How Do So Many People Leave The Church Or Go Inactive?

[VideoGameJunkie]

Why do you guys wind up with Limited post abilities in the first place?

[VideoGameJunkie]

And why me, I believe you can get better than the Terrestrial Kingdom if you repent. I think I've done a lot of bad, and still hope I can get into the Celestial Kingdom thanks to repentance.

[why me]

And why me, I believe you can get better than the Terrestrial Kingdom if you repent. I think I've done a lot of bad, and still hope I can get into the Celestial Kingdom thanks to repentance.

Maybe. But it would be too much work. The problem with the lds church is quite simple: people who  don't feel worthy may stop coming. And yet, it is those people who don't feel  worthy who should come. I have no idea why this happened. I know of no other church where members stop coming if they feel unworthy or if they are sinning. Of course, members leave for various of reasons or they quite for various of reasons. But unworthiness is no reason to go inactive or to quit.

[why me]

Why do you guys wind up with Limited post abilities in the first place?

We sinned.   But at least I haven't been disfellowhiped from the church yet.     Boards are interesting. On exmormon boards, they may complain about the church's excommunication policy being harsh and yet, they would ban (excommunicate) a poster in a heart beat if that poster posted a positive about the lds church. It is not easy to navigate the waters of any discussion board.

Edited September 13, 2014 by why me

[VideoGameJunkie]

why me, I agree that a lot of people stop going because they feel unworthy which is sad. During those times is when I feel I need the church the most in my life. You mention it would be too much work, but I bet it'd be worth it in the eternal end. But if you are happy with the Terrestrial Kingdom, then you will be happy and happiness is what's most important.

[Guest]

Why do you guys wind up with Limited post abilities in the first place?

I as limited for asking for advice dealing with my Mother and Alzheimer's. Idea told that this was not an advice site

Now it is all moot as all of Social forum is 90% advice board? As I said no matter how I write, no one answers, because it is personal. They will not answer. I am not one of the chosen...seems I am not worthy of a an answer. I will be worthy of banning, for no reason, just vengeance!

[LJP]

So sorry Pa Pa. I just found this forum about a month ago. I would have liked to have chatted with you about your mother.

I'm taking care of my mother who is suffering from Parkinson's disease and spinal stenosis. This has been one of the hardest times of my life and for her too. It is hard to watch your loved one get ignored and talked to like a baby and then as the main care taker, I feel depressed, tired and overwhelmed.

Know that I may understand your pain a wee bit.

[Guest]

So sorry Pa Pa. I just found this forum about a month ago. I would have liked to have chatted with you about your mother.

I'm taking care of my mother who is suffering from Parkinson's disease and spinal stenosis. This has been one of the hardest times of my life and for her too. It is hard to watch your loved one get ignored and talked to like a baby and then as the main care taker, I feel depressed, tired and overwhelmed.

Know that I may understand your pain a wee bit.

The good thing, now you can ask for advice. I would love to help, but gotta be here to do so. I know your pain though, truly know your pain. Edited September 14, 2014 by Pa Pa

[Guest]

My porn thread is not a reason to leave, but whatever.

Don't sorry is was the collective posts, I just hope some posts cause those who struggle to lapse. Especially the comment of the many Mormons...we should weep at this information. It was the comments of the Apostate which offended the most. Next week he will probably be into Tupperware. His worship of belief that Satan is the Holy Ghost, is the most disturbing. I fear he will be adopting other religions for May years, even paganism. I Hope not Luther which requires the hatred of Jews, just like ISIS OR ISIL.

[EllenMaksoud]

There's a whole youtube thing called "My name's blah blah and I'm an ex Mormon." They talk about how they left the church. There's some videos too of a former Bishop who left the church for another church. How can someone leave the church if they've felt the spirit? Is Satan really that good at what he does? I've felt the spirit so I would never leave, but all these people have left and many members have gone inactive. I'm happy the church is growing with lots of converts, but we have to also realize that many are also leaving and or going inactive.

