Mormons search the web and find doubt

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My heart really goes out to this guy.

He wants to believe, and keep his “testimony”, but it appears he is swimming upstream with a boulder, and nobody is bothering to throw him a lifeline.

Unfortunately, or fortunately, depending on which side of the issue you’re on, this is another individual that is starting to study his way out of mormonism.

I think that is the largest and most common thread among those that leave.

It also makes you wonder why the higher ups didn’t/haven’t come to his aid. Is it because they can’t? Because maybe they feel the same thing, but they’re in too deep to make it known?

Food for thought wouldn’t you say?
 
twopekinguys said:
My heart really goes out to this guy.

It also makes you wonder why the higher ups didn’t/haven’t come to his aid. Is it because they can’t? Because maybe they feel the same thing, but they’re in too deep to make it known?

Food for thought wouldn’t you say?
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Could be…(and I will borrow the words of LivingWaters in a prior post)…*LDS apologetics, most especially the material put out by FAIR and FARMS/MI, many times causes more questions to be asked then answered. Things like Michael Ash’s Shaken Faith Syndrome (I purchased and read his latest edition) don’t really help, and instead cause a sort of dichotomy between what the apologists are saying, and what the LDS leaders, the prophets and apostles, are saying, and have said, including in General Conferences. *
 
pablope said:
Could be…(and I will borrow the words of LivingWaters in a prior post)…*LDS apologetics, most especially the material put out by FAIR and FARMS/MI, many times causes more questions to be asked then answered. Things like Michael Ash’s Shaken Faith Syndrome (I purchased and read his latest edition) don’t really help, and instead cause a sort of dichotomy between what the apologists are saying, and what the LDS leaders, the prophets and apostles, are saying, and have said, including in General Conferences. *
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I think that goes back to no paid clergy. No real magesterium to provide consistent teachings.

Everybody getting to form their own opinions is never a good thing. It leaves people way out on a limb, with it ready to snap.

Whether mormonism is right or wrong. The saddest part of all is that the 15 biggies can’t/won’t help the guy.
 
twopekinguys said:
I think that goes back to no paid clergy. No real magesterium to provide consistent teachings.

Everybody getting to form their own opinions is never a good thing. It leaves people way out on a limb, with it ready to snap.

Whether mormonism is right or wrong. The saddest part of all is that the 15 biggies can’t/won’t help the guy.
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isn’t that the truth? I always chuckle when I see how LDS and former LDS talk about what was taught and what was not. How often have we seen a former LDS talk about things they were taught only to have a different former or current LDS say they were taught something different?
 
TexanKnight said:
isn’t that the truth? I always chuckle when I see how LDS and former LDS talk about what was taught and what was not. How often have we seen a former LDS talk about things they were taught only to have a different former or current LDS say they were taught something different?
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This is something I heard a lot from members who were from Utah.

“Things were different in Utah.”
“We learned to look at it THIS way back home.”

🤷

There were standardized teachings in Gospel Principles. However even the classes you could sit in on that had a lot of ands, ifs, buts, and I feels in it.

When it comes to what Missionaries teach, I am pretty sure it is set in stone. Though, you definitely don’t get the full story.
 
TheConservative said:
This is something I heard a lot from members who were from Utah.

“Things were different in Utah.”
“We learned to look at it THIS way back home.”

🤷

There were standardized teachings in Gospel Principles. However even the classes you could sit in on that had a lot of ands, ifs, buts, and I feels in it.

When it comes to what Missionaries teach, I am pretty sure it is set in stone. Though, you definitely don’t get the full story.
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back when I was a missionary, what we taught made us sound like Protestants, only we were the true church. There was nothing to make anyone look askance.
 
TexanKnight said:
back when I was a missionary, what we taught made us sound like Protestants, only we were the true church. There was nothing to make anyone look askance.
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Did you use those crayon colored laminated cards to make your points when you were a Missionary?

😃

I used FAIR quite a bit when I was questioning my faith, and their site helped a lot. It answered many questions, but some of their answers seemed a bit forced.

“How could you ever question the Church? Don’t you remember the testimonies on Fast Sunday?”

Hopefully the man from the article can find his truth.
 
Imparo said:
The decline of Mormonism due to internet research has been a common theme over the last 5-10 years.

They claim 14m followers but it’s more likely to be 4m according to many sources.

Let’s hope this false religion soon collapses.

It has offered nothing to the world.
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While I don’t agree with the teachings of the LDS Church, individual Mormons have contributed a lot to society. They are hard-working, clean-living, decent people. I have a dear friend who is LDS, and she’s one of the loveliest people I know.
 
