Left Mormonism. Wanting to reconnect to the divine. Having a hard time doing so.

[LupineMoon]

Thank you very much!

Then you've come to the wrong place. Go to God if you need belief. Knock and the door will be opened. Stop going to an organization for your belief.

Go to the Bible. Let the Bible speak for itself and don't assume anything while reading.

The Bible is a book that contains religion, but is more about a new kingdom. "The kingdom of God." Its all about establishing this new kingdom.

But when religion and government were together they changed many things to enslave people to their government. So you'll find much about both of them that are wrong.

It's hard to understand if you've never come from a high-demand indoctrinized organization. While I'm not looking at this forum for belief, I'm looking at how to believe again from a different perspective. So you all reaching out with advice helps point the ship.

 

[LupineMoon]

Welcome to CC, dear friend.


Easy to understand why. As you say, one needs to believe differently. Salvation cannot be found in ritualistic rule-based religions. Even denominationalism can be a great hinderance. It takes great humility go back to where we began and start over after building towers of Bable all one's life. We must come as little children.


Yes, and trusting just happens to be the very one thing that is required. All we can do is call out to Him in faith. The good news is that He loves you and has set everything up so that you can just call out to Him right now and be saved at this very instant.

Revelation 3:20
“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”

Let me explain how it came to be so simple and easy...

In the beginning, everything was good and there was no curse or condemnation. Men then rebelled against God and sin entered into the world. Everything in the world was stained to the point where self-redemption was impossible. Only God Himself could remedy this situation. The Son Himself came down from heaven and paid the ultimate price; He gave His own life and shed His own blood as payment in full. All you now need do is accept God's gift of salvation. Nothing we can do to earn it. We must humbly receive it as a gift. He will guide us and strengthen us so long as we let Him have His way with us. His is the wise Father and we are the child who must trust that He knows best. Just go to Him alone now and surrender your proud and selfish nature to His Lordship now. He will give you His Holy Spirit to guide and comfort you day by day.

I am so glad you came and let me share this with you.

Love and God's blessings to you.

Really appreciate this! Thank you so very much! I'm starting to understand that salvation isn't found in ritualistic-based religions or religions for that matter. It should be way more simple than that.

 

[LupineMoon]

Lots of people have lots of ways to get a relationship with God going. Most are very well meaning, but some explanations get quite complicated. But it isn't really complicated. Early in the book of Genesis, men began to call upon the name of the Lord. Jesus Himself says come unto me. James said draw nigh unto God and He will draw nigh unto thee. I just started talking to God one day and haven't stopped. So don't overthink it. Just start talking.

Thank you... I really need a less complicated approach.

 

[LupineMoon]

1.) If you've just come out of Mormonism, and you have a lot of questions, and confusion, and uncertainty... it's not a good time to remain floating around with uncertainties.

2. The Bible says God gives his people teachers, because we need them.

3. This would be a good time to seek out some traditional and orthdox Christian teachers... and hear them out... and see if they can use the scripture to answer your questions.

4. Listening to teachers, and availing yourself of what God has provided, does not obligate you to join any particular church or religion.

5. Here is something you probably don't understand yet, and which is going to seem foreign to you:
ALL Christians with traditional beliefs, from ALL denominations, ALL AGREE on essential doctrine.

6. You're coming from a place of confusion, after years of lies... and you're going to need good teachers to help you sort through it all.

.

Agreed. It's just finding the right teacher that I can trust.

 

[LupineMoon]

Hi and welcome.

It can be difficult for people getting out of a heavily indoctrinating environment. Oftentimes they feel a void like you've described and end up getting indoctrinated into some other group. I think prayer and Bible study are probably your most potent allies right now. A lot of controlling groups like to filter the scriptures through their own lens; so just read them for yourself and pray for understanding.

God bless.

For sure... It's a strange paradigm. Once you break through the indoctrination it makes you so leery about other beliefs. It's super easy to just not believe anymore, since you tend to think that it's all a lie.

 

[maxwel]

For sure... It's a strange paradigm. Once you break through the indoctrination it makes you so leery about other beliefs. It's super easy to just not believe anymore, since you tend to think that it's all a lie.

LOGIC:

Let's put this into purely logical terms.

