if they didn’t believe it to be true?
http://mormonstories.org/top-5-myths-and-truths-about-why-committed-mormons-leave-the-church/
You need to remember that most of the chapel Mormons you’ll be talking with are not rocket scientists. Most of them are only modestly educated and they lead mundane lives taking orders from those in authority over them. It’s orderly and they like it that way. They don’t like to see their lives shaken up, especially by something that they neither like nor understand.
If you want to talk with someone who has a doctorate in religious studies or a Masters in Philosophy — or someone who can appreciate gospel truths or has an open mind — you will likely have to look elsewhere.
Be patient with Mormons. Most of them are just everyday people trying to get by.
Buff
I’ve referenced Jim Spencer’s book “Have You Witnessed to a Mormon Lately” in the past. Jim talks at length about the different types of Mormons that someone might encounter and he provides some advice on how to approach them. In-other-words, the Mormon population is not monolithic in its make-up.
I doubt if these simple folks you describe, would give much thought to questioning what they’ve been taught. There has to be a way of provoking their thought processes so that they might begin to consider that perhaps what they are into isn’t what they think it is. I know that this young man that I’ve been interacting with is very confident and draws his entire identity from his participation in the LDS church. He’s a fine young man, very moral and upright, sincere, believes he has power in his priesthood designation and thinks that I don’t really understand Mormonism.
I would agree with you regarding exercising patience. Sandra Tanner talks about this in regards to her exit from Mormonism. In the eyes of the LDS they would be giving up everything if they left the one true church.
So what I do is continually pray for this young man.
Discovering the Elder Delbert Stapley letter in Sep 2011 and that was the first of many many dominoes to fall and once they start falling they never stop. Each one represents a false teaching , a lie or coverup doctrine or so called theories. I used to be able to defend it all in 36 years . After the 1st one fell i could defend it . As i share glad for the journey in and out of the Mormon church , iam better and not bitter
Buff,
I think what you are describing is the “naive true believer”. They know little, if anything about the history of the LDS church and certainly don’t know much about Joseph Smith except for the white washed version. My guess is that there are probably some who don’t even know about the man-to-god program that’s the central feature of the sect. One of the features of the NTB is that they are shocked that there could be serious challenges to their belief system. Jim suggests that whether the true believer is “arrogant” or “naive”, you may as well risk the bold shot. You have nothing to lose. As an example say something like: …..in reality, the BoM has been changed nearly four thousand times in the last hundred and fifty years. If that’s true then the BoM isn’t really what Joseph Smith it was, the most correct book ever written.
Lee Baker, who was a bishop in the LDS, says that what got him thinking is when a young Christian man gave him a reference and asked what he thought about Smith’s claim that he had done more to hold a group together than Jesus. That started Lee on a five year odyssey that led eventually to him leaving the LDS church.
Falcon —
Excellent idea. Prayer can’t hurt.
Sometimes, unless they’re in complete denial and refuse to believe even their leaders, I’ve aroused a bit of interest by asking what they think about the Church’s statement that … (pick a topic). It could be any of the “gospel topics” essays or a quote from Joseph Smith. Mostly, though, they just get irritated and say they wouldn’t discuss something like that. Best of luck.
I’ve watched several videos of the training for Christians witnessing at Manti during the week of the pageant. One year the Christians did “the wives of Joseph Smith” which was pretty brave and eye popping. What a demonstration. Women of various ages dressed up in 19th century period costumes with the name of the “wife”. They could also recite the history of the “wife” they represented.
Training
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vT04jaoABco
Wives
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LhzU4iXLxQ
This is really good. A 15 minute video of Bill McKeever interacting with a true believer regarding the golden plates. Excellent.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_C0BifNSbGc
Great article as always Sharon!
While I now consider myself a member of the LDS faith I did left for about a decade. For me personally it was coming to the realization that those in authority at a local level not only didn’t have a big red phone to God as it were, but didn’t even seem to be doing things by any sort of revelation from heaven. From there the distrust of authorities quickly moved up the line to the presidency of the church and it really only took a few weeks for me to decide the whole thing was bunk.
Most of the people I have known past and present that left Mormonism did so fairly passively, without really doing much study about anything upfront. However it’s been nearly two decades since I did do my leaving (holy cow time really does fly) and with all the new information that is available at the touch of a button it’s not hard to imagine that the Ex-Mormon scene is quite a bit different than what I experienced. Particularly considering the rather niche group that I knew back in the day. The internet is a pretty wild and crazy place.
