“Legislators are being asked to rule that adultery should no longer be considered a crime, that homosexuals and other deviates should be allowed to practice their depravities legally and without restriction... Apostasy through immorality is at least as bad as returning to paganism... Paul says of those who deviate from the path of virtue into some of the great perversions, "they which commit such things are worthy of death."” - LDS Apostle, Mark E. Petersen, General Conference Talk, April 1965 | wasmormon.org
“Legislators are being asked to rule that adultery should no longer be considered a crime, that homosexuals and other deviates should be allowed to practice their depravities legally and without restriction... Apostasy through immorality is at least as bad as returning to paganism... Paul says of those who deviate from the path of virtue into some of the great perversions, "they which commit such things are worthy of death."” - LDS Apostle, Mark E. Petersen, General Conference Talk, April 1965
“... the "new morality" that is being flaunted now; a lowering of the standards of virtue, a philosophy that anything goes these days. This is a doctrine of Satan. Not only does this delusion include sex before marriage, the abolition of marriage altogether, and assent to infidelity, but it embraces the now widespread movement of homosexuality. The homosexuals claim that God made them that way and hence are powerless to change, which is a complete fabrication and a deep delusion, for it was the Lord who provided the death penalty for these people in ancient times.” - LDS Apostle, Mark E. Petersen, Church News, January 14, 1978 | wasmormon.org
“... the "new morality" that is being flaunted now; a lowering of the standards of virtue, a philosophy that anything goes these days. This is a doctrine of Satan. Not only does this delusion include sex before marriage, the abolition of marriage altogether, and assent to infidelity, but it embraces the now widespread movement of homosexuality. The homosexuals claim that God made them that way and hence are powerless to change, which is a complete fabrication and a deep delusion, for it was the Lord who provided the death penalty for these people in ancient times.” - LDS Apostle, Mark E. Petersen, Church News, January 14, 1978
“The furor now arising over the homosexual issue is but one example. Legislators, like everyone else, must recognize that the unclean is unclean regardless of the attire in which it appears. Some say that this evil is no longer evil. But who has the right or the ability to change its basic definition? It was the Almighty Himself who laid down the law on this practice. He condemned it and classed it as a capital crime... Who are they that they should parade their debauchery and call it clean?” - LDS Apostle, Mark E. Petersen, Church News, March 18, 1978 | wasmormon.org
“The furor now arising over the homosexual issue is but one example. Legislators, like everyone else, must recognize that the unclean is unclean regardless of the attire in which it appears. Some say that this evil is no longer evil. But who has the right or the ability to change its basic definition? It was the Almighty Himself who laid down the law on this practice. He condemned it and classed it as a capital crime... Who are they that they should parade their debauchery and call it clean?” - LDS Apostle, Mark E. Petersen, Church News, March 18, 1978

Mark E Petersen, LGBT Are Worthy of Death

Over time, the LDS Church’s perspective on homosexuality evolved from a stance of subdued disapproval to one of pronounced institutional homophobia. In the 1950s, church leaders increasingly characterized homosexuality as both a crime and a treatable mental disorder. In 1968, they further intensified their stance by including “homosexual acts” as grounds for excommunication, effectively aiming …

"According to relevant Chinese laws and regulations, foreigners are not allowed to establish religious organizations or set up places for religious activities in China. The American Mormon Church released information about building a so-called "temple" in Shanghai, but our city's religious and religious departments were completely unaware of it. This is wishful thinking on the part of the American Mormon Church and a fabrication out of nothing. - Shanghai Municipal Ethnic and Religious Affairs Bureau Office | wasmormon.org
"According to relevant Chinese laws and regulations, foreigners are not allowed to establish religious organizations or set up places for religious activities in China. The American Mormon Church released information about building a so-called "temple" in Shanghai, but our city's religious and religious departments were completely unaware of it. This is wishful thinking on the part of the American Mormon Church and a fabrication out of nothing. - Shanghai Municipal Ethnic and Religious Affairs Bureau Office