1.) When you were a Mormon, you thought "wrong beliefs" about God existed.
2.) When you were a Mormon, the concept that "wrong beliefs about God existed" did not deter or confuse you in the least.
3.) When you were a Mormon, you believed there were "wrong beliefs about God", and also "right beliefs about God."
4.) When you were a Mormon, this dichotomy seemed simple, and reasonable, because you can have right and wrong beliefs about ANYTHING.
5.) This basic logical understanding, this understanding you've always had, that "right beliefs and wrong beliefs both exist", has not changed.
6.) Your basic, underlying, logical understanding, has not changed. There can be both right and wrong beliefs about a thing.
7.) All that has changed, is that you've discovered YOU were holding some wrong beliefs. You were lied to.
8.) This does NOT indicate, in any way, that there are no right beliefs about God.
9.) The Bible even talks about wrong beliefs, and that there will be wrong beliefs, and false prophets... that's all right in the Bible.
10.) Your bad experiences with Mormonism... are really just evidences the Bible is true.




Resources:

- There are many Christian organizations, and ministries, that minister exclusively to Mormons and Ex Mormons, to help them navigate the lies they've been told, and compare those to the historical truths in scripture, which all Christian churches believe.

- I'll post some resources later, when I have some time.

- What you're going to encounter, in historic Christianity, is NOT a ONE TRUE CHURCH with ONE SPECIAL PROPHET who MAKES A LIST OF SPECIAL RULES FOR EVERYONE, and a HIERARCHY OF PEOPLE YOU MUST OBEY. Historic Christianity is very different. You're going to encounter thousands of different churches that all believe the same rudiments, and 2,000 years of books and teachings on Christianity, from all over the world. And many pastors, from different denominations, who disagree on little things, but all agree on the major points.






.

 

[Cameron143]

LOGIC:

Let's put this into purely logical terms.

1.) When you were a Mormon, you thought "wrong beliefs" about God existed.
2.) When you were a Mormon, the concept that "wrong beliefs about God existed" did not deter or confuse you in the least.
3.) When you were a Mormon, you believed there were "wrong beliefs about God", and also "right beliefs about God."
4.) When you were a Mormon, this dichotomy seemed simple, and reasonable, because you can have right and wrong beliefs about ANYTHING.
5.) This basic logical understanding, this understanding you've always had, that "right beliefs and wrong beliefs both exist", has not changed.
6.) Your basic, underlying, logical understanding, has not changed. There can be both right and wrong beliefs about a thing.
7.) All that has changed, is that you've discovered YOU were holding some wrong beliefs. You were lied to.
8.) This does NOT indicate, in any way, that there are no right beliefs about God.
9.) The Bible even talks about wrong beliefs, and that there will be wrong beliefs, and false prophets... that's all right in the Bible.
10.) Your bad experiences with Mormonism... are really just evidences the Bible is true.




Resources:

- There are many Christian organizations, and ministries, that minister exclusively to Mormons and Ex Mormons, to help them navigate the lies they've been told, and compare those to the historical truths in scripture, which all Christian churches believe.

- I'll post some resources later, when I have some time.

- What you're going to encounter, in historic Christianity, is NOT a ONE TRUE CHURCH with ONE SPECIAL PROPHET who MAKES A LIST OF SPECIAL RULES FOR EVERYONE, and a HIERARCHY OF PEOPLE YOU MUST OBEY. Historic Christianity is very different. You're going to encounter thousands of different churches that all believe the same rudiments, and 2,000 years of books and teachings on Christianity, from all over the world. And many pastors, from different denominations, who disagree on little things, but all agree on the major points.






.

I could feel myself getting smarter just reading this.

 

[LupineMoon]

LOGIC:

Let's put this into purely logical terms.

1.) When you were a Mormon, you thought "wrong beliefs" about God existed.
2.) When you were a Mormon, the concept that "wrong beliefs about God existed" did not deter or confuse you in the least.
3.) When you were a Mormon, you believed there were "wrong beliefs about God", and also "right beliefs about God."
4.) When you were a Mormon, this dichotomy seemed simple, and reasonable, because you can have right and wrong beliefs about ANYTHING.
5.) This basic logical understanding, this understanding you've always had, that "right beliefs and wrong beliefs both exist", has not changed.
6.) Your basic, underlying, logical understanding, has not changed. There can be both right and wrong beliefs about a thing.
7.) All that has changed, is that you've discovered YOU were holding some wrong beliefs. You were lied to.
8.) This does NOT indicate, in any way, that there are no right beliefs about God.
9.) The Bible even talks about wrong beliefs, and that there will be wrong beliefs, and false prophets... that's all right in the Bible.
10.) Your bad experiences with Mormonism... are really just evidences the Bible is true.




