Questions for the Ex-Mormons...

[Jin-Roh]

Well here is yet another thread for the Mormonism Forum. :teeth:

1. When did you become a Mormon and why?
2. How involved and how long where you part of the LDS church?
3. What made you leave?
4. What is your current worldview and your attitude towards the LDS now?

(this means you too John Powell. No schizo tatics on this one!) :wink:

[Xmansmommy]

Today @ 02:10 PM post located here (http://www.theologyweb.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&postid=148542#post148542)
Jin-Roh:

Well here is yet another thread for the Mormonism Forum. :teeth:

1. When did you become a Mormon and why?
Jin-Roh,
I became a Mormon after having read Betty J. Eadie's "Embraced by the Light" and after having studied/fellowshipped/attending the LDS church for almost 8 months. I had prayed and had a "testimony" of the truthfulness of the LDS church, JS etc., etc., etc.

2. How involved and how long where you part of the LDS church?

I was involved for the near 8 months before I became a Mormon and for 3 and a half years as a Mormon. I was a member in great standing, a temple recommend holder, and one who fulfilled each calling that I was given. A Visiting Teacher, a SS teacher, and I was involved in the singles activities (sorry I cannot recall the title of the calling, it's been a few years) :whack:

3. What made you leave?

Well, it was a combination of things. I was overwhelmed in my callings, I had began to covet the very things that the LDS church stands for, I became hard-hearted and even rebellious to God, and finally, I gave in to sin and walked away from God and the church.

4. What is your current worldview and your attitude towards the LDS now?

Having heard the gospel of my salvation and trusting it nearly two years ago, I now have a totally different outlook on many aspects of life. Also now that I've had alot of time and study apart from the LDS church, I have learned a great deal. Not sure what you mean by "worldview" so perhaps you can elaborate. I've never felt any anger towards anyone in the church, although I know many Ex-LDS do then do feel this way. I share the gospel every chance I can get with them in hopes that they will come to realize that they cannot save themselves and that it's love and grace that motivate us to do good works. Not in order to obtain salvation, but out of thankfulness and gratitude for Him having saved us from the law of sin and death and from ourselves.


Hope this answers your questions and if not let me know and I'll try to better explain.

For and By Him,
Linda

[Exmo-Robertson]

Today @ 07:10 PM post located here (http://www.theologyweb.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&postid=148542#post148542)
Jin-Roh:

Well here is yet another thread for the Mormonism Forum. :teeth:

1. When did you become a Mormon and why?

I was born into the church, I had no choice about joining (I was 8 at the time)

Today @ 07:10 PM post located here (http://www.theologyweb.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&postid=148542#post148542)
Jin-Roh:


2. How involved and how long where you part of the LDS church?

I was a member for 33yrs. I was involved more then I want to admit.

Today @ 07:10 PM post located here (http://www.theologyweb.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&postid=148542#post148542)
Jin-Roh:


3. What made you leave?

Problems in the teachings I couldn't logicly resolve and a desire to find out if the claim of it being "the only true church" was true. The more I learn, the less I could deny that it was bogus. Last, but not least, a real desire to be a part of the true gospel of Jesus Christ.

Today @ 07:10 PM post located here (http://www.theologyweb.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&postid=148542#post148542)
Jin-Roh:

4. What is your current worldview and your attitude towards the LDS now?

The LDS Church has a prophecy that says that one day the constitution of the United States will be held by a thread and that thread is the LDS Church. God help us if that ever becomes so because the LDS Church will not be the thread, it would be the scissors that would cut the thread. Mormonism despite what it may claim, hates freedom, especially freedom of speech and freedom of religion, unless it's their own or to be more correctly, unless it's under the command of the leaders. I make no bones about it I think the LDS Church is going to be our taliban someday, it's a dangerous religion and is as anti-American as it is anti-Christian. I'll be starting a thread soon that will support my view.

[Jin-Roh]

Xmansmommy says...
Not sure what you mean by "worldview" so perhaps you can elaborate.

A worldview is basically what faith you practice or philosophical outlook if you don't have one. I.E., Christian, Buddhists, Atheist, Muslim...

the Exmo says...
The LDS Church has a prophecy that says that one day the constitution of the United States will be held by a thread and that thread is the LDS Church. God help us if that ever becomes so because the LDS Church will not be the thread, it would be the scissors that would cut the thread. Mormonism despite what it may claim, hates freedom, especially freedom of speech and freedom of religion, unless it's their own or to be more correctly, unless it's under the command of the leaders.

I had never thought of the LDS church as the Taliban, but I have heard of their anti-american stance. Despite the fact that their choir put out a CD of patriotic anthems after 9-11! :lol: That's quite a change from their angy hymns they had after Joseph Smith was murdered by a mob.

