R
reff
Guest
Any fellow Ex-Mormons out there? I would like to hear your conversion stories.
- Status
T
tundramom
Guest
Hi Reff!
I’m an ex-Mormon. I became Catholic in 2000. I will write more later on. Gotta get the kidlets off to school.
in Christ
Steph
I’m an ex-Mormon. I became Catholic in 2000. I will write more later on. Gotta get the kidlets off to school.
in Christ
Steph
M
majick275
Guest
yes
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RebeccaJ
Guest
here.
conversion story?
Atheist at the time of my conversion. I have always liked to study belief systems. I decided to check out Christian beliefs, from the oldest POV I could find. I went to Mass, to experience this ancient religion. I went to Mass some more, and just started going every week. Meanwhile, I was studying on the internet. Reading how Christianity defined religious terms and what was believed. Like I have done with a few other “belief systems”.
Then, I decided to experiment, to see if I could “find God”. I set some rules for myself, such as, no asking God preloaded questions, like, hi God, I think this or that might be true, is it? I was very uncomfortable praying, but I prayed, just one prayer for a very long time. I asked God to lead me to Him.
I had studied a lot online and had a lot of questions. Our RCIA did a pre-RCIA three nights, talking about the Trinity. I was having a hard time wrapping my head around the Trinity. I needed it explained, by a real person, in real life. So, I showed up at our Cathedral for three nights of Trinity. The deacon teaching it really explained it well. I got it.
I decided to keep going to RCIA, to learn more from real people who knew so much. I had no intention of being baptized. I still kept my experiment to “find God”. I understood the Christian concept of God, but no, I had no belief in this God. Prayers in RCIA way freaked me out. Catholics pray so much different than Mormons.
I would sit at Mass and watch people, and wonder how it was that they had God and I didn’t. I started coming here. zerinus told me that I would never find God because when I left Mormonism, God left me. Evil apostate that I am. So, I studied up on what the Christian teaching is about God, and asked our RCIA deacon.
I followed God’s Love, to where He led me. The Msgr. at my parish did a sermon one day, where he said that all of us belong with God. It is when I knew, that I wanted to be with God. At the RCIA rite of election, the questions asked, I answered I do. And I stood there wondering, do I? Really? Am I going to be baptized? Really? It was then that I said, yes, to myself.
I spent that Lent in prayer, working out the remaining questions and struggles I had. Getting myself off of birth control. Getting ready to be baptized. And ready I was. The last few weeks before Easter, the time about now, I was going crazy, I just wanted it to get here. I started to worry about dying before getting baptized. But in RCIA they explained that we had a baptism of desire. I just wanted to be Catholic. Now. I just wanted to be with God.
This year, I am sponsoring a person in RCIA. A bit different to see from the outside looking in, but the same, in that you can see the grace of God, working in people’s lives. The third scrutiny is this Sunday. We are getting so close! Eight people will be baptized in our parish, at Easter Vigil.
God bless our catechumens and candidates! All the Apostles, Prophets, Angels and Saints are praying for you. And we are praying with them. Which reminds me of the Litany of Saints!
Easter Vigil, it is nothing less than astounding! I am excited for you reff. Welcome Home!
conversion story?
Atheist at the time of my conversion. I have always liked to study belief systems. I decided to check out Christian beliefs, from the oldest POV I could find. I went to Mass, to experience this ancient religion. I went to Mass some more, and just started going every week. Meanwhile, I was studying on the internet. Reading how Christianity defined religious terms and what was believed. Like I have done with a few other “belief systems”.
Then, I decided to experiment, to see if I could “find God”. I set some rules for myself, such as, no asking God preloaded questions, like, hi God, I think this or that might be true, is it? I was very uncomfortable praying, but I prayed, just one prayer for a very long time. I asked God to lead me to Him.
I had studied a lot online and had a lot of questions. Our RCIA did a pre-RCIA three nights, talking about the Trinity. I was having a hard time wrapping my head around the Trinity. I needed it explained, by a real person, in real life. So, I showed up at our Cathedral for three nights of Trinity. The deacon teaching it really explained it well. I got it.
I decided to keep going to RCIA, to learn more from real people who knew so much. I had no intention of being baptized. I still kept my experiment to “find God”. I understood the Christian concept of God, but no, I had no belief in this God. Prayers in RCIA way freaked me out. Catholics pray so much different than Mormons.
