January, 2025 - wasmormon.org

"Meetinghouses of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints also have been made available for community staging and shelter." - Deseret News | January 10, 2025. What do they mean by shelter? Discussions on Reddit meanwhile reveal that no one has been able to verify a single LDS chapel being used as a shelter. These meeting houses are not available or listed on any official shelter lists by government agencies or other news outlets. This isn’t the first time the church has been accused of inflating its charitable efforts for publicity.

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/curtishartley/. 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!

One can speculate that the god of Mormonism is testing my faith. Perhaps this is true, but the cards are still stacked against me. Any god who condemns me for the unfair situation resulting from his confusing arena is not a god worth worshiping. Why can God take time out of his day to bless my greasy pizza or help my neighbor find her car keys, but refuses to take time out of his day to answer questions that keep me from believing? Members are promised further light and knowledge in exchange for increased faith. Was my three decades of complete devotion not enough? Why, when I have a question, am I encouraged to just "focus on what I already know?" That doesn't answer my question and encourages me to ignore it. - Curtis' "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/curtishartley/

As a former member who was incredibly devout, I find it insulting and hurtful when I'm belittled simply because I no longer believe. I try hard to be respectful to all members of the church, but sometimes that kindness isn't reciprocated. Unfortunately the general leadership (and sometimes local members) will take it upon themselves to speak unkindly of those who've left the faith. Comments can range from name calling, or marginalizing former members by minimizing their experience and reasons for leaving. - Curtis' "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/curtishartley/

Much of what's discussed in the Gospel Topic Essays, Joseph Smith Papers, etc. were once described as "anti-mormon lies" by local and general leaders of the church. Discovering that those "anti-mormon lies" were true was heartbreaking because it meant that the church I'd grown to love had lied to me solely to protect its image. - Curtis' "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/curtishartley/

The SEC charges filed against the church in February of 2023 broke my shelf. The church collects tithing donations throughout the year to accommodate operating expenses and humanitarian aid throughout the world. According to the SEC filing, surplus tithes and offerings had been collected between the years of 1997 and 2019. These surplus tithes, when received, were invested through the investment entity of the church, Ensign Peak Advisors. In order to mislead faithful tithe payers, the church created 13 different shell companies to obfuscate the amount of their holdings and either failed to file federal forms or blatantly lied on federal forms. I do not believe that lying in the name of god is ever ok. No one is above the law, and anyone who claims divine authority to break the law is a danger and not to be trusted in things temporal or spiritual. - Curtis' "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/curtishartley/

Navigating a faith crisis/transition can feel incredibly lonely for both the believing spouse and the non-believing spouse. As my wife and I navigated through my faith transition, we both felt a strong desire to reach out to those around us for guidance. I am so grateful that my wife and I were able to work through our differences. I do not believe that any healthy relationship should end because of a difference in religious affiliation. Contrary to what the president of the church (Russell Nelson) teaches, counseling with those of different beliefs can strengthen relationships of all types because it fosters empathy among all participants. No one should ever have to feel alone out of fear of nonacceptance. The Mormon church has been dishonest about many things from its history to ethical behaviors by the general leadership. Families should not be broken because of a global organization's dishonest behavior. - Curtis' "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/curtishartley/

I feared for the loss of my family. What would they think if they knew I no longer believed. I eventually reached a period of acceptance wherein I am happy and comfortable not knowing what comes next and have learned to more deeply appreciate what I have now (my family, etc.). I still travel back and forth between these stages. For this reason, I may still be angry at times, I may be content at times, I may be inquisitive at times, and I may be apathetic at times. My emotions are valid and matter. It can be hurtful when those who leave the religion are labeled as prideful, sinful, or lacking in faith. The best advice I can give to those deconstructing is to prove the unkind members wrong and not become the stereotype that they believe you to be. - Curtis' "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/curtishartley/

As my testimony shattered, I exhibited emotions of over-zealous behaviors and church activity in an effort to deny what I had discovered about the church and put the pieces of my testimony back together. I grew angry at the church for the dishonest history I had been spoon fed and the general unethical behavior by the general leadership of the church. I bargained with the Lord and pleaded for forgiveness because of my "blindness" and begged for the church to be true. I became incredibly depressed because I felt like I had lost my safety net and spiritual assurance that everything would be ok after I died. - Curtis' "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/curtishartley/