Rosanna Was a Mormon, an Ex-Mormon Profile Spotlight

Growing up in Utah within a devout Mormon family, Rosana inherited her parents’ beliefs but soon found herself grappling with the suffocating pressures of conformity and cultural expectations. Despite her upbringing in a community steeped in faith, Rosana’s experience with church rituals and teachings left her feeling disconnected and disillusioned. The rigid standards imposed by …

"I'm queer. I'm not cisgender or heterosexual and that's a huge problem in this religion. When I was finally able to accept myself for that, I realized the mormon religion would never accept me for it and I'd never be happy where I'm not even accepted." - Frey's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/frey/
"I'm queer. I'm not cisgender or heterosexual and that's a huge problem in this religion. When I was finally able to accept myself for that, I realized the mormon religion would never accept me for it and I'd never be happy where I'm not even accepted." - Frey's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/frey/
"I received a patriarchal blessing. It was generic and the life it foretold made me miserable to think about. The patriarch used what little knowledge he had about me to make a few statements, saying things like "you have the gift of love, service, empathy, and listening", "if you cling to your covenants, you will rise above all your challenges", "when the time comes you will find an eternal companion and enter the temple and get sealed", "you'll have lots of kids who will all look to you as an example of faith" (which was one of my worst nightmares), "you have a duty to do missionary work", and "you'll be resurrected". I was still trying to believe at the time and this "blessing" disappointed me and gave me a lot of anxiety. It didn't mean anything to me and it eventually became one of the items on my shelf." - Frey's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/frey/
"I received a patriarchal blessing. It was generic and the life it foretold made me miserable to think about. The patriarch used what little knowledge he had about me to make a few statements, saying things like "you have the gift of love, service, empathy, and listening", "if you cling to your covenants, you will rise above all your challenges", "when the time comes you will find an eternal companion and enter the temple and get sealed", "you'll have lots of kids who will all look to you as an example of faith" (which was one of my worst nightmares), "you have a duty to do missionary work", and "you'll be resurrected". I was still trying to believe at the time and this "blessing" disappointed me and gave me a lot of anxiety. It didn't mean anything to me and it eventually became one of the items on my shelf." - Frey's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/frey/
This is a spotlight on a profile shared at wasmormon.org. These are just the highlights, so please find Frey's full story at https://wasmormon.org/profile/frey/. There are hundreds more stories of Mormon faith journeys contributed by 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 Frey's full story at https://wasmormon.org/profile/frey/. There are hundreds more stories of Mormon faith journeys contributed by users like you. Come check them out and consider sharing your own story at wasmormon.org!
"The church teaches marriage is between a man and a woman. They also teach that a person should remain the same gender they were assigned at birth and not socially or physically transition in any way. Members are allowed to call other people by requested names and pronouns but I experienced a lot of homophobia and transphobia in the church regardless. A conference talk once included the phrase that the 3 greatest threats to the mormon church were the homosexuals, the feminists, and the intellectuals. Look at that, I'm a triple threat! 😂" - Frey's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/frey/
"The church teaches marriage is between a man and a woman. They also teach that a person should remain the same gender they were assigned at birth and not socially or physically transition in any way. Members are allowed to call other people by requested names and pronouns but I experienced a lot of homophobia and transphobia in the church regardless. A conference talk once included the phrase that the 3 greatest threats to the mormon church were the homosexuals, the feminists, and the intellectuals. Look at that, I'm a triple threat! 😂" - Frey's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/frey/
"I didn't believe it and I couldn't force myself to. I was happier not following that lifestyle. I could see how I'd been manipulated. And I could see how those beliefs were illogical and hateful. I'm an atheist as well as an eclectic witch and I'm the most happy I've ever been in my entire life." - Frey's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/frey/
"I didn't believe it and I couldn't force myself to. I was happier not following that lifestyle. I could see how I'd been manipulated. And I could see how those beliefs were illogical and hateful. I'm an atheist as well as an eclectic witch and I'm the most happy I've ever been in my entire life." - Frey's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/frey/
"I went inactive multiple times before leaving for good. The vast majority of my immediate and extended family were mormons and my mom's reaction to any problem I had was to "pray about it" even though I never seemed to get answers to prayer. So far, I think I'm the only member of my immediate/extended family to leave." - Frey's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/frey/
