Hi! Exmormon and glad to be here!

Lea · September 12, 2009, 05:30:06 AM

Just a quick intro.

I was raised mormon and was indoctrinated heavily. I went to Brigham Young University. (no thinking necessary as only one world view was allowed) I was a missionary for the church, and went through the "sacred" temple ceremonies. If you have any questions about mormonism, it's likely I'll know the answer.

I had always had a bit of cognitive dissonance with certain aspects of the church, then my 1st husband died and my life changed. I went back to college, a real university this time. Later, I did the unthinkable and married an athiest. He is the kindest, most moral and ethical man I have ever met. He never tried to persuade me to leave my religion. Anyway, a few months after I got married I heard some strange beliefs attributed to mormons on the raido. I used my newly found research and critical thinking skills to look into these issues and found mormonism to be a load of crap. Christianity and all other religions soon followed that into toilet and I flushed it all out of my life.

Its good to be a happy atheist!

Heretical Rants · September 12, 2009, 05:53:59 AM

Time for me to go to sleep.

ã,ˆã†ã"ãBBS

Recusant · September 12, 2009, 09:28:02 AM

Quote from: "Lea"Its good to be a happy atheist!

Yes indeed. Hello and welcome, Lea.

Lea · September 12, 2009, 02:28:20 PM

Thanks!

McQ · September 12, 2009, 03:22:34 PM

Hi Lea, and welcome to the forum! Thank you so much for your introduction. Although quite a few of us here were Christians, I don't think any of us has been or knows very much about the mormon church. Everything I know I learned from South Park (ok, not entirely true, as I have had Mormon friends, but it was the most fun I had learning about Mormons!).

Sounds like you've been through a lot of difficult times in your life, and it's heartening to see you've come through them so well. I look forward to your participation here. Feel free to encourage your husband to lurk on the forum and see if he's interested in hanging out here too.

Lea · September 12, 2009, 04:16:58 PM

McQ, actually the episodes of South Park portray Mormon history better than the church itself does. I'd say you know more of the real history than the average member does.

I'll probably share stuff from the forum with DH, or get his input on subjects before I post. He just got a new game for his PC and is obsessed with it. His laptop is his god, and the game its prophet. Its not quite that bad, but hes not into reading and posting on forums right now.

Chimera · September 12, 2009, 04:21:02 PM

Welcome to the forum, Lea.

Reginus · September 12, 2009, 05:45:40 PM

Hehe, reminds me that I learned everything I know about Scientology from that one episode of Southpark.

Anyway, welcome to the forum. I know essentialy nothing at all about Mormonism, so I would be interested to hear what its all about.

Whitney · September 12, 2009, 09:42:10 PM

Welcome to HAF!

Quote from: "Lea"He just got a new game for his PC and is obsessed with it. His laptop is his god, and the game its prophet.

, sounds like my husband only replace PC with XBOX.

Lea · September 13, 2009, 04:48:48 AM

Quote from: "Reginus"I know essentialy nothing at all about Mormonism, so I would be interested to hear what its all about.

It would take forever to explain everything in Mormonism, but I'd be happy to answer specific questions.

McQ · September 13, 2009, 03:50:00 PM

Quote from: "Lea"
Quote from: "Reginus"I know essentialy nothing at all about Mormonism, so I would be interested to hear what its all about.

It would take forever to explain everything in Mormonism, but I'd be happy to answer specific questions.

OK, I'll lead off. Why do Mormons not let visitors into the temple? Do you have to be a Mormon to go in? Can prospective converts go in? And, most importantly, what the heck is in there that they are so secretive about?

Oh yeah, also...what's with the funny underwear? I don't remember what it was for, but one of my Army buddies wore some kind of giant boxers or something that had to do with his being Mormon.

LoneMateria · September 13, 2009, 04:05:17 PM

Welcome to HAF

http://skepticsannotatedbible.com/BOM/index.htm

Heres a link to a Book of Mormon, it might explain a few things. I don't know haven't read through it yet i'm still working on the bible. And isn't the magical underwear meant to keep them pure and they can only take them off to go to the bathroom? I <3 that south park episode for Joseph Smith and when Stan briefly took over Scientology. "We don't exactly know why Tom Cruise is in the closet but his fans are urging him to come out of the closet so he can get on with life." lol

Lea · September 15, 2009, 01:43:26 AM

Quote from: "McQ"
Quote from: "Lea"
Quote from: "Reginus"I know essentialy nothing at all about Mormonism, so I would be interested to hear what its all about.

It would take forever to explain everything in Mormonism, but I'd be happy to answer specific questions.

OK, I'll lead off. Why do Mormons not let visitors into the temple? Do you have to be a Mormon to go in? Can prospective converts go in? And, most importantly, what the heck is in there that they are so secretive about?

Oh yeah, also...what's with the funny underwear? I don't remember what it was for, but one of my Army buddies wore some kind of giant boxers or something that had to do with his being Mormon.

Mormons do not let visitors into the temple because they consider it an extremely sacred and holy place. They believe that it is literally God's house and you are in his presence while inside. Not all Mormons can enter the temple either. You have to pass two interviews given to you from priesthood leaders, a bishop and whats called a stake president. In the interviews, you answer questions about your beliefs and your practice of the religion. Its stuff like: Do you believe in God and Jesus Christ? Do you believe that Thomas Monson is a prophet of God? Do you live the law of chastity? (No sex unless you are married) Do you keep the word of wisdom? (No coffee, tea, tobacco, or illegal drugs) You also have to pay a full 10% of your income to the church to be able to enter the temple.

The funny underwear are temple garments. Mormons get to wear these after they have been through the temple. Its to remind them of the promises they have made to god. Like... you are about to have sex with some hottie, you start to take off your clothes and you remember: "oh yeah, my temple garments. I promised god I wouldn't have sex untill I was married." Its basically another layer of control the church has for its members. The temple garments are supposed to protect the wearer from bodily harm as well. There are stories about the garments saving people who were in car accidents.

I know they have sold mormon temple garments on ebay, if you wanted to see a picture. The temple endowment ceremony is also available online. There are secret handshakes involved that get you past the guards and into heaven. Its pretty much plagiarized from the Free Masons.

LoneMateria · September 15, 2009, 03:21:23 AM

Do they still not allow black people in any position in the church? Why can't some Mormons own cars? My GF is an ex-Mormon. She said when her family left the religion they kept calling and harassing them and it got so bad they had to threaten to call the police and get a restraining order on the church.

John09 · September 15, 2009, 03:35:55 AM

Hi Lea,

Good for you for using your brain! Welcome to the site. I'm new here as well.

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Hi! Exmormon and glad to be here!