Did you know the New Testament teaches against compulsory giving?
2 Corinthians 9:7 (NRSVUE)
Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not regretfully or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
In my years in the church I knew the culture had problems. I was often left out judged and made to feel like an outsider. Still I could not pull myself away. The line we had repeatedly been taught, that this is the "only true and legitimate church", kept me there. That message makes leaving feel like a betrayal of reality itself. Even when things were rough and the people could be unkind I clung to that promise that staying meant I was right.
Looking at mainstream Christian churches/denominations showed me how different the tone can be. Many churches care far more about the umbrella category of Christianity than strict belonging to a single denomination.
Some examples: Methodists and Presbyterians for example commonly accept each others baptisms. Catholics accept many other baptisms too and those traditions often accept Catholic baptisms in return.
Basically, it means if you decide the place you are in is not for you you can usually move to another congregation without much hassle.
While I do not currently attend what is considered a conventional/Mainstream Christian denomination, I did have some church hopping experiences that were positive and I found welcoming communities and more meaningful worship experiences along the way.
If I didn't believe the Mormon church was the "only true church", I probably would've left and deconstructed a lot sooner.
If you scaled the budgets, you'd see other religious organizations giving a lot more. The dollar amount may not look as nice as when the LDS Church occasionally throws money, but these churches give a significantly larger percentage.
https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2026/05/17/utah-church-cuts-hefty-check-boost/
If this were implemented today, it'd be challenging for a good leader to get installed. Oaks has done (and will continue to do) a great job packing the Q12 with reactionary hardliners to ensure his toxic views will persist even after he's gone.
Monson had dementia and still served. You shouldn't be a person overseeing a multi-billion dollar organization and have so much influence if you're not all cognitively present. Especially given how much unchecked power the so-called prophet has.
Mormons and other religious groups try to justify their abstinence from alcohol by saying the wine was non-alcoholic.
In the original languages the common words translated “wine” generally denote fermented, alcoholic wine rather than unfermented grape juice. In the Old Testament Hebrew yayin is the standard term for wine and is used in contexts of celebration, trade, offerings, and warnings about drunkenness, all consistent with an intoxicating beverage. Tirosh, translated as “new wine” or must, can refer to freshly pressed juice but is often treated as a fermentable, potentially intoxicating drink. In the New Testament the usual word is oinos, which in Greek usage denotes fermented wine. Gleukos appears once (Luke 5:39) as “sweet wine” or must, meaning freshly pressed juice that may or may not yet have fermented. Contextual uses of these terms such as laws against drunkenness, prescriptions for dilution, and ordinary ancient Mediterranean practice of fermenting and storing grape drink support reading the biblical terms as referring primarily to alcoholic wine, though a minority of passages and later interpreters allow for instances of fresh, sweet, or not yet fermented grape juice.
This sounds like a totalitarian prison. Anyone wanna share more about the MaaS360 software? I'm intrigued with how missions are operating since the lockdown and the opening back up.
I know a lot of people tend to like the UUs, but this is also really cool.
This is a really neat organization! It's for those seeking a community that's more based on humanity. In their words: "The Oasis movement values the well-being of people over any belief, dogma, theology, or philosophy. Our common humanity is enough to bind us together in meaningful community."
They have several groups based in Utah.
They also have livestreams. For those who want community and engagement outside of Mormonism, this is definitely a cool organization.
The rep on the phone had confirmed to me that once a resignation sent directly to Salt Lake is processed, they will send a confirmation letter informing you of the change.
I'm eager to get mine back. I will be checking my mailbox regularly.
I can't speak for the folks that used QuitMormon. I sent mine DIRECTLY to SLC.
The rep on the phone had confirmed to me that once a resignation sent directly to Salt Lake is processed, they will send a confirmation letter informing you of the change.
I'm eager to get mine back. I will be checking my mailbox regularly.
I like the purpose of that group. This is a group where ExMormons answer questions from NeverMormons. A lot of people are curious, I'm sure Secret Lives of Mormon wives and the Dehlin lawsuit probably have more people intrigued by Mormonism.
The content of the original post:
"Ezra Taft Benson said the quiet part out loud:
"We are not required to prove that the Book of Mormon is true or is an authentic record through external evidences—though there are many. It never has been the case, nor is it so now, that the studies of the learned will prove the Book of Mormon true or false."
