Yearly Archives: 2024

"I was born and raised Mormon. My entire life was centered around my faith. I attended church diligently. I was active in young men’s and the boys scouts. I earned every achievement I could. I served a two year mission in Colorado, came home and got married in the temple. I did everything right and felt I was on the path to salvation. I am an avid tabletop RPG player, a historian, and enjoyer of reading. I was a Mormon." - Stephanie's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/steffie7/
"I was born and raised Mormon. My entire life was centered around my faith. I attended church diligently. I was active in young men’s and the boys scouts. I earned every achievement I could. I served a two year mission in Colorado, came home and got married in the temple. I did everything right and felt I was on the path to salvation. I am an avid tabletop RPG player, a historian, and enjoyer of reading. I was a Mormon." - Stephanie's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/steffie7/
"Since I was seven years old, I carried a secret with me. I wasn’t a boy. At least not internally. I didn’t know anything about transgender people, all I knew was I was not a boy. Growing up and hearing how people like me were unhappy sinners, I kept it to myself." - Stephanie's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/steffie7/
"Since I was seven years old, I carried a secret with me. I wasn’t a boy. At least not internally. I didn’t know anything about transgender people, all I knew was I was not a boy. Growing up and hearing how people like me were unhappy sinners, I kept it to myself." - Stephanie's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/steffie7/
"Until I met a trans woman who was truly happy. More happy than anyone I ever met. I made friends with other people who are LGBTQ+ and they helped me see that they were just being their authentic selves. I finally came out as trans." - Stephanie's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/steffie7/
"Until I met a trans woman who was truly happy. More happy than anyone I ever met. I made friends with other people who are LGBTQ+ and they helped me see that they were just being their authentic selves. I finally came out as trans." - Stephanie's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/steffie7/
"After trying to balance reality with what I learned in the church, reality won and I haven’t gone back. I could not bear the pain of the severe gender dysphoria I dealt with, but coming out and transitioning has done more for my happiness than the church ever did. I just wanted to follow the decree, Men are that they might have joy. I didn’t feel joy before. I do now." - Stephanie's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/steffie7/
"After trying to balance reality with what I learned in the church, reality won and I haven’t gone back. I could not bear the pain of the severe gender dysphoria I dealt with, but coming out and transitioning has done more for my happiness than the church ever did. I just wanted to follow the decree, Men are that they might have joy. I didn’t feel joy before. I do now." - Stephanie's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/steffie7/
"I’m at peace. The constant depression I felt trying to confirm and be perfect by Mormon standards is gone and I can actually function day to day. I’ve never thought I’d be at peace and happy in life and it’s not perfect, I still have bad days, but I don’t feel like a broken vessel anymore." - Stephanie's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/steffie7/
"I’m at peace. The constant depression I felt trying to confirm and be perfect by Mormon standards is gone and I can actually function day to day. I’ve never thought I’d be at peace and happy in life and it’s not perfect, I still have bad days, but I don’t feel like a broken vessel anymore." - Stephanie's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/steffie7/
This is a spotlight on a profile shared at wasmormon.org. These are just the highlights, so please find the full story at https://wasmormon.org/profile/steffie7/. There are stories of Mormon faith journeys contributed by hundreds of users like you. Come check them out and consider sharing your own story at wasmormon.org!
This is a spotlight on a profile shared at wasmormon.org. These are just the highlights, so please find the full story at https://wasmormon.org/profile/steffie7/. There are stories of Mormon faith journeys contributed by hundreds of users like you. Come check them out and consider sharing your own story at wasmormon.org!
"I was raised in the Church by convert parents and aspired to nothing less than a life of participation and activity in the Church. I served a mission, married in an LDS temple, even went to BYU. Growing up I was praised by the adults in my congregations and held up as a leader and a model. All expectations were that I would be up to my eyeballs in church callings and activities and raising kids to be good Mormons. I love books, history, art, and I am always learning. I was a Mormon." - Frank's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/frank/
"I was raised in the Church by convert parents and aspired to nothing less than a life of participation and activity in the Church. I served a mission, married in an LDS temple, even went to BYU. Growing up I was praised by the adults in my congregations and held up as a leader and a model. All expectations were that I would be up to my eyeballs in church callings and activities and raising kids to be good Mormons. I love books, history, art, and I am always learning. I was a Mormon." - Frank's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/frank/
"I thought that I could learn new things about the Church and about the gospel on the Internet. I started browsing the net looking for sites about Mormonism. I was exposed to those who ranted against the Church, and to apologists trying to defend it. I remember reading about the Book of Abraham, and the controversy surrounding the resurfacing of the original papyri. Translations of the original papyri proved them to be nothing more than commonplace Egyptian funerary texts, and what’s more, they were dated much later than Abraham–almost as late as Jesus’ time. This disturbed me." - Frank's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/frank/
"I thought that I could learn new things about the Church and about the gospel on the Internet. I started browsing the net looking for sites about Mormonism. I was exposed to those who ranted against the Church, and to apologists trying to defend it. I remember reading about the Book of Abraham, and the controversy surrounding the resurfacing of the original papyri. Translations of the original papyri proved them to be nothing more than commonplace Egyptian funerary texts, and what’s more, they were dated much later than Abraham–almost as late as Jesus’ time. This disturbed me." - Frank's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/frank/
"I sought out the apologist websites, looking for a reasoned explanation of this phenomenon. I was looking to be reassured in my faith. I didn’t want to question it. But the responses I found were so weak as to be laughable. They did not give me an adequate reason to not accept the facts that I had discovered. This was the beginning of the avalanche. After this I began allowing myself the possibility that all I had been raised with, that I treasured, and had given my life to until that time, was false." - Frank's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/frank/
