YES, I COULD SEE THE LIES - LDS Hymn Parody #52

Looking back at my many years as a devout Mormon, I was truly a TBM who "just believed."  I knew that some things didn't make a lot of sense, but I tried very hard to have faith and to actually believe that there are some things that we can't understand in this life, that God's ways are not our ways, and that some day if I remained faithful, I would understand it all and know that it was worth it.  Of course, this is what I was told over and over again, not only in church but also at home by my very TBM father (who had a lot of gems like that which he shared over the years).  After all, that is the Mormon Way - to "just believe."

And that was my mindset until at 50 years old, I began doing some research in preparation for going on a Mormon Church History.  What I began to discover floored me at first, as I began to uncover the truth behind polgamy, polyandry, the First Vision, the supposed "martyrdom" of Joseph Smith, the Book of Abraham, the Book of Mormon, and so on.  So obvious were the lies that I became very upset at myself for just going along for my entire life, for not delving into the doctrines more deeply, and for not researching the history in depth.

It was an eye-opening experience, and the whole process upset me tremendously.  After all, I had based my entire life on the Mormon Church.  But after the anger began to dissipate, I realized that at least I discovered the truth - albeit later in my life.  That is what is most important to me.  THE TRUTH.  I may have wasted more than half my life on the Mormon Church, its lies and fabrications, but I will not waste the rest of it on a deceptive religion.  And although Boyd K. Packer may think that "Some things that are true are not useful," I believe that TRUTH is the most important aspect of life.  Being honest with yourself and everyone else.  If there are lies laced throughout something, then it should be discarded.  Deception is wrong.  Plain and simple.

Of course, I could go on and on about the lies and deception that are laced throughout Mormonism.  But suffice it to say that coming to the conclusions I did lifted a burden from my shoulders that was weighing me down tremendously.  Life is too short to adhere to something that causes you discomfort and pain.  And that is what living a lie was doing to me.  And so, I am now proudly ExMormon, trying my best to bring to light the fact that Mormonism is a bogus religion.  If only the TBMs out there would listen to me and the others who have reached the the same conclusions...

And so, here is my latest LDS hymn parody.  #52... and counting...

YES, I COULD SEE THE LIES

Sung to the tune of Lord, I Would Follow Thee, #220

Through examining and research,
I could see the stack of lies.
And as I researched the history,
There could be no compromise.
Through examining and research,
Yes, I could see the lies.

When I finally did some research
On my own objectively,
Then the lies became apparent,

The deception I could see.
When I finally started research,
Yes, I could see the lies.

Who am I to judge another
When I bought it all those years?
But I know I can’t keep quiet,
It is not as it appears.
Yet I cannot judge another
Though I can see the lies.

I would be my brother's keeper,
And so I must vocal be.

If the ones who know stay quiet,

How will truth they ever see?
I would be my brother's keeper
For I can see the lies.

And I hope that they will see it,
All the Mormons still out there.
See the lies throughout the doctrine,
The deception, be aware.
Yes, I hope that they will see it
As I have seen the lies.

© Diane Tingen, 12/27/2011

AN EX-MORMONIZED CHRISTMAS CAROL

With today being Christmas Eve, I thought it would be appropriate to post an Ex-Mormonized Christmas Carol... and this one began formulating in my brain...

OH MORMON CHURCH

Sung to the tune of O Christmas Tree

Oh Mormon Church, Oh Mormon Church,
Your doctrines are deceptive.
Oh Mormon Church, Oh Mormon Church,
So long you held me captive.
I tried so hard to just believe,
Wore my religion on my sleeve.
Oh Mormon Church, Oh Mormon Church,
I'm more than just inactive.

Oh Mormon Church, Oh Mormon Church,
The lies are so apparent.
Oh Mormon Church, Oh Mormon Church,
Your motives are transparent.
You want us all to just obey,
As we give our free will away.
Oh Mormon Church, Oh Mormon Church,
Your plan is very blatant.

Oh Mormon Church, Oh Mormon Church,
Your history is sordid.
Oh Mormon Church, Oh Mormon Church,
But you have sugar-coated
The fact that it is just a scam,
As down the members’ throats you cram
The Mormon Church, the Mormon Church,
The whole thing was invented.

Oh Mormon Church, Oh Mormon Church,
Don’t think I’m being flippant,
Oh Mormon Church, Oh Mormon Church,
I’ve had my AHA moment
When everything became so clear,
And I was drained of all my fear.
Oh Mormon Church, Oh Mormon Church,
I am no longer silent.

© Diane Tingen, 12/24/2011

OH SAY WHAT IS TRUTH - LDS Hymn Parody #51

Well, I reached my goal of 50 LDS Hymn Parodies, so now I'm aiming for 60 (which is apropos since that is now my age).

And here's #51... very self-explanatory, so...

OH SAY WHAT IS TRUTH

Sung to the tune of O Say, What is Truth? #272

O say what is truth, and do not ignore
What the actual facts really are.
Do not hide your head in the sand and pretend
That whatever they tell you is true to the end,
From truth you will be very far.

