I WON'T BACK DOWN - Another Tom Petty Song

Every once in a while, I get comments on my blog from TBMs who are "shocked" that I am speaking out against the Mormon Church as I am.  More often than not, though, those comments are posted anonymously so I can't respond to them directly (which I consider to be cowardly - after all, I've got my name all over this blog).  When that happens, I always post a reply comment hoping that they will return to see my response. But I rarely hear from them again, at least not in reply to my response.  

About a year ago, I actually got an email from a TBM 18-year-old boy who begged me to take down my blog, saying that I am slandering the religion that he loves - the "One True Church of God."  He asked me to please stop speaking out against the church, saying that I should respect their right to believe as they wish.  In response, I told him that I can't do that, explaining that I spent 52 years in the church only to discover that it is built on a stack of lies, and that I feel a need to speak my mind, to possibly help others who are either questioning or investigating the Mormon Church.  Over the course of about two weeks, we exchanged a number of emails - with him trying to convince me that I was wrong - and me telling him how he has been duped his entire life, pointing out the bogus doctrine and sordid history of the Mormon Church.  But he just kept arguing with me, telling me that I have been misled.  Sadly, at the time we were exchanging emails, this boy was preparing to go on a mission so that's probably where he is now.  But perhaps one day he'll open his eyes and realize that the Mormon Church is not the "One True Church of God," but rather that it was made up from the get-go by Joseph Smith for his own purposes including wanting to practice polygamy and marry 33 women (which consisted of 10 teenage girls and 11 women who were already married to living husbands).  In fact, he basically invented scriptures to bolster his position on that topic.  Of course, that's only one aspect of the deception because Mormon Doctrine is rife with bogus doctrines and is stained by its sordid history.

When I get these types of messages, I always think of the Tom Petty song - I Won't Back Down. No, I won't back down from my convictions simply because I am "shocking" TBMs or making them uncomfortable. And yes, you could literally "stand me up at the gates of hell, but I won't back down." Of course, most Mormons would prefer it if everyone who leaves their midst would just keep their opinions to themselves.  But IMO, that doesn't help anyone. I need to speak out, to voice my opinions, and to point out the actual facts and evidence that support my position. That is the purpose of this blog, and if only one person is intrigued enough by anything I say on this blog to do research on their own and find the actual truth, then I will feel like all my trouble has been worth it.

I WON’T BACK DOWN

Well I won't back down,

No, I won't back down,
You can stand me up at the gates of hell
But I won't back down.

No I’ll stand my ground,
Won't be turned around,
And I'll keep this world from draggin' me down,
Gonna stand my ground, and I won't back down.

[Chorus:]
Hey baby, there ain't no easy way out,
Hey, I will stand my ground
And I won't back down.

Well, I know what's right,
I got just one life,
In a world that keeps on pushin' me around,
But I'll stand my ground, and I won't back down.

[Chorus:]
Hey baby, there ain't no easy way out,
Hey, I will stand my ground
And I won't back down.

[Instrumental Interlude]

[Chorus:]
Hey baby, there ain't no easy way out,
Hey, I will stand my ground
And I won't back down.

Hey baby, there ain't no easy way out,
Hey, I will stand my ground,
And I won’t back down,
No, I won’t back down.

Tom Petty