"I sought out the apologist websites, looking for a reasoned explanation of this phenomenon. I was looking to be reassured in my faith. I didn’t want to question it. But the responses I found were so weak as to be laughable. They did not give me an adequate reason to not accept the facts that I had discovered. This was the beginning of the avalanche. After this I began allowing myself the possibility that all I had been raised with, that I treasured, and had given my life to until that time, was false." - Frank's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/frank/
"Mormonism really does a number on people. I discarded and re-examined most of my most fundamental beliefs. It is a big world out there. Mormonism is so small and insignificant. It is fascinating, all the ways that humanity has expressed its desire for meaning and for community." - Frank's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/frank/
"Mormonism really does a number on people. I discarded and re-examined most of my most fundamental beliefs. It is a big world out there. Mormonism is so small and insignificant. It is fascinating, all the ways that humanity has expressed its desire for meaning and for community." - Frank's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/frank/
"Do Mormons Believe in a Loving God? No, because the Mormon god is the LDS Church. Many exmormons feel anger, or bitterness. This is justified. We were lied to, exploited, and abused by an organization that claimed to represent God and goodness. Feel those feelings if you need to. But keep in mind that they did not represent God. Don't let their lies and abuses cut you off from the real goodness that is out there." - Frank's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/frank/
"Do Mormons Believe in a Loving God? No, because the Mormon god is the LDS Church. Many exmormons feel anger, or bitterness. This is justified. We were lied to, exploited, and abused by an organization that claimed to represent God and goodness. Feel those feelings if you need to. But keep in mind that they did not represent God. Don't let their lies and abuses cut you off from the real goodness that is out there." - Frank's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/frank/
"The one thing I clung to after Mormonism was a belief in Something. I don't accept that existence is meaningless or a random chance. There has to be a reason that there is Something instead of Nothing. Otherwise, for me, life is just an absurdity hanging over an abyss. Truth, Beauty, and Goodness are real. So, I started a 10-year search. My search passed through Taoism, Buddhism, Judaism, Universalism, and a variety of Christian options." - Frank's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/frank/
"The one thing I clung to after Mormonism was a belief in Something. I don't accept that existence is meaningless or a random chance. There has to be a reason that there is Something instead of Nothing. Otherwise, for me, life is just an absurdity hanging over an abyss. Truth, Beauty, and Goodness are real. So, I started a 10-year search. My search passed through Taoism, Buddhism, Judaism, Universalism, and a variety of Christian options." - Frank's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/frank/
"In my reading and exploring I felt that the fundamental question that a religion had to answer was the Problem of Suffering. Why is there evil and suffering in the world? I found only 2 satisfactory answers, in Buddhism (transcend suffering) or in Christianity (embrace suffering). Of those, I found the Christian answer to be more compelling." - Frank's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/frank/
"In my reading and exploring I felt that the fundamental question that a religion had to answer was the Problem of Suffering. Why is there evil and suffering in the world? I found only 2 satisfactory answers, in Buddhism (transcend suffering) or in Christianity (embrace suffering). Of those, I found the Christian answer to be more compelling." - Frank's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/frank/
"I also extensively studied Biblical scholarship. I learned to understand that the Bible is an anthology of writings, in various genres, and that it is not to be idolized. I also learned to think about it in new ways. And to see where and how it was supported by history. This led me to the crisis point: did I accept the resurrection of Jesus as a real event? This was a leap of faith, of course, but God's grace led me to belief, and eventually, to join the Body of Christ as configured in the Catholic Church." - Frank's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/frank/
"I also extensively studied Biblical scholarship. I learned to understand that the Bible is an anthology of writings, in various genres, and that it is not to be idolized. I also learned to think about it in new ways. And to see where and how it was supported by history. This led me to the crisis point: did I accept the resurrection of Jesus as a real event? This was a leap of faith, of course, but God's grace led me to belief, and eventually, to join the Body of Christ as configured in the Catholic Church." - Frank's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/frank/
"Find your own path. Take your time. There is a big world out there. I spent years exploring various faith traditions. I was not sure I would choose a new faith. For a long time, I figured on just doing my own thing, without an organization or a defined path. Eventually, I decided that spirituality requires community, and I found a tradition that made sense to me and that matched my needs. I don't think it is "the one true church" or that it gets to lay claim to me, my brain, my time, or my money. I have certain boundaries now, after Mormonism." - Frank's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/frank/
"Find your own path. Take your time. There is a big world out there. I spent years exploring various faith traditions. I was not sure I would choose a new faith. For a long time, I figured on just doing my own thing, without an organization or a defined path. Eventually, I decided that spirituality requires community, and I found a tradition that made sense to me and that matched my needs. I don't think it is "the one true church" or that it gets to lay claim to me, my brain, my time, or my money. I have certain boundaries now, after Mormonism." - Frank's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/frank/
This is a spotlight on a profile shared at wasmormon.org. These are just the highlights, so please find the full story at https://wasmormon.org/profile/frank/. There are stories of Mormon faith journeys contributed by hundreds of users like you. Come check them out and consider sharing your own story at wasmormon.org!
This is a spotlight on a profile shared at wasmormon.org. These are just the highlights, so please find the full story at https://wasmormon.org/profile/frank/. There are stories of Mormon faith journeys contributed by hundreds of users like you. Come check them out and consider sharing your own story at wasmormon.org!