Resources:

- There are many Christian organizations, and ministries, that minister exclusively to Mormons and Ex Mormons, to help them navigate the lies they've been told, and compare those to the historical truths in scripture, which all Christian churches believe.

- I'll post some resources later, when I have some time.

- What you're going to encounter, in historic Christianity, is NOT a ONE TRUE CHURCH with ONE SPECIAL PROPHET who MAKES A LIST OF SPECIAL RULES FOR EVERYONE, and a HIERARCHY OF PEOPLE YOU MUST OBEY. Historic Christianity is very different. You're going to encounter thousands of different churches that all believe the same rudiments, and 2,000 years of books and teachings on Christianity, from all over the world. And many pastors, from different denominations, who disagree on little things, but all agree on the major points.






.

That would be great if you can point me to someone or videos that minister exclusively to Ex Mormons.

 

[maxwel]

That would be great if you can point me to someone or videos that minister exclusively to Ex Mormons.

What you're going to find, as you go forward, is a logic problem called equivocation.

That means people will give different definitions to the same words.
The Mormon Church uses a lot of the same words as historic Christianity, but in Mormonism the words mean completely different things.

Some of these words are:
- God
- Christ
- Salvation
- Grace
- Church

Mormons use the same words as the historic faith, but they give these words different definitions... definitions not found in the Bible.
Keep an eye out for this as you go forward.


A Few Quick Resources:
(I'll add more later)


2 Main Differences Between Mormonism & Christianity

Testimony of Ex Mormon

Mike Winger on Mormonism - Long Video

.

 

[Pemican]

I'm in my late 40's. I converted to Mormonism when I was 24. Did all the right things. Before that I was baptized a Catholic when I was an infant. Being that I'm Italian, it was more for cultural purposes. We maybe went to church for Easter and Midnight Mass. After converting to Mormonism, I felt like I found the truth. They preach that to you by the way. That it's the only true church on the face of the earth. I also noticed I became a righteous puke. While I never spoke openly about it, I would inwardly put down others from different faiths. It's a weird feeling, when you drink that kool-aid. You feel like you're part of God's chosen religion. My wife and I have a son with autism, so it made going to church rather difficult. During this time, I would still try to be a worthy member by going to the temple often and then listening to church prescribed podcasts. Though in my early 40's things started to slowly unravel. I heard a piece of info about the Mormon church that I wasn't ok with, so it led me down the rabbithole. It was a slow burn, as I tried to make it work through random acts of justification. Around the time I hit 45 I just couldn't do it anymore. I stopped going. While I felt free from the indoctrination, there's been a void since. I noticed that I'm having a hard time believing again. I want to believe differently, but having a hard time trusting. For one thing, I'm not a fan of religion. Spirituality, yes, and finding that connection to Christ, absolutely. So that's what brought me here I'm looking for ways to believe again.

Welcome LupineMoon.

I grew up with Mormons as neighbors but was never one of them. My parents were humanists, trusting in the works of men not God. But I realized their views were lacking and very shallow.

I became a believer in Christ when I was 18 and the search for the truth was on. I read the Bible especially the New Testament but found it confusing so I sought out teachers. I listened to many teachers, some famous some relatively unknown, but many could not answer or deal with the confusing passages I was struggling with. Finally after about three years bouncing around in the Christian world I found a pastor who really knew his stuff. He taught from the Greek and Hebrew texts and gave his congregation an understanding of the Bible that is unfortunately rare today in Christian churches.

But back to my Mormon neighbors. I had a talk with a childhood Mormon friend when I was visiting the old neighborhood a few years ago, and even though we are both getting on in years I was shocked at how little she understood. I am convinced she is a believer in Christ but she had not grown much at all. She was asking me basic questions about the faith. My belief is that the Book of Mormon is designed to confuse and get people distracted from the truth found only in the Bible. The Mormons use vocabulary from Christian theology but they give it different meanings.

My advice to you:

1. Pray that God will lead you to a good teacher.
2. Read the Bible.
3. Listen to different teachers until you find one you respect and can learn from. There are many ministries with recorded messages on YouTube for instance. There are also many teachers who have published books you can sample.
4. Your objective should be to "grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ".
5. Remember, Christianity is not a religion, it is a relationship with God through faith in Christ.

