Hello fellow researchers...

I am not so sure what I'm doing here so bear with me if I'm doing things wrong the next few days! I'm looking for some help and fellowship among some others who have found the truth.

My name is Madeline, I was raised Mormon in Colorado. My personal story is quite long, but to make it short, I am 24 years wise, a single woman attending graduate school but who is seriously dating a Catholic, and my family has lived in North Carolina for almost 13 years. My grandfather converted to Mormonism during WW2 and I come from a "so-so" family in regards to activity within the church (parents drink, smoke, do not wear temple garments, yet are in multiple callings? - rest of extended family is inactive - younger sister just graduated high school and is in Utah... )

Over the past 6 months I've learned about spiritual development and started questioning some things on my own after taking temple-preparation classes to receive my endowments. In the class we were told not to google search ANYTHING because the sacred ceremonies have been posted all over the internet and it would make our experience less rewarding and spiritual...

Curiously, I google searched, of course, and have been in the process of learning everything I can ever since (about 2 months). I still have questions about the Mormon faith, some may or may not be answered, but I can testify that I know it isn't true. My personal relationship with Jesus Christ is the most important part of my life and I do not feel that the LDS church has ever emphasized that "part" of church to the extent I need. I'm sick of singing "Praise to the Man" and watching videos about Joseph Smith that look and sound like documentaries about the founding fathers of the country.

Anyways, this is a beginning post - I'm really just introducing myself and some of my story - and preparing to sit down with my parents to come clean about my intent to resign from the church next week when I go home to visit. Any encouragement, resource referrals or questions are welcomed and I hope we can grow together in our post-Mormon journey

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"...you must stop looking at the world through your head. You must look through your heart, instead. That way, you will know God." -Eat, Pray, Love

Welcome Madeline. If they're what I would call "Jack Mormons," they really shouldn't take it too bad. Then again, you never know.

I'm wondering how they get away with blatantly disobeying the WoW, not wearing the magic underwear and hold multiple callings. I'd be interested in knowing what callings they hold.

Keep us posted...and welcome to the family!
~Susie

_________________
Don't worry about what you heard about me.
I might of done a little dirt and left a few of em hurt.
But whatever has occurred, they all got what they deserved.

I just thought of something. Maybe they pay their tithing and then some and the $$$ corp. $$$ chooses to ignore their disobedience. Or maybe they have something on their bishop, SP or someone.

_________________
Don't worry about what you heard about me.
I might of done a little dirt and left a few of em hurt.
But whatever has occurred, they all got what they deserved.

1) To my knowledge and in past conversations with my mom, I've learned that they don't tell the bishop of their wrongdoings...therefore they must have low levels of guilt, hence a weak testimony (just my own opinion on it).

2) Dad taught Gospel Doctrine/Principles whatever it is with the missionaries for 3 years, now he's in YM. Mom is a primary teacher and Girls Camp Director for the ward.

They do pay tithing (I'm pretty sure anyways...) but definitely do not have dirt on anybody - they don't socialize with people from church, weird right?! Also, my cousin is now getting baptised into the church. He's 17 and will be the first member from my dads side of the family to convert. Dad's been a member since I was 5, so roughly 20 years or so. It's a weird situation...my parents actually were inactive for a period of about 7-10 years, and when my mom and I talked about it she always mentioned "stuff" about Joseph Smith, the salamander papers, etc. but now both parents are back in the church. It will likely be an intersting and insightful conversation.

I'm sending an email (tonight) to my branch leaders to let them know of my intent not to return (I'm in Florida for an internship for my grad program) so they can find a new person for my callings.

I may post some of what I'm sending for feedback...is there a good section on this BB for that???

BTW, Thanks for your warm welcome Susie!

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"...you must stop looking at the world through your head. You must look through your heart, instead. That way, you will know God." -Eat, Pray, Love

Hi madeline,
You are more than welcome to form and post your ideas here. That's about what we all do here. It's really easy and ready for anyone willing. Great to see you out and about!

_________________
God of Poly-Folly Folly

{ If you believe in things that you don't understand, then you suffer ~ Stevie Wonder }
.................. www.­tudou.­com/­programs/­view/­7Q0q-­Vv8sHQ/
.............. http://www.tudou.com/programs/view/7Q0q-Vv8sHQ/
.................. www.tudou.com/programs/view/7Q0q-Vv8sHQ/


God of Poly-Folly Folly

Welcome, Madeline.

Thank goodness you gave in to temptation and Googled the truth about Mormonism before you went through that bizarre temple experience. Congrats on your courage.

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"A mind stretched by a new idea can never go back to its original dimensions." - Oliver Wendell Holmes

Welcome Madeline...good of you to drop in here and express some feelings you have...there is lot of really great people here to help assist with whatever concerns you in your exiting a false belief system..

_________________
"When authority masquerades as a power, a simple question will unmask it."

"Just because you think, feel, or believe something is true, doesn't make it true!"

"The doubt of your faith, is not God testing you, but truth trying to emerge and free you."

Welcome! I would have done the same thing regarding the temple googling if the internet existed before I went to the temple. You have been saved a lot of weirdness, being bored out of your mind, having to wear that awful underwear and so much more! Think of all the money you will save! You are so lucky!