I left the church, or thought I did. I even said I did. Yet I decided not to do those ridiculous, angry, self-demeaning, X-mormon tantrums. It just did not feel right. So, I just kept going to church but re-expressed my Muslim by using Hijab and other things. I thought people would get indignant and throw me out, but they did nothing to react to my anger. What?

 

So, after I stopped acting out and feeling bad, I guess I am Mormon again ... If that is OK?

 

One thing that is really offensive is that some Mormons who think they have some authority just let it go to their heads and get overbearing and Napoleonic with others. As an example, the moment I realized that I loved the church and that God, through the church had  been extremely kind to me, I went back to acting like a Missionary. In about a year, I was extended a Ward calling of Internet Missionary, and for about another year and a half did a lot of Missionary work on Facebook and other forums.

 

Then, they started all these groups on Facebook and other places. One group I loved was encouraging Sister Missionaries. After all, it was Sisters back in Kirtland that first spoke to me. If it had been elders, it would not have happened because Muslim women do not speak to strange men.

 

Then one of the adult leaders of the Sister Missionary groups got to feeling their power and authority too much and blocked me, saying really hurtful things to me.

 

Then who ever is supervising Mormon contact on Facebook began to deluge me and others with blogs on Facebook. It got so bad that when I opened FB up, almost all of the entries were from Mormons. Excuse me, I have a life.

 

I eventually closed my FB account. I say this to make it clear that sometimes Mormons can be their own worst enemy.

Edited September 14, 2014 by EllenMaksoud

[ERayR]

I left the church, or thought I did. I even said I did. Yet I decided not to do those ridiculous, angry, self-demeaning, X-mormon tantrums. It just did not feel right. So, I just kept going to church but re-expressed my Muslim by using Hijab and other things. I thought people would get indignant and throw me out, but they did nothing to react to my anger. What?

 

So, after I stopped acting out and feeling bad, I guess I am Mormon again ... If that is OK?

 

Welcome back.

 

One thing that is really offensive is that some Mormons who think they have some authority just let it go to their heads and get overbearing and Napoleonic with others. As an example, the moment I realized that I loved the church and that God, through the church had  been extremely kind to me, I went back to acting like a Missionary. In about a year, I was extended a Ward calling of Internet Missionary, and for about another year and a half did a lot of Missionary work on Facebook and other forums.

 

The D&C 121:35 -40 or so talks about this. 39 We have learned by sad experience that it is the nature and disposition of almost all men, as soon as they get a little authority, as they suppose, they will immediately begin to exercise unrighteous dominion.

 

Also It is not just Mormons that let authority go to their head.

 

Then, they started all these groups on Facebook and other places. One group I loved was encouraging Sister Missionaries. After all, it was Sisters back in Kirtland that first spoke to me. If it had been elders, it would not have happened because Muslim women do not speak to strange men.

 

Then one of the adult leaders of the Sister Missionary groups got to feeling their power and authority too much and blocked me, saying really hurtful things to me.

 

Then who ever is supervising Mormon contact on Facebook began to deluge me and others with blogs on Facebook. It got so bad that when I opened FB up, almost all of the entries were from Mormons. Excuse me, I have a life.

 

I eventually closed my FB account. I say this to make it clear that sometimes Mormons can be their own worst enemy.

 

Aren't we all?

[Tsuzuki]

Don't sorry is was the collective posts, I just hope some posts cause those who struggle to lapse. Especially the comment of the many Mormons...we should weep at this information. It was the comments of the Apostate which offended the most. Next week he will probably be into Tupperware. His worship of belief that Satan is the Holy Ghost, is the most disturbing. I fear he will be adopting other religions for May years, even paganism. I Hope not Luther which requires the hatred of Jews, just like ISIS OR ISIL.

It's probably personal attacks like this that get you on Limited status. And for the record, though I may be inactive and a heretic, I'm not an apostate (but yes, I am a pagan and occultist; that much has been up front for years). I'm still LDS in good standing, and I've never had a bad mark on my record. I even live the law of chastity, though I don't believe in it. It's just my nature as someone who's demisexual. I'm trying to overcome it, but it's difficult.

 

As for adopting other religions, it's what Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, and many other early church leaders advocated. We are to gather all the truth in the world, and that's the core of what I've been trying to do.

