2024 - wasmormon.org

"My simple reality is this; Mormonism was lovely until our family no longer fit; and then it wasn’t anymore! And now I see all of those lovely humans that were deeply harmed by it; who were nearly invisible to me, before life forced me more fully open. I have learned that love is so much greater than can be held in any religious construct. And it is simply okay for me not to be LDS anymore." - Shane's I was a Mormon profile spotlight from wasmormon.org - https://wasmormon.org/profile/shanecor23/

"I am a survivor of a really horrible disease that inflicted my wife and for which we lived without a diagnosis for twelve years. In 2007, my wife began to change due to an unknown/undiagnosed degenerative brain disease. She was a magnificent woman. Over the next sixteen years, our lives unravelled, her behavior changed, and her life was destroyed (she passed away in early 2023). During this many year journey, her personality changed, our lovely marriage crumbled, and we descended into a deep decade of dysfunction, misdiagnosis, misuse of prescription drugs, and thousands of chaotic and traumatic experiences." - Shane's I was a Mormon profile spotlight from wasmormon.org - https://wasmormon.org/profile/shanecor23/

"The only true wisdom consists in knowing that you know nothing." - Socrates | wasmormon.org — "The only true wisdom consists in knowing that you know nothing." - Socrates

Shane Was a Mormon, an Ex-Mormon Profile Spotlight

Shane’s journey unfolds as a poignant narrative of resilience, love, and profound self-discovery within the intricate tapestry of faith, family, and personal identity. A stalwart member of the LDS Church, Shane’s commitment to his beliefs and his family is evident in every chapter of his life. From the vibrant memories of a South Korean mission …

Continue reading “Shane Was a Mormon, an Ex-Mormon Profile Spotlight”

"The opposite of faith is not doubt, but certainty. Certainty is missing the point entirely." - Anne Lamott, Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith | wasmormon.org — "The opposite of faith is not doubt, but certainty. Certainty is missing the point entirely." - Anne Lamott, Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith

Ronald E Poelman - 1984 - The Gospel and the Church. Comparing the original and the edited talk: "As individually and collectively we increase our knowledge, acceptance, and application of gospel principles, we become less dependent on Church programs. Our lives become gospel centered. Sometimes traditions, customs, social practices, and personal preferences of individual Church members may, through repeated or common usage be misconstrued as Church procedures or policies. Occasionally, such traditions, customs, and practices may even be regarded by some as eternal gospel principles. Under such circumstances, those who do not conform to these cultural standards may mistakenly be regarded as unorthodox or even unworthy. In fact, the eternal principles of the gospel and the divinely inspired Church do accommodate a broad spectrum of individual uniqueness and cultural diversity." vs "As individually and collectively we increase our knowledge, acceptance, and application of gospel principles, we can more effectively utilize the Church to make our lives increasingly gospel centered. The conformity we require should be according to God’s standards. The orthodoxy upon which we insist must be founded in fundamental principles and eternal law, including free agency and the divine uniqueness of the individual. It is important therefore to know the difference between eternal gospel principles which are unchanging, universally applicable, and cultural norms which may vary with time and circumstance." | wasmormon.org — Ronald E Poelman - 1984 - The Gospel and the Church. Comparing the original and the edited talks.

Ronald E Poelman - 1984 - The Gospel and the Church. Comparing the original and the edited talk: "Both the gospel of Jesus Christ and the church of Jesus Christ are true and divine. However, there is a distinction between them which is significant and it is very important that this distinction be understood." vs "Both the gospel of Jesus Christ and the church of Jesus Christ are true and divine, and there is an essential relationship between them that is significant and very important." | wasmormon.org — Ronald E Poelman - 1984 - The Gospel and the Church. Comparing the original and the edited talks.

Doubt is Not the Opposite of Faith; Certainty Is

Doubt is frequently cast as the opposite of faith. Doubt is frequently shunned, and sometimes, outright condemned. Mormon leaders today demonize doubt and admonish members to doubt their doubts, to stop rehearsing their doubts with others, researching doubts is not going to provide answers and even that research itself is not the solution to doubt. …

Continue reading “Doubt is Not the Opposite of Faith; Certainty Is”

One Mission Is Not Enough – Church Urges Seniors for Two

"We've invited you here tonight because we want to extend an invitation to each of you to serve... Will you prayerfully consider serving two missions? Not one, but two?" - Elder Kevin W. Pearson, LDS General Authority Seventy and President of the Utah Area March 19th, 2023, The Best Time of Our Lives: Senior Missionary Opportunities Broadcast | wasmormon.org

The church held a special Broadcast for the Utah Area to drum up interest and enlist more senior missionaries in the service of the church. Elder Kevin Pearson, of the Seventy, who is also the Area President of the Utah Area worked to fire up the attendees with a call to serve. He urged all …

Continue reading “One Mission Is Not Enough – Church Urges Seniors for Two”

Censoring ‘The Gospel and the Church’ Talk

In the October 1984 General Conference, Elder Ronald E. Poelman of the First Quorum of the Seventy gave a talk that many who saw, heard, or witnessed live thought was an amazing talk that addressed many things that had thus far remained unsaid regarding the relationship between the Mormon church and the Mormon Gospel. The …

Continue reading “Censoring ‘The Gospel and the Church’ Talk”

Ronald E Poelman - The Gospel and the Church, 1984 - Comparing the Original and the Revised Talk Slide 1 | wasmormon.org