Yes, say what is truth, not the Mormon way,
Where they just bow their heads and say Yes.
Don’t follow along as you blindly obey,
Just accepting whatever it is that they say,
As they veil the lies with finesse.

The church is not true, that is very clear

If you really examine it all.

It’s simply a scam, a despicable fraud,
Joseph Smith made it up, did not get it from God,
The lies and deceptions must fall.

Then say what is truth, do not simply agree
Without looking at it carefully.
And with Google’s help, you can figure it out,
The lies so apparent, no more questions or doubt,
And then the real truth you will see.

© Diane Tingen, 12/23/2011

YOU CAN MAKE THE FUTURE BRIGHT - LDS Hymn Parody #50 (and 100th Blog Post)

OK, this is my 50th LDS hymn parody - and my 100th blog post.  Pretty cool, huh??!!  Now I gotta set a new goal...

As far as this LDS hymn parody goes, I think it's pretty much self-explanatory.  YOU CAN MAKE THE FUTURE BRIGHT if you leave the Mormon Church - and your life will be so much better.  I can say that with certainty because that's exactly what I have experienced.  Truly... the future's so bright, I gotta wear shades!

Obviously, there are obstacles in any chosen path, including people telling you that you've chosen the wrong fork in the road.  But there are a multitude of rewards in store for those who follow their conscience and assert their individuality.  Knowing for sure that the Mormon Church is built on a stack of lies, I know there is no other path available for me.  Staying with a religion that is obviously false was not an option for me.  Staying true to myself was the only thing I could do. 

Those are my words of wisdom for the day.  And here is my 50th LDS hymn parody...

YOU CAN MAKE THE FUTURE BRIGHT

Sung to the tune of You Can Make the Pathway Bright, #228

You can make the future bright,
And it will be out-of-sight,
If you leave the Mormon Church.
If it fills you with dismay,
It is worth the price you’ll pay,
If you leave the Mormon Church today.

(Chorus)

If you leave the Mormon Church,
They will say you went astray,
Gave eternal life away.
And the guilt trip they will play,
If you leave the Mormon Church today.

Though the scriptures they’ll recite
As they try with all their might
To defend the Mormon Church.
They’ll insist that you must pray,
Push the evil one away,
If you leave the Mormon Church today.

(Chorus)

If you leave the Mormon Church,
They will say you went astray,
Gave eternal life away.
And the guilt trip they will play,
If you leave the Mormon Church today.

It is only common sense
That it's built on false pretense,
Lies abound within the church.
Oh, the peace that you will find
When the web of lies unwind,
And you leave the Mormon Church behind.

(Chorus)

When you leave the Mormon Church,
They may turn their backs on you,
And say you don’t have a clue.
But the truth will set you free,
When you’re out, I know you will agree.

© Diane Tingen, 12/09/2011

APOSTASY - LDS Hymn Parody #49

When I was a TBM, the word APOSTASY always used to conjure up images of evil people who had turned their back on the Mormon Church.  In fact, APOSTASY and ANTI-MORMON were synonomous to me back then (just as these two terms are to TBMs today).  Of course, this is how the Mormon Church wants their members to see ExMormons or PostMormons - as misled people who have passed off their chance at eternal life and eternal happiness.  Accordingly, in many cases apostates are treated as the plague.  After all, as the picture says, Apostasy is "The Most Abhorrent Sin."  Of course, that word abhorrent really sums it up for TBMs even though (obviously) murder is actually the most abhorrent sin.

But now that I am among the Apostate group, it's a whole different thing.  What I realize now is that I was misled back then - not now.  When I was an active Mormon, I was duped into believing a stack of lies.  Sadly, I just went along, let them do my thinking for me, and basically gave away my right to individuality and to form my own ideas.  To decide for myself.  And now I am thrilled that I finally saw the actual truth - and found actual happiness by finally feeling free to be myself. 

So with that in mind, here is my 49th hymn parody.  Just one more and I will have reached my goal of 50.  But then, goals were meant to be exceeded, right?

APOSTASY

Sung to the tune of Sweet Hour of Prayer, #142

Apostasy, apostasy,
What can I say to make you see
That I have done my own research,
And that is why I now besmirch
The Mormon Church, a stack of lies,
For its façade there’s no disguise.
And so I bid it all adieu,
Because it’s not the least bit true.
And so I bid it all adieu,

Because it’s not the least bit true.

Apostasy, apostasy,
Is not what it is said to be
By those caught up in Mormondom,
Who ramble on, ad nauseum,
About the one true church of God,
Which really is a massive fraud.
But if they’d use some common sense,
Then they might see the false pretense.
But if they’d use some common sense,
Then they might see the false pretense.

Apostasy, apostasy,
It feels so good to just be free
To think and act the way I choose,
To recognize the many clues
That showed me it is all a lie,
Compelling me to say goodbye.
The Mormons do not have the truth,
I wish I’d seen that in my youth.
The Mormons do not have the truth,
I wish I’d seen that in my youth.

© Diane Tingen, 12/7/2011