“Clinging to faith where there is overwhelming evidence against it is wilful ignorance, not spiritual dedication.”
— The Changing World of Mormonism, 1981
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As a former member of a high-control religion, I understand deeply how daunting it can be to step outside of the faith that has been integral to your life for so long. The journey toward self-discovery and liberation from such organizations is often filled with doubt, fear, and a sense of isolation. My hope is that this website serves as a beacon of education and support for those still navigating the complexities of their beliefs, or for those seeking to assist loved ones ensnared in similar circumstances.
I was baptized into the LDS Church in January of 2005. For many years, I threw myself into the teachings and community with unwavering devotion. I poured my heart into fulfilling my responsibilities as a young woman, striving to remain clean and worthy, believing that I was part of something profoundly meaningful. In those years, my love for the church felt all-consuming, and I held a firm testimony of its truth.
However, as I began to prioritize truth and the pursuit of genuine understanding, I came to a painful but necessary realization: the foundation of my testimony rested on beliefs that were not substantiated by evidence. This was not just a creeping doubt; it was a seismic shift in my understanding of reality that fundamentally altered the way I viewed my life and the world around me. I realized I had no good reason to believe in any higher power. This awakening was both liberating and terrifying, as I had to confront the implications of what I was learning.
Throughout this process, I became acutely aware of the importance of believing true things. I had dedicated so much of my life to adhering to doctrines that I now questioned. It became essential to me to separate faith from the pursuit of truth, a journey that I hope to share with others. My mission is to aid those who wish to break free from the constraints of high-control religions and to encourage them to seek their own paths to knowledge and personal freedom. I want to help others navigate their experiences in a way that leads to empowerment rather than lingering uncertainty.
Articles
Sex, Sexuality, And Gender Identity
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LDS FAQs Answered Honestly
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The short answer is that this mortal life is one part of our existence and its purpose is for us all to be tested on our loyalty to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.
When we die we will remain as spirits until everyone is resurrected, at which time we will once again receive a physical body. After this the majority of people will be assigned a kingdom of heaven depending on the depth of our conversion (how much we knew of the “true gospel”), and how obedient we were to the Lord’s commandments.
Those who are accepted into the highest kingdom of heaven will become gods and be able to create their own world(s) as our Heavenly Father did.
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The LDS church predominantly uses the Bible (KJV), the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine & Covenants, and The Pearl of Great Price. They do have a special version of the Bible where Joseph Smith has provided revisions of the King James Version Translation.
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Currently, the LDS church does not practice polygamy, but it is a part of their history (see D&C 132:61). A few years after the church was founded by Joseph Smith he made a “prayerful inquiry” about the ancient Old Testament practice of plural marriage. This resulted in the “divine instruction” to reinstitute the practice as a religious principle.
Members of the church continued to practice polygamy until 1890 when Church President Wilford Woodruff issued a statement advising the practice would be discontinued.
It is worth noting that their own scriptures advocate for plural marriage, and it is arguable that this change only came about because of new laws that were enacted by congress which forbid plural marriages. When Woodruff announced the new changes he stated “I hereby declare my intention to submit to those laws, and to use my influence with the members of the Church over which I preside to have them do likewise”.
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The First Presidency is the highest governing body of the Church.The current First Presidency is:
President Russell M. Nelson (President)
President Dallin H. Oaks (First Counselor)
President Henry B. Eyring (Second Counselor)
These men are assisted in their role by The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
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Yes. The Church now tries to downplay this teaching on their FAQ page where they advise that they believe it is God’s purpose to “exalt us to become like Him”. They try to argue that this teaching is no different than the bible teaching about us becoming “joint-heirs with Christ” (Romans 8:16-17).
This is a disingenuous representation of their belief. The church doesn’t teach we will be “like God”, it teaches that we will become gods and have the power to create our own worlds to populate with spirit children. We will rule over these planets as Gods.
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Not in the typical sense. If you look at a standard dictionary definition of a “Christian” being simply someone who believes in Jesus Christ and follows his teachings you could reason that Latter-day Saints are Christians.
However, there are several ways in which LDS teachings diverge from traditional Christianity. Latter-Day Saints have a different view on the scriptures, the nature of God/the deification of believers, the plan of salvation/the afterlife, and what the Godhead/Trinity consists of.
-
The LDS church predominantly uses the Bible (KJV), the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine & Covenants, and The Pearl of Great Price. They do have a special version of the Bible where Joseph Smith has provided revisions of the King James Version Translation.
-
While the LDS church argues that women do “lead” in the church and have equality with men, this is not the full truth.
Women do not serve as part of the Governing Body, and they are not able to hold the Priesthood. They can hold certain leadership roles in the church, but these are mostly presiding over other women/children.
When the church references the “equal role” women have in the church they advise that the “vital and unique contribution” women have is to raise children, and this “special privilege” is of equal importance to priesthood responsibilities.
