Mormonism Schism: ISN'T GOOGLE WONDERFUL??!!!

Thursday, March 8, 2012

ISN'T GOOGLE WONDERFUL??!!!

I LOVE GOOGLE!!! And the Internet in general. The accessibility of information is phenomenal. Being able to share my thoughts is amazing... and then discovering that people are actually reading my writings is absolutely incredible. Sometimes I have felt like I'm writing this stuff into a black hole, wondering who (if anyone) is really reading it... but then something like what happened last week occurs, and I know that it is all worthwhile...

Last week, I got an email from a woman who had found my blog by using Google and the search term "temple wedding." She is a non-Mormon but has a daughter who got baptized into the Mormon Church when she was 16, during a very rough period of her life. She was basically "love-bombed" (a cult term) by Mormon people who knew her and her situation. Her daughter is now 20 and is dating a Mormon man who wants her to marry him, and from how her mother describes him, he is definitely less-than-desirable on many levels (and not just the fact that he is Mormon).

Of course, my heart goes out to this woman and her daughter. It is always difficult for a parent to watch his/her children make what they are very sure are mistakes, particularly when the child is convinced that their parent(s) are wrong. During our email exchange, this woman asked me about my journey away from Mormonism, why I left, and several questions about its practices and policies. I'm trying to offer support even though, obviously, there is nothing I can do other than that.

But the upside of this is that she found my blog, has read parts of it, and actually emailed me. It gives me hope that others looking for answers about Mormonism and support in dealings with the Mormon Church and its members will also find my blog. And that would be wonderful...

Obviously, though, there are some bad aspects to the Internet. I hear and read stories all the time about young girls getting hoowinked by some older guy pretending to be something he is not. Yes, anyone can say they are anything on the Internet - which reminds me this cartoon:

But overall, the Internet (and Google) has revolutionized the way we obtain information. Whereas years ago, people had to go to great lengths to do research, today it is just a click away. And that is remarkable.

And as far as information about Mormonism goes, just remember...

2 comments:

jen said...: I agree. The internet is amazing! I now know people all over the world. I read stories and hymn parodies and feel less alone. I'm so glad I found you, and so glad that woman found you too.; Saturday, March 10, 2012 at 7:17:00 PM MST
Mike Norton said...: Oh my. You and I have far more in common than I thought. I grew up in Visalia and have a strong interest in the legal system and also lived in Denver for many years.

I'll be back in Denver in the near future. We simply MUST get together when I do.

Nort; Tuesday, April 3, 2012 at 6:19:00 AM MDT

MY EXIT FROM MORMONISM

As a preface to my thoughts about Mormonism (and my exit from my lifelong religion), I would like to share the following quote:

"Well, it's either true or false. If it's false, we're engaged in a great fraud. If it's true, it's the most important thing in the world. Now, that's the whole picture. It is either right or wrong, true or false, fraudulent or true."

President Gordon B. Hinckley,
Interview, "The Mormons,"
PBS Documentary, April 2007

In essence, after researching the roots of Mormonism, which obviously form its foundation, as well as examining its doctrine in depth, I have concluded that it is a great fraud. Having been born and raised in the Mormon Church, and remaining LDS until my early 50's, facing that realization was very difficult and was not done lightly.

SOME BACKGROUND:
In the Summer of 2001, I went on a Mormon Church History Tour. Before going, I decided to do some research so I would know more about what occurred at the key places when we visited them. But that was the beginning of the end for me as I discovered more and more of the sordid history of the Mormon Church. Soon, I began to realize that Joseph Smith made the whole thing up and that the Mormon Church is built on an enormous stack of lies. Sadly, I also began to realize that I had allowed the Mormon Church to pull the wool over my eyes for a very long time. But even with that realization, it took me quite a while longer to finally break away because of how intricately my life was tied up in Mormonism and how long I had been blinded by the lies Mormonism perpetuates (which, of course, is what they are counting on).

But finally, I did break away - and I have now been Mormonism Free since 2004. What I have realized during the ensuing years is that my intellectual curiosity was squelched by Mormonism. Being told to "have faith" and "just believe" was very detrimental to my psyche, particularly since so much made little sense. Trying to rationalize through everything had a negative effect on me as well, making me very confused and uncomfortable. Since that time, I have discovered that these types of feelings are called "cognitive dissonance" (a feeling of discomfort when simultaneously holding two or more conflicting ideas, beliefs, values or emotional reactions). Cognitive dissonance is discussed in greater length in a book I have written which is now available on Kindle. Since leaving Mormonism behind, I have grown so much and have discovered who I really am - and that is a tremendous gift.

As mentioned above, a book I have written is now available on Kindle. My book (entitled "Closing the Door on Mormonism: The AHA!! Moments that Triggered my Awakening") chronicles my very long journey through and away from Mormonism and discussed many of the issues that had plagued me for many years. It also contains some poems that I have written about my views concerning various aspects of Mormonism as well as discussions relative to the issues that led to my decision to eventually disassociate myself from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

In sharing my opinions and the information I have uncovered, it is my hope that I can in some small way help others by offering some insights into issues that many Mormons undoubtedly face in determining whether or not their faith has been misplaced.

For those of you who are thinking, "Oh, those Ex-Mormons - they can leave the church but they just can't seem to leave it alone," I offer this quote:

"Some of you are probably thinking, 'Why don't you just leave them (the Mormons) alone?' So I ask you, if you saw a thirsty man drinking water from a well you knew to be poisoned, would you let him continue to drink or would you guide him to a safe well?" ~Christopher Miller

While I'm sure that active Mormons (TBMs) and the Mormon Church itself would be much happier if people who have left the church kept their opinions to themselves, I cannot do that. If I can help one person to see the lies that are laced throughout Mormonism, then I will feel that my efforts have not been in vain.

As you will note, I have written many LDS Hymn Parodies (to date, 111 and counting), all of which are posted on my other blog - http://exmormonhymnbook.blogspot.com/
On that blog, you will also find an alphabetical listing of all the hymn parodies I have written.

Favorite Quotes

"The truth will set you free, but first it will piss you off." ~Gloria Steinem
"To sin by silence when they should protest makes cowards of men.” ~Abraham Lincoln
"Some things that are true are not very useful." Boyd K. Packer
"I have a hard time with historians, because historians idolize the truth." ~Boyd K. Packer
"It's impossible to reach good conclusions with bad information... We're all entitled to our own opinions, but none of us can afford to be wrong in our facts." ~Mort Crim
"...just remember, it's not a lie if you believe it." ~George Costanza (Seinfeld)