[Colofornian]

From the article: ...I often found him hunched over his iPad reading everything he could find on Mormon origins...“I’m sorry, but I just have to tell you. Did you know that…” and then he’d tell me...About how Joseph Smith mistranslated some Egyptian hieroglyphics that are part of our canonized scripture. About how he translated the Book of Mormon while looking at a stone inside of a hat. I listened half-heartedly ...though I wasn’t about to go looking at them myself...until one night it was about polygamy, my archnemesis. “Did you know that Joseph Smith married a 14-year-old girl against her will? Did you know that he’d send men on missions and marry their wives in secret when they were gone?” ...he kept talking, a horror growing in my gut. I knew that if Sean was right, then Joseph Smith was a fraud. I saw no difference between his acts and the modern-day acts of Warren Jeffs, whom I abhorred. And if Joseph Smith was a fraud — then what did that make the Church?

***************

Note to Mods: Sub-head cut to fit character limitation: Full sub-head: Sean and I had the perfect life. Then his faith started to crumble -- and mine did, too

[Flintlock]

Behold: the attack on Romney!

[SoConPubbie]

Great article Colofornian!

It really points out the falehoods of Mormonism in context of the ignorance of Mormonism and it’s history that seems to be an regularproblem with current Mormons.

[Colofornian]

Per study linked below -- a survey of over 3,000 Mormons -- the greatest reason Lds say they question their faith is theology (a full 74%).

(So much for those who portend that "theology" doesn't matter)

Per the survey results from over 3,000 Mormons seriously reviewing their faith --
--see released a survey for 26-page results!
-- Here are the top five "General Factors Contributing to Disbelief"...[this is found on page 8 chart of results]:

1. I ceased to believe in the church's doctrine/theology (74%)
2. I studied church history and lost my belief (70%)
3. I lost faith in Joseph Smith (70%) [my note: A very bad place to place & transfer faith toward to begin with!]
4. I lost faith in the Book of Mormon (65%)
5. I lost confidence in the general authorities (50%)

Two other factors within the Top 10 included:
* "I did not feel spiritually edified at church" (47%)
* and "Church's stance on race issues (blacks, native Americans, etc.)" (43%).

In contrast to the reasons Mormons & Mormon leaders often pin upon such disbelievers, only 4% said it was because they were offended by someone in the church and 4% also pinpointed "I wanted to engage in behaviors viewed as sinful by the church" [the very bottom reasons listed on the chart].

12% said they "received a spiritual witness to leave the church and go elsewhere"...Over 1/4 said they lost their faith in God/Jesus.

Related articles re: the mass exodus from Mormonism, see:
* Notes: Mormonism and the Internet [Duplicity/mixed messages cited; baptism-of-dead issue lingers]
* Survey on Mormon Disbelievers to be Released at UVU Forum [74% point to theological concerns]
* Why Mormons flee their church
* Number of faithful Mormons rapidly declining
* Mormons opening up in an Internet world [& Losing members accordingly]
* Special report -Mormonism besieged by the modern age [Lds church is hemorrhaging in member losses]

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Salon believes in inclusion so long as only people they like are included.

[reaganaut]

I cannot count the number of times I have been told that I left Mormonism because a) I wanted to sin b) I had given in to sin - usually sexual c)I wanted to drink coffee or alcohol d) I didn’t want to pay tithing, e) I never had a ‘testimony’ or f) It was ‘too hard’ to live the LDS gospel.

None of that is even remotely true, but the LDS ALWAYS blame those who leave rather than even consider the LDS church is a fraud.

I left because I studied myself out of Mormonism, I set out to prove it was ‘true’ and found out it was all a lie.

Sadly, this couple has thrown out the baby (God) with the bathwater (the cult of Mormonism).

[OrangeHoof]

And yet if Salon ran a piece like this about Christians, we’d all see it for the left-wing smear it is. From now until November, get ready for a multitude of liberal-based stories making all Mormons into Warren Jeffs.

[onedoug]

Who has a better relationship with God? Obama or Romney?

[aMorePerfectUnion]

“Did you know that Joseph Smith married a 14-year-old girl against her will?"

"Did you know that he’d send men on missions and marry their wives in secret when they were gone?”

Worth repeating. Joseph Smith was a deceiver, a fraud and a horndog.

[Tau Food]

I think it’s sad that the evils of Mormonism caused these two to become atheists. I truly hope that they can somehow find a way to discover God and a Christian life.

[Elsie]

...she believed what the Church teaches...