-
Not in the typical Christian sense. They generally refer to God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost as the Godhead. While the LDS church believes that they all work towards one purpose, they are three distinct beings.
The Church teaches that both God the Father and Jesus Christ have physical bodies, and the Holy Ghost is a spirit being.
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Yes. This is not just a history of racist policies, but also racist doctrine. In 1852, President Brigham Young publicly announced that “men of black African descent could no longer be ordained to the priesthood”. This policy remained in place until 1978 when Spencer W. Kimball received a “revelation” that “all of our brethren who are worthy may receive the priesthood”.
This revelation coincidently came shortly after the NAACP filed a federal lawsuit challenging the discriminatory practice.
LDS FAQs Answered Honestly
-
The short answer is that this mortal life is one part of our existence and its purpose is for us all to be tested on our loyalty to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.
When we die we will remain as spirits until everyone is resurrected, at which time we will once again receive a physical body. After this the majority of people will be assigned a kingdom of heaven depending on the depth of our conversion (how much we knew of the “true gospel”), and how obedient we were to the Lord’s commandments.
Those who are accepted into the highest kingdom of heaven will become gods and be able to create their own world(s) as our Heavenly Father did.
-
The LDS church predominantly uses the Bible (KJV), the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine & Covenants, and The Pearl of Great Price. They do have a special version of the Bible where Joseph Smith has provided revisions of the King James Version Translation.
-
Currently, the LDS church does not practice polygamy, but it is a part of their history (see D&C 132:61). A few years after the church was founded by Joseph Smith he made a “prayerful inquiry” about the ancient Old Testament practice of plural marriage. This resulted in the “divine instruction” to reinstitute the practice as a religious principle.
Members of the church continued to practice polygamy until 1890 when Church President Wilford Woodruff issued a statement advising the practice would be discontinued.
It is worth noting that their own scriptures advocate for plural marriage, and it is arguable that this change only came about because of new laws that were enacted by congress which forbid plural marriages. When Woodruff announced the new changes he stated “I hereby declare my intention to submit to those laws, and to use my influence with the members of the Church over which I preside to have them do likewise”.
-
The First Presidency is the highest governing body of the Church.The current First Presidency is:
President Russell M. Nelson (President)
President Dallin H. Oaks (First Counselor)
President Henry B. Eyring (Second Counselor)
These men are assisted in their role by The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
-
Yes. The Church now tries to downplay this teaching on their FAQ page where they advise that they believe it is God’s purpose to “exalt us to become like Him”. They try to argue that this teaching is no different than the bible teaching about us becoming “joint-heirs with Christ” (Romans 8:16-17).
This is a disingenuous representation of their belief. The church doesn’t teach we will be “like God”, it teaches that we will become gods and have the power to create our own worlds to populate with spirit children. We will rule over these planets as Gods.
-
Not in the typical sense. If you look at a standard dictionary definition of a “Christian” being simply someone who believes in Jesus Christ and follows his teachings you could reason that Latter-day Saints are Christians.
However, there are several ways in which LDS teachings diverge from traditional Christianity. Latter-Day Saints have a different view on the scriptures, the nature of God/the deification of believers, the plan of salvation/the afterlife, and what the Godhead/Trinity consists of.
-
The LDS church predominantly uses the Bible (KJV), the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine & Covenants, and The Pearl of Great Price. They do have a special version of the Bible where Joseph Smith has provided revisions of the King James Version Translation.
-
While the LDS church argues that women do “lead” in the church and have equality with men, this is not the full truth.
Women do not serve as part of the Governing Body, and they are not able to hold the Priesthood. They can hold certain leadership roles in the church, but these are mostly presiding over other women/children.
When the church references the “equal role” women have in the church they advise that the “vital and unique contribution” women have is to raise children, and this “special privilege” is of equal importance to priesthood responsibilities.
-
Not in the typical Christian sense. They generally refer to God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost as the Godhead. While the LDS church believes that they all work towards one purpose, they are three distinct beings.
The Church teaches that both God the Father and Jesus Christ have physical bodies, and the Holy Ghost is a spirit being.
-
Yes. This is not just a history of racist policies, but also racist doctrine. In 1852, President Brigham Young publicly announced that “men of black African descent could no longer be ordained to the priesthood”. This policy remained in place until 1978 when Spencer W. Kimball received a “revelation” that “all of our brethren who are worthy may receive the priesthood”.
This revelation coincidently came shortly after the NAACP filed a federal lawsuit challenging the discriminatory practice.
Support
If you are in a religious cult, thinking of leaving one, or have left and you are in need of additional support there are loads of places you can turn to. I recommend Recovering from Religion as a good starting point.
Learn More
If you want to read more about this I recommend reading The Changing World of Mormonism, and the CES Letter.
Contact me
If you have any questions, comments, or want to suggest a topic to be covered you can contact me via email at bisexualexmo@gmail.com or reach out to me on Twitter or Facebook.