 

[Underwhosewings]

I'm in my late 40's. I converted to Mormonism when I was 24. Did all the right things. Before that I was baptized a Catholic when I was an infant. Being that I'm Italian, it was more for cultural purposes. We maybe went to church for Easter and Midnight Mass. After converting to Mormonism, I felt like I found the truth. They preach that to you by the way. That it's the only true church on the face of the earth. I also noticed I became a righteous puke. While I never spoke openly about it, I would inwardly put down others from different faiths. It's a weird feeling, when you drink that kool-aid. You feel like you're part of God's chosen religion. My wife and I have a son with autism, so it made going to church rather difficult. During this time, I would still try to be a worthy member by going to the temple often and then listening to church prescribed podcasts. Though in my early 40's things started to slowly unravel. I heard a piece of info about the Mormon church that I wasn't ok with, so it led me down the rabbithole. It was a slow burn, as I tried to make it work through random acts of justification. Around the time I hit 45 I just couldn't do it anymore. I stopped going. While I felt free from the indoctrination, there's been a void since. I noticed that I'm having a hard time believing again. I want to believe differently, but having a hard time trusting. For one thing, I'm not a fan of religion. Spirituality, yes, and finding that connection to Christ, absolutely. So that's what brought me here I'm looking for ways to believe again.

Keep going forward,
Soon you will find the House of God.

 

[Magenta]

Welcome!

 

[rrcn]

I'm in my late 40's. I converted to Mormonism when I was 24. Did all the right things. Before that I was baptized a Catholic when I was an infant. Being that I'm Italian, it was more for cultural purposes. We maybe went to church for Easter and Midnight Mass. After converting to Mormonism, I felt like I found the truth. They preach that to you by the way. That it's the only true church on the face of the earth. I also noticed I became a righteous puke. While I never spoke openly about it, I would inwardly put down others from different faiths. It's a weird feeling, when you drink that kool-aid. You feel like you're part of God's chosen religion. My wife and I have a son with autism, so it made going to church rather difficult. During this time, I would still try to be a worthy member by going to the temple often and then listening to church prescribed podcasts. Though in my early 40's things started to slowly unravel. I heard a piece of info about the Mormon church that I wasn't ok with, so it led me down the rabbithole. It was a slow burn, as I tried to make it work through random acts of justification. Around the time I hit 45 I just couldn't do it anymore. I stopped going. While I felt free from the indoctrination, there's been a void since. I noticed that I'm having a hard time believing again. I want to believe differently, but having a hard time trusting. For one thing, I'm not a fan of religion. Spirituality, yes, and finding that connection to Christ, absolutely. So that's what brought me here I'm looking for ways to believe again.

Jesus came to seek and save the lost, I would suggest you make plans to study the Bible and spend time in prayer every day. When you are brave enough ask him so show you the worst of your case.

 

[TheLearner]

Yeah, I plan to start reading the bible again with a new lens. Mormonism puts a lot of emphasis on the Book of Mormon, which they use more than the bible.

NRSV, Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible
https://www.amazon.com/Cultural-Bac...396c22a5f7393&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl
https://netbible.org/bible/Matthew+1
https://store.bible.org/
https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/confr...iuhoCzq4QAvD_BwE#idiq=1673977&edition=3716204
https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/decid...-r-lewis/274670/#edition=1572400&idiq=3420832
https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/testi...-lewis/1487336/#edition=5490677&idiq=25998438

 

[TheLearner]

That would be great if you can point me to someone or videos that minister exclusively to Ex Mormons.

http://www.utlm.org/navbooklist.htm
http://www.utlm.org/
http://www.utlm.org/navonlineresources.htm
http://www.utlm.org/navotherwebsites.htm
https://mit.irr.org/
https://christianchat.com/threads/l...hard-time-doing-so.213035/reply?quote=5181741

 

[TheLearner]

https://mit.irr.org/helpformormons
https://www.google.com/search?sca_e...YkEHeUHABoQ0pQJegQIMhAB&biw=800&bih=453&dpr=1
https://www.gotquestions.org/
best https://www.google.com/books/editio...1&dq=David+Reed+Mormonism&printsec=frontcover
https://www.google.com/search?q=ex-...ntB1UQ0pQJegQIARAC&biw=800&bih=453&dpr=1#ip=1
https://www.exmormonsupport.com/
https://www.meetup.com/topics/exmormon/
https://www.4mormon.org/how-can-i-meet-ex-mormons-in-my-area/
https://exmormonsforjesus.org/
https://tilm.org/