All that said I feel I can empathize with the quotations that Sharon shared above, and also feel that I can’t begin to judge anyone for leaving the LDS faith. The old Mormon adages of sinfulness and/or Offence really should be set aside. Sometimes they may be true (well probably not the “wanting to sin” thing, that’s just dumb. My own father did leave Mormonism because of offence though, so it has happened at least once), but I would argue that the vast majority of the time someone leaving their faith has far deeper and more thought out reasons than most LDS have ever given thought to.
TJayT —
You’ve had quite a journey! It would be fascinating to learn what brought you back to the LDS Church and how you would describe your present believer status.
T
I don’t know where you are now as far as your belief system, but from all of the videos I’ve watched of people who have left, it is a slow process out. There’s a good video of Grant Palmer talking about his “Ah Ha” moments. There was a meeting this summer out in SLC, Sunstone. What a cross-section of former and current Mormons showed up.
From one blogger:
Where else could orthodox Mormon Ed Smart, right-leaning excommunicant Denver Snuffer, left-leaning excommunicant John Dehlin, and regular Flunking Sainthood guest blogger Bryndis Roberts all break bread and share ideas together? At Sunstone, of course.
But the fact that the symposium has been stretching its wings to move Sunstone from the comfortable, friendly “old home week” it had become in recent years to something more inclusive and wide-ranging is hugely encouraging to me. The Mormon umbrella is wide and getting visibly wider. If more conservative Mormons were made uncomfortable by the conference’s boundary-breaking discussions in areas like sexuality, some liberal Mormons were made to shift in their seats by moments like Ed Smart earnestly bearing his testimony as if he were in church. (I would have loved to hear that, myself.)
Traditional topics were on the menu too, but with a twist. Park’s favorite panel was one presenting four views of Joseph Smith. “Dan Vogel represented the case for Smith as a pious fraud. Ann Taves saw him as a visionary. Christopher Smith did con man, and Don Bradley did prophet. We asked people in the audience to raise their hand for the one they identified with. That’s what we want to foster at Sunstone—respectful dialogue of a variety of different perspectives.”
– See more at: http://janariess.religionnews.com/2015/08/03/attendance-triples-at-progressive-mormon-sunstone-symposium-despite-hiccups/#sthash.W4Ku3el2.dpuf
Quite frankly, it appears that the more LDS folks learn, the less likely they are to remain in the church. Add to any dissatisfaction they might have with the culture itself and it’s easy to see why there’s a steady flow out these days.
So TJay, where does that put you these days?
For me, finding out the LDS church wasn’t true was gut wrenching. I was a very naive TBM. I was born into it and indoctrinated. I never studied other religions, I knew I belonged to the only true church, I’d been told that since birth. The only thing I could tell you about Christianity was it was an abomination to God.
What’s interesting is that I’d never been through the temple and wasn’t aware of the deeper doctrines. The majority of Mormons are not Temple Mormons and are basing their faith on an incomplete picture of the religion. Just like I did. I once told my Mom that I don’t believe I need to know secret hand shakes to get into Heaven. She laughed at me and didn’t believe me when I told her that was part of the temple ceremony. She died not believing she needs to know secret hand shakes. My Mom died a tithe paying TBM but she didn’t know half of the doctrines.
My ah ha moment came while reading an article in an Ensign about proof the Book of Abraham is true. Of course the article didn’t give proof at all just a whole lot of fluff. That started a three year study of Mormonism and Christianity. I’ve been out for five years now.
I was contacted by the bishop who asked me if someone offended me, my husband told me that I should have said yes, Joseph Smith 🙂 I told him that I’d been studying for three years and I just don’t believe a word of it. He assured me we could still be friends.
I’m thankful to be out but I’d be lying if I said it’s comfortable living in Mormonville now. I really dislike the culture and would love to move. I love the beautiful state of Utah but the culture here is stifling.
You know the saying “People leave the church but they can’t leave the church alone” well I’ve experienced just the opposite. I still have Missionaries showing up here. I recently had the relief society president wanting to bring one of her counselors by for a visit, when I refused she then started asking questions about myself and a family member. I love how they feel they can get involved in your life even after you’ve resigned. They have no boundaries. Sorry, I think invented a little, it’s just old and getting a little frustrating. I think it would have been easier to just be inactive instead of actually resigning and having my name and records removed. At least when I was inactive they never contacted me 🙂 I just have this little thing inside me called integrity…..
