Rivers Posted August 26, 2016 Posted August 26, 2016 What is the hardest part ? Sacrament meeting? Tithing? Word of Wisdom? Chastity? Garments? Pot lucks?
Popular Post rongo Posted August 26, 2016 Popular Post Posted August 26, 2016 Being humble, when you're as awesome as we are . . . 5
halconero Posted August 26, 2016 Posted August 26, 2016 The hardest part of Mormonism was...the dementors.
Popular Post UtahTexan Posted August 26, 2016 Popular Post Posted August 26, 2016 The antis.......gets old 5
rongo Posted August 26, 2016 Posted August 26, 2016 Serious answer to your serious question, Rivers: I can't think of a hardest thing, personally. I taught a wealthy couple with two children on my mission. In northern Germany, it was not common to teach a family all the way through the discussions. The father had been given a 1960s Book of Mormon (Johann Wundra translation) as a gift, and that was why he initially let us in. He confided in us that he believed our message (particularly about the restoration through angels, the BoM, and Joseph Smith), but that he couldn't get past his fond memories of growing up Catholic. I sympathize with him. I have very fond memories of growing up Mormon, and if it were hypothetically possible to prove to myself that it was all made up, I would still have a very, very hard time leaving it behind because my fond memories and experiences have been so good. I honestly can't think of a "worst thing," or even really a "bad" thing, about being Mormon. Which isn't to say that individual Mormons aren't annoying or off-putting. 2
smac97 Posted August 26, 2016 Posted August 26, 2016 In no particular order, I think the body of the Saints struggle with the following: The Law of Chastity The Law of Tithing The Word of Wisdom Regular attendance at Church and magnifying of callings Charity and Christlike service Family obligations Maintaining a healthy balance between family / work / Church / service / school / exercise / relaxation / etc. Enduring to the end Thanks, -Smac 1
waveslider Posted August 26, 2016 Posted August 26, 2016 Seeing people you care about choose to be blinded from God, going through extra problems as a result, and having to just allow it to run it's course. All this while just patiently and lovingly waiting to be there to help pick up the pieces, hoping and praying that they will see the light sooner, rather than later, and choose for themselves to take steps towards that light.
Tacenda Posted August 26, 2016 Posted August 26, 2016 I don't think it's hard to live Mormonism, when you are on the fence.
UtahTexan Posted August 27, 2016 Posted August 27, 2016 1 hour ago, Tacenda said: I don't think it's hard to live Mormonism, when you are on the fence. Depends on the fence......in Texas we used barbed wire 4
Jeanne Posted August 27, 2016 Posted August 27, 2016 1 hour ago, rongo said: Serious answer to your serious question, Rivers: I can't think of a hardest thing, personally. I taught a wealthy couple with two children on my mission. In northern Germany, it was not common to teach a family all the way through the discussions. The father had been given a 1960s Book of Mormon (Johann Wundra translation) as a gift, and that was why he initially let us in. He confided in us that he believed our message (particularly about the restoration through angels, the BoM, and Joseph Smith), but that he couldn't get past his fond memories of growing up Catholic. I sympathize with him. I have very fond memories of growing up Mormon, and if it were hypothetically possible to prove to myself that it was all made up, I would still have a very, very hard time leaving it behind because my fond memories and experiences have been so good. I honestly can't think of a "worst thing," or even really a "bad" thing, about being Mormon. Which isn't to say that individual Mormons aren't annoying or off-putting. And there you have it, What it is like to be me..and why I stick around. 2
Popular Post Duncan Posted August 27, 2016 Popular Post Posted August 27, 2016 For me it's seeing apathetic, crazy and uncaring people being put in charge. I don't want to show up to something and someone isn't prepared or reads a conference talk or hear higgledy piggledy and I feel bad for new people who attend and hear crazy stuff and get turned off or think we are all think that. Sometimes it's like church is a game or a social club or we're just passing through without any real thought to what we are saying or do we actually believe that? 6
Calm Posted August 27, 2016 Posted August 27, 2016 I think the uncommitted is what is hardest for me as well Duncan. Thankfully doesn't happen too often with me on the receiving end, but it is one of the reasons I ask to be released when my health interferes. It just isn't fair to the people involved to have to wonder what they are going to need to jump in on to save all the time. 2
cdowis Posted August 27, 2016 Posted August 27, 2016 (edited) The sense of absolute certitude, lack of humility, impatience with those who "just don't get it" even among members of the church. Edited August 27, 2016 by cdowis
Flexible Posted August 27, 2016 Posted August 27, 2016 3 hours ago, waveslider said: Seeing people you care about choose to be blinded from God, going through extra problems as a result, and having to just allow it to run it's course. All this while just patiently and lovingly waiting to be there to help pick up the pieces, hoping and praying that they will see the light sooner, rather than later, and choose for themselves to take steps towards that light. I have 3 grown daughters who have chosen to leave Mormonism. Two were endowed and married in the temple. All raised in a faithful Mormon family. The hardest thing for me was seeing them make that decision, with their husbands. The next hardest thing is dealing with the condescending, stereotypical attitudes like your statement about "being there to help pick up the pieces". These women and their husbands are much happier now than when they were living in Mormonism. And very successful in their professions and life. And with close family relationships. They are more happy than most church members I know. I know there is much about Mormonism that brings happiness. But if you really think that the only happy, well adjusted and successful people in the world are Mormons, you just have to get out more. The only pieces I've had to pick up in people's lives are in the many sad cases I've had to deal with in church leadership callings
JAHS Posted August 27, 2016 Posted August 27, 2016 There's nothing really "hard" about being Mormon for me; just the concern about whether or not the best I can do is really the best I can do.; those sins of omission. 1
UtahTexan Posted August 27, 2016 Posted August 27, 2016 1 minute ago, Flexible said: I have 3 grown daughters who have chosen to leave Mormonism. Two were endowed and married in the temple. All raised in a faithful Mormon family. The hardest thing for me was seeing them make that decision, with their husbands. The next hardest thing is dealing with the condescending, stereotypical attitudes like your statement about "being there to help pick up the pieces". These women and their husbands are much happier now than when they were living in Mormonism. And very successful in their professions and life. And with close family relationships. They are more happy than most church members I know. I know there is much about Mormonism that brings happiness. But if you really think that the only happy, well adjusted and successful people in the world are Mormons, you just have to get out more. The only pieces I've had to pick up in people's lives are in the many sad cases I've had to deal with in church leadership callings I left the LDS Church in 1989. I thought I was very happy. I was incredibly successful in my career. I remarried an amazing woman. I was happily Catholic. I was as happy as I could be....happier than I ever thought possible. But, behind the happiness....something was missing. It was a nagging thing. After 26 years, I was led back to the Church in 2015. As happy as I was, I am even happier now. Who can explain it? 4
Flexible Posted August 27, 2016 Posted August 27, 2016 28 minutes ago, cdowis said: The sense of absolute certitude, lack of humility, impatience with those who "just don't get it" even among members of the church. Amen. It amazes me how such a small, insignificant and totally irrelevant segment of society can view themselves as being so exalted and chosen. Goodness, how does the world survive without " knowing what we know".