I loved the church that was presented to me as a youth. I can remember the exact moment I obtained a testimony of the faith I was taught during childhood. The messaging was simple, and it made sense to me. As an adult, I came to realize that the church presented to me as a youth didn't match the picture of mormonism today. Between shifting doctrines, unethical behavior by the General Leadership, and hidden history of the church I came to realize that nothing about the church is what it claimed to be. The religion I'd loved as a youth simply didn't exist, and never had. - Curtis' "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/curtishartley/

I'm a husband, father, and amateur banjo player. I'm part of a mixed faith family. Although I no longer believe in the church, I still support my family's right to choose their own spiritual path. I enjoy camping traveling — I love my family. Serving my wife and children has become my source of spiritual rejuvenation. I was a Mormon. - Curtis' "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/curtishartley/

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/exmodad/. 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 wasn't going leave the LDS church until I heard His voice in my heart say, "You need to do this." I was going to just be undercover and not try to make waves, but physical courage is easier than moral courage. So here I am standing for the God of love. He has asked us to love everyone, especially those that are hard to love. I have my own beliefs and my own inner jewels. I don't need any man on earth to tell me what I can and cannot believe. I have one King, one Lord, one shepherd. He is the only "living prophet." I want to be His disciple and I want Him to rule my life. - Mike's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/mike/

After the service, I asked God, "What should I do? Do I go to this church now?" God answered, "You belong to me now. You can worship me wherever you want". It's been 2 wonderful years of new birth. They have been amazing and expansive, seeing God's work and hand in all things, having many mighty miracles manifest in our lives. We are in awe of our God and King. This process likely won't work for anyone else if they duplicated it, but I am healed in the most miraculous way, and it's promised to all who take up their cross and follow Jesus. - Mike's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/mike/

They asked everyone to close their eyes and bow their heads and anyone who was struggling, searching or ready to grow closer to the savior was to raise their hand. Then he had everyone who raised their hands to come to the front alter. I went up front. The band played loud gospel music. I was able to pour out my heart, might, mind and strength at the Saviors feet. I felt God, through Jesus Christ's loving atonement, take all my pain, struggles, depression, self-hatred, pornography addiction and PTSD from me. In the noise filled hall, amid crowds of people, Jesus Christ saved me. - Mike's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/mike/

We had a pretty set schedule of going to the swimming pool every weekday for an hour of open lap swim. One particular Tuesday, I decided I would walk. I'd had a terrible night, filled with demon tormenting nightmares. As I passed a man on the street, he turned around and said "Jesus loves you". I stopped in my tracks. I needed to talk to him. He prayed with me, right there on the street. He told me that he worships at The Potter's House on Monroe, and that I would be welcome anytime. That next Sunday, we went. It was packed. No one had their phones out. They were there to worship. In my minds eye, I felt the door behind me open and Jesus Christ walk in. Jesus put his hand on my shoulder and said "I love these people". It was fun to sing along with the band. The sermon by the preacher was entertaining and inspiring. Everyone really enjoyed it. - Mike's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/mike/

The bishop called my wife and I into his office after church. We were determined to say "no" to anything he asked, or any calling he would offer. The bishop, extended an offer from God, that would change our lives, to lead the discussion in Gospel Doctrine. We said yes. January 2022 brought the Old Testament into the focus. It was during this time that we began listening to some online teachers expound the Torah. After some incredibly biased sermons, I decided I needed to learn Hebrew so I could read the bible in it's original text and not have it translated with bias. I began studying Hebrew and God blessed me with the ability to learn amazing things. - Mike's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/mike/

I struggled going to church. If there was magic at church, I desperately needed it, and yet, could not find anything. I was told regularly from people at church that I should 'just be happy'. I heard people talk about all the things 'they know' but did not see or feel it. I was frustrated with the darkness I saw in the world, primarily the strong arm of the military, and my powerlessness to fight it. - Mike's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/mike/

