I used to post on this forum years ago, but then stopped reading and publishing and have just rejoined. I am a practicing but non-believing Mormon. I haven't believed in Mormonism or any ism for over 15 years now. I go through the motions for the sake of my TBM Mormon Family. I am very angry about BKP's recent General Conference speech where he put down and slammed gays. They used to refer to him on this board as Darth Vader. Is that still the case? Here is something that I have been wondering about recently. Recently after watching and listening to our beloved Profit (slam), Tommy Monson, I have really wondered if he is a closet gay. Does anyone else out there share my thoughts on this. I could be totally off base, but just based on my observations of him on TV, his speech and manerisms I have some stong thoughts that he just might be a closet gay. Anyone else feel this way? BTW, the former name I used to go by on the board was 'Fellow-Traveler.' Some of you old timers might remember me. Good to be back. Herbert Philbrick. Herbert Philbrick was the star of a 1950's TV series about a double agent who posed as a Russian spy while in fact worked for the US Government passing along USSR secrets to the CIA or whomever he worked for back then. Since I have to pass myself off as a TBM when in fact I am an atheist I often feel like I am Herbert Philbrick. 10-8-2010

Hi Herbert.

I don't know about Monson, but we've certainly wondered that about Packer, because he seems utterly obsessed with the topic. It's like he doth protest too much.

Man, I don't know how you manage to go through the motions of being a TBM when you know it's all a crock. My hat's off to you, 'cause I'm sure I couldn't pull that off. At some point, I'd blurt out something which would get me into trouble. Especially at times when I was mad, like at Packer's hate speech.

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

Herb, you must have an awful lot of self control to force yourself into those positions in the organization when you actually know better...how do you steel your emotions when doing it?

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"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."

You've played this game for 15 years?! Holy crap, there is no way I could pull that off. When I found out it was all BS I left immediately and ended up with a divorce as a result. And even though we (kids included) have gone through some very, very rough times, I managed to keep my sanity and expose the church BS to my kids who have now all left the church.

No recommending that you do the same--it's a tough road either way as you know.

Welcome (back).

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Dipsnort, sniper of truth and aspiring Harriet Tubman of Mormonism

Can't imagine hangin in there for that long. I would have burnt so many bridges by now just through the uncontrollable outburst. cough cough Joseph was a fraudulent pederist cough cough. Ah ah ah american indians are asian choooooooo!!!!

Exactly!

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Dipsnort, sniper of truth and aspiring Harriet Tubman of Mormonism

Hey, Herbert, welcome back.
As a kid, I watched "I Led Three Lives" religiously, so to speak.

Many of you have asked why I continue to go through the motions pretending to be a TBM, when in fact I don't believe any of the crap. We'll when I came out in front of all my adult children, I was told, 'well if that is the case then we don't want you around any of our kids.' That is to say my own grandchildren. Well I decided I wanted to continue my associations with all my grandkids, so I go through the pretend game. They all know I do not believe and some occassionally ask my wife, 'Is Dad still a non-believer?' She responds 'yes he still doens't believe' and that is the end of subject. I even helped financially, support my oldest grandson when my most vocal daughter and her husband, who didn't want me around her grandkids fell on hard times financially and could'nt pay their own sons mission. It is not an easy life, but in order to continue associations with my own grandkids, I am forced to go through this act. So that is the reason folks. Herbert Philbrick. 10-11-10

Wow, I feel for you. That is a tough situation. What a hateful thing for your children to impose on you.

Absolutely, and yet an all too typical quandary the cult creates in our relationships!

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Dipsnort, sniper of truth and aspiring Harriet Tubman of Mormonism

I'm coming around to hating religion as much as I used to love it.

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

So sorrowing to learn, you still feel like this situation is changing somewhat slowly and dragging on more, than you may like it to.

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God of Poly-Folly Folly

{ If you believe in things that you don't understand, then you suffer ~ Stevie Wonder }
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God of Poly-Folly Folly

Hey Agent and welcome back. I'm sure the family hopes dad will someday see the error of his way and come back into the fold. I took the other path and as a result lost contact with my grand-kids and divorced as well. In retrospect I'm not so sure I would have done it different if I had it to do over. It's been a painful experience but I could not live the lie without speaking out.

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Ask questions and Family is no longer forever and more often not even for time.
"I don't know that we teach that...I don't know that we emphasize that!"