Ronald E Poelman - The Gospel and the Church, 1984 - Comparing the Original and the Revised Talk Slide 4 | wasmormon.org

Ronald E Poelman - The Gospel and the Church, 1984 - Comparing the Original and the Revised Talk Slide 5 | wasmormon.org

Ronald E Poelman - The Gospel and the Church, 1984 - Comparing the Original and the Revised Talk Slide 3 | wasmormon.org

Ronald E Poelman - The Gospel and the Church, 1984 - Comparing the Original and the Revised Talk Slide 2 | wasmormon.org

“Another way to seek a testimony seems astonishing when compared with the methods of obtaining other knowledge. We gain or strengthen a testimony by bearing it... testimonies are better gained on the feet bearing them than on the knees praying for them.” - LDS Apostle, Dallin H. Oaks - General Conference April 2008 | wasmormon.org — “Another way to seek a testimony seems astonishing when compared with the methods of obtaining other knowledge. We gain or strengthen a testimony by bearing it... testimonies are better gained on the feet bearing them than on the knees praying for them.” - LDS Apostle, Dallin H. Oaks - General Conference April 2008

"It is one thing to be able to say, “I believe, I think, I hope that the gospel is true,” but it requires personal revelation and personal acknowledgment and recognition to declare, “I know that the Church is true.” - Elder Charles Didier, October 1991 General Conference | wasmormon.org — "It is one thing to be able to say, “I believe, I think, I hope that the gospel is true,” but it requires personal revelation and personal acknowledgment and recognition to declare, “I know that the Church is true.” - Elder Charles Didier, October 1991 General Conference

I confessed, “President, I don’t think I can say I know that the Church is true yet, but I sure hope with all my heart that it is. And I am going to live my life in accordance with that hope. Is that enough?” | wasmormon.org — I confessed, “President, I don’t think I can say I know that the Church is true yet, but I sure hope with all my heart that it is. And I am going to live my life in accordance with that hope. Is that enough?”

"The oblique paradox of propaganda is that the lie in the throat becomes, by repetition, the truth in the heart." - John Grierson | wasmormon.org — "The oblique paradox of propaganda is that the lie in the throat becomes, by repetition, the truth in the heart." - John Grierson

"We gain or strengthen a testimony by bearing it… testimonies are better gained on the feet bearing them than on the knees praying for them." - LDS Apostle, Dallin H. Oaks - General Conference April 2008 | wasmormon.org — "We gain or strengthen a testimony by bearing it… testimonies are better gained on the feet bearing them than on the knees praying for them." - LDS Apostle, Dallin H. Oaks - General Conference April 2008

What is the Illusory Truth Effect? Imagine your brain is like a sponge that soaks up information. When you hear something many times, even if it's not true, your brain starts to believe it. This is called the Illusory Truth Effect. We have a tendency to believe something is true, just because we've heard it over and over again. This is because our brains like things that are familiar. If we hear something a lot, it feels familiar, and our brain thinks it must be true. So just because we've heard something repeated a ton, it doesn't make it true! We should think critically, and don't believe everything we hear. Use our mind as a brain rather than simply a sponge! wasmormon.org/illusory-truth-effect — What is the Illusory Truth Effect? A comic created with the help of AI • wasmormon.org/illusory-truth-effect

JR Was a Mormon, an Ex-Mormon Profile Spotlight

JR’s faithful journey out of Mormonism unfolds as a testament to his commitment to truth. Raised in a Mormon household, his transformation began with the unexpected discovery of a book that prompted a profound reevaluation of his beliefs and his interpretation of the Bible. Embracing Christianity, JR actively participated in various ministries, demonstrating a genuine …

Continue reading “JR Was a Mormon, an Ex-Mormon Profile Spotlight”

I Know The Church Is True

Nearly every speaker in a testimony meeting says “I know the church is true.” This is a nonsensical statement, but considering the Illusory Truth Effect we can see what the church may be after. We know that repetitions don’t make statements any more true, but psychologically we do tend to believe things we’ve heard repeatedly. …

Continue reading “I Know The Church Is True”

The emphasis on modern prophets and the latest general conference over the scriptures creates an atmosphere of transience that pervades everything. The only real rule is to do whatever they said most recently. Everything else is optional and unknowable. There's no foundation, or base we can trust. There is no doctrine, no catechism, and no solid foundation of rules or beliefs. It's just a doctrine of authority and spiritual coercion and abuse to ensure the sheep stay in line. The point is to obey the authorities and not question the brethren. The law of obedience is the most important law to follow, it's really the only law to follow. It's as circular as "Do as I say. Because I say so." It's shifting sands, maybes, and implied gotchas. Even though in primary we are taught the tale of those who build their house on the sand, and we know and remember that it doesn't end well for them. | wasmormon.org — The emphasis on modern prophets and the latest general conference over the scriptures creates an atmosphere of transience that pervades everything. The only real rule is to do whatever they said most recently. Everything else is optional and unknowable. There's no foundation, or base we can trust. There is no doctrine, no catechism, and no solid foundation of rules or beliefs. It's just a doctrine of authority and spiritual coercion and abuse to ensure the sheep stay in line. The point is to obey the authorities and not question the brethren. The law of obedience is the most important law to follow, it's really the only law to follow. It's as circular as "Do as I say. Because I say so." It's shifting sands, maybes, and implied gotchas. Even though in primary we are taught the tale of those who build their house on the sand, and we know and remember that it doesn't end well for them.

Newer
1
…
33
34
35
…
40
Older

Profile Details