Benson served after numerous archaeologists, including those in the NWAF, couldn't find anything."
One thing that surprised me while studying early Mormon history is that the Book of Mormon was not always used the way modern LDS members use it today.
A lot of early LDS preaching and theology relied much more heavily on the Bible and Doctrine and Covenants. Scholars like Terryl Givens and Grant Underwood have pointed out that the Book of Mormon often functioned more as proof of Joseph Smith’s prophetic calling than as the main source for doctrine or sermons.
Ezra Taft Benson later criticized the church for neglecting the Book of Mormon and said members were under condemnation for it.
Check out this section of the ESV Bible. It has a sects/heterodox/cults section. I don't think this could be good for them. If I were in their shoes, I would start trying to get deals to publish Bibles of other translations instead of permitting use from other publishers. But it's a good thing that these other translations and the study notes will possibly plant pebbles in shoes. This is from the ESV Study Bible. The ESV is one of the ones they said members can consult.
2 Nephi 26
20 And the Gentiles are lifted up in the pride of their eyes, and have stumbled, because of the greatness of their stumbling block, that they have built up many churches; nevertheless, they put down the power and miracles of God, and preach up unto themselves their own wisdom and their own learning, that they may get gain and grind upon the face of the poor.
21 And there are many churches built up which cause envyings, and strifes, and malice.
22 And there are also secret combinations, even as in times of old, according to the combinations of the devil, for he is the founder of all these things; yea, the founder of murder, and works of darkness; yea, and he leadeth them by the neck with a flaxen cord, until he bindeth them with his strong cords forever.
Not everyone in the church is “blessed.” Many members quietly carry heavy burdens, face personal struggles, and experience hardship, and the early church itself endured persecution, internal conflict, and suffering that hardly reads like unbroken divine favor. History shows the early Saints faced mobs, exile, and tragedy; being widespread or wealthy is not the same as being uniformly sanctified. Large organizations can produce impressive outer fruit, such as temples, buildings, philanthropic programs, and global reach, while still hiding rotten fruit: cover ups, coercive practices, harm to dissenters, and institutional self preservation. Other faiths and nonprofits also do enormous work; compare the global reach of Catholic hospitals and schools, the charitable output of evangelical agencies, or a small NGO that, with a fraction of the budget, delivers targeted vaccinations, wells, or schooling that save lives. Scale and wealth do not automatically equal moral truth. If one treats “good tree” as only growth and prosperity, you miss Jesus’ point that true fruit is justice, mercy, and humility; those are measured in how an organization treats the vulnerable, how it answers questions and harms, and whether it welcomes accountability. Legitimate Christian traditions like Catholicism and Orthodoxy have had great financial and institutional prosperity, but that does not make their teachings true to you or erase real problems in any institution. Praise the good you see, but do not let size, wealth, or public piety substitute for truth, transparency, and real moral fruit.
Does anyone else get tired of that same tone when old friends or acquaintances try to reel you back in? They talk down to you like the church being true is some obvious, objective fact and act as if you still accept that premise. It is frustrating because the conversation assumes belief instead of engaging with real doubts and lived experiences.
Quoting a fictional book like the Book of Mormon and expecting that to undo years of questioning is not persuasive. If you want to reconnect with someone who left, listen first and treat them like an adult instead of a project.
Instead of dismissing the decision to leave as ludicrous, they should actually hear why and offer thoughtful answers rather than rehearsed testimonies.
Why are Deacons passing the sacrament on Sundays?
D&C 20:58-59
But neither teachers nor deacons have authority to baptize, administer the sacrament, or lay on hands;
They are, however, to warn, expound, exhort, and teach, and invite all to come unto Christ.
I censored a certain term. But I put the link in of you wanna read it for yourself.
A lot of Mormons said Joseph was a staunch abolitionist. In reality, Joseph Smith did what was just say and do whatever benefitted him.
"Question Thirteenth. 'Are the Mormons abolitionists?' No, unless delivering the people from priestcraft, and the priests from the power of Satan, should be considered abolition. But we do not believe in setting the n*****s free."
https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/elders-journal-july-1838/11?p=11
The Mormon racist god only changes his mind about "eternal truths" when it benefits him.