LDS Mormonism is an enemy of the Cross and therefore not Christian

[tickingclocker]

Holy Cow!! I went back to that site and discovered there are conferences of Ex-Mormons!! Conferences???!!! Never heard of such a thing. Are there conferences of ex-Lutherans, ex-Catholics---other "ex's"?? I've not found any. There are so many exMormons now that they are having conferences?----They are leaving in droves??!!--a lot of them saying through the internet they are discovering the truth, info is so much easier to get to now. Are ex-Mormons still being counted as Mormons by the church??

Yes! Isn't it exciting, that so many are coming out of mormonism that they now host yearly conferences all over the world! There are now more EX-Mormons than there are Mormons--of all "BoM believers" combined, not just LDS! I never heard of such things before. But then I've never explored my ex-mormon status before last year either. I buried it. (Not a good thing to do.) I'm exploring attending a few conferences right now. They are amazing resources!

I believe someone on this forum first mentioned ex-mormon forums in a question. Didn't know about them either. They are a wealth of information, and provide very insightful post-mormon support for those recovering from mormonism. Unfortunately there are not enough born-again Christians on these sites to handle the load of questions and comments ex-mo's have about Christianity. (Understandable. So many are now turned off by anything remotely "religious" after being lied to by mormonism. I know I was for the longest time, until realizing it wasn't God fault they lied to me about who He is. HE wasn't the one who lied! Too many veer off into atheism to avoid the spiritual part of themselves which was violated. They also have the wrong teaching in their heads telling them Christianity is "also" false, too.) A lot of what ex-mormon sites are being told by recovering ex-mo's isn't actual Christian doctrine. How can the ex-mo know the difference, having never experienced or ever learned what "true" Christianity is? This lack truly needs to be addressed.

 

[faroukfarouk]

Yes! Isn't it exciting, that so many are coming out of mormonism that they now host yearly conferences all over the world! There are now more EX-Mormons than there are Mormons--of all "BoM believers" combined, not just LDS! I never heard of such things before. But then I've never explored my ex-mormon status before last year either. I buried it. (Not a good thing to do.) I'm exploring attending a few conferences right now. They are amazing resources!

I believe someone on this forum first mentioned ex-mormon forums in a question. Didn't know about them either. They are a wealth of information, and provide very insightful post-mormon support for those recovering from mormonism. Unfortunately there are not enough born-again Christians on these sites to handle the load of questions and comments ex-mo's have about Christianity. (Understandable. So many are now turned off by anything remotely "religious" after being lied to by mormonism. I know I was for the longest time, until realizing it wasn't God fault they lied to me about who He is. HE wasn't the one who lied! Too many veer off into atheism to avoid the spiritual part of themselves which was violated. They also have the wrong teaching in their heads telling them Christianity is "also" false, too.) A lot of what ex-mormon sites are being told by recovering ex-mo's isn't actual Christian doctrine. How can the ex-mo know the difference, having never experienced or ever learned what "true" Christianity is? This lack truly needs to be addressed.

It's a question of truly getting back to the Scriptures, and to what they really teach, right?

 

[tickingclocker]

Holy Cow!! I went back to that site and discovered there are conferences of Ex-Mormons!! Conferences???!!! Never heard of such a thing. Are there conferences of ex-Lutherans, ex-Catholics---other "ex's"?? I've not found any. There are so many exMormons now that they are having conferences?----They are leaving in droves??!!--a lot of them saying through the internet they are discovering the truth, info is so much easier to get to now. Are ex-Mormons still being counted as Mormons by the church??

They are still counted if they don't bother to take their names off the membership lists officially. Those who do make it official are counted for one year. They must be off the list for a full year before they are no longer counted. The whole "membership numbers" remains very fluid. That's how the LDS leaders justify telling their present membership that their numbers are "growing", when they know full well that they are not. Mormon churches are know to lose more members per year than most other churches. Most statistical data notes the Jehovah Witnesses for retaining the most members for the longest period of time among similar "outside the fringe" non-Christian churches.

 

[mmksparbud]

Wow!! This is absolutely unprecedented! I had no idea it was this massive---Praise the Lord! But now they must learn to trust God's truth again. This is what so many have done, just as you said, they are so disillusioned by finding out they've been manipulated all these years that they turn their back on God altogether instead of just the false, that is sad and with time, hopefully they will again learn what the true leading of the Holy Spirit means, and not be looking for this burning chest thing. All this time I thought these Mormons were just a few individuals, I had no idea of the millions involved!

