September, 2023 - wasmormon.org

"I suppose the Church would be perfect only if it were run by perfect beings. God is perfect, and His doctrine is pure. But He works through us—His imperfect children—and imperfect people make mistakes." - Dieter F. Uchtdorf, 2013 | wasmormon.org — "I suppose the Church would be perfect only if it were run by perfect beings. God is perfect, and His doctrine is pure. But He works through us—His imperfect children—and imperfect people make mistakes." - Dieter F. Uchtdorf, 2013

"To be perfectly frank, there have been times when members or leaders in the Church have simply made mistakes. There may have been things said or done that were not in harmony with our values, principles, or doctrine." - Dieter F. Uchtdorf, 2013 | wasmormon.org — "To be perfectly frank, there have been times when members or leaders in the Church have simply made mistakes. There may have been things said or done that were not in harmony with our values, principles, or doctrine." - Dieter F. Uchtdorf, 2013

“Sometimes there is a difference of opinion as to what the “facts” really mean. A question that creates doubt in some can, after careful investigation, build faith in others.” - Dieter F. Uchtdorf, 2013 | wasmormon.org — “Sometimes there is a difference of opinion as to what the “facts” really mean. A question that creates doubt in some can, after careful investigation, build faith in others.” - Dieter F. Uchtdorf, 2013

“Some struggle with unanswered questions about things that have been done or said in the past. We openly acknowledge that in Church history — along with an uninterrupted line of inspired, honorable, and divine events — there have been some things said and done that could cause people to question.” - Dieter F. Uchtdorf, 2013 | wasmormon.org — “Some struggle with unanswered questions about things that have been done or said in the past. We openly acknowledge that in Church history — along with an uninterrupted line of inspired, honorable, and divine events — there have been some things said and done that could cause people to question.” - Dieter F. Uchtdorf, 2013

“It’s natural to have questions... First doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith. We must never allow doubt to hold us prisoner.” - Dieter F. Uchtdorf, 2013 | wasmormon.org — “It’s natural to have questions... First doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith. We must never allow doubt to hold us prisoner.” - Dieter F. Uchtdorf, 2013

"First doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith" - Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, 2013 | wasmormon.org — "First doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith" - Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, 2013

This is not an ad, it's a spotlight on a profile shared at wasmormon.org. These are just the highlights, so please find Ken's full story at https://wasmormon.org/profile/kenclark/. There are over a hundred more stories of Mormon faith journeys contributed by users like you. Come check them out and consider sharing your own story at wasmormon.org!

"I love being contacted by former students, friends, ward members, who wonder how me and my family are. I am happy to tell them why I left, but the majority don't want to know. That's okay. Live and let live. The Mormon Church is not truthful. This deception should not be tolerated by disaffected members anymore than it is tolerated with an unfaithful spouse. Four of our five children graduated from Mormonism ahead of us. They set a good example for us. My wife and I; and the family, are happier than we have ever been." Ken Clark - Find Ken's full story at https://wasmormon.org/profile/kenclark/

"I just couldn't violate my conscience anymore. Years of study demonstrated "beyond a shadow of a doubt" that Mormonism's leaders had no intention of sharing the truth with the world. They were instead committed to a giant coverup of all historical and doctrinal information that might sully the image of the church." Ken Clark - Find Ken's full story at https://wasmormon.org/profile/kenclark/

"One need only read church history to note how often lying to protect the church and its leaders was used as a practical management tool. I started to compile a list of significant (not little ones) lies the church leaders have spread throughout history. I quit at 150 big lies from Joseph Smith to the present. (I later presented and published this list, they are easy to find with a quick "Lying for the Lord" search)" Ken Clark - Find Ken's full story at https://wasmormon.org/profile/kenclark/

"Emotions are Superior to Evidence based Truths. The Mormon leaders' admonitions to members about why feelings (testimonies) are superior to anything else including facts backed by hard evidence. The overwhelming message from leaders is doubt your (own) doubts and trust your leaders. Because they will never lead you astray." Ken Clark - Find Ken's full story at https://wasmormon.org/profile/kenclark/