Here’s a good video of this year’s Manti pageant; Keith Walker talking to a TBM about salvation. This guy he’s talking to, who has no shortage of testosterone, just doesn’t get it when it comes to the role of “works”. I think the point here is perspective. What the LDS has in his head, though it isn’t spoken, is earning godhood. That’s the point of LDS salvation so it makes sense in that context, that he thinks his works play a part in his “salvation”. I think Keith does a very good job and his demeanor is excellent.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NT3CyeRfPBE
We’ve had these discussions with LDS over the years on this blog. We try to point out that we are saved “for” works, not saved “by” works. The LDS mindset can’t process that. It seems like we’re straining at gnats with this, but the distinction is very important.
Micah Wilder says that one of the verses that the Baptist pastor shared with him that stuck in his brain was Titus 3:5 “he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,”
In the LDS sect of Mormonism, it’s all about works. They don’t make the connection that we can’t add to anything Christ did for us on the cross. Jesus said, “It is finished.” which means literally “the debt has been paid”. It’s an accounting term in the Greek.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NT3CyeRfPBE
Having lived the active temple Mormon life for decades, I can tell you why the LDS have a difficult time distinguishing their concept of grace from a Christian’s concept of grace. It’s really quite simple in the mind of a Mormon. Granted, this is over-simplified, but here it is.
In the mind of a Mormon, Mormons accept the LDS “gospel”, they repent for an appropriate period of time (and that can be a matter of minutes, really), then they’re baptized, then their works lead then to “exaltation.” (There’s no point in discussing “salvation” with a Mormon because Mormons believe virtually everybody — believers, non-believers, heretics, crooks, etc. — is saved by God’s grace. Grace essentially means resurrection, and virtually everyone gets it. Therefore, for exaltation, you’ve accepted Christ and your good works follow. If good works don’t follow, you don’t get exaltation.
In that same Mormon mindset, a Christian will accept the Christian gospel, confess Christ, and that will be followed by repentance and good works. If good works don’t follow, that means either (a) God’s grace will be revoked or (b) you never really had it in the first place (depending on your brand of Christianity). Here, too, if good works don’t follow, you don’t get saved.
So, to a Mormon, you’re just preaching to the choir as far as they’re concerned. They figure that for Mormons and Christians both, good works must follow accepting Christ. No good works = no salvation/exaltation. They figure anything else is just word games and esoteric semantics that make no real difference.
Kate,
I’m so sorry to hear of your Mother’s passing . My wife and I send our love to you .
Sharon said , ” Though this is certainly not a scientific study , a common thread that runs through many of these responses is a personal hunger for God and His truth . While still Mormons, these people wanted to be closer to Jesus — they ‘ missed Jesus ‘ and they discovered ex-Mormons ‘ had a greater faith in Jesus . ‘ ”
Mormons are sincere people who have been convinced to enroll in a religious system ( join the Mormon church ) that makes them work relentlessly to hopefully qualify and earn salvation
(eternal life ) . Jesus is a part of this system . Jesus is more of a way shower than the exclusive way to enter God’s home above and receive eternal life . He’s more of a big brother who worked the system and reached the goal it offered — becoming a God . This is the Mormonism’s “restored ” gospel .
In Mormonism to ” come unto Christ ” to “know Christ” are phrases used to tell LDS to follow Christ as Exemplar , doing what He did , amassing knowledge about Him to help live a moral lifestyle etc .
It’s no wonder ex Mormons tell of something missing in their lives while they were active Mormons concerning personally knowing Jesus — He got buried under the enormous ” to do ” list that is the Mormon gospel . Faith in Him is simply a rung on the tall ladder that Mormon leaders have described their gospel , which LDS are required to climb up to reach God’s home above and receive eternal life .
Mormons can be free of the man made religious system that is the Mormon gospel . The answer to spiritual freedom and peace with God comes by way of a person named Jesus — Jn 14:6 . Jesus is waiting to hear from the Mormon people who have finally discovered something is’nt quite right in their lives despite working the Mormon system .
Historybuff:
I doubt anyone would want to hear the long version of the story, but the short version is that after criticizing Christianity for nearly a decade I decided it would be a good idea to actually read the Bible so I could better cut down Christians, and ended up gaining a saving faith in Jesus. Afterword I read the BoM (since I had never bothered doing that either) and equally came to believe it to be the word of God. I’m not exactly sure what you mean by believer status. I would argue I’m a believer in the LDS church, I’m not there for the culture or to socialize if that’s what you mean.
Falcon:
Not one hundred percent sure what sort of answer you’re looking for, but as far as my faith journey goes I would point to James Fowler’s “Stages of Faith” and say I would like to think that I have been moving out of stage four and into stage five, but I also think it’s hard to judge one’s self from the inside like that.
