Is Mormon Flu A Real Thing?

[AndyDnom]

I think the author doth protest too much.

 

I won't like to the Reddit Ex Mormon page, where the "mormon flu" as an epidemic is documented. But, it is an interesting question.

 

Have members heard all the difficult aspects of the church? Or have most not heard it? is innoculation needed? was the essays program enough? Why were the essays stopped after only 8 when 20+ were to be released? I was really looking forward to the Nauvoo Polygamy essay setting the record straight.

[JLHPROF]

I think the author doth protest too much.

 

I won't like to the Reddit Ex Mormon page, where the "mormon flu" as an epidemic is documented. But, it is an interesting question.

 

Have members heard all the difficult aspects of the church? Or have most not heard it? is innoculation needed? was the essays program enough? Why were the essays stopped after only 8 when 20+ were to be released? I was really looking forward to the Nauvoo Polygamy essay setting the record straight.

 

Perhaps inoculation is needed for those who are not immune.  At this point there is nothing that I could hear about Mormonism, its history or origins that would cause me to fall away.  But that's because when the first "difficult aspect" came my way I determined to not let it upset me and to understand why said event happened the way it did.  If the Church had attempted to inoculate me by revealing partial information as a vaccine before I had prepared myself, I might not have been able to come to terms.

 

It's all about perspective when viewing these events.  People have come up with all kinds of ways and explanations to deal or not deal with Joseph's polyandry (for instance).  Those who are unable to deal or choose not to end up leaving.

The events don't change, the history doesn't change, once discovered the information doesn't change.  All we have control over is our approach to these things.

[The Nehor]

At this point there is nothing that I could hear about Mormonism, its history or origins that would cause me to fall away.

 

Be very careful.

 

Brigham Young warned that most of those who boast of being unshakable eventually leave.

[JLHPROF]

Be very careful.

 

Brigham Young warned that most of those who boast of being unshakable eventually leave.

 

Didn't say nothing could ever shake my testimony.  I'm only human.  Just said it wouldn't be some random uncomfortable fact from Church History or doctrine.

But there are many other things that would be hard to live with, probably on a more personal nature.

 

But I appreciate your point.

[AndyDnom]

Perhaps inoculation is needed for those who are not immune.  At this point there is nothing that I could hear about Mormonism, its history or origins that would cause me to fall away.  But that's because when the first "difficult aspect" came my way I determined to not let it upset me and to understand why said event happened the way it did.  If the Church had attempted to inoculate me by revealing partial information as a vaccine before I had prepared myself, I might not have been able to come to terms.

 

It's all about perspective when viewing these events.  People have come up with all kinds of ways and explanations to deal or not deal with Joseph's polyandry (for instance).  Those who are unable to deal or choose not to end up leaving.

The events don't change, the history doesn't change, once discovered the information doesn't change.  All we have control over is our approach to these things.

 

When you say "there is nothing that I could hear about mormonism ...that would cause me to fall away." Isn't that because you've been inoculated? Because you've already heard everything? my point exactly.

[Storm Rider]

This is the same question as a "Is there a faith flu?"  To live by faith is not to live solely by our own understanding; at some point we must lean on God and believe him.  

 

God has granted me a mind to use and to reason, but that does not mean that I put my trust solely in the arm of flesh.  It is the great challenge of mortality; to learn and grow and yet be as faithful as a little child. 

[ERayR]

When you say "there is nothing that I could hear about mormonism ...that would cause me to fall away." Isn't that because you've been inoculated? Because you've already heard everything? my point exactly.

 

No it is because he has chosen not to be.  It is the choices one makes.

[Boanerges]

Just because there hasn't been an essay released in a while doesn't mean they've stopped. The essays are not enough, though - most members are not aware of them, in fact. I was recently surprised when I brought them up in high council that only the SP and I had read all of them and most had read none of them, with some being unaware of them. I think the general membership probably matches that pretty closely. While I'm not sure they should be the subject of GC talks (at least in depth), I think there does need to be more emphasis on them from the top leadership and in lesson materials. Interestingly I was just reading on another forum how a person was sharing information with a believer who totally poo-pooed the essays because they weren't written by the brethren, and that just being on LDS.org did not make them official.

 

On the other hand, I do understand why the top leadership does not emphasize them - I do think there is a fear that some people might be thrown into a faith crisis by them. A hallmark of many a faith crisis, particularly those based on history (as opposed to doctrine), is that there is a realization that what one has been taught his or her whole life was at least in part a lie. An example of this would be the current video "The Restoration" which shows Joseph reading from the plates. Were one who believes that actually happened to read the essay, it might come as a quite a shock. The video portrays most people's perception of what happened based on what has been taught, while the essay atempts to be more honest in what actually happened.

Edited October 14, 2014 by Boanerges

[KevinG]

I am convinced there is enough evidence about Mormonism to convince those who want to stay to stay, and those who want to leave to leave.

[cinepro]

I am convinced there is enough evidence about Mormonism to convince those who want to stay to stay, and those who want to leave to leave.

 

FWIW, Scientology too.

[KevinG]

FWIW, Scientology too.

 

This is why I refrain from mocking other faiths, no matter how strange they seem to me. 

 

Apologetics is a futile attempt to explain logically an emotional decision.