TexanKnight said:
I wonder if it is possible for the LDS Church to transition from a prophet-based Church to a simple protestant faith? Is it possible for the church to survive if they came clean and told the truth about the first vision, the prophesies and book of mormon and history, etc and then say, “but our faith in God is strong and our lifestyle and conduct speaks for itself. Join us to live a true Christian life”.

The LDS Church is pretty attractive but for the whole prophet/js/b of m
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I would think that if the Community of Christ can transit to a Protestant denomination, the Utah church by swallowing some pride can as well.
 
njlisa said:
While I don’t agree with the teachings of the LDS Church, individual Mormons have contributed a lot to society. They are hard-working, clean-living, decent people. I have a dear friend who is LDS, and she’s one of the loveliest people I know.
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This is the hard dichotomy of the LDS. Their historical record is beyond problematic but many of them live lives centered on God and family. While they hunker down for Family Home Evening every Monday, most Catholics I know devote far less time to quality family time. I don’t know any Catholics under the age of 30 who’ve devoted themselves to missionary work. Some aspects of the LDS are inspiring. Hopefully those who leave the church take these qualities with them.
 
gracepoole said:
This is the hard dichotomy of the LDS. Their historical record is beyond problematic but many of them live lives centered on God and family. While they hunker down for Family Home Evening every Monday, most Catholics I know devote far less time to quality family time. **I don’t know any Catholics under the age of 30 who’ve devoted themselves to missionary work. ** Some aspects of the LDS are inspiring. Hopefully those who leave the church take these qualities with them.
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👍

I met and now have two wonderful Mormon friends who were in Australia on a Mission. I remember thinking to myself, we Catholics should have something similar, where you dedicate a year or two to the Church working in Africa, Asia or South America in Catholic charities, orphanages etc.
 
NeuroTypical said:
I find it interesting that people can grow in spirituality, heading in such opposite directions. I started looking online into criticisms of my faith back in the mid-90’s. It was a totally opposite experience than what’s being shared here. I found interacting with criticisms and resolving them to my satisfaction, to be a learning, growing experience that clarified and solidified my beliefs.

Do more people learn stuff online and doubt or leave? I don’t know. I’m sure there are people doing it in most any religion. I do know that I’m hardly the only LDS person out there to plumb the depths of LDS criticism, and not only remain faithful, but grow in faith.
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👍

I think it takes a good deal of courage to share your loyalty to your faith. We Catholics can learn from your example.
 
NeuroTypical said:
I find it interesting that people can grow in spirituality, heading in such opposite directions. I started looking online into criticisms of my faith back in the mid-90’s. It was a totally opposite experience than what’s being shared here. I found interacting with criticisms and resolving them to my satisfaction, to be a learning, growing experience that clarified and solidified my beliefs.

Do more people learn stuff online and doubt or leave? I don’t know. I’m sure there are people doing it in most any religion. I do know that I’m hardly the only LDS person out there to plumb the depths of LDS criticism, and not only remain faithful, but grow in faith.
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Hi NeuroTypical - Were you told that Joseph Smith was a polygamist or did you find out online?

I don’t see the facts that are available online as criticisms, as you say, but as the truth compared to what LDS are taught in religious education classes. Isn’t that a problem? To be taught something that isn’t true?
 
If Mormons conscientously research their faith, they will likely find falsehood in Mormon teachnings and may be inclined to leave. On the other hand, if Catholics conscientously reseach their faith, they will find truthfulness in Catholic teachings and remain Catholics. Most Catholics do not know their faith and do not border to do some digging.
 
opulumpu said:
If Mormons conscientously research their faith, they will likely find falsehood in Mormon teachnings and may be inclined to leave. On the other hand, if Catholics conscientously reseach their faith, they will find truthfulness in Catholic teachings and remain Catholics. Most Catholics do not know their faith and do not border to do some digging.
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I’m not so sure this is true. There is a lot of anti-Catholicism on the internet. If I go out and find the Catholic Church’s Vatican Bank seems to be involved with the Mafia it might shake my faith just as much as finding out that Joseph Smith was involved in polygamy. That is not to say that it should, but the internet always cuts both ways.
 
SAVINGRACE said:
👍

I met and now have two wonderful Mormon friends who were in Australia on a Mission. I remember thinking to myself, we Catholics should have something similar, where you dedicate a year or two to the Church working in Africa, Asia or South America in Catholic charities, orphanages etc.
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👍
 
SAVINGRACE said:
👍

I met and now have two wonderful Mormon friends who were in Australia on a Mission. I remember thinking to myself, we Catholics should have something similar, where you dedicate a year or two to the Church working in Africa, Asia or South America in Catholic charities, orphanages etc.
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Hello savingrace,
The LDS youth are put under a great deal of pressure to go on these missions. Some want to go, but many don't.
 
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