Kate:
If you are the Kate that I have had the pleasure of speaking to in the past (it sounds like you are) then let me also send my condolences to you for your loss. I seem to remember you speaking of your mother in those posts from a few years back. Also if you and your husband ever do get the chance to move but want to stay near Utah let me recommend the Uintah Basin. There are still a lot of Mormons around here, but due to the economy being based on the Energy and Exploration field there are almost as many Non-Mormons that have emigrated from outside the state. Here in Vernal specifically I would argue there are close to as many Christian churches as there are ward buildings (If you count the Catholics and Seventh day Adventists at any rate). It’s quite scenic too. Plus it would give you a chance to evangelize me personally. Just a thought 😉
T– why do you remain a believer in the LDS church?
MJP
Because I think many of the fundamental beliefs of the LDS church solve a number of the problems I had with Christianity in the first place. That and I feel it’s the church that Christ has called me to.
TjayT ,
I find it interesting what you said to MJP : ” ….I feel it’s the church that Christ called me to .”
Would you mind answering a couple questions for me ?
1. Do you believe that a person must be baptized by a Mormon priesthood holder to have their sins forgiven by God . I was baptized in a Baptist church is that sufficient baptism ?
2. Is the Mormon church Christ’s only true church today , and whose officers exclusively have been commissioned Jesus , and who alone preach the true gospel of salvation ?
I ask these questions because you said you came to faith in Christ after reading the Bible , and that you are “called ” to be in the Mormon church . So Jesus wants you there specifically because it is His only true church ? Or is there another reason ?
Thanks .
Mike:
1: An interesting question. I suppose I don’t believe one must be baptized by the power of the LDS priesthood in order to have their sins forgiven. Faith in Christ grants some form of forgiveness in the LDS understanding of the hereafter, since it grants one the ability to enter into the Terrestrial Kingdom. I suppose that is an effect of the synergetic view of Mormon salvation. Baptism by one holding the LDS priesthood is a requirement for entrance into the Celestial Kingdom though. If that is because it gives a “more full” form of forgiveness (say a full acquittal of sin as compared to a pardoning of it) or because it shows a “more full” commitment to Christ I don’t know, though my first inclination is toward the latter. I will need to do more study in this area.
2: I would say that the Mormon church is Christ’s only fully true church today, who’s membership alone preach the fully true gospel of salvation. I have no problem believing Jesus has commissioned officers outside the LDS church, particularly in areas that aren’t being reached by LDS missionaries. After all Mormons believe that God commissioned Columbus to sail to the new world, Luther to kick off the reformation and the founding fathers of the United States to do their thing just to name a few. Also Mormons believe there is truth in nearly every faith. Some have much truth and some have little, but it’s there.
You asked what I meant when I said I feel the LDS church is where Christ has called me. I don’t think every person on the planet is expected to be Mormon in this life. But I feel that Christ expects me to be. I really can’t put my feelings about it into better words than that at the moment. I’ll give it some hard thought and see if I can do better at another point.
Thanks for the questions, you really got me thinking there 🙂
TjayT ,
Thanks for your reply . I must say after reading your comments I thought you must be politician because you covered all the bases like you’re were’nt trying to say anything negative about non LDS in relation to salvation . So you believe that Non LDS who worship Jesus have only a partial forgiveness of sins ; and non LDS who worship Jesus have only a a partial gospel of salvation . So in reality non LDS are doomed as far as receiving the gift of eternal life as thy stand right now . I’m so used to reading what Mormon leaders say about apostates like me and others here and their churches that your attempt to be more diplomatic than them kind of caught me off guard .
I’m sorry my friend but your testimony of Jesus ” calling ” you to be a Mormon just does’nt fly with what the scriptures say about that point . If you have truly come to faith in Christ then sooner or later you will leave Mormonism because the Holy Spirit being the Spirit of Truth will never give you a good feeling about what Mormon leaders have taught on some very crucial issues , and that eventually will dawn on you . You’ll discover that Mormon leaders are indeed latter days prophets not sent by Jesus — Matt 24:11 . So because we care we’re going to keep praying for you .
Take care .
Mike
Ouch, a politician? No need to start throwing low blows 😉
Seriously though I wasn’t trying to speak diplomatically, just trying to speak my feelings clearly. Yes, I “believe that Non LDS who worship Jesus have only a partial forgiveness of sins ; and non LDS who worship Jesus have only a a partial gospel of salvation”. However that also means I believe that they have a partial gift of eternal life as they stand right now, not that they are doomed. One who believes on Christ will live in his presence forever more in LDS theology. Do I believe that is a form of damnation? Yes. Do I believe that’s everything God wants to give us? Not in the least. Does it sound like the worst outcome that could be had? Again not in the least. And that isn’t counting those that the LDS believe will hear the full gospel of salvation in the hereafter. In that respect many non LDS that worship Jesus do stand to gain the complete gift of eternal life and everything that entails.