If you don't mind my asking, how did your family react after you left the church Exmo?

Thanks for the responce both of you guys.

[SlaveofChrist]

Hey there~ I am heavily involved in ministry to mormons and I just have a quick question or two...
Do you think the church is satanic?
Did you consider it to be occult at any time when you were a member?
Thanx, God Bless.

[Xmansmommy]

A worldview is basically what faith you practice or philosophical outlook if you don't have one. I.E., Christian, Buddhists, Atheist, Muslim...

I am a Christian now. A member of the "true church", the Body of Christ. :teeth:

[Exmo-Robertson]

Today @ 01:22 AM post located here (http://www.theologyweb.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&postid=148796#post148796)
SlaveofChrist:

Do you think the church is satanic?

No, but there are some occultic elements in the temple ceremony and symbols on the Salt Lake Temple. While I fully state without reservation it isn't any gospel of Jesus Christ, the members do belong because they believe it to be otherwise. Their intention is to serve Jesus. They are just wrong, very wrong.

Today @ 01:22 AM post located here (http://www.theologyweb.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&postid=148796#post148796)
SlaveofChrist:

Did you consider it to be occult at any time when you were a member?

No, but my knowledge of what is occultic was limited at the time.

[Xmansmommy]

Very well said ExMo! :thumb:

[John Powell]

JIN-ROH:
1. When did you become a Mormon and why?


POWELL:
I was "BIC" (born in the covenant). That is, I was born to parents who were members of the Church. I was baptized and received the Holy Ghost at age 8.

JIN-ROH:
2. How involved and how long where you part of the LDS church?


POWELL:
Very. I served a 2-year mission to Argentina. I was a Ward Clerk, a Gospel Doctrine Teacher, a Missionary prep teacher and other things. I was a worthy temple recommend holder for most of that time. When the ceremony was changed, I stopped going. Nevertheless, I was still a partial believer until a few years ago, say until about age 40.

JIN-ROH:
3. What made you leave?


POWELL:
There were questions that were never answered such as why the leaders did not fully embrace theistic evolution and how to resolve a certain dilemna I came up with (a man who kills as many children as he can consequently becoming their "savior").

When the wording of parts of the temple ceremony were changed but we were told that the meaning was the same I was offended. If the meaning was the same then there was no good reason to change the wording.

When I gave my tithing money to my brother who was in need rather than to my Bishop and he threatened to have me kicked out of BYU, I decided not to pay tithing after I graduated from BYU. Doing that, I found I had more money than ever before which violated what I had been taught by Mormons.

When the issue of Gay rights came up in the newspaper I wondered if maybe the LDS position on Gay rights was also mistaken. After reading the arguments both ways on an internet discussion forum I concluded that the Church was wrong about Gay rights too.

Feeling sinful, I contemplated suicide. When it seemed that God was doing nothing significant to stop me, I concluded that God either didn't care that much or didn't exist. Later, I concluded that God probably did not exist.

I read some ex-Mormon exit testimonies and one, in particular, impressed me. It was an Australian former Bishop who was also a geneticist. He made persuasive arguments that the American Indians are descendants of Asians rather than Hebrews.

I concluded that the Book of Mormon was false.

Now, the question was whether any religion was true. I decided that if Joseph Smith could deceive millions of honest Mormons then the early Christians could have deceived billions of Christians. I could not justify belief in God or Christianity. I became an atheist.

JIN-ROH:
4. What is your current worldview and your attitude towards the LDS now?


POWELL:
I'm an athe-ist or strong atheist. I believe that none of the conventional Gods exist. I don't know this anymore than I know that Santa Claus does not exist, but I'm confident enough to declare it boldly.

I feel I was let down by my family and friends. I relied on them to give me a good basis for life, but they gave me a mistaken worldview.

I would like to deconvert them, but realize that many of them may be happier in their blissful ignorance than they would be by knowing the truth.

I'm now scared to die. I wasn't before.

However, I enjoy being a freethinker. I'm happy that I no longer have to believe anything anyone says. Each proponent must adequately support their ideas or I'm not obligated to accept them as true.

I rely on science as the best source of truth.

John Powell

[Xmansmommy]

Great post John! While I can totally relate to your post, I must admit that I wish I could share with you the joy that I've come to know and experience in my life as I have fully trusted in Christ, and not man. As for your family letting you down, they couldn't do anything less as they too were/are decieved. I'm sorry you are scared to die. You don't have to be. If there is anything that I or anyone else here can do to help you, I know I/we would be more than willing to. Have some pearls. :smile:

[Jin-Roh]

The Powell says...
When the issue of Gay rights came up in the newspaper I wondered if maybe the LDS position on Gay rights was also mistaken. After reading the arguments both ways on an internet discussion forum I concluded that the Church was wrong about Gay rights too.