 

[tickingclocker]

Wow!! This is absolutely unprecedented! I had no idea it was this massive---Praise the Lord! But now they must learn to trust God's truth again. This is what so many have done, just as you said, they are so disillusioned by finding out they've been manipulated all these years that they turn their back on God altogether instead of just the false, that is sad and with time, hopefully they will again learn what the true leading of the Holy Spirit means, and not be looking for this burning chest thing. All this time I thought these Mormons were just a few individuals, I had no idea of the millions involved!

Not trust God's truth "again", but FIRSTLY! They didn't really "know" God before, just facts "about" Him. From talking with other ex-mormons they truly do want to believe in God. However, they are so turned off by anything spiritual they avoid the subject for the most part. It's like pulling teeth to get them to talk about God. I started noticing once I told them about how I eventually realized it wasn't GOD who lied to me about who He is, they sit up and take notice much more often! Their natural reluctance and fear diminishes when they can think about and talk to God as He says He is, not having anyone telling them what He is. Listen to HIM alone, I always tell them. If you honestly desire to know God, He will reveal Himself to you. He promises to do so, and God isn't the one who lies. MEN do, for their own ends.

 

[tickingclocker]

It's a question of truly getting back to the Scriptures, and to what they really teach, right?

How do you mean? Getting "back" to the scriptures? To what "they" really teach? Who is the "they" you are speaking about? Ex-mormons don't really recognize the bible as accurate and the only true Word of God. They have been fed lies about how its just one in a slew of works that they can "reference". From experience, teaching ex-mormons about what the genuine Gospel is, is like teaching someone who has never heard of God AT ALL. You have to start from absolute scratch. Their thinking is so completely mixed up its like slogging through frozen oatmeal. I know that's how someone once described watching my walk toward faith!

 

[ToBeLoved]

Not trust God's truth "again", but FIRSTLY! They didn't really "know" God before, just facts "about" Him. From talking with other ex-mormons they truly do want to believe in God. However, they are so turned off by anything spiritual they avoid the subject for the most part. It's like pulling teeth to get them to talk about God. I started noticing once I told them about how I eventually realized it wasn't GOD who lied to me about who He is, they sit up and take notice much more often! Their natural reluctance and fear diminishes when they can think about and talk to God as He says He is, not having anyone telling them what He is. Listen to HIM alone, I always tell them. If you honestly desire to know God, He will reveal Himself to you. He promises to do so, and God isn't the one who lies. MEN do, for their own ends.

It is still very sad. I can understand their feelings to a certain degree. Most of the people are born and raised in Mormonism. Then they find out, it must be like a bomb goes off in their lives and hearts. I can't imagine. It must be devastating. My heart goes out to them.

Their family and friends have to disown them as apostates, who do they have, after their devastation already.

 

[Ironhold]

...Or maybe it's because people who leave the church so rarely leave it alone.

There are so few "ex-anything else" conferences because these individuals tend to behave like rational adults barring the few oddballs. In contrast, far too many ex-Mormons - like Decker - could open fertilizer factories for all the manure they peddle to the public.

Edit - I mean, "Stores in Utah have to keep their crosses hidden away or else they'll get destroyed financially!" ? Seriously? If you guys have all the truth, then why do so many of you feel compelled to win by lying?

 

[fatboys]

...Or maybe it's because people who leave the church so rarely leave it alone.

There are so few "ex-anything else" conferences because these individuals tend to behave like rational adults barring the few oddballs. In contrast, far too many ex-Mormons - like Decker - could open fertilizer factories for all the manure they peddle to the public.

Edit - I mean, "Stores in Utah have to keep their crosses hidden away or else they'll get destroyed financially!" ? Seriously? If you guys have all the truth, then why do so many of you feel compelled to win by lying?

I went to a ex conference one time. There were ten people there. There were more speakers there than audience. When they found out I wasteful a member and did not plan on leaving the booted me out. I just wanted to see what they were talking about. Now this was fifteen maybe more years ago. There not thousands of people leaving they are still building new chapels every day. They still fill the ones they have built. Most people who leave leave quitely but there are those who just can't leave it alone. If this church is true then who would have something to gain to persucute mock and spend hours ending fault. I'll give you a hint. He rules the under world.