How Much is a Modest Living Allowance for Mormon Apostles? How Much Do LDS Church Leaders Get Paid?

Are the top Mormon leaders paid for their callings as General Authorities? Yes! They receive what they call a “living allowance.” In a few instances, church leaders admit this, although they also make repeated statements claiming that there are no paid clergy. Gordon B. Hinckley in a moment of honesty admits that General Authorities are …

Continue reading “How Much is a Modest Living Allowance for Mormon Apostles? How Much Do LDS Church Leaders Get Paid?”

“The living allowances given the General Authorities, which are very modest” LDS Church President Gordon B. Hinckley. What does the LDS Church pay its most senior clergy? 2024 Estimate: $178,746 - The Widow's Mite: Employee & GA Compensation, Page 1. American workers made a median wage in 2024 of $59,228 per year - US Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2024 Study. 3x the average is not “very modest” | wasmormon.org
“The living allowances given the General Authorities, which are very modest” LDS Church President Gordon B. Hinckley. What does the LDS Church pay its most senior clergy? 2024 Estimate: $178,746 - The Widow's Mite: Employee & GA Compensation, Page 1. American workers made a median wage in 2024 of $59,228 per year - US Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2024 Study. 3x the average is not “very modest”.
“I wish to give the entire Church the assurance that tithing funds have not and will not be used to acquire this property. Nor will they be used in developing it for commercial purposes. Funds for this have come and will come from those commercial entities owned by the Church. These resources, together with the earnings of invested reserve funds, will accommodate this program.” - President Gordon B. Hinckley | General Conference April 2003 | wasmormon.org
“I wish to give the entire Church the assurance that tithing funds have not and will not be used to acquire this property. Nor will they be used in developing it for commercial purposes. Funds for this have come and will come from those commercial entities owned by the Church. These resources, together with the earnings of invested reserve funds, will accommodate this program.” - President Gordon B. Hinckley | General Conference April 2003
During my employment at Ensign Peak Advisors, senior leadership and other employees referred to and revered all funds as “tithing” money, regardless of whether they were referring to principal or earnings on that principal. Tithing donations from the Church’s members were commingled with earnings. Every penny was referred to as the “widow’s mite.” - David Nielsen, former Senior Portfolio Manager, Ensign Peak Advisors, Whistleblower | wasmormon.org
During my employment at Ensign Peak Advisors, senior leadership and other employees referred to and revered all funds as “tithing” money, regardless of whether they were referring to principal or earnings on that principal. Tithing donations from the Church’s members were commingled with earnings. Every penny was referred to as the “widow’s mite.” - David Nielsen, former Senior Portfolio Manager, Ensign Peak Advisors, Whistleblower

