Great article...however. Just kidding. Well put Jerry.

The line was very well put that some people who've left the LDS Church regard the church as some kind of parent who's betrayed them and they are bitter and feel the need to get even. I've observed this in sooooo many instances. They posit that they are happier outside the Church but go on to bitter rants and angry accusations. You'd think they'd just go happily on their way and put what they insist is their awful Mormon experience in the past.

It can be difficult for people who feel, for various reasons, betrayed or mislead by the Church. Some feel that they have been lied to and sold a package that wasn't what it claimed to be. That can be hard to deal with and perhaps we should be more forgiving of their trial.

TO Sunnykc,

That is entirely your own opinion. Why be so judgmental of others if you don't truly know? Some have many different stories to tale. WHY NOT LISTEN? Don't make judgments unless you know for sure!!!!

The reason I left the church was for all my reading and intent study of church history. None of it made too much sense after all the research. I think anyone who has a brain, and knows how to study, and can read, can pretty much figure things out for themselves. I'm not one who can have the wool shoved over my eyes too easily. I'm very open minded to facts, and the facts are there if you study.

The Church is true and no amount of misunderstood history by others is going to change that. Men make mistakes and say things that are not from God, but Jesus Christ is the head and reveals truth to a prophet. The spirit testifies of the truth, not history books.

RE: SD BLUE,
Well, you could say that about believing in the book of Mormon then. It is just another history book of some kind that was written by Joseph Smith, who had many wives, and married them behind his loving wife Emma's back---- Hummmm? Too much contradiction for me.

How can you say that you cant rely on history to see if something is right? thats rediculous. What is the Bible? It's History! You have to have faith in the facts of the bible so you can have faith in things you can't see. Why would you want to believe in something if you knew it had holes in it everywhere. History is good for proving many things wrong. For instance...there were no spears or swords here pre colonial yet it says there was in the book of mormon. look it up, National Geographic says there is no reason to even research anything from that book because they know it doesnt exist. The only thing they say is right is that there were dogs here in America at that time. Thats it. Thats a fact. Do you believe that some of the stars out there are billions of years old? How do you know? have you seen it? or do you rely on facts like carbon dating and math equations? give me a break. Religion is Just as much facts as it is faith? What do you know about what you believe? You should ask yourself that.

Mormons as individuals are usually likable but they are strange because they are never really real. It is like they can not understand the world around them and they are trying to escape to a fairy land. And Mormons as a community are just beyond rational believe. Why do momons want to be so strange and unreal. Don't they want to be liked; don't they want to be liked and understood as normal by other humans. I wish I could help some of the Mormons I work with, but I have no idea what to do for them.

I cannot understand why LDS believe lies? They refuse to acknowledge the truth no matter what! Even if they study something they will find a bunch excuses why it must still be right even though it is wrong, and placed before their eyes. They refuse to acknowledge all the hoaxes played upon their minds, so there is at least something their to believe in. I don't hate Mormons, because I was born in the church, but I sure as heck have enough sense to know when someone is lying to me!

People who leave the LDS church for one reason or another do not have their membership grounded upon the same principles that those who are active followers do.We have all heard the location,location,location thing. For Latter day saints its FAITH,FAITH,FAITH. You have the faith then you will probably stay. You dont have the faith then you might find any of the 100's logical reasons for leaving.No one is begging you to believe.We only share what we know to be true.You decide if you want it or not.If you think its stupid to be a mormon then thats ok by me.As for me I will stick with my FAITH.

Your freedom to leave the church is far more important than me trying to prove that mormonism is the only true church on earth.I believe in free agency.The right to choose.With out free agency you have nothing.You have the freedom to leave the church. I have the freedom to stay as a member.And stll we can walk different paths and still be friends.

How do you know what you think is true is anymore true than what others think they know is true. The truth is that you do not know, and your insistance in claiming to know what you indeed do not know is a cause of a problem for your believe and your relationship with others. If indeed you knew I imagine you would be a very different person than what you are and you would not be so insecure as the rest of us posting on this site. Why not be honest and just say that you believe or that you want to believe, or that you think it is a good thing, etc. If you are the only true church you should be able to prove it in deed and reason. There are too many extreme brain washed religious fanatics in the world today and that is not good, it is dangerous and not likely something a good God would wish on humanity.

I prayed for a testimony for 40 years. I finally gave up. And some members, the way they act, so holier than thou, helped me make up my mind once and for all.. Most everyone I knew while who were active seem to have their crooked noses in the air much of time about nothing, and as well looking for praises from someone else they thought to be lesser in their own little minds. However, being LDS means knowing more about everyone else's business other then your own. Everyone knows everyone else's business...nose nose anything goes. Make up a few lies so everyone thinks your in the know at church. Spread a few rumors too and boast about how much you think you know.

My experience in the LDS Church began when I was raised LDS and baptized at the age of 8. My parents did an excellent job of equivocating goodness and rightness with the Church so that I thought they were the same thing. I was told I was feeling "the Spirit" whenever I had good feelings, and that I was separated from "the Spirit" when I felt bad feelings.

Being brainwashed in this way, it became very difficult to account for the fact that so many non-Mormons were such happy, fulfilled, good people. "But they don't have the Spirit!" I thought. Then I was taught about the difference between the Spirit and the Gift of the Holy Ghost. The Gift of the HG you get with you ALWAYS. That is the difference...

...except when you are unworthy or "not in tune" or-- any number of caveats. As I pondered it, I realized it was an artificial distinction. Now that I have separated the two, I realize the Church is just another man-made organization. The leaders are just men, with no special revelation or powers. They make mistakes. Big ones. I don't get so uptight about Church anymore. I am much happier.

It is not enough that Mormons have to delude themselves into believing in fairy stories, fantasy, and science fiction baloney (and call it "scripture") - NO, they must try to convince everyone else that the Emperor's New Clothes are just beautiful!

"Look at President [Emperor] Monson's new clothes! Aren't they gorgeous! Look at that beautiful MANTLE! What wonderful garments he has on!"

You do remember how that story ends, don't you?

To all of you out there, I say this, "I am a proud member and I have not been brainwashed. I don't let the members who have there nose in the air get to me cause I know they are wrong and that the church teaches other wise. Every church has members who live as they are taught and those who don't. Unlike you I will not say anything bad about any church. From my research of religion and churches I find they try to teach good things based on what they believe in. It all comes down to this, when our Lord returns he and "ONLY HE" will judge between you and me and all who has walked this earth and now does and will in the future. I ask you this, "those of you who are judging us, or any person who tries to live the live THEY believe god has asked us to live, how do you think our Lord will Jude you? I will not Jude cause it is not for me to do but live AS I BELIEVE and not as you believe.