 

[mmksparbud]

Maybe 15 years ago they only gathered in groups of 10---not anymore. These people gather together like survivors of trauma victims---support groups. Understandable. Family and friends, all turn on them, and they have to start all over, They're devastated and that is always when Satan attacks, when we're at our lowest. Our hearts and prayers go out to them.


http://www.packham.n4m.org/morexmos.htm

The figures for some other countries show an even greater ratio of ex-Mormons to Mormons. Some countries, as part of their official census, ask citizens to specify their religion. Here, too, the Mormon church has on its records large numbers of people who apparently at one time were members, but no longer consider themselves Mormon. They are, then, ex-Mormons.

Here are the numbers: July 2007
Mexico Members claimed by church (1999): 846,931
Mormons in census (2000): 205,229
Difference (ex-Mormons): 641,702
This shows that in Mexico there are over three times as many ex-Mormons as Mormons
Chile Members claimed by church (2001): 520,202
Mormons in census (2002): 103,735
Difference (ex-Mormons): 416,467
This shows that in Chile there are four times as many ex-Mormons as Mormons
These numbers are probably typical for many other third-world countries. Armand Mauss (Mormon sociologist) has estimated that in third-world countries only 25% of Mormon converts are still active one year after baptism. That is, 75% have become exmormon within a year.

Update: 2015 - Bolivia
Bolivia did a national census in 2012
In 2012, the church claimed there were 182,964 members in Bolivia. According to the 2012 official Bolivian census, the population of Bolivia in 2012 was 10,027,254, so Mormons made up 1.82% of the population, according to the church.
However, in the census, only 0.3% of the population, or 30,082 people, self-identified as Mormon. That is only 16% of the number of members the church claimed. Subtract: 182,964 minus 30,082 gives a figure of 152,882 ex-Mormons in Bolivia, 84% of those that once were baptized or born into the church. That is, there are over five times as many ex-Mormons in Bolivia as there are Mormons.
Similar statistics for South American countries for the Watchtower Society (Jehovah's Witnesses) show that the Society's claimed membership fairly closely matches the self-identification numbers of the censuses. The LDS church appears to be not as honest as the Watchtower.

 

[tickingclocker]

It is still very sad. I can understand their feelings to a certain degree. Most of the people are born and raised in Mormonism. Then they find out, it must be like a bomb goes off in their lives and hearts. I can't imagine. It must be devastating. My heart goes out to them.

Their family and friends have to disown them as apostates, who do they have, after their devastation already.

What a worse practice is, their families and friends don't reject them, but keep them around yet pretend they don't exist. That's what my family did to me, unless of course they needed something. Then I was restored temporarily to 'semi-personhood'. (And I did it, too, cheerfully, but always mentioned the LORD gave me the will to. Not me.)

Those still in its grip also endlessly harangue them with pleas, challenges, and arguments to return to something they found to be a bunch of deliberately generated lies, as if the person's choice wasn't something they struggled with spiritually for a very long time. So insulting. It's doubly hurtful to ex-mo's, knowing their loved ones are still caught in mormonism's lies, while being told by those very loved ones that they are the wrong ones. This breaks your heart the most, bit by bit each year. On the other hand, it also makes you more determined to offer Jesus Christ to them, too! But first, the ex-mo has to find and ACCEPT Jesus Christ in order to know what solid truth we can depend upon to offer.

This is why the Message of the Cross is so essential to Christianity, if only Mormons knew it. They will never realize what mormonism cannot ever stop. God's truth from being told. (Or maybe some do?) Their adherence to avoiding the symbol of Christianity is a natural draw into conversation to the ex-mormon. They want to know why we wear one around our necks, display it on our buildings. And, they are finally free to ask--and listen, without having to respond by rote with what they were told to. So keep wearing those crosses and displaying them. You never know who the Lord will bring into your path who needs to hear of salvation in Jesus Christ! The Cross convicts, even silently, by its very existence. No wonder mormonism doesn't like it!

