NOM

I don’t post much here, but I like having this community available. Maybe we are a “less angry than ex-Mormon transition board,” but that’s not all bad. I think the Church is becoming more nuanced, but it will take a while before questioners are truly welcome. I don’t live in an area with many membe...

Actually, I think Elder Scott is absolutely right. Some Church-related activities are "good things" (and some aren't), but none of them are essential. My take on this quote is that Church-related activities are distractions from the "essential" things like time with family, enjoying nature, and avo...

That is exactly the kind of quote that would send my wife into a frenzy of righteousness. I have better boundaries now, but there was a time when she would start preaching to me and the kids about the things we did, like laugh at the dinner table or slouch during FHE. She once tried to call me to re...

For me, I realized that one of the core spiritual experiences that I have always leaned on was obviously wrong. I started trying to find information about how to test spiritual knowledge. Alma 32 tells us that if we have a bad feeling about something it could mean that the issue is wrong or it could...

I would think someone who has lived for billions of years and seen countless generations of his children live and die would eventually gain some kind of perspective and security about his place in the universe so he wouldn't need to spend so much time punishing and smiting people for behaving exact...

“Mormonism” keeps men and women young and handsome ; and when they are full of the Spirit of God, there are none of them but what will have a glow upon their countenances; and that is what makes you and me young; for the Spirit of God is with us and within us. When brother Thomas thought of returni...

Thank you. That's exactly the context I was looking for.

As many of you know, Gospel Doctrine is covering D&C and church history this year. Among the many problematic lessons this year, there is one on avoiding apostasy (lesson 24, if anyone cares). It tells the stories of three men who allegedly apostatized for minor reasons: Thomas Marsh, Simonds Ryder,...

Thanks, everyone. I guess I had a reason for my user name, though it's not very creative. I think being a blazer scout way back was the last time I really enjoyed the majority of church activities. I was about as TBM as they come. When I look back on it, my efforts to be faithful were just making me...

One of my shelf items was the guilt that leaders place on members in contrast to the lack of preaching to those who are not members. General conference, stake conference, ward conference, and other meetings are opportunities for telling members that they are not enough: not good enough, not hard-wor...

I also have mixed feelings about my mission. I saw some horrible things done to missionaries, members, and others. I saw poverty and political upheaval that can't be imagined in the US, at least for now. My mission president was barely competent. He was unable to speak the language and had no clue h...

I participated on the previous board for a few months, then it went away. I am so glad I found the new one. I grew up in the Church, served a mission, got married in the temple. A few years ago, it became impossible for me to continue believing. I could not accept the way women and gays are treated....