 

[TheLearner]

https://www.google.com/search?hl=en...HkKkL2IcjEV2IgqSuuBswFLp0BbfHIg:1698969703402
https://www.mrm.org/lds-resources
https://mormonismresearchministry.square.site/
https://www.google.com/books/editio...their+own+words+mormonism&printsec=frontcover
https://www.google.com/books/edition/Answering_Mormons_Questions/CjlTjgEACAAJ?hl=en
https://www.google.com/search?sca_e...=2ahUKEwiHl9yjw6aCAxX7mokEHThhA40Q9Ah6BAgFEAU
https://www.google.com/books/editio...their+own+words+mormonism&printsec=frontcover
google evidence that demands a vertict

 

[blueluna5]

It's hard to understand if you've never come from a high-demand indoctrinized organization. While I'm not looking at this forum for belief, I'm looking at how to believe again from a different perspective. So you all reaching out with advice helps point the ship.

I understand what you're saying, but there are a lot of false beliefs passed down through the church even. So every denomination will have it. That's why I suggest reading the Bible and not just automatically listening to opinions....especially if it's out of context.

An example would be the Christmas story where the church shows only 3 wise men on camels, but the Bible says a "caravan" and "multitude" of camels went to bring gold to Jesus. Then you will understand more why king Herod flipped the way he did from a kings perspective.

When it comes to money there is only one truth. The government and the church lie about it. Both wanting the children of God to never advance, but to be chained into the idea wwjd (what would Jesus do) and to be poor. Yet Jesus was rich and gave to the poor.
That's not the only lie of the church, but it's a massive one. A lie creating a caste like system for the children of God.

Another Lie from the church was that the earth is flat. Not sure the reasoning for the lie, but they knew astronomy much better in the ancient days than the average person does now. Perhaps to keep people in place and never to explore...

Long story short don't automatically accept what the religion organization tells you. So reading the Bible is really the only way to know.

 

[maxwel]

That would be great if you can point me to someone or videos that minister exclusively to Ex Mormons.

Here are some more resources:


4 Mormon
Good Site for Ex Mormons
https://www.4mormon.org/

CARM (Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry)
Very large and famous apologetics site, with much info for Mormons/Mormonism
https://carm.org/world-religions/mormonism/
(can find info here on virtually all theology topics if you search)

IRR (Institute for Religious Research)
Big site with large section on Mormonism (go to "mormonism" tab on left menu)
https://irr.org/



A Good Video on Mormonism and Historical Christian Theology.

,
.

 

[rrcn]

I'm in my late 40's. I converted to Mormonism when I was 24. Did all the right things. Before that I was baptized a Catholic when I was an infant. Being that I'm Italian, it was more for cultural purposes. We maybe went to church for Easter and Midnight Mass. After converting to Mormonism, I felt like I found the truth. They preach that to you by the way. That it's the only true church on the face of the earth. I also noticed I became a righteous puke. While I never spoke openly about it, I would inwardly put down others from different faiths. It's a weird feeling, when you drink that kool-aid. You feel like you're part of God's chosen religion. My wife and I have a son with autism, so it made going to church rather difficult. During this time, I would still try to be a worthy member by going to the temple often and then listening to church prescribed podcasts. Though in my early 40's things started to slowly unravel. I heard a piece of info about the Mormon church that I wasn't ok with, so it led me down the rabbithole. It was a slow burn, as I tried to make it work through random acts of justification. Around the time I hit 45 I just couldn't do it anymore. I stopped going. While I felt free from the indoctrination, there's been a void since. I noticed that I'm having a hard time believing again. I want to believe differently, but having a hard time trusting. For one thing, I'm not a fan of religion. Spirituality, yes, and finding that connection to Christ, absolutely. So that's what brought me here I'm looking for ways to believe again.

This little book may be helpful, I found it was appreciated in prison ministry. It occurred to me that in a way you have been locked in prison your whole life. Study the truth and there is no need to compare it to the previous doctrines which you recognize as erroneous, Jesus will set you free. I am sure others as well as myself are praying for you each morning.