Edited September 14, 2014 by Tsuzuki

[Scott Stevenson]

There's a whole youtube thing called "My name's blah blah and I'm an ex Mormon." They talk about how they left the church. There's some videos too of a former Bishop who left the church for another church. How can someone leave the church if they've felt the spirit? Is Satan really that good at what he does? I've felt the spirit so I would never leave, but all these people have left and many members have gone inactive. I'm happy the church is growing with lots of converts, but we have to also realize that many are also leaving and or going inactive.

If the Church wasn't true, how would you know? If by some heartbreaking chance it wasn't true, would you even want to know?

[Guest]

It's probably personal attacks like this that get you on Limited status. And for the record, though I may be inactive and a heretic, I'm not an apostate (but yes, I am a pagan and occultist; that much has been up front for years). I'm still LDS in good standing, and I've never had a bad mark on my record. I even live the law of chastity, though I don't believe in it. It's just my nature as someone who's demisexual. I'm trying to overcome it, but it's difficult.

As for adopting other religions, it's what Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, and many other early church leaders advocated. We are to gather all the truth in the world, and that's the core of what I've been trying to do.

Don't pretend you know mo or what happened?.your post is very telling and no you are not a member in good standing, unless you are lying to your Priesthood leaders. Let me get this straight...you, by your own admission.

Inactive

A heretic

A pagan

An occultist (by your admission in this post)

You're a wolf in sheeps clothing here on a website to defend our faith, someone who seeks the destruction of all here.

So why are you here...oh I already said so. The mystery is why you are allowed to seek to deceive us...oh I forgot you believe Satan is a member of the Godhead. You are evil incarnate! Please go try to steal and corrupt the souls of people I don't love as much as I do those here!

Edited September 14, 2014 by Pa Pa

[Tsuzuki]

Don't pretend you know mo or what happened?.your post is very telling and no you are not a member in good standing, unless you are lying to your Priesthood leaders. Let me get this straight...you, by your own admission.

Inactive

A heretic

A pagan

An occultist (by your admission in this post)

None of those count as apostasy in the official Church Handbook of Instructions. I checked.

[ERayR]

If the Church wasn't true, how would you know? If by some heartbreaking chance it wasn't true, would you even want to know?

 

What difference does it make?  The Church structure and gospel principles has afforded me a good life and has been a good environment and helpful in raising a good family. 

[Guest]

None of those count as apostasy in the official Church Handbook of Instructions. I checked.

You can lie to me, but not yourself! You know the truth, and once again; why are you here? Also why are you allowed to spew these lies? Either way I admonish all to see you for what you are, an apostate here to deceive.

 

This is a good example of why you are on Limited and are now thread banned.

[sdc999]

What difference does it make?  The Church structure and gospel principles has afforded me a good life and has been a good environment and helpful in raising a good family. 

I really hope you do not believe what you have written.  Because, if you do believe it, then it also makes no difference whether it is true - just so long as it affords you a "good life".     I will challange you the next time F&T meeting comes up to stand before the church at the pulpit and say, "what difference does it make whether the church is true or not true, it  (the church) has afforded me a good life and has been a good environment and helpful in raising a good family."  

You will have some mom's covering their kid's ears, the bishopric will squirm in their seats and you will be talked with after the meeting.  

I hope that someone who is willing to commit to the LDS church believes it is true, not that it's just a feel good place.  You should vaildate its truthfulness always and in every manner.    And if you do not believe it is true, you should have the courage to seek better for yourself and your family.  Too many stick around for family reasons, several join for the same.   Those people lack courage and honesty with God and with themselves. 

[wenglund]

To me, the main reason people leave the Church is because they either lose sight of or fail to correctly grasp what the gospel is really about and what it can do for them (i.e. bring them to Christ and enable them to become more like him), and instead get caught up dysfunctionally in relative irrelevancies or distractions, or they have divergent goals they wish to achieve (i.e. the things of the world).

 

As for the "Why I am an Ex-Mormon" videos, some people stand for what they firmly believe in, while others stand for what they no longer believe. Some people wish to be known for what they believe, while others wish to be known for what they don't believe. I can derive value from the former, but not the later, but that may just be me. To each their own.