I would sit at Mass and watch people, and wonder how it was that they had God and I didn’t. I started coming here. zerinus told me that I would never find God because when I left Mormonism, God left me. Evil apostate that I am. So, I studied up on what the Christian teaching is about God, and asked our RCIA deacon.
I followed God’s Love, to where He led me. The Msgr. at my parish did a sermon one day, where he said that all of us belong with God. It is when I knew, that I wanted to be with God. At the RCIA rite of election, the questions asked, I answered I do. And I stood there wondering, do I? Really? Am I going to be baptized? Really? It was then that I said, yes, to myself.
I spent that Lent in prayer, working out the remaining questions and struggles I had. Getting myself off of birth control. Getting ready to be baptized. And ready I was. The last few weeks before Easter, the time about now, I was going crazy, I just wanted it to get here. I started to worry about dying before getting baptized. But in RCIA they explained that we had a baptism of desire. I just wanted to be Catholic. Now. I just wanted to be with God.
This year, I am sponsoring a person in RCIA. A bit different to see from the outside looking in, but the same, in that you can see the grace of God, working in people’s lives. The third scrutiny is this Sunday. We are getting so close! Eight people will be baptized in our parish, at Easter Vigil.
God bless our catechumens and candidates! All the Apostles, Prophets, Angels and Saints are praying for you. And we are praying with them. Which reminds me of the Litany of Saints!
Easter Vigil, it is nothing less than astounding! I am excited for you reff. Welcome Home!
S
SirKnight2007
Guest
I am an ex-Mormon.
In fact, I was a Catholic first, then became a Mormon, and finally saw the light, and came back to Catholicism.
The story goes like this. I was a believer in Christianity at a very early age. I had no formal upbringing in the Christian Religion. I just felt closeness to God, and I guess I must have heard of Jesus Christ somewhere, and I believed in Him. At the age of 16, I converted to Catholicism. I was Baptized, received First Holy Eucharist, received the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and finally, Confirmation. I was pretty steady in my faith for at least 3 years. I was a Lector, Altar Server, Religious Education Teacher, and the like. When I was 17, I went to college. This is where I spiraled downward. I was too concerned with sleeping in On Sunday mornings, and no caring on Saturday nights to go to Mass. Furthermore, my excuse was Church was too far away (I had to walk because Freshman weren’t allowed to have cars on campus). In all of this, I became dreadfully weak in my faith. A friend of mine was Mormon, and kept giving me Mormon literature, so I eventually went to his church. When I was there, everything seemed so perfect. People were nice, helpful, and everyone seemed like they loved each other; it was a sense of belonging to a Community. I took the Missionary lessons with haste, and without discerning that I was really lacking in my own faith, and that joining a different faith would not solve my problems, only make them worse. I did this for two and a half years. I went through the ranks of the Mormon priesthood (became and Elder), went to the Mormon Temple often, gave many public testimonies as to why Mormons where the true Church, but I was lying to myself the whole time. I said things like “I know this Church is true, that Joseph Smith is and was a Prophet of God”, etc, etc. trying to prove to myself that this Church was true, but deep down, I knew it wasn’t. I started asking myself, “Why didn’t they tell me their ‘deep doctrine’ when I was taking the lessons”, how come this, and how come that. Such things they don’t tell you are things like, Mormons believe in Polytheism-plurality of Gods, they themselves becoming Gods and ruling their own worlds and each having their own Savior or Jesus Christ to save their worlds, anyone not in their Church is condemned, only Mormons who are practically perfect, AND married, go to the highest degree of Heaven, how Joseph Smith never truly revealed the plates to the “Eight Witnesses”, but in fact had a cloth over them when they were shown, and how most of those witnesses recanted their seeing the plates, and then Joseph Smith excommunicated them because they went against his authority-on that note, they don’t tell you the real history of Smith, such as he was very controlling, had over 30 wives and concubines, never really saw the “First Vision”, but in fact is all his word, with no empirical evidence, and they also equate Smith with Jesus, although they say they don’t, and so on. It was so much of this ****, which I saw as a false religion, that I finally left. I was received back in full communion with the Catholic Church, and have been an even stronger Catholic since then. I know know about the other side, and will never go back; it was an experience to be reckoned with.
Vivat Jesus,
SirKnight2007
In fact, I was a Catholic first, then became a Mormon, and finally saw the light, and came back to Catholicism.