As far as my testimony goes I wouldn’t expect it to convince anyone of anything. That’s why I try not make a point of sharing it when I talk with people of other faiths. But by all means feel free to pray for me, I can use all the help I can get 🙂
Always good to talk to you.
Mike
Ouch, a politician? No need to start throwing low blows 😉
Seriously though I wasn’t trying to speak diplomatically, just trying to speak my feelings clearly. Yes, I “believe that Non LDS who worship Jesus have only a partial forgiveness of sins ; and non LDS who worship Jesus have only a a partial gospel of salvation”. However that also means I believe that they have a partial gift of eternal life as they stand right now, not that they are completely doomed. One who believes on Christ will live in his presence forever more in LDS theology. Do I believe that is a form of damnation? Yes. Do I believe that’s everything God wants to give us? Not in the least. Does it sound like the worst outcome that could be had? Again not in the least. And that isn’t counting those that the LDS believe will hear the full gospel of salvation in the hereafter. In that respect many non LDS that worship Jesus do stand to gain the complete gift of eternal life and everything that entails.
As far as my testimony goes I wouldn’t expect it to convince anyone of anything. That’s why I try not make a point of sharing it when I talk with people of other faiths. But by all means feel free to pray for me, I can use all the help I can get 🙂
Always good to talk to you.
TjayT,
So the bottom line then is according to Mormonism : The only preachers of the true gospel of salvation are Mormon leaders , and the only true body of Christ are Mormons . All others constitute the church of the Devil in the latter days and are lost . Now that’s what I read from Mormon authorities , ( and it’s a common theme in other latter( last) days false prophet led organizations teach , one example –Jw’s ) .
So non Mormons who worship Jesus Christ believe only ” a partial gospel ” which means according to Paul in Gal 1:8 that would amount to embracing “another gospel ” . That’s truly being spiritually lost .But that’s Mormon teaching .
Anyway , I”m glad you did’nt take offense at my ” politician ” comment , that’s all I could think of at the moment . I hope you’re having a great weekend . Take care .
For me leaving was slowwww…though I stopped officially going to church when I hit 18 after going every Sunday my whole life, I started going again a couple years ago because it was familiar and I was seeking God. At that point I knew there were some issues with the Church that I had always had and I needed to look further into them if I were to continue to be LDS. I found myself questioning I was very young and my mom told be that families can be together in heaven if they are sealed. Many mormons express how thankful they are for forever families, but is this really good news? For us it was terrible because my parents aren’t sealed (and what about all the non mormons out there?) How is this better than anything orthodox Christianity has to offer, eternal life with loved ones no temple sealing necessary?
The main other things were:
– polygamy – which we were taught openly in my family since we come from polygamists
– discrimination against blacks
– Josephs boasting, but we were also taught he might have fallen in his later years
– the idea of becoming Gods and ruling planets
– the idea that God the Father was a sky daddy, demiurge (this just never felt right, It was very difficult for me to even pray to this God)
– jospeh translating through the hat
This is before doing any research, which that in itself terrified the crap out of me because we were taught not to read things that were contrary to the faith.
Now my list could fill entire libraries of books, and I really dont think I even begun to scratch the surface of the problems judging from the tidbits I have read from people who have dug deeper.
The more I looked the bigger the problems became. I started reading the Bible, and also reading commentary from random Christian groups just comparing the 2 and learning more about Christianity. I went through pretty much every teaching of Mormonism that contrast Christian teaching. I went back as early as possible to the Church Fathers since Mormonism is supposed to be a restoration.
Now you can twist random versus in the Bible to make them say what you want, but when you go back to the first century Bishops, the ones the apostles appointed, and you find Christiananity, the trinity, creation ex-nihilo there + specific objections to current mormon doctrines – like pre-mortal existence, on NOT 3 Gods, and everything else under the sun, the mormon claims just really don’t hold water. Continuing revelation doesn’t hold water either. The Bible says the faith was ONCE delivered. Very early on it was already being called Catholic which in greek means according to the whole, nothing missing. Some things needed clarified, and gone deeper into due to heresy (like the trinity doctrine) but St. Paul even says that through the conflicts the truth will be revealed.
I tried to give the LDS church a fair chance every opportunity I could. I did make a lot of excuses, tons of mental gymnastics, kept thinking, but what if it really IS true and for some reason I just don’t want to believe it? Being LDS would be much more convenient for me for sure since my entire huge family is LDS and It’s the only church I’m baptized in.