Donated Tithing Funds vs Earnings on Invested Tithing

The church repeatedly states that no tithing money is used for its business purposes, like funding the City Creek Center or bailout money for church-owned insurance company, Beneficial Life. The church is surprisingly secretive about finances and has not publicly disclosed any financial statements in the United States since 1959, that’s 65 years and counting. The …

Continue reading “Donated Tithing Funds vs Earnings on Invested Tithing”

“When the priests left their labor to impart the word of God unto the people, the people also left their labors to hear the word of God. And when the priest had imparted unto them the word of God they all returned again diligently unto their labors; and the priest, not esteeming himself above his hearers, for the preacher was no better than the hearer, neither was the teacher any better than the learner; and thus they were all equal, and they did all labor, every man according to his strength.” - Alma 1 | The Book of Mormon | wasmormon.org
“When the priests left their labor to impart the word of God unto the people, the people also left their labors to hear the word of God. And when the priest had imparted unto them the word of God they all returned again diligently unto their labors; and the priest, not esteeming himself above his hearers, for the preacher was no better than the hearer, neither was the teacher any better than the learner; and thus they were all equal, and they did all labor, every man according to his strength.” - Alma 1 | The Book of Mormon
“[Nehor declared] unto the people that every priest and teacher ought to become popular; and they ought not to labor with their hands, but that they ought to be supported by the people... Alma said unto him: Behold, this is the first time that priestcraft has been introduced among this people... were priestcraft to be enforced among this people it would prove their entire destruction. Therefore thou art condemned to die.” - Alma 1 | The Book of Mormon | wasmormon.org
“[Nehor declared] unto the people that every priest and teacher ought to become popular; and they ought not to labor with their hands, but that they ought to be supported by the people... Alma said unto him: Behold, this is the first time that priestcraft has been introduced among this people... were priestcraft to be enforced among this people it would prove their entire destruction. Therefore thou art condemned to die.” - Alma 1 | The Book of Mormon
“He commandeth that there shall be no priestcrafts; for, behold, priestcrafts are that men preach and set themselves up for a light unto the world, that they may get gain and praise of the world; but they seek not the welfare of Zion. Behold, the Lord hath forbidden this thing; wherefore, the Lord God hath given a commandment that all men should have charity. But the laborer in Zion shall labor for Zion; for if they labor for money they shall perish.” - 2 Nephi 26 | The Book of Mormon | wasmormon.org
“He commandeth that there shall be no priestcrafts; for, behold, priestcrafts are that men preach and set themselves up for a light unto the world, that they may get gain and praise of the world; but they seek not the welfare of Zion. Behold, the Lord hath forbidden this thing; wherefore, the Lord God hath given a commandment that all men should have charity. But the laborer in Zion shall labor for Zion; for if they labor for money they shall perish.” - 2 Nephi 26 | The Book of Mormon
Do General Authorities get paid? "General Authorities are given a living allowance which enables them to focus all of their time on serving in the Church. The living allowance is uniform for all General Authorities. None of the funds for this living allowance come from the tithing of Church members, but instead from proceeds of the Church's financial investments." - LDS Church Website FAQ | faq.churchofjesuschrist.org | wasmormon.org
Do General Authorities get paid? "General Authorities are given a living allowance which enables them to focus all of their time on serving in the Church. The living allowance is uniform for all General Authorities. None of the funds for this living allowance come from the tithing of Church members, but instead from proceeds of the Church's financial investments." - LDS Church Website FAQ | faq.churchofjesuschrist.org