Why  I  Left

I'm the one on the left

I am not a disgruntled ex-communicated member, or anything like unto it. I am not even "miffed". In fact....I went on a mission, got married in the Temple, and baptized 3 of my 4 kids. I have held many callings in the church. I am not "bitter", nobody offended me, and I didn't leave the Church to pursue a lifestyle not conducive with the Church teachings. I believe those are the main reasons a person will leave the church. None apply to me. I simply found the REAL truth. I don't say that with pride or boastfulness.....just hear me out:

My "testimony" in the LDS church was based in false information --the same information you have. I fear you want nothing to do with looking at the facts. So of course, as long as you maintain your walk with blinders on, you will never leave what you (think) you "know to be the true church of God." I've been where you are now. Every word and phrase you use to defend the LDS church and your faith in it, I've used.      E v e r y     o n e !

The foundation of my testimony was not built upon the rock of our Redeemer, but rather upon the sand of Joseph Smith's lies that were cleaned up to the sweet story we have today. It took me a very long time to realize that. It was built upon my parents testimony. When I prayed to "know if the church was true" (another LDS catch-phrase), I did so with a finite understanding of the nature of the beast. Know it our not, believe it or not, the LDS church cheapens and de-values the atonement of Jesus Christ.

Mormons talk of grace, but in no way understand it. The LDS church requires more than God in order to "be saved"! Heck, Mormons just totally re-defined what it is to BE saved. I'd tell you to read Romans 5, but I already know you'd apply a weak Mormon spin on it. My "testimony" was just warm-fuzzies (that we're told is "the Spirit"). I only knew the good fruits of the church. That's all I knew to pray about! So when I prayed about the "truthfulness thereof," I had in mind a church that was not what it truly was.

An "....emotional impulse for something spiritual".  Hmmm.  Perhaps my warm-fuzzies were the Spirit only confirming my limited understanding of the church....but that is a typical Mormon stretched-explanation: possible, but not likely in light of the FACTS that you want nothing to do with. Boyd said it best.  "The Spirit" that the missionaries will identify FOR an investigator is often just a feeling like you might get by watching an emotionally moving film. 

We are taught to identify the "Spirit" for other people~!! Think about that. It is a blatant brainwashing tactic. How can any man know what another is feeling? Mormons will tell you "It's different for everyone," but then try to tell someone else when they just "felt the Spirit."

In the MTC we were trained to tell people when they felt it! We told them when the Spirit had just "confirmed the truth!"  So essentially, we told them what was true!  We left the investigator feeling that if they didn't just feel those good feelings that we just felt, there must be something wrong with them.  So of course when we ask, "You feel that?"  They say, "yes".  If we ask, "How do you feel right now?," and the response is ANYTHING positive, we tell them that was the spirit confirming the truth of, <our message>!  We, as missionaries, were trained in "commitment patterns & questions." In court it's called "leading the witness!"  I object, Your Honor! I, and probably you, have been subjected to these and other tactics our whole lives! The Mormon church does have truth in it, but it is not in the Truth.

We teach our kids songs like, "I hope they call me on a mission, when I have grown a foot or two....."
Little children are doing "REPEAT after me" testimonies whispered in their ear as soon as they can talk!
("I know this church is true. I love my mom and dad...")
That's not brainwashing? Hello?!

God the Father doesn't ask us to know certain code phrases and handshakes to enter heaven (that are word-for-word Masonic). I don't make that statement just because those issues aren't covered in the Bible, there just not Biblical! He doesn't do or ask many of the things we were taught are essential for salvation. It's like saying the atonement wasn't good enough. God gave us clearly the recipe for our salvation, which is solely faith & grace based. Even to this day, Mormons teach that the atonement doesn't cover all sin!
Again, I didn't leave because I was "disgruntled long enough," and I didn't leave on a whim. I looked at a lot of Church supported evidence. I don't like change.....period. I hate when my wife wants to paint the walls or move the couch. I find it hard to move out of my city merely because I've been in it so long --very much like with the LDS church. Most Mormons have very few friends outside the church. When a person's entire social structure is based in the Mormon church, it becomes difficult to consider anything else. Been there. Done that.

Mormonism becomes a lifestyle. It's can be consuming (not necessarily in a bad way). There is so much expected, especially from those to whom much was given. Our involvement in the LDS church inherently makes it difficult to leave. Holding a calling of leadership can make it near impossible to leave the church! --even if you want to (believe me)! Now, like you, I didn't want to leave the church. However, as I began to see the facts and history behind our church, I was hurt, shocked, disappointed, and felt betrayed. Still, I only kinda wanted to get out, but wasn't ready.

I wasn't going to leave the church for these reasons: I told myself, "precepts taught in the church teach me to be a good man, a good husband, father, neighbor, citizen". I'd been in so long, how would I function any other way? "I'll fake it," I thought. I can't drag my wife and the kids out because everyone they love is there....etc.

However, my wife was in her own search that was largely unknown to me. She, being smarter than you and me put together, came to the same conclusion that I did --and did so on her own! I was done. My wife had found the truth too, and the lame reasons I had for staying in the church were gone. However, she was able to disconnect from the church on her own more easily than I did. The only explanation there is is that she found the truth. It's extremely hard to discover, accept, and act upon (let alone, explain to your kids). Breaking away was the most difficult thing I've ever done....short of explaining to the kids we'd made a mistake. Very very difficult. So mock me if you must....but it almost took more guts than I have to make the move.

The Gospel is great, but it's out here....not in there. And because you are a well educated person in the twenty-first century, I trust you can discover and handle the truth. At least look at what I'm reporting to be the truth to you. My wife and I are not stupid (well, at least my wife isn't). You and I can't both be right. There's too much diversity out there to believe God answered your prayer differently than millions of others. If you choose to be Christian, as I know you claim to be (as I did always) then align yourself with His Gospel. I know…....you think you are.

There is SOOOO much junk contained in the history, tradition, gospel, and ceremony of the church. You don't even need faith to see it! You just need the courage to look. Much of it could be disputed, but there's still plenty documented to burn your bosom and chap your hide! LOL.  "The Church" makes it hard for to discover the truth about it's doctored history, it's cleaned-up past and origin; and almost impossible to break away from the Mormon Mania.

Tom Norton    mailto:swingleft@adelphia.net