"I went inactive multiple times before leaving for good. The vast majority of my immediate and extended family were mormons and my mom's reaction to any problem I had was to "pray about it" even though I never seemed to get answers to prayer. So far, I think I'm the only member of my immediate/extended family to leave." - Frey's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/frey/
"When I was finally able to accept myself for that, I realized the mormon religion would never accept me for it and I'd never be happy where I'm not even accepted. I'm queer. I'm not cisgender or heterosexual and that's a huge problem in this religion." - Frey's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/frey/
"When I was finally able to accept myself for that, I realized the mormon religion would never accept me for it and I'd never be happy where I'm not even accepted. I'm queer. I'm not cisgender or heterosexual and that's a huge problem in this religion." - Frey's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/frey/
"I had so many concerns and questions that were either not answered, or the answers were not logical. I'd never even wanted to get baptized in the first place, and when I started trying to leave apparently an 8 year old was old enough to make a decision about joining but a 16 year old wasn't old enough to make the decision to leave and I "didn't know what was best for me"." - Frey's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/frey/
"I had so many concerns and questions that were either not answered, or the answers were not logical. I'd never even wanted to get baptized in the first place, and when I started trying to leave apparently an 8 year old was old enough to make a decision about joining but a 16 year old wasn't old enough to make the decision to leave and I "didn't know what was best for me"." - Frey's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/frey/
"As time went by I learned I wasn’t told the full truth about polygamy when I discovered widowers (but not widows) could have more than one wife in the hereafter. Then in college I learned the truth about The Book of Abraham. I knew it wasn’t an anti-Mormon lie because I learned it in my Pearl of Great Price class." - Nancy's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/nancypantsy72/
"As time went by I learned I wasn’t told the full truth about polygamy when I discovered widowers (but not widows) could have more than one wife in the hereafter. Then in college I learned the truth about The Book of Abraham. I knew it wasn’t an anti-Mormon lie because I learned it in my Pearl of Great Price class." - Nancy's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/nancypantsy72/
"I came to this conclusion without reading/listening to anything critical of the church or challenging its truth claims. I’m a slow study but in 40+ years I finally made my way out. I am unequivocally happy now." - Nancy's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/nancypantsy72/
"I came to this conclusion without reading/listening to anything critical of the church or challenging its truth claims. I’m a slow study but in 40+ years I finally made my way out. I am unequivocally happy now." - Nancy's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/nancypantsy72/
"I was a teenager about to enter my senior year in high school. At the time I had many friends converting to versions of Evangelical Christianity. I was a little skeptical of their teachings. I also had a friend who was Mormon. After a lot of discussion I agreed to the missionary lessons. I was skeptical of the Book of Mormon, it seemed like a significant portion of it was copied from the King James Bible." - Nancy's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/nancypantsy72/
"I was a teenager about to enter my senior year in high school. At the time I had many friends converting to versions of Evangelical Christianity. I was a little skeptical of their teachings. I also had a friend who was Mormon. After a lot of discussion I agreed to the missionary lessons. I was skeptical of the Book of Mormon, it seemed like a significant portion of it was copied from the King James Bible." - Nancy's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/nancypantsy72/
"Almost from the moment I was baptized I started to feel less than. First I was told my clothes were immodest. Then that I was too fat. (I wasn’t, I was within normal weight for my height) I dieted got very thin and came down with an eating disorder. That was just the beginning." - Nancy's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/nancypantsy72/
"Almost from the moment I was baptized I started to feel less than. First I was told my clothes were immodest. Then that I was too fat. (I wasn’t, I was within normal weight for my height) I dieted got very thin and came down with an eating disorder. That was just the beginning." - Nancy's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/nancypantsy72/
"However Joseph Smith's first vision resonated with me because he was of similar age as me at the time and seeking the truth like I was. I agreed to be baptized because it was the only church that made sense to me. They also assured me that polygamy was no longer practiced, which would have been a dealbreaker." - Nancy's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/nancypantsy72/
"However Joseph Smith's first vision resonated with me because he was of similar age as me at the time and seeking the truth like I was. I agreed to be baptized because it was the only church that made sense to me. They also assured me that polygamy was no longer practiced, which would have been a dealbreaker." - Nancy's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/nancypantsy72/