"Certainty Breeds Intolerance. Teaching the gullible members to preface testimonies with "I know" is not only dishonest, it prompts members to think that they possess some secret and superior access to facts, otherwise unknown to the rest of the world." Ken Clark - Find Ken's full story at https://wasmormon.org/profile/kenclark/

"I learned when studying and asking sincere questions that swift discipline and warnings came from leaders. They were not remotely interested in the true history and evolving and constantly changing position on "doctrines." Only that the membership would never learn the true history and absurd adjustments to doctrine." Ken Clark - Find Ken's full story at https://wasmormon.org/profile/kenclark/

"I kept a journal and had large binders filled with life experiences and personal musings. I read them for inspiration from time to time (my personal Doctrine and Covenants), but all I could find on every page was guilt and feelings of inadequacy or unworthiness. It was a record of a man riddled with angst and shame. I was miserable. Rather than bore readers with a lengthy list of "what else happened to me," I'd rather list the principles that left me wondering how I could have ever agreed to convert." Ken Clark - Find Ken's full story at https://wasmormon.org/profile/kenclark/

"I pressured, begged, pleaded, cajoled my new wife into joining the church in 1970. As a new convert I wanted to become a full time CES professional after graduation from college. I thought teaching full time for the church meant using a scholarly, studious approach to the church's origin story and its doctrine. I worked hard to become a noted defender of the church. I read everything, developed elaborate outlines and notes. I outlined chapters of the scriptures (all of them), with commentary." Ken Clark - Find Ken's full story at https://wasmormon.org/profile/kenclark/

"I'm a convert and served as a Bishop. I was a CES teacher for 27 years. I resigned from both the CES and the church at the same time. I was a Mormon." Ken Clark - Find Ken's full story at https://wasmormon.org/profile/kenclark/

Evert Was a Mormon, an Ex-Mormon Profile Spotlight

Evert accepted God into his life as a young man, met the missionaries, and joined the Mormon church. He served a mission, married in the temple (without his non-member family present), and began a Mormon family. When he questioned his leaders they retorted that they don’t make mistakes. He noticed a lack of the Spirit …

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"Not many months later, the church published an essay confirming the facts that my non-believing friend had told me many times before, about Joseph Smith’s polygamist marriages to underage girls. So many "anti-Mormon lies" of yesterday, are confirmed truths today. My wife and I stepped away from the church. Our 4 children were out of the house and out of the church at that time as well. " - Find Brent's full story at https://wasmormon.org/profile/brent-hale/

"Born in Salt Lake City, raised in a small, Southern Idaho Mormon community. Descendent of Mormon Pioneers. I served a mission, later married in the temple and served in many callings, from nursery to first counsellor in the bishopric. I was a Mormon." - Find Brent's full story at https://wasmormon.org/profile/brent-hale/

"Soon thereafter, I decided to revisit those issues I had with the Book of Mormon. I determined that I was going to figure it out on my own with church-approved material and taking in to account the experiences that I have witnessed in my own lifetime. Long story short, I came to the conclusion that what I believed in my heart about the nature of God was contradicted by many things I read in the BOM." - Find Brent's full story at https://wasmormon.org/profile/brent-hale/

"A few years later, in a High Priest Group meeting the lesson was about the translation of the Book of Mormon. After that lesson I was convinced that my doubts were unwarranted and that Joseph Smith truly did receive inspiration from God to translate. I was having a testimony roller coaster ride." - Find Brent's full story at https://wasmormon.org/profile/brent-hale/

"For many years a close friend of mine has discussed with me a lot of topics that I considered anti-Mormon. This friend is one that I respect and admire, but I rejected everything he told me. I will never make a judgment about anything important like that unless I hear firsthand from unbiased witnesses without an agenda. The things he told me were unverifiable even though he believed them to be true and he was convinced that the LDS church was not true. I stood firm to my beliefs." - Find Brent's full story at https://wasmormon.org/profile/brent-hale/