 

[tickingclocker]

Maybe 15 years ago they only gathered in groups of 10---not anymore. These people gather together like survivors of trauma victims---support groups. Understandable. Family and friends, all turn on them, and they have to start all over, They're devastated and that is always when Satan attacks, when we're at our lowest. Our hearts and prayers go out to them.


http://www.packham.n4m.org/morexmos.htm

The figures for some other countries show an even greater ratio of ex-Mormons to Mormons. Some countries, as part of their official census, ask citizens to specify their religion. Here, too, the Mormon church has on its records large numbers of people who apparently at one time were members, but no longer consider themselves Mormon. They are, then, ex-Mormons.

Here are the numbers: July 2007
Mexico Members claimed by church (1999): 846,931
Mormons in census (2000): 205,229
Difference (ex-Mormons): 641,702
This shows that in Mexico there are over three times as many ex-Mormons as Mormons
Chile Members claimed by church (2001): 520,202
Mormons in census (2002): 103,735
Difference (ex-Mormons): 416,467
This shows that in Chile there are four times as many ex-Mormons as Mormons
These numbers are probably typical for many other third-world countries. Armand Mauss (Mormon sociologist) has estimated that in third-world countries only 25% of Mormon converts are still active one year after baptism. That is, 75% have become exmormon within a year.

Update: 2015 - Bolivia
Bolivia did a national census in 2012
In 2012, the church claimed there were 182,964 members in Bolivia. According to the 2012 official Bolivian census, the population of Bolivia in 2012 was 10,027,254, so Mormons made up 1.82% of the population, according to the church.
However, in the census, only 0.3% of the population, or 30,082 people, self-identified as Mormon. That is only 16% of the number of members the church claimed. Subtract: 182,964 minus 30,082 gives a figure of 152,882 ex-Mormons in Bolivia, 84% of those that once were baptized or born into the church. That is, there are over five times as many ex-Mormons in Bolivia as there are Mormons.
Similar statistics for South American countries for the Watchtower Society (Jehovah's Witnesses) show that the Society's claimed membership fairly closely matches the self-identification numbers of the censuses. The LDS church appears to be not as honest as the Watchtower.

These numbers are not very "faith promoting" to active membership, so expect some heavy refuting of them. Mormons hate being shown in black and white that their leaders are essentially lying to them by painting a rosy picture. When putting a top leadership stamp of approval upon allowing a practice of "lying for the Lord", what makes Mormons think such a practice wouldn't be first tried upon... them first, and utilized thereafter? It's naive to think otherwise. Who wants to inform their paying membership that the church they have historically been told is the "one true church" is dying? Wouldn't bring in many new members if so. But we know it, and the world knows it. It''s not like no one is paying attention to the stark realities of the situation. Except TBM's.

 

[tickingclocker]

I went to a ex conference one time. There were ten people there. There were more speakers there than audience. When they found out I wasteful a member and did not plan on leaving the booted me out. I just wanted to see what they were talking about. Now this was fifteen maybe more years ago. There not thousands of people leaving they are still building new chapels every day. They still fill the ones they have built. Most people who leave leave quitely but there are those who just can't leave it alone. If this church is true then who would have something to gain to persucute mock and spend hours ending fault. I'll give you a hint. He rules the under world.

And they had every right to boot you out, no matter if there were 10 or 10,000,000 there. YOU are not an ex-mormon. They are. Active Mormons are also banned from almost every single ex-mormon forum as well, unless they remain respectful of the participants. Which they seldom do, or, they can't stand the restrictions and leave.

You do realize that the LDS is on a quest of tearing down its chapels only to build new ones somewhere else? The old ones are extremely outdated and in disrepair (from the expansion between 1955-1970. I wish they would remove the 1950's style one a few towns away from me. It looks horrible and lowers property values of neighboring businesses! One Mormon church has already been torn down, never to be rebuilt in the entire state.) They systematically readjust population Stakes frequently, combining a few wards to make it appear that there are more members than there actually are. Leadership doesn't correct this popular misnomer either. Why would they? It's a classic shell game, and they have the money to make it so. Mormons are the only ones who don't realize what is happening. The world looks on and shakes its collective head. What can everyone do if its own membership refuses to wake up?

Christian churches are also being shut down. We openly admit it. I can name three in my area alone that shut their doors in the past ten years. Although, one was sold to another denomination. Mormons refuse to, making it into some type of defensive--and offensive--"bragging contest"? So sad.