What was the issue on this one? I have heard some strange rumors about the LDS reaction to homosexuality.


The Powell says...
Feeling sinful, I contemplated suicide. When it seemed that God was doing nothing significant to stop me, I concluded that God either didn't care that much or didn't exist. Later, I concluded that God probably did not exist.

That actually sounds similiar to the kind of dillemma that I went through when I was in middle school.

The Powell says...
I would like to deconvert them, but realize that many of them may be happier in their blissful ignorance than they would be by knowing the truth.

Like Mr. Ferugerson and many others.

That's a sad story. Believe it or not, I find an atheist's story intresting.

[Red Rooster]

Xmansmommy,

Outstanding post!
Since I read the other day that John was now an atheist, he's been on my mind and heart. I thank God for your new life in Christ, XM, and for the marvellous ways He is and will use you. When you read this, would you join me in prayer? ...

Holy Father, We thank and praise you for bringing John, and all the other ex-mormons on TW, out of the dark land of deception. But the work is not done Father. It is our prayer that John would realize that it was you, dear Lord, who opened his eyes to the truth about the LDS church, and that it was you that led him to this site. We realize Father that John may not know many Christians, having been a Mormon for so long. So we thank you for the opportunity to engage him in meaningful discourse, to listen to him, but above all, to love him through Christ. We pray Father, that John would come to the greater truth, that you are Truth, and that you love him enough to give your Son. Forgive us when we, through our words and attitudes, fail to represent Jesus well. We pray by the Spirit, and in Jesus name, Amen.

... Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. John 7:37

His Peace,

Rooster

[Xmansmommy]

Amen and amen!

[Exmo-Robertson]

Yesterday @ 09:54 PM post located here (http://www.theologyweb.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&postid=149410#post149410)
Jin-Roh:



What was the issue on this one? I have heard some strange rumors about the LDS reaction to homosexuality.

Maybe John is refering to something else, but I do know that the church has activily campained(sp) against gay marriages in California. He could also be refering to the time at BYU when they were using electro shock therapy to try and convert some homosexual members into straight members. If you want I can dig up a report on that expisode.


RR, amen on your prayer also. But even if John never comes to the light of Christ I only want the best for him. I know you feel the same.

[kiwimac]

I became a Mormon at age 16 and I was involved, on and off, for more than 20 years.

I was a MIA leader (pre-teens, early teens program), Priest, then an Elder, member of the Elder's Quorum presidency, Elder's Quorum teacher (more times than I care to consider), Ward Inservice trainer, Ward Genealogical checker, Asst. Ward Clerk, Stake Missionary, SS President, Adult SS teacher et al.

I left because I grew a beard! The president at the time, Spencer Kimball, decided that all men should be clean-shaven, for me, it was the LSTBTCB (Last straw that...), I drifted away, I have many friends who are still LDS & sadly, I have attended a number of their funerals over the years. My dear mate Eric would always be glad to see me there because : " ... I knew you'd be here & said you'd sing in the Priesthood Choir ...!"

Left the church, got involved in the Anglican church and then the Quakers where I was also an elder and then was baptised into the Community of Christ.

Kiwimac

[Jin-Roh]

Thus saith Exmo!
He could also be refering to the time at BYU when they were using electro shock therapy to try and convert some homosexual members into straight members. If you want I can dig up a report on that expisode.

The electro-shock therapy was what I was reffering too. I saw one of the former BYU students on TV who was subject for the therapy and now visit Catholic Cathederals on a regular basis (though not actually a member) for solace.

the Kiwi says...
I left because I grew a beard! The president at the time, Spencer Kimball, decided that all men should be clean-shaven, for me, it was the LSTBTCB (Last straw that...), I drifted away, I have many friends who are still LDS & sadly, I have attended a number of their funerals over the years. My dear mate Eric would always be glad to see me there because : " ... I knew you'd be here & said you'd sing in the Priesthood Choir ...!"

Left the church, got involved in the Anglican church and then the Quakers where I was also an elder and then was baptised into the Community of Christ.

Kiwi, I was under the impression that you where a full-blown LDS. Are you doing the split-personalities thing too?

[John Powell]

XMANSMOMMY:
Great post John!


POWELL:
Thanks and thanks for putting it in the dean's list.

XMANSMOMMY:
While I can totally relate to your post, I must admit that I wish I could share with you the joy that I've come to know and experience in my life as I have fully trusted in Christ, and not man.