Flexible Posted August 27, 2016 Posted August 27, 2016 5 minutes ago, CountryBoy said: I left the LDS Church in 1989. I thought I was very happy. I was incredibly successful in my career. I remarried an amazing woman. I was happily Catholic. I was as happy as I could be....happier than I ever thought possible. But, behind the happiness....something was missing. It was a nagging thing. After 26 years, I was led back to the Church in 2015. As happy as I was, I am even happier now. Who can explain it? CB How I hope and pray my daughters will reach that point in their lives. But even acknowledged that your life didn't unravel the minute you left the church and someone "had to pick up the pieces". That's all I was responding to in Waveslider's post. So glad you returned!
waveslider Posted August 27, 2016 Posted August 27, 2016 8 minutes ago, Flexible said: I have 3 grown daughters who have chosen to leave Mormonism. Two were endowed and married in the temple. All raised in a faithful Mormon family. The hardest thing for me was seeing them make that decision, with their husbands. The next hardest thing is dealing with the condescending, stereotypical attitudes like your statement about "being there to help pick up the pieces". These women and their husbands are much happier now than when they were living in Mormonism. And very successful in their professions and life. And with close family relationships. They are more happy than most church members I know. I know there is much about Mormonism that brings happiness. But if you really think that the only happy, well adjusted and successful people in the world are Mormons, you just have to get out more. The only pieces I've had to pick up in people's lives are in the many sad cases I've had to deal with in church leadership callings I think success is a matter of relativity. Fleeting moments, even if those moments span many years, of being well adjusted isn't going to compensate for turning from Christ and His church. When all is said and done there will be regrets, even if everything seems to be as good as ever, or even better than it seemed before, it won't last throughout all eternity and eventually there will be regrets.
UtahTexan Posted August 27, 2016 Posted August 27, 2016 1 minute ago, Flexible said: CB How I hope and pray my daughters will reach that point in their lives. But even acknowledged that your life didn't unravel the minute you left the church and someone "had to pick up the pieces". That's all I was responding to in Waveslider's post. So glad you returned! Thank you! I only posted that as a message of hope. I not only left, I was very anti. If I can come back, anyone can 2
JLHPROF Posted August 27, 2016 Posted August 27, 2016 The hardest thing about any religion - faith. Second hardest - dealing with the same old anti-complaints and the liberals who feel offended. 4
mrmarklin Posted August 27, 2016 Posted August 27, 2016 6 hours ago, Rivers said: What is the hardest part ? Sacrament meeting? Tithing? Word of Wisdom? Chastity? Garments? Pot lucks? Not being able to drink a fine wine paired with one's food at a meal. I understand it's one of life's greatest pleasures. 2
Tacenda Posted August 27, 2016 Posted August 27, 2016 2 hours ago, Flexible said: I have 3 grown daughters who have chosen to leave Mormonism. Two were endowed and married in the temple. All raised in a faithful Mormon family. The hardest thing for me was seeing them make that decision, with their husbands. The next hardest thing is dealing with the condescending, stereotypical attitudes like your statement about "being there to help pick up the pieces". These women and their husbands are much happier now than when they were living in Mormonism. And very successful in their professions and life. And with close family relationships. They are more happy than most church members I know. I know there is much about Mormonism that brings happiness. But if you really think that the only happy, well adjusted and successful people in the world are Mormons, you just have to get out more. The only pieces I've had to pick up in people's lives are in the many sad cases I've had to deal with in church leadership callings You're spot on. Some do better out of Mormonism. But I wouldn't know.
Rivers Posted August 27, 2016 Author Posted August 27, 2016 (edited) For me, the hardest thing is also the best thing. I love being part of the church family which Paul describes as being the body of Christ. That in turn also can create wedges in relationships when people leave the church. Which was what I think Christ meant when He said, "Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. and a person’s enemies will be those of his own household." Matt. 10:34-36 Edited August 27, 2016 by Rivers 2
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