 

[tickingclocker]

...Or maybe it's because people who leave the church so rarely leave it alone.

There are so few "ex-anything else" conferences because these individuals tend to behave like rational adults barring the few oddballs. In contrast, far too many ex-Mormons - like Decker - could open fertilizer factories for all the manure they peddle to the public.

Edit - I mean, "Stores in Utah have to keep their crosses hidden away or else they'll get destroyed financially!" ? Seriously? If you guys have all the truth, then why do so many of you feel compelled to win by lying?

One person isn't "all". That's flaming and you know it.

 

[fatboys]

And they had every right to boot you out, no matter if there were 10 or 10,000,000 there. YOU are not an ex-mormon. They are. Active Mormons are also banned from almost every single ex-mormon forum as well, unless they remain respectful of the participants. Which they seldom do, or, they can't stand the restrictions and leave.

You do realize that the LDS is on a quest of tearing down its chapels only to build new ones somewhere else? The old ones are extremely outdated and in disrepair (from the expansion between 1955-1970. I wish they would remove the 1950's style one a few towns away from me. It looks horrible and lowers property values of neighboring businesses! One Mormon church has already been torn down, never to be rebuilt in the entire state.) They systematically readjust population Stakes frequently, combining a few wards to make it appear that there are more members than there actually are. Leadership doesn't correct this popular misnomer either. Why would they? It's a classic shell game, and they have the money to make it so. Mormons are the only ones who don't realize what is happening. The world looks on and shakes its collective head. What can everyone do if its own membership refuses to wake up?

Christian churches are also being shut down. We openly admit it. I can name three in my area alone that shut their doors in the past ten years. Although, one was sold to another denomination. Mormons refuse to, making it into some type of defensive--and offensive--"bragging contest"? So sad.

They tore our old building down and replaced it with a new one about twelve years ago. But there was property they build on and have it built so we still went to church in the old one until the new one is in place. Sometimes they don't have that option so they build it else where. They have done this for years. We had a ward that was going through the same thing that met in our building until theirs was finished.

 

[Ironhold]

One person isn't "all". That's flaming and you know it.

Do you know the story behind the whole "You can't sell crosses in Utah!" hysteria?

 

[ToBeLoved]

...Or maybe it's because people who leave the church so rarely leave it alone.

There are so few "ex-anything else" conferences because these individuals tend to behave like rational adults barring the few oddballs. In contrast, far too many ex-Mormons - like Decker - could open fertilizer factories for all the manure they peddle to the public.

Edit - I mean, "Stores in Utah have to keep their crosses hidden away or else they'll get destroyed financially!" ? Seriously? If you guys have all the truth, then why do so many of you feel compelled to win by lying?

They let you associate with apostates so I don't think you know.

 

[tickingclocker]

Do you know the story behind the whole "You can't sell crosses in Utah!" hysteria?

Do you know the whole story behind "Tea tans your stomach lining from the tannin?" Neither do I.

 

[Ironhold]

Do you know the whole story behind "Tea tans your stomach lining from the tannin?" Neither do I.

Actually, I do.

A few years ago, I had my wisdom teeth removed.

As part of it, the oral surgeon recommended that I keep tea bags handy. Why? Because if the sockets didn't stop bleeding on their own, I could take the tea bags, get them soaking wet, and then keep them in my mouth atop the sockets. The tannin from the tea bags would cauterize the sockets, stopping the bleeding. However, this was only to be a last resort.

Well, three of the four extractions didn't go as planned, and so I had to use the tea bags.

So yeah, I know from experience that yes, the tannin in tea is nasty enough to actually cauterize things.

 

[tickingclocker]

Actually, I do.

A few years ago, I had my wisdom teeth removed.

As part of it, the oral surgeon recommended that I keep tea bags handy. Why? Because if the sockets didn't stop bleeding on their own, I could take the tea bags, get them soaking wet, and then keep them in my mouth atop the sockets. The tannin from the tea bags would cauterize the sockets, stopping the bleeding. However, this was only to be a last resort.

Well, three of the four extractions didn't go as planned, and so I had to use the tea bags.

So yeah, I know from experience that yes, the tannin in tea is nasty enough to actually cauterize things.

If I responded to this... stuff, I would, in all honesty, have to report myself, so lets just drop it as being so completely off-subject its not even in the same universe, shall we?