Hi, I am Frank
I love books, history, art and I am always learning . I was a mormon.
About me
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.
On my shelf
On the Mormon Spectrum
# Why I left More stories of 'Why I left' the Mormon church
In 2005 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. 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 and lacking 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.
Questions about Mormons My Answers to Questions about Mormonism
#Link to this answer of 'How did you feel and what did you experience as a result of your loss of faith?' by frank How did you feel and what did you experience as a result of your loss of faith? See more answers about 'How did you feel and what did you experience as a result of your loss of faith?'
I discarded and re-examined most of my most fundamental beliefs. I did not do this because I wanted to. It is a painful and laborious process to change one’s total worldview.
#Link to this answer of 'What role does religion or spirituality play in your life now? What does it mean to you?' by frank What role does religion or spirituality play in your life now? What does it mean to you? See more answers about 'What role does religion or spirituality play in your life now? What does it mean to you?'
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 life is just an absurdity hanging over an abyss. Truth, Beauty, and Goodness are real.
So I started a 10-year search. 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). And of those 2, I found the Christian answer to be more compelling.
I also extensively studied Biblical scholarship--the real stuff, not pop theology or pop criticism. 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.
That is a very short summary of years of thinking, praying and struggling.
#Link to this answer of 'Are Mormons Christian?' by frank Are Mormons Christian? See more answers about 'Are Mormons Christian?'
Yes and no. Many individual mormons are living good lives that mirror Christian discipleship. But the doctrine of the LDS church is outside the orthodox tradition of Christianity, and the differences are significant.
#Link to this answer of 'Is there only one way to be an ex-Mormon?' by frank Is there only one way to be an ex-Mormon? See more answers about 'Is there only one way to be an ex-Mormon?'
The majority of exmos lose all faith. My wife did. Mormonism really does a number on people.
You get to find your own path. And take your time. There is a big world out there. I spent 10 years exploring various faith traditions before choosing one. 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, my money--I have certain boundaries now, after Mormonism.
Some suggestions:
Don't assume that what Mormonism taught you is correct: about God, about Christianity, about scripture. There are other ways of thinking about God, about the Bible, about why we are here, etc. Be open to learning new ways of thinking.
Don't read one book and assume you have all the answers. Explore different viewpoints. Don't replace the Mormons telling you how to think with someone else telling you how to think.
It is a big world out there. Mormonism is so small and insignificant. My search passed through Taoism, Buddhism, Judaism, Universalism, and a variety of Christian options. I read history and Biblical scholarship and devotional texts. I attended a variety of services. Explore! It is fascinating, all the ways that humanity has expressed its desire for meaning and for community.
Many exmos feel anger, or bitterness. This is justified--we were lied to, exploited, 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.
#Link to this answer of 'Do Mormons Believe in a Loving God?' by frank Do Mormons Believe in a Loving God? See more answers about 'Do Mormons Believe in a Loving God?'
No, because the mormon god is the LDS Church. Think about it--for most mormons, and certainly for the leadership, the institution of the church is their idol. They testify that "the church is true." The church is what they cling to, what they obey.