2024: My husband has now broken away from Mormonism! I am super happy for him (and us). What did it? Despite many things, even evidence, that I brought forward over the years, it was the Mormon Stories episodes with Dr. Ritner that woke him up! - Fiona's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/feebeedee/
2024: My husband has now broken away from Mormonism! I am super happy for him (and us). What did it? Despite many things, even evidence, that I brought forward over the years, it was the Mormon Stories episodes with Dr. Ritner that woke him up! - Fiona's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/feebeedee/
2023: It's been painful witnessing my TBM's denials and deeply ingrained indoctrination, even despite the profound evidence, the programming is keeping him there. I absolutely despise the lies!! - Fiona's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/feebeedee/
2023: It's been painful witnessing my TBM's denials and deeply ingrained indoctrination, even despite the profound evidence, the programming is keeping him there. I absolutely despise the lies!! - Fiona's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/feebeedee/
2014: I married a Mormon, realizing relatively soon that there were events, issues and historical accounts that just didn't add up. Including temple ordinances–the first Endowment session had me reeling with absolute doubt! I literally felt the evil. - Fiona's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/feebeedee/
2014: I married a Mormon, realizing relatively soon that there were events, issues and historical accounts that just didn't add up. Including temple ordinances–the first Endowment session had me reeling with absolute doubt! I literally felt the evil. - Fiona's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/feebeedee/
I'm naturally an investigative person who asks questions and needs to make logical connections regarding rational reasoning alongside any form of historical claims. I despise gaslighting and euphemistic language that controls people. I travelled down the appropriate rabbit holes... the rest is history... literally! I was, for a time, a Mormon. - Fiona's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/feebeedee/
I'm naturally an investigative person who asks questions and needs to make logical connections regarding rational reasoning alongside any form of historical claims. I despise gaslighting and euphemistic language that controls people. I travelled down the appropriate rabbit holes... the rest is history... literally! I was, for a time, a Mormon. - Fiona's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/feebeedee/
"I started out dividing shelf items between doctrine and policies. Then I wrestled with policies not representing doctrine. I had questions about doctrine vs. policy, polygamy, members being embryonic gods, godhead vs. trinity, "heavenly mother," priesthood keys, "keys" in general, blacks and the priesthood, subservience of women, mission of the Holy Ghost, admittance to the church through baptism, why baptism was essential for membership, endless pursuit of "inactives" while at the same time the endless pursuit of reasons to disfellowship/excommunicate active members, why not all questions were "welcome," endless circular reasoning in describing church doctrine and policies..." - Dodie's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/dod13/
"I started out dividing shelf items between doctrine and policies. Then I wrestled with policies not representing doctrine. I had questions about doctrine vs. policy, polygamy, members being embryonic gods, godhead vs. trinity, "heavenly mother," priesthood keys, "keys" in general, blacks and the priesthood, subservience of women, mission of the Holy Ghost, admittance to the church through baptism, why baptism was essential for membership, endless pursuit of "inactives" while at the same time the endless pursuit of reasons to disfellowship/excommunicate active members, why not all questions were "welcome," endless circular reasoning in describing church doctrine and policies..." - Dodie's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/dod13/
That organization robbed my family of so much during all those years—so much of genuine joy and of truth. My husband remained faithful to his Catholic religion but our three children were raised in the Mormon church. My husband was tolerant, but always carried a resentment. I cannot imagine the emotional and spiritual pain he endured out of love for me and our boys. I held callings, most of the time several at once due to belonging to a branch. There was never a time I held fewer than 2 callings at the same time. I absolutely wanted to "magnify my callings". - Dodie's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/dod13/