 

Thanks, -Wade Englund-

Edited September 14, 2014 by wenglund

[wenglund]

If the Church wasn't true, how would you know?

 

By going to the source of spiritual truth, and by testing whether the Church/gospel works as intended (i.e. Moroni 10 and Alma 32). In other words, I would "know" by putting my trust in God rather than in the arm of flesh.

 

Thanks, -Wade Englund-

[ERayR]

I really hope you do not believe what you have written.  Because, if you do believe it, then it also makes no difference whether it is true - just so long as it affords you a "good life".     I will challange you the next time F&T meeting comes up to stand before the church at the pulpit and say, "what difference does it make whether the church is true or not true, it  (the church) has afforded me a good life and has been a good environment and helpful in raising a good family."  

You will have some mom's covering their kid's ears, the bishopric will squirm in their seats and you will be talked with after the meeting.  

I hope that someone who is willing to commit to the LDS church believes it is true, not that it's just a feel good place.  You should vaildate its truthfulness always and in every manner.    And if you do not believe it is true, you should have the courage to seek better for yourself and your family.  Too many stick around for family reasons, several join for the same.   Those people lack courage and honesty with God and with themselves. 

 

You obviously tried very hard to misinterpret what I wrote.  I did not say I did not believe in the Church and the gospel it teaches.   The question was a what if question and I responded to the what if scenario.  Does that subtle distinction escape you?

[Scott Stevenson]

By going to the source of spiritual truth, and by testing whether the Church/gospel works as intended (i.e. Moroni 10 and Alma 32). In other words, I would "know" by putting my trust in God rather than in the arm of flesh.

 

Thanks, -Wade Englund-

What is the source of spiritual truth? What's the difference between spiritual truth and just plain truth? Why does the utility of the Church matter to its truth claims? Don't Catholicism and Judaism work ad intended?  Isn't Moroni's promise just circular reasoning? Why is the arm of flesh less trustworthy than a God? Which God should I start with and why?

 

I don't expect you to answer any of this. It's just why I can't seem to believe the Mormon Church is the one and only true and living Church on the face of the Earth. 

 

Could you construct a scenario or think of evidence that you could encounter that would make you think the Church wasn't what it claimed to be? Would you even want to know?

[Scott Stevenson]

What difference does it make?  The Church structure and gospel principles has afforded me a good life and has been a good environment and helpful in raising a good family. 

Maybe it doesn't make any difference to you whether the Church is actually what it claims to be or not, but it matters to me.

 

Are you familiar with the Experience Machine thought experiment?

 

It goes something like this:

Image that Psychologists have invented a virtual reality machine that you could be hooked up to that would make you experience the best life ever for you. Would you choose to be hooked up to the machine or not? Why?

[mfbukowski]

What is the source of spiritual truth? What's the difference between spiritual truth and just plain truth? Why does the utility of the Church matter to its truth claims? Don't Catholicism and Judaism work ad intended?  Isn't Moroni's promise just circular reasoning? Why is the arm of flesh less trustworthy than a God? Which God should I start with and why?

 

I don't expect you to answer any of this. It's just why I can't seem to believe the Mormon Church is the one and only true and living Church on the face of the Earth. 

 

Could you construct a scenario or think of evidence that you could encounter that would make you think the Church wasn't what it claimed to be? Would you even want to know?

I really don't know if I should start with you or not.

 

What makes you think that questions of the truth of religious propositions lies with objective evidence?

 

What theory of truth do you adhere to ?

[mfbukowski]

Maybe it doesn't make any difference to you whether the Church is actually what it claims to be or not, but it matters to me.

 

Are you familiar with the Experience Machine thought experiment?

 

It goes something like this:

Image that Psychologists have invented a virtual reality machine that you could be hooked up to that would make you experience the best life ever for you. Would you choose to be hooked up to the machine or not? Why?

A pointless exercise.  We could talk about UFO's too but that would be a waste of time.

 

If experience is not "real" what is, and how could you possibly know?