"In my lifetime I had personally witnessed many major changes in the church. I honestly do believe that all those changes make it better, however, I had been taught that the fullness of the gospel was restored by Joseph Smith so why did it need to be changed? I still shelved my issues. I wasn’t quite sure what to do at that point in time." - Find Brent's full story at https://wasmormon.org/profile/brent-hale/

"When I was serving as the 1st counselor, the bishop at the time challenged everyone in the ward to read the Book of Mormon. I was on board and excited about the chance to strengthen my testimony about it and dove in head first to that challenge. I encouraged all my family members to participate as well. My attitude and heart were right, but as I read, my logical mind took over and I found myself doubting the validity of it. I had a few specific, but strong issues with it that I struggled with but I put them on a shelf in the back of my mind." - Find Brent's full story at https://wasmormon.org/profile/brent-hale/

"On a flight I sat next a Baptist Minister. I decided, contrary to my normal behavior on an airplane, to have a real conversation with a stranger. He told me about the Baptists' "Young Earth" beliefs and when I asked him about dinosaurs, he told me that carbon dating didn't work. I still remember my thought when he said that; "boy those Baptists sure expect their members to believe some silly stuff. Wait, so does my church". " - Find Brent's full story at https://wasmormon.org/profile/brent-hale/

"Then one day I got some very terrible news about a member of my family. My life has not been short on adversity and this was one of the most adverse things that had ever happened. I was really angry at God, feeling picked on, ready to throw in the towel. Honestly, that was the straw that broke the camel’s back. It was a hard thing for me, but I decided that I could no longer count myself a believer of the LDS church. Not even a believer in God." - Find Brent's full story at https://wasmormon.org/profile/brent-hale/

This is not an ad, it's a spotlight on a profile shared at wasmormon.org. These are just the highlights, so please find Brent's full story at https://wasmormon.org/profile/brent-hale/. There are over a hundred more stories of Mormon faith journeys contributed by users like you. Come check them out and consider sharing your own story at wasmormon.org!

Hinckley: We know [heaven] is there. We have an assurance of that. Wallace: There’s a lot of us that don’t. Hinckley: Yeah, I know that. But you could. Wallace: I’ve thought about it. I’ve not been able to persuade myself. Hinckley: Well, you haven’t thought about it long enough. - LDS Church President Gordon B. Hinckley on 60 Minutes | wasmormon.org — Hinckley: We know [heaven] is there. We have an assurance of that. Wallace: There’s a lot of us that don’t. Hinckley: Yeah, I know that. But you could. Wallace: I’ve thought about it. I’ve not been able to persuade myself. Hinckley: Well, you haven’t thought about it long enough. - LDS Church President Gordon B. Hinckley on 60 Minutes

Oaks’ ‘No Apologies’ – The Church Doesn’t Seek or Give Apologies

"The church doesn't seek apologies, and we don't give them." Elder Dallin H Oaks, LDS First Presidency | wasmormon.org

In 2015 while speaking with Elder D Todd Christofferson, Elder Dallin H Oaks made a defacto statement that is still reverberating for many Mormons: among believers and non-believers. Elder Christofferson was asked what the church leadership thinks of church members who support same-sex marriage and stated that members can believe what they wish, but warned …

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"If Joseph Smith was a deceiver, who wilfully attempted to mislead the people, then he should be exposed; his claims should be refuted, and his doctrines shown to be false, for the doctrines of an impostor cannot be made to harmonize in all particulars with divine truth." - LDS Church President, Elder Joseph Fielding Smith - Doctrines of Salvation, Vol. I | wasmormon.org — "If Joseph Smith was a deceiver, who wilfully attempted to mislead the people, then he should be exposed; his claims should be refuted, and his doctrines shown to be false, for the doctrines of an impostor cannot be made to harmonize in all particulars with divine truth." - LDS Church President, Elder Joseph Fielding Smith - Doctrines of Salvation, Vol. I

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