The story goes like this. I was a believer in Christianity at a very early age. I had no formal upbringing in the Christian Religion. I just felt closeness to God, and I guess I must have heard of Jesus Christ somewhere, and I believed in Him. At the age of 16, I converted to Catholicism. I was Baptized, received First Holy Eucharist, received the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and finally, Confirmation. I was pretty steady in my faith for at least 3 years. I was a Lector, Altar Server, Religious Education Teacher, and the like. When I was 17, I went to college. This is where I spiraled downward. I was too concerned with sleeping in On Sunday mornings, and no caring on Saturday nights to go to Mass. Furthermore, my excuse was Church was too far away (I had to walk because Freshman weren’t allowed to have cars on campus). In all of this, I became dreadfully weak in my faith. A friend of mine was Mormon, and kept giving me Mormon literature, so I eventually went to his church. When I was there, everything seemed so perfect. People were nice, helpful, and everyone seemed like they loved each other; it was a sense of belonging to a Community. I took the Missionary lessons with haste, and without discerning that I was really lacking in my own faith, and that joining a different faith would not solve my problems, only make them worse. I did this for two and a half years. I went through the ranks of the Mormon priesthood (became and Elder), went to the Mormon Temple often, gave many public testimonies as to why Mormons where the true Church, but I was lying to myself the whole time. I said things like “I know this Church is true, that Joseph Smith is and was a Prophet of God”, etc, etc. trying to prove to myself that this Church was true, but deep down, I knew it wasn’t. I started asking myself, “Why didn’t they tell me their ‘deep doctrine’ when I was taking the lessons”, how come this, and how come that. Such things they don’t tell you are things like, Mormons believe in Polytheism-plurality of Gods, they themselves becoming Gods and ruling their own worlds and each having their own Savior or Jesus Christ to save their worlds, anyone not in their Church is condemned, only Mormons who are practically perfect, AND married, go to the highest degree of Heaven, how Joseph Smith never truly revealed the plates to the “Eight Witnesses”, but in fact had a cloth over them when they were shown, and how most of those witnesses recanted their seeing the plates, and then Joseph Smith excommunicated them because they went against his authority-on that note, they don’t tell you the real history of Smith, such as he was very controlling, had over 30 wives and concubines, never really saw the “First Vision”, but in fact is all his word, with no empirical evidence, and they also equate Smith with Jesus, although they say they don’t, and so on. It was so much of this ****, which I saw as a false religion, that I finally left. I was received back in full communion with the Catholic Church, and have been an even stronger Catholic since then. I know know about the other side, and will never go back; it was an experience to be reckoned with.
Vivat Jesus,
SirKnight2007
J
jw2lds2catholic
Guest
I’m a former Mormon, among other things 
. Here is a link to my intro story: forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?p=4072530#post4072530
Enjoy!
. Here is a link to my intro story: forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?p=4072530#post4072530Enjoy!
W
William_M
Guest
Reff:
Why are you interested?
William
Why are you interested?
William
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twopekinguys
Guest
Wow Rebecca. What a wonderful story.
I have never been mormon, (I’ve been AoG, Nazarene, Baptis, and a couple others)but I came into full communion with the Church in 1995, and am now the Lay RCIA coordinator for our parish,
Stories from previous RCIA participants always touch my heart in a special way.
R
RebeccaJ
Guest
Thanks.RCIA was like an incubator. lol. We started with Bible study, and then the doctrinal topic of the evening. Lots of prayers, of course. We had a very good RCIA team.
It is where I learned about God. How to talk to God. How to listen to what God has to say to me. Many conversations with my sponsor, who is a dear friend that I love! (hi) RCIA will always have a special place in my heart.
R
reff
Guest
Here’s my conversion story in a nutshell.