That organization robbed my family of so much during all those years—so much of genuine joy and of truth. My husband remained faithful to his Catholic religion but our three children were raised in the Mormon church. My husband was tolerant, but always carried a resentment. I cannot imagine the emotional and spiritual pain he endured out of love for me and our boys. I held callings, most of the time several at once due to belonging to a branch. There was never a time I held fewer than 2 callings at the same time. I absolutely wanted to "magnify my callings". - Dodie's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/dod13/
"Church leaders frequently admonished members to not listen to enemies of the church, so I didn't. I clearly understand why now, but at the time I was being obedient. One day my "baby sister," an evangelical, asked if I had read the "CES letter." Of course I had not. Various church leaders had admonished us not to read it. My sister wisely asked why church leaders would not want us to know what our enemies are saying so we could lovingly correct them? Fair enough. I read the CES letter." - Dodie's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/dod13/
"Church leaders frequently admonished members to not listen to enemies of the church, so I didn't. I clearly understand why now, but at the time I was being obedient. One day my "baby sister," an evangelical, asked if I had read the "CES letter." Of course I had not. Various church leaders had admonished us not to read it. My sister wisely asked why church leaders would not want us to know what our enemies are saying so we could lovingly correct them? Fair enough. I read the CES letter." - Dodie's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/dod13/
I wanted to belong to a church with a living prophet. I wanted to be a member of God's true church. The missionary lessons just cover the basics which lie on the surface—all leading up to becoming a full tithe-paying member. I just gobbled up their sales pitch like gumdrops. These people had an answer for absolutely everything, including answering the questions on my Catholic "shelf." I was told I was a "Golden Convert." I felt so special to think my "heart had been prepared for the truth." - Dodie's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/dod13/
I wanted to belong to a church with a living prophet. I wanted to be a member of God's true church. The missionary lessons just cover the basics which lie on the surface—all leading up to becoming a full tithe-paying member. I just gobbled up their sales pitch like gumdrops. These people had an answer for absolutely everything, including answering the questions on my Catholic "shelf." I was told I was a "Golden Convert." I felt so special to think my "heart had been prepared for the truth." - Dodie's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/dod13/
"I rationalized that if there is a God, he has to be only good. No one would worship a mean God. And if he is good, then he will not lie. Off and on over three days I paced back and forth, hands lifted toward the heavens, pleading with God to reveal himself if he were truly there. On the third day, confessing to be willing to give up everything I knew if I could just know if God was real—if he was really there, I received a most spectacularly miraculous, undeniable answer. God is real. Immediately following, my body steadily filled with a magnificent, beautifully comforting warmth which went deep into my bones. I was free!! And for the first time in my life, I felt love for myself." - Dodie's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/dod13/
"I rationalized that if there is a God, he has to be only good. No one would worship a mean God. And if he is good, then he will not lie. Off and on over three days I paced back and forth, hands lifted toward the heavens, pleading with God to reveal himself if he were truly there. On the third day, confessing to be willing to give up everything I knew if I could just know if God was real—if he was really there, I received a most spectacularly miraculous, undeniable answer. God is real. Immediately following, my body steadily filled with a magnificent, beautifully comforting warmth which went deep into my bones. I was free!! And for the first time in my life, I felt love for myself." - Dodie's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/dod13/
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/dod13/. There are over a hundred 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 the full story at https://wasmormon.org/profile/dod13/. There are over a hundred more stories of Mormon faith journeys contributed by users like you. Come check them out and consider sharing your own story at wasmormon.org!
