What would make you change your mind?

[ulmite]

I'd change my mind if the church would integrate women and LGBT people into the priesthood and temple as they have done with blacks. I'd also require a nudge from plausible deniability to plausibility on at least one truth claim.

[PalmSprings]

For me to even consider returning:

1. The church would have to publish a full page apology to me in the LA Times and USA Today. The apology would entail the gross misconduct of church leaders who had contact with me. And their names would be published.

2. In addition the church would have to pay me a large sum of money for the extreme mental anguish and difficulties I encountered because of said misconduct.

3. The church would have to promise to truly help the poor and downtrodden, and not just send money to big money grabbing organizations in the name of positive PR.

[Stig]

For me to even consider returning:

1. The church would have to publish a full page apology to me in the LA Times and USA Today. The apology would entail the gross misconduct of church leaders who had contact with me. And their names would be published.

2. In addition the church would have to pay me a large sum of money for the extreme mental anguish and difficulties I encountered because of said misconduct.

3. The church would have to promise to truly help the poor and downtrodden, and not just send money to big money grabbing organizations in the name of positive PR.

Sounds like you might have an interesting story to tell. Have you shared on this board?

[Raylan Givens]

If the Mormonism was just a church not THE CHURCH

[Give It Time]

If the Mormonism was just a church not THE CHURCH

Here! Here!

[PalmSprings]

For me to even consider returning:

1. The church would have to publish a full page apology to me in the LA Times and USA Today. The apology would entail the gross misconduct of church leaders who had contact with me. And their names would be published.

2. In addition the church would have to pay me a large sum of money for the extreme mental anguish and difficulties I encountered because of said misconduct.

3. The church would have to promise to truly help the poor and downtrodden, and not just send money to big money grabbing organizations in the name of positive PR.

Sounds like you might have an interesting story to tell. Have you shared on this board?

It might be a good thing to talk about it. I have never told a soul what happened.

[Dravin]

I am so far gone- the only thing that would change my mind is a visit from Jesus himself.

+1, I'd need a "Paul on the Road to Emmaus"-type of experience.

Even if I was convinced that Jesus visited me and he was my Lord and Savior that doesn't take me to Mormonism being true. So I'd have to be both convinced such was an actual visit from actual Jesus (rather than an alternative explanation such as a fever dream or what have you) and Jesus would have to explicitly endorse Mormonism during this experience.

[Stig]

For me to even consider returning:

1. The church would have to publish a full page apology to me in the LA Times and USA Today. The apology would entail the gross misconduct of church leaders who had contact with me. And their names would be published.

2. In addition the church would have to pay me a large sum of money for the extreme mental anguish and difficulties I encountered because of said misconduct.

3. The church would have to promise to truly help the poor and downtrodden, and not just send money to big money grabbing organizations in the name of positive PR.

Sounds like you might have an interesting story to tell. Have you shared on this board?

It might be a good thing to talk about it. I have never told a soul what happened.

I wasn't trying to pry. If you're okay sharing the story, I (and I'm sure others) would be very interested. If you're not, that's perfectly fine as well.

[Stig]

I am so far gone- the only thing that would change my mind is a visit from Jesus himself.

+1, I'd need a "Paul on the Road to Emmaus"-type of experience.

Even if I was convinced that Jesus visited me and he was my Lord and Savior that doesn't take me to Mormonism being true. So I'd have to be both convinced such was an actual visit from actual Jesus (rather than an alternative explanation such as a fever dream or what have you) and Jesus would have to explicitly endorse Mormonism during this experience.

Agreed. It would have to be an all-inclusive discussion with Deity in order to get me back in at this point.

[wtfluff]

+1, I'd need a "Paul on the Road to Emmaus"-type of experience.

Even if I was convinced that Jesus visited me and he was my Lord and Savior that doesn't take me to Mormonism being true. So I'd have to be both convinced such was an actual visit from actual Jesus (rather than an alternative explanation such as a fever dream or what have you) and Jesus would have to explicitly endorse Mormonism during this experience.