I was born into Mormonism and baptized and confirmed at 8. I went to Church every sunday and attended youth activities during the week, my Father is Catholic although inactive. My Mother was born Catholic but converted to Mormonism in her teen years. She is very devout, as well as her entire side of the family. I was judged from the very beginning because I had a father who was a “non-member.” Time went on and I became a teenager. I loved going to sacrament meeting mostly because my friends were all there. I read the Book or Mormon regularly and attended seminary classes in high school. Skipping ahead to age 16. I began to study some things about the Mormon church that I had serious problems with. One of the biggest being the fact that our Black brothers were not allowed to be in the priesthood until the 1970’s. I had serious questions about the temple rituals, which I found out everything about them when I was 16. They made me sick to my stomach. I no longer felt a spirit when I attended sacrament meeting, and at that point I only went to please my mom. I didn’t want to hurt her. I was flipping through the channels one sunday evening and came across Mother Angelica and her Sisters reciting the Rosary, and I found it calming. I began to study Catholicism online. I was intrigued by the fact that only Catholicism can claim Apostolic Succession. I turned 19, and obviously wasn’t going on a mission, which was a big shock to my relatives. One thing lead to another and I broke my mom’s heart by telling her I had no testimony of the Mormon faith and that after studying Catholicism, I wanted to become Catholic. As soon as the news reached my relatives in SLC, California, and Hawaii, I received phone calls and letters. My Uncle who hasn’t bothered to make one phone call to us in 6 years heard the news and wrote me a letter telling me to repent and get off this “path of darkness.” My aunt to this day, every time she calls, tells me how evil Catholicism is. The fact that she thinks she is indemnified to have so much hate toward a religion simply because she is Mormon does the complete opposite of her intention. However, my mind was set, and I wasn’t turning back. I approached the Parish priest around this time last year, and told him my intention. I wasn’t able to start RCIA at that time because it was already lent. I began to attend Mass regularly, and slowly learned more and more of the Mass and it’s purpose. It is now March 2009. I have made new friends in RCIA, some of who are former Mormons, and also friends who are my age at the Newman Center. I am now 3 weeks away from the happiest day of my life. Ever since I was 16 I wanted this day to come. I wanted to have the joy to call myself Catholic. And I’m blessed to also say that my Mother will be attending my baptism.
I was born into Mormonism and baptized and confirmed at 8. I went to Church every sunday and attended youth activities during the week, my Father is Catholic although inactive. My Mother was born Catholic but converted to Mormonism in her teen years. She is very devout, as well as her entire side of the family. I was judged from the very beginning because I had a father who was a “non-member.” Time went on and I became a teenager. I loved going to sacrament meeting mostly because my friends were all there. I read the Book or Mormon regularly and attended seminary classes in high school. Skipping ahead to age 16. I began to study some things about the Mormon church that I had serious problems with. One of the biggest being the fact that our Black brothers were not allowed to be in the priesthood until the 1970’s. I had serious questions about the temple rituals, which I found out everything about them when I was 16. They made me sick to my stomach. I no longer felt a spirit when I attended sacrament meeting, and at that point I only went to please my mom. I didn’t want to hurt her. I was flipping through the channels one sunday evening and came across Mother Angelica and her Sisters reciting the Rosary, and I found it calming. I began to study Catholicism online. I was intrigued by the fact that only Catholicism can claim Apostolic Succession. I turned 19, and obviously wasn’t going on a mission, which was a big shock to my relatives. One thing lead to another and I broke my mom’s heart by telling her I had no testimony of the Mormon faith and that after studying Catholicism, I wanted to become Catholic. As soon as the news reached my relatives in SLC, California, and Hawaii, I received phone calls and letters. My Uncle who hasn’t bothered to make one phone call to us in 6 years heard the news and wrote me a letter telling me to repent and get off this “path of darkness.” My aunt to this day, every time she calls, tells me how evil Catholicism is. The fact that she thinks she is indemnified to have so much hate toward a religion simply because she is Mormon does the complete opposite of her intention. However, my mind was set, and I wasn’t turning back. I approached the Parish priest around this time last year, and told him my intention. I wasn’t able to start RCIA at that time because it was already lent. I began to attend Mass regularly, and slowly learned more and more of the Mass and it’s purpose. It is now March 2009. I have made new friends in RCIA, some of who are former Mormons, and also friends who are my age at the Newman Center. I am now 3 weeks away from the happiest day of my life. Ever since I was 16 I wanted this day to come. I wanted to have the joy to call myself Catholic. And I’m blessed to also say that my Mother will be attending my baptism.
T
twopekinguys
Guest
Bless you Reff,
We will be praying for you. Just don’t let your faith be shaken. Things like this are a shock for any family dealing with someone converting. No matter what faith they are going from or to.
We will be praying for you. Just don’t let your faith be shaken. Things like this are a shock for any family dealing with someone converting. No matter what faith they are going from or to.