I went to multiple therapists, leaving more frustrated than when I arrived. Every week it was like stirring up a dirty fish tank and then taking the next few days to let everything settle again. Through counseling, I learned some things though. I learned that men typically show their depression through anger, not sadness. I learned that people who are depressed seem pessimistic, but they are usually accurate about the circumstances, with a slight "gray filter". But sadly, none of my therapists could ever show someone that had recovered from PTSD. They admitted that they were just trying to give them coping tools, and learning to coexist with the depression and PTSD. - Mike's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/mike/

I got out of the Army in 2015 and moved across the country back home to Utah. It didn't take long for the years of military service, deployment and experiences to register as depression, self-hatred, pornography addiction and PTSD. I could not sleep at night without horrible night terrors. It was more restful to not sleep. I would go for 36-48 hours without sleep and then sleep for 4-6 hours in demon filled nightmares. Just being alive was hard. As long as I had a project to work on, I could numb those feelings and pour himself into work, projects and home improvements, which meant I was always busy working on something. - Mike's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/mike/

I was healed by Jesus Christ. I was a Mormon. - Mike's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/mike/

'Caractors' Document and equivalents for all English characters, alphabet and numerals, found on it. | wasmormon.org — 'Caractors' Document and equivalents for all English characters, alphabet and numerals, found on it.

'Caractors' Document | wasmormon.org — 'Caractors' Document

Instead of "Reformed Egyptian" many of the "Caractors" are deformed English, as any one will observe who will compare them with English letters, figures and signs. I have counted thirty-six different characters in the fac-simile, some of them occurring more than once, which are either identical with, or which closely resemble, the English. The fact is that Joseph Smith, in drawing the transcript, employed different kinds and styles of English letters, changing a few of them to make the imposture less observable. Latter-day Saints are very quick to see a resemblance between the "Caractors" a n d the letters in the Maya and Egyptian alphabets of Le Plongeon; will they be as quick to see the similarity between the "Caractors" and the English? If similarity proves anything, it proves that the transcript is a bold, bare forgery and one not above the ability of a Smith or a Harris to execute. - Cumorah Revisited, 1910, pp. 538-39 | wasmormon.org — Instead of "Reformed Egyptian" many of the "Caractors" are deformed English, as any one will observe who will compare them with English letters, figures and signs. I have counted thirty-six different characters in the fac-simile, some of them occurring more than once, which are either identical with, or which closely resemble, the English. The fact is that Joseph Smith, in drawing the transcript, employed different kinds and styles of English letters, changing a few of them to make the imposture less observable. Latter-day Saints are very quick to see a resemblance between the "Caractors" a n d the letters in the Maya and Egyptian alphabets of Le Plongeon; will they be as quick to see the similarity between the "Caractors" and the English? If similarity proves anything, it proves that the transcript is a bold, bare forgery and one not above the ability of a Smith or a Harris to execute. - Cumorah Revisited, 1910, pp. 538-39

The angel charged Joseph Smith to translate the book from the ancient language in which it was written. The young man, however, had very little formal education and was incapable of writing a book on his own, let alone translating an ancient book written from an unknown language, known in the Book of Mormon as “reformed Egyptian.” Joseph’s wife Emma insisted that, at the time of translation, Joseph “could neither write nor dictate a coherent and well-worded letter, let alone dictat[e] a book like the Book of Mormon.” - Gospel Topic Essay on Book of Mormon Translation, LDS Church | wasmormon.org — The angel charged Joseph Smith to translate the book from the ancient language in which it was written. The young man, however, had very little formal education and was incapable of writing a book on his own, let alone translating an ancient book written from an unknown language, known in the Book of Mormon as “reformed Egyptian.” Joseph’s wife Emma insisted that, at the time of translation, Joseph “could neither write nor dictate a coherent and well-worded letter, let alone dictat[e] a book like the Book of Mormon.” - Gospel Topic Essay on Book of Mormon Translation, LDS Church

The LDS Church purchased historic artifacts and buildings for an undisclosed price from the Community of Christ in 2024. This ‘Caractors’ document is believed to contain a sample of inscriptions from the gold plates. | wasmormon.org — The LDS Church purchased historic artifacts and buildings for an undisclosed price from the Community of Christ in 2024. This ‘Caractors’ document is believed to contain a sample of inscriptions from the gold plates.

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