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Something has changed within me
Something is not the same
I'm through with playing by
The rules of someone else's game

Very warm welcomes, Madeline.
You will find some like spirits here.
And some unlike!
I like your head; it's on your shoulders really good.
("You've got a good head on your shoulders.")
You're just the kind of positive spirit that I like to see come into exmormonforums.
Enjoy the journey. The goal is freedom and truth.
And more.

Good for madeline, Drive On.

Your welcoming messages have been so sweet - it is comforting to know I'm not alone. It's difficult to discuss with someone who's never been a member and that's who I've been seeking refuge from lately. I didn't feel like I was ready to post on here yet, because of course, that makes the entire decision a reality.

But, I'm sending my emails to the branch I serve in this morning after I get to work and know in my heart I'm doing the right thing. I'm prepared for the response that I should come back and learn from the missionaries, or to hear that my heart has been hardened and clouded by Satan, and that my eternal progression is at hand.

But again, your voices and stories have kept my head up through all this combined with my personal intuitions and cold hard fact.

You are all great ExMo role models (haha I sound like a Mormon still) and I'm really glad I decided to come in and post on the boards, thank you again!!!

_________________
"...you must stop looking at the world through your head. You must look through your heart, instead. That way, you will know God." -Eat, Pray, Love

Welcome Madeline! We'll be looking forward to your contributions to our little community.

Have you guys/gals noticed that new converts to Mormonism are generally not that swift in terms of thinking for themselves but those who convert to ex-Mormonism are able to think with a critical mind and accept facts as fact?

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Dipsnort, sniper of truth and aspiring Harriet Tubman of Mormonism

'Prolly comes from that 'dumbing down' process I was mentioning a few posts ago...where you're kept in a repressed child like state...you're developmentally retarded or intellectually challenged....kept in a child like state of mind, with all the answers already given to you...your brain cells are not exercised in a normal way and cease to function like most 'normal' individuals can ...when you exit, your brains ability to function properly takes some time to reboot itself so you can once again return to your now corrected ability to process all that new information correctly..which puts you back into the 'normal' mode of thinking...wonderful organ, that brain..

_________________
"When authority masquerades as a power, a simple question will unmask it."

"Just because you think, feel, or believe something is true, doesn't make it true!"

"The doubt of your faith, is not God testing you, but truth trying to emerge and free you."

I think that explains it very well. And when you're deep in Mormonism the facts look like fiction but the further you dig out the more and more what you thought was fact begins to look like fiction. It's frustrating, but in the end you do find so much freedom.

And, when you don't feel bad about doing things the church tells you not to (drink alcohol for example) you start to realize that maybe the rest of it is a pile of crap, too...



...and of course it is.

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"...you must stop looking at the world through your head. You must look through your heart, instead. That way, you will know God." -Eat, Pray, Love

PS - I'm looking for some good books. I'm increasingly interested in the history of the church and especially the strange doctrine. Now that I've decided I'm done, I want to read something that brings up both sides (I enjoy the devil's advocate and want to be able to discuss things with my family, knowing what their reaction might be).

Anyone have any good suggestions?

One website I've enjoyed lately is mormonthink.org but I'd really like to have a credible book on the subject.

My current selection for the first book to order is "What Every Mormon (and non-Mormon) should know."

(see: http://www.amazon.com/What-Every-Mormon-Non-Mormon-Should/dp/1600341632)

Any other thoughts/suggestions???? All are appreciated!!!

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"...you must stop looking at the world through your head. You must look through your heart, instead. That way, you will know God." -Eat, Pray, Love

Check out our "Summer reading" thread. We have been sharing interesting books to read.

Standard exiting documentary easy read types would probably include Brodies "No Man Knows My History, Blood of the Prophets by Will Bagley( I think), Under the Banner of Heaven, History of a Violent Faith, Cornerstone of Mormonism by Arza Evans. House of Faith, House of Cards pubished by Authorhouse, is a recent contribution by a locally buding author, concerning his exit.

Maybe the best is to survey the articles posted on the index page of the website here and read along until something piques your interest...seems that there is no end in sight once you get to reading.

_________________
"When authority masquerades as a power, a simple question will unmask it."

"Just because you think, feel, or believe something is true, doesn't make it true!"

"The doubt of your faith, is not God testing you, but truth trying to emerge and free you."

Nearly 24, now official and just-in-time to have a rrrealllly, Happy Birthday! What a mile-marker this one will be. And to boot, it's the last day of the week. Talk about timing, that's pretty accurate and true to your titled thread posting, and a great way to kick off an always remembered celebration.

_________________
God of Poly-Folly Folly

{ If you believe in things that you don't understand, then you suffer ~ Stevie Wonder }
.................. www.­tudou.­com/­programs/­view/­7Q0q-­Vv8sHQ/
.............. http://www.tudou.com/programs/view/7Q0q-Vv8sHQ/
.................. www.tudou.com/programs/view/7Q0q-Vv8sHQ/


God of Poly-Folly Folly

Happy Birthday, Madeline !!

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"A mind stretched by a new idea can never go back to its original dimensions." - Oliver Wendell Holmes

Thanks everyone

It is the best birthday yet, I am the happiest I've ever been in my adult life and I know it will only get better from here.

_________________
"...you must stop looking at the world through your head. You must look through your heart, instead. That way, you will know God." -Eat, Pray, Love