POWELL:
I appreciate the sentiment. However, until Jesus condescends to prove His existence to me like any other person on Earth must do to gain my recognition, I plan to continue to disbelieve in His power to save us from the consequences of death and error as I disbelieve in Santa's power to make and distribute presents to good little boys and girls.

XMANSMOMMY:
As for your family letting you down, they couldn't do anything less as they too were/are decieved.


POWELL:
That's true.

XMANSMOMMY:
I'm sorry you are scared to die. You don't have to be. If there is anything that I or anyone else here can do to help you, I know I/we would be more than willing to. Have some pearls.


POWELL:
Thanks for the pearls.

I'm also scared that if I jump out of an airplane without a parachute that I'll hit the ground at high speed. Through mental conditioning I might be able to lose that fear, but I don't see a good reason for that. That particular fear strongly motivates me to avoid jumping out of airplanes without a parachute. Likewise, my fear of death strongly motivates me to avoid unnecessary life-threatening situations.

IMO, it's easier to persuade a theist rather than an atheist to die for a "good" cause.

John Powell

[John Powell]

POWELL:
When the issue of Gay rights came up in the newspaper I wondered if maybe the LDS position on Gay rights was also mistaken. After reading the arguments both ways on an internet discussion forum I concluded that the Church was wrong about Gay rights too.

JIN-ROH:
What was the issue on this one? I have heard some strange rumors about the LDS reaction to homosexuality.

EXMO-ROBERTSON:
Maybe John is refering to something else, but I do know that the church has activily campained(sp) against gay marriages in California. He could also be refering to the time at BYU when they were using electro shock therapy to try and convert some homosexual members into straight members. If you want I can dig up a report on that expisode.

JIN-ROH:
The electro-shock therapy was what I was reffering too. I saw one of the former BYU students on TV who was subject for the therapy and now visit Catholic Cathederals on a regular basis (though not actually a member) for solace.


POWELL:
It did have to do with the electro-shock therapy and the marriage issue. It was the general question about whether gays should have the rights they claimed they should have.

Since I had no close friends who were known to be homosexual and I had recently found an important case in which the LDS doctrine was false (about full tithe-payers being better off financially), I felt I was reasonably unbiased about this social / religious issue. Whether the church was right or wrong about gays was not expected to strongly impact me personally, but was merely an issue of ethics in general.

I found that those opposed to gay rights at the discussion forum used the Bible and poor logic to back themselves up. The God of the Bible was against gays, so that was good enough reason for many.

I found that those in support of gay rights more often used sound ethics, logic, and science to back up their position.

Anti-gays had "icky" thoughts about two men having sex, but that's not good justification to deny them that right because the same can be said about two old people or two obese people having sex. Sex in humans, in most cases, is not about procreation anyways. If it's justified to deny gay/lesbian rights to sex because there will be no procreation then the same should be denied to any couple who can't or won't have children.

A key fact I was ignorant of was the frequency of homosexual behavior in the animal kingdom. If animals were also homosexual then it must be something biologically natural.

I concluded that it was probably as easy to cause a person who was strongly attracted to the same sex to become strongly attracted to the opposite sex as it was to do the reverse. If someone was bisexual (attracted to both sexes) then they might be "converted" from gay to straight or vice versa, but if they were strongly homosexual or strongly heterosexual, it was not reasonably possible to "convert" them to the other. To force someone to have sex with someone they aren't attracted to is unethical.

The electro-shock therapy was unethical. I wonder how much the researchers justified themselves because some of the patients desperately wanted to change their sexual preference. I wonder how much the witch-burners felt the same justification because of the number of convicted witches who claimed they wanted to die since they must be witches.

I expect that in the future gays will be accepted in the LDS church. In probably less than 100 years they will be sealed in the temples similar to heterosexual couples. If the LDS church were true, I would have expected that this would have already been revealed.

After this experience, I was strongly on the road of freethought. To persuade me, I decided someone would need to support their position with good scientific-quality arguments, not merely appeals to religious authority.

John Powell

[Xmansmommy]

Today @ 02:01 PM post located here (http://www.theologyweb.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&postid=150212#post150212)
John Powell:



POWELL:
Thanks and thanks for putting it in the dean's list.



POWELL:
I appreciate the sentiment. However, until Jesus condescends to prove His existence to me like any other person on Earth must do to gain my recognition, I plan to continue to disbelieve in His power to save us from the consequences of death and error as I disbelieve in Santa's power to make and distribute presents to good little boys and girls.



POWELL:
That's true.



POWELL:
Thanks for the pearls.

