De-Converting Mormons [From an ex-Mormon]

Ex-Mormon.org ^ | March 24, 2013 | Ex-Cult Member

[Colofornian]

From the forum: I think I was at least partially responsible for [bringing out] approximately 10 friends and my entire family (parents & siblings)...some things to note that I think helped me was: 1) I never came across as angry or bitter. I was always nice, friendly and self assured (but not arrogant or condescending) 2) They all knew I was a "good" Mormon so they were all very curious as to why I left when it wasn't because of being offended or sinning. 3) I did my research. I studied up on all the issues both pro & anti. I was able to intelligently convey to them the historical/doctrinal problems with Mormonisim that they weren't aware of. 4) I made it clear to them to them that it wasn't me trying to find an excuse to leave the church but my SINCERE desire for absolute truth which led me out. I started out reading anti books on my mission so that I would know how to DEFEND the church, but I gradually realized that most of the stuff was actually true and that the church couldn't really be defended. My eyes gradually were opened to the fact that the church may not be what it claimed to be.

[bigheadfred]

“but i never could a done it without the help of pope ‘ima quitter’ benedict”

[District13]

If you can de-convert a Mormon, then they weren’t a Mormon in the first place. A testimony is a personal revelation from God, not from some slick salesman. If a slick salesman got to somebody, they didn’t have a testimony at all.

[Katiana Kalashnikova]

but i never could a done it without the help of pope ‘ima quitter’ benedict”.

I don't understand this remark? Are you disparaging Benedict? If so why?

[ejonesie22]

On the contrary, the Mormon in question may very well have had this so called “revelation”, but as made very clear in the Holy Bible, evil will come in the guise of the light. Once exposed to the information and using the mind God gives us for discerning which spirits are true to his purpose and those distorting same our now free Mormon learned this “revelation” came from another source, not God.

The “Burning Bosom” was heart burn, just not gastrointestinal...

[surroundedbyblue]

““but i never could a done it without the help of pope ‘ima quitter’ benedict”

Huh?

[Zakeet]

A testimony is a personal revelation from God, not from some slick salesman.

A testimony is nothing more than a WFF (i.e. warm fuzzy feeling). Every cult and false religion (JW's, Muslims, Hindus, Christian Scientists, etc.) has numerous adherents who will sincerely claim this type of personal revelation. Some even sacrifice their lives based on it. Obviously, they can't all be right.

That is one of several reasons why there can be no substitute for hard evidence. Period.

[teppe]

ejonesie22,

Go ahead and deny/redicule the workings of Jesus Christ through the Holy Ghost.

If you believe the Holy Ghost is ineffective .... I would argue that you really aren’t a Christian.

Can you be a Christian and ignorant of the Holy Ghost at the same time? ...I really don’t think so.

Christ promised the Holy Ghost to those who truly seek him.

I solemnly request that cease your blasphemy of the Holy Ghost and the testimony of Jesus Christ.

[teppe]

How can Christ’s greatest promise have no meaning to you?

Re-read the scriptures because the presence of the Holy Ghost and a witness of Jesus Christ go hand in hand.

It’s not a warm fuzy .... it is the essence of Christianity itself.

[cherry]

I was baptized Catholic and went thru all the sacraments, was in all the processions, wore the little lace on my head in the good old days, and went to All Catholic schools from kindergarten on up....

listen, even though I do not go to Mass much, and am very disenchanted with my religion, when you grow up in such an environment, its almost impossible to completely deny it....

I'm sure Mormons feel the same...afterall, its a culture thing too....all your early experiences and family experiences and all your friends when you were little centered around being Catholic...

[teppe]

Sorry Cherry

There is such a thing as revelation from God through the Holy Ghost.

As a LDS Mormon I’ve had probably a half dozen experiences where i know God approves of my service to him and my beliefs are acceptable to him.

Even in my most disinchanted phases of my 52 year life, I know that to deny those experiences that were a gift from God through the Holy Ghost, would exclude me from his kingdom.

Again I believe with all my heart the God the Father Lives, and that his Son, Jesus Christ is my reedemer through whom I can obtain salvation. Amen

[Colofornian]

If you can de-convert a Mormon, then they weren’t a Mormon in the first place. A testimony is a personal revelation from God, not from some slick salesman. If a slick salesman got to somebody, they didn’t have a testimony at all.

Of course, the "flip side" of my last post is this:

A very high % of the Mormons you encounter served a Mormon mission.

We need to note those 9 things I listed in my last post (post #12)... and then ask former and present Lds missionaries another question:

"Tell us, (ex?)Lds missionary...

"...since you encouraged countless people to 'pray about' the Book of Mormon & its supposedly 'accompanying testimony,'...

"...why did you ask them to pray about a book in which so many key aspects of the Mormon 'gospel' were missing...?"

"...isn't that an openly deceptive Lds missionary tactic of bait & switch?"

(Where they read & pray about select content -- & yet most of the most vital Mormon teachings within its 'gospel' are AWOL!)

[DouglasKC]

Reading some other threads I know that you are not LDS anymore...what denomination do you now claim?

[Colofornian]

...your opinion of the LDS Church

Teppe, did Joseph Smith falsely prophesy in D&C 20:8-9 & 27:5 when he declared that the Book of Mormon was the "fulness of the everlasting gospel"???

Or, is it that the Mormon church could "leave out" all these prime teachings as not being "gospel-worthy?"

[teppe]

So since you have set yourself up as the final judge of all things Christian ....

What is your opinion of 2 Corinthians 12:2.

Where Paul talks about a man caught up into the third heaven?

Sounds surprisingly like LDS doctrine.

[Colofornian]

Reading some other threads I know that you are not LDS anymore...what denomination do you now claim?

#1...I was NEVER Lds...but I am a descendent of a polygamist leader within the Lds church.

#2...I am an Evangelical Protestant.

[Religion Moderator]

STOP making this and other threads "about" individual Freepers. That is "making it personal."

Discuss the ISSUES all you want - not the posters.