"In response to this letter, the church published a series of Gospel Topic Essays. As I started to read those, I thought it peculiar that in defending themselves by way of the Church Essays, they actually further convicted the church. I was discovering the so-called enemies of the church were better at telling the truth than the church had been." - Dodie's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/dod13/
"In response to this letter, the church published a series of Gospel Topic Essays. As I started to read those, I thought it peculiar that in defending themselves by way of the Church Essays, they actually further convicted the church. I was discovering the so-called enemies of the church were better at telling the truth than the church had been." - Dodie's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/dod13/
"In my mind, there lingered that "living prophet" thing, and the Urim and Thummim God had preserved for thousands of years so an ancient book could be translated. But as I read the essay about the translation of the Book of Mormon I began to grow somewhat skeptical. Once I reached the part about the "seer stone," I actually stood up and said out loud, "Ouija board!! Run, Dodie, run!" A magic rock in a hat?? My overloaded shelf came crashing down—so devastating was the crash, it left a massive crater into which I fell. Down the rabbit hole I went, to a place where there was no God. I experienced a true psychotic break. I thought I had died and was living in hell." - Dodie's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/dod13/
"In my mind, there lingered that "living prophet" thing, and the Urim and Thummim God had preserved for thousands of years so an ancient book could be translated. But as I read the essay about the translation of the Book of Mormon I began to grow somewhat skeptical. Once I reached the part about the "seer stone," I actually stood up and said out loud, "Ouija board!! Run, Dodie, run!" A magic rock in a hat?? My overloaded shelf came crashing down—so devastating was the crash, it left a massive crater into which I fell. Down the rabbit hole I went, to a place where there was no God. I experienced a true psychotic break. I thought I had died and was living in hell." - Dodie's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/dod13/
"When I first joined the Mormon church, I wasn't allowed to go to the temple because I was married to a nonmember. Once the rules were changed and I could go, I went as often as I could. The first encounter was bizarre, to say the least. At that time they still had the "blood oaths" as part of the endowment. I was instructed by local leaders that I just needed to go more often so I would understand the deeper meanings of the endowment. I went as often as I could but at the same time I was piling unanswered questions on my "shelf." As the years passed, my shelf became quite cluttered. I was building quite a heap." - Dodie's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/dod13/
"When I first joined the Mormon church, I wasn't allowed to go to the temple because I was married to a nonmember. Once the rules were changed and I could go, I went as often as I could. The first encounter was bizarre, to say the least. At that time they still had the "blood oaths" as part of the endowment. I was instructed by local leaders that I just needed to go more often so I would understand the deeper meanings of the endowment. I went as often as I could but at the same time I was piling unanswered questions on my "shelf." As the years passed, my shelf became quite cluttered. I was building quite a heap." - Dodie's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/dod13/
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/gracefoster25/. There are over a hundred 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 the full story at https://wasmormon.org/profile/gracefoster25/. There are over a hundred more stories of Mormon faith journeys contributed by users like you. Come check them out and consider sharing your own story at wasmormon.org!
I mentally ran from the church shortly after, but was forced into Sunday attendance by my parents for another year. After that year ended, I refused to step foot in a church building again, and so far, I have not. - Grace's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/gracefoster25/
I mentally ran from the church shortly after, but was forced into Sunday attendance by my parents for another year. After that year ended, I refused to step foot in a church building again, and so far, I have not. - Grace's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/gracefoster25/
As I read, I discovered the ways the church harmed those like me, from excommunication to the conversion therapy led at BYU by Dallin Oaks. As I kept reading I saw more and more that I was in a very very dark religious group. - Grace's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/gracefoster25/
As I read, I discovered the ways the church harmed those like me, from excommunication to the conversion therapy led at BYU by Dallin Oaks. As I kept reading I saw more and more that I was in a very very dark religious group. - Grace's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/gracefoster25/
I thought if I just didn’t accept what I was, it would go away and I’d go to Heaven. I spent years “praying the gay” out of me with only more self hatred growing inside me. - Grace's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/gracefoster25/
I thought if I just didn’t accept what I was, it would go away and I’d go to Heaven. I spent years “praying the gay” out of me with only more self hatred growing inside me. - Grace's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/gracefoster25/
I was fortunate to travel the world with my work. I've read all the major scriptures. I wanted to leave a global perspective on humanity's creation of religions and provide an alternative. So I wrote my alternative. I realize it's an uphill battle. After 20 years of reading stuff they told me not to read, in my retirement, I wanted to do more than complain. I wrote "A Song Of Humanity: A science-based alternative to the world's religions". - Jim's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/jajisee/
I was fortunate to travel the world with my work. I've read all the major scriptures. I wanted to leave a global perspective on humanity's creation of religions and provide an alternative. So I wrote my alternative. I realize it's an uphill battle. After 20 years of reading stuff they told me not to read, in my retirement, I wanted to do more than complain. I wrote "A Song Of Humanity: A science-based alternative to the world's religions". - Jim's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/jajisee/