S
StevieD
Guest
Sorry to go ‘off topic’ somewhat here. I am not an ex-Mormon but have been fascinated by its beliefs for years (not in any admiring way I should add) following a discussion with 2 female missionaries on the streets of my home town in the UK. I have studied the LDS for some time and had on-line ‘discussions’ with some members over the years. I was wondering whether or not there exists any ‘mission’ to Mormons within the Church. The US has been the source of a number of cults such as the LDS itself, the Scientologists, the SDA, the JW’s, Christian Scientists etc but North America also given the Church Saints, Blesseds and Venerables - many alive around the time that the LDS was founded or was in its early years. Has anyone thought of composing a prayer/litany to the North American Saints for the conversion of these poor, misguided people or asking the Church in the US to do so? I should imagine it would not be particularly pleasing to the leadership of said organisations but I would certainly say such a prayer on a regular basis.
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zerinus
Guest
S
StevieD
Guest
You see no problem sending missionaries to my door nor in ‘baptising’ my ancestors nor in slandering my religion - so some of your own ‘medicine’ - anyway I was clearly not talking to you so why talk to me?
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reff
Guest
Because I’m an Ex Mormon and I want to hear how other people dealt with leaving Mormonism.
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FCEGM
Guest
Thank you, Reff, for sharing your story with us. May Our Precious Lord continue to surprise you with His Divine Love in your beautiful pilgrimage of faith.
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reff
Guest
Thank you very much for your support. May God Bless you my friend
R
RAR
Guest
God bless you (and God blessED you, too). And congratulations.Here’s my conversion story in a nutshell.
I was born into Mormonism and baptized and confirmed at 8. I went to Church every sunday and attended youth activities during the week, my Father is Catholic although inactive. My Mother was born Catholic but converted to Mormonism in her teen years. She is very devout, as well as her entire side of the family. I was judged from the very beginning because I had a father who was a “non-member.” Time went on and I became a teenager. I loved going to sacrament meeting mostly because my friends were all there. I read the Book or Mormon regularly and attended seminary classes in high school. Skipping ahead to age 16. I began to study some things about the Mormon church that I had serious problems with. One of the biggest being the fact that our Black brothers were not allowed to be in the priesthood until the 1970’s. I had serious questions about the temple rituals, which I found out everything about them when I was 16. They made me sick to my stomach. I no longer felt a spirit when I attended sacrament meeting, and at that point I only went to please my mom. I didn’t want to hurt her. I was flipping through the channels one sunday evening and came across Mother Angelica and her Sisters reciting the Rosary, and I found it calming. I began to study Catholicism online. I was intrigued by the fact that only Catholicism can claim Apostolic Succession. I turned 19, and obviously wasn’t going on a mission, which was a big shock to my relatives. One thing lead to another and I broke my mom’s heart by telling her I had no testimony of the Mormon faith and that after studying Catholicism, I wanted to become Catholic. As soon as the news reached my relatives in SLC, California, and Hawaii, I received phone calls and letters. My Uncle who hasn’t bothered to make one phone call to us in 6 years heard the news and wrote me a letter telling me to repent and get off this “path of darkness.” My aunt to this day, every time she calls, tells me how evil Catholicism is. The fact that she thinks she is indemnified to have so much hate toward a religion simply because she is Mormon does the complete opposite of her intention. However, my mind was set, and I wasn’t turning back. I approached the Parish priest around this time last year, and told him my intention. I wasn’t able to start RCIA at that time because it was already lent. I began to attend Mass regularly, and slowly learned more and more of the Mass and it’s purpose. It is now March 2009. I have made new friends in RCIA, some of who are former Mormons, and also friends who are my age at the Newman Center. I am now 3 weeks away from the happiest day of my life. Ever since I was 16 I wanted this day to come. I wanted to have the joy to call myself Catholic. And I’m blessed to also say that my Mother will be attending my baptism.
I didn’t grow up Mormon, but I didn’t grow up “anything.” I became Catholic in college after searching and study, went through RCIA and received the baptism, confirmation, and the Eucharist on the same day. I can tell you that it was truly one of, if not the most, joyous times of my life. Your longing and looking forward to the day will be worth it. There is nothing like being united to Christ in His body in the taking of the Eucharist. If only Mormons knew that their burning bosom is only a shadow of the unity with Jesus in the Eucharist!
RAR
R
RAR
Guest
That’s an awesome idea. I am a Catholic living in Mormon Utah and often pray for their “misguided” souls, but your suggestion is just what I’ve been looking for. This is something my wife and I will certainly do.
God bless you and thank you for the suggestion.
RAR
Z
zerinus
Guest
I don’t care who you were talking to. This is an open forum. I talk to whoever I want to talk to—and ignore whoever I want to ignore. As they say, if you don’t like it, you can lump it!
zerinus
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