Mormonism Schism: HIGH FIVE!!!

Friday, September 25, 2015

HIGH FIVE!!!

Today is the fifth year anniversary of my blog, Mormonism Schism. As the below snip from my blog shows, in that time it has had 131,055 pageviews. So 131,055 times, someone has looked at my blog and read what I have posted. That means a lot to me, particularly because it means my opinions are out there in cyber world, posted for people who may be investigating the Mormon Church - and also for people who are members of the church who may be questioning certain things.

I know some of those views have been TBMs who have found my blog because I have gotten comments from some of them, telling me that I have been misled and am posting false information (usually done anonymously so I can't contact them to respond). Others have said that all I say is that the Mormon Church is filled with LIES, LIES and more LIES, without providing any substantiation for that assertion. Obviously, if they would actually read my blog posts, that would find plenty of facts, evidence, and the substantiation they say is lacking.

I have even gotten emails from some TBMs. One in particular was an 18 year old boy who asked me to take down my blog and should just leave the Mormon Church alone (a common request). We ended exchanging many emails, debating back and forth. He was getting ready to go on a mission for the Mormon Church, though, and had been fully programmed (brainwashed) so my efforts turned out to be futile. But regardless of what TBMs may think at the time they start to find this type of information, and whether or not they dismiss it at the time, I'm hoping that at least a seed has been planted that may sprout and grow later on.

Actually, I have been away from the Mormon Church for 10 years now. In the beginning, although I knew in my heart that it is a fraud, I was still reticent to share my opinions. But with time, not only did I begin to feel very comfortable with my Ex-Mormon state, but I also began to realize that unless people speak out about what they've discovered regarding the fraudulent nature of Mormonism then what they have gone through does no one else any good. Finding my own voice and using it has been an incredible experience because it has not only given me a platform but has also strengthened my resolve to spread the word. So starting this blog was really a signal that all bets were off and I was prepared to stand my ground.

So here's to another 5 years of spreading the word and standing my ground - and many more after that...

ONE MORE HIGH FIVE!!!

1 comment:

Anonymous said...: fist bump; Sunday, November 13, 2016 at 10:21:00 PM MST

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)