Agreed. It would have to be an all-inclusive discussion with Deity in order to get me back in at this point.

The discussion would also have to include why "The One True™ Church" was founded on dishonesty, and why Jesus' leaders continue the tradition of dishonesty today. (For me anyway...)

[MerrieMiss]

If the Mormonism was just a church not THE CHURCH

Yes, if the narrative that it was the one and only True church was dropped.

Of course, if that happened, there'd be no reason to do anything the church requires of you. There'd be no reason to have a TR, so no reason to wear funny underwear or tithe, attend your meetings, have the priesthood, submit to worthiness interviews, go to seminary, read scriptures every day, have FHE...it would be just like any other church. So I don't know why I'd bother going to the LDS church over any other one, if I wanted to attend. Sometimes I think I've had enough church to last me a lifetime.

[LSOF]

If the church were true: if the Book of Mormon were true, if the First Vision happened, if prophets could prophesy, if seers could see, if revelators could reveal, if translators could translate.

[1smartdodog]

God would have to actually answer prayers. In an unambiguous and straightforward way. If God does that I would change my mind.

[Give It Time]

[Margarita]

The return of all my tithing dollars...and an apology for my mom having to stand outside the temple ...because of tithing..and not see my little brother married..Admit that the Book of Mormon is war story...nothing historical..and JS..was a very imaginable and smart like a fox..con man..

[Zack Tacorin Dos]

God would have to actually answer prayers. In an unambiguous and straightforward way. If God does that I would change my mind.

This for me too. The Church openly admits that evidence, as we normally think of it, does not prove the Church is what it claims to be (I agree with the Church on this). The Church teaches that it is only through the power of the Holy Ghost that we can know the things of God. If they could demonstrate to me how to distinguish between the Spirit of God that convinces a person Mormonism is true and the Spirit of God that tells others that theirs is the only true Church, then we'd have a starting point to consider whether Mormonism is what it claims. Since these Spiritual promptings are indistinguishable, as far as I can tell, I think there is no evidence in favor of Mormonisms unique truth claims.

[Silver Girl]

I'd need evidence that the church had finally decided to be completely honest, that it had jettisoned and disavowed JS and BY, that it was implementing a plan to return tithing taken from us fraudulently, that it would finally actually follow the teachings of Christ rather than using them in outrageously exploitative ways, that it would treat all persons equally (regardless of gender, gender orientation, marital status, tithing status, etc. etc.), that donations to the church would be voluntary and not used as a meaurement of "worth," that the BoM would be forever shelved and shunned, that families really would be important rather than separated due to missions and callings, and...whew...out of breath. I'll have to check back in sometime to finish the list...

[deacon blues]

A more realistic goal would be to understand another person's point of view. Start by saying," I would like to listen to you explain your point of view for 5 minutes if you would listen to my point of view for 5 minutes."

The next step could be, I'll try to explain what you believe for five minutes if you will try to explain what I believe for five minutes.

This example above is a pattern for how I see an ideal discussion about religious differences might go. My High Priest group leader chose the "listen to my testimony" approach. It made me feel like he didn't really care what I was thinking. At least he never asked me.

[deacon blues]

I'd need evidence that the church had finally decided to be completely honest, that it had jettisoned and disavowed JS and BY, that it was implementing a plan to return tithing taken from us fraudulently, that it would finally actually follow the teachings of Christ rather than using them in outrageously exploitative ways, that it would treat all persons equally (regardless of gender, gender orientation, marital status, tithing status, etc. etc.), that donations to the church would be voluntary and not used as a meaurement of "worth," that the BoM would be forever shelved and shunned, that families really would be important rather than separated due to missions and callings, and...whew...out of breath. I'll have to check back in sometime to finish the list..

I like the points you make Silver Girl.........
I would say the odds against this are pretty great It would be surprising if anyone even listened to you.

[Hermey]

A lobotomy to start with.