I'm also scared that if I jump out of an airplane without a parachute that I'll hit the ground at high speed. Through mental conditioning I might be able to lose that fear, but I don't see a good reason for that. That particular fear strongly motivates me to avoid jumping out of airplanes without a parachute. Likewise, my fear of death strongly motivates me to avoid unnecessary life-threatening situations.

IMO, it's easier to persuade a theist rather than an atheist to die for a "good" cause.

John Powell

John,
You are most welcome for the pearls and for the Dean's list pick. :smile: And I can understand why you doubt. Absolutely. I almost lost all faith in God as well when I learned I was decieved. As for your fear of death, I imagine avoiding threatening situations is a great way to overcome that fear. :wink:

Linda

[Exmo-Robertson]

The truth is that Mormonism is enough to turn most people against God. :hrm:

[John Powell]

EXMO-ROBERTSON:
The truth is that Mormonism is enough to turn most people against God.


JOHN MORMON:
This statement appears to be false.

Do you mean that most Mormons don't believe in God? Do you mean that most exMormons become atheists? What do you mean?

John Powell

[Exmo-Robertson]

Today @ 05:26 AM post located here (http://www.theologyweb.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&postid=150720#post150720)
John Powell:



JOHN MORMON:
This statement appears to be false.

Do you mean that most Mormons don't believe in God? Do you mean that most exMormons become atheists? What do you mean?

John Powell

Most of the Ex-Mormons I've known went atheist.

[kiwimac]

Jin-Roh,

Nope I haven't been LDs for some years. I am an Elder in the Community of Christ (formerly RLDS) but they are a VERY different fish from the LDS!

Kiwimac

[Red Rooster]

John,
I offer this comment on your post:




POWELL:
However, until Jesus condescends to prove His existence to me like any other person on Earth must do to gain my recognition. I plan to disbelieve in His power to save us from the consequences of death and error as I disbelieve in Santa's power to make and distribute presents to good little boys and girls.

If your unbelief John, is based on a supposed lack of proof of the existence of Jesus, then you are not as far rom faith as you may think. First of all, what do you mean by "condescends to prove His existence"? Are you wanting a physical appearance, or are you referring to some kind of esoteric, metaphysical experience? And what do you mean by "Like every other person on earth must do to gain my recognition."? You have not seen every person on earth. Does this mean you do not recognize that they exist? Of course not! You affirm the existence of some 2 or 3 billion people (or whatever the world population is now) because every single person alive has been seen by at least one other person, and in probably all cases by many people, that can attest to their existence. But even if this were not so, there would still be ample proof of someone's existence. Archeologists and anthropologists provide us with this proof. Humans leave their mark on the world.

It is no different with Jesus Christ. He has already condescended to prove the existence of God. This is called the kenosis (Philippians 2:5-11, see also John 1:14, Ro.8:3, 1 Tim. 3:16). But that's not all. There is proof for his post-crucifixion existence as well. You see John, Jesus left his mark on the world as well. I Corinthians 15:3-8 is called "The Old Tradition". The best manuscript evidence we have for this particular passage dates back to within 100 years of Christ. It is widely accepted (unless one is a Jesus Seminar type liberal) that myths and legend take far longer to become embedded in historical writings than 100 years. It is argued therefore, the eyewitness accounts of the risen Christ as documented in this passage by Paul are not legend or myth, but in fact authentic. This Pauline epistilary evidence is, of course consistent with the Gospel accounts of Jesus' post-resurrection ministry as well as Luke's account in Acts 1. If you would be interested in doing your own research on manuscript evidence I can recommend some excellent, scholarly resources.

There is also secondary evidence for the existence of the resurrected Christ. The empty tomb must be explained thoughtfully and logically. The martyrdom of the apostles must be considered also. These men saw the living Christ and were willing to die for their faith - a faith ratified by personal contact with one who was dead. They were willing to die not for some fabrication that appeals only to emotion and carnal motivations, but for the Godman whom they had each seen, talked with, touched, and broken bread with - after they had witnessed his violent death. Again, I can recommend an apologetic or two on the resurrection for your study.

So here is my point John, proof is not what you truly need. With some diligent study and careful consideration of the claims of Christ and the extant evidence to support those claims, you can have that proof. But proof is profitless apart from faith. Faith should be the object of your search, for it is faith that makes all the proof and evidence real in the human heart.

You remain in my prayers my friend.
His Peace,
Red Rooster

[John Powell]

POWELL:
Thanks for your comments, Red Rooster. If I were to respond from my atheist point of view, which is something I'd like to do, rather than from the point of view of a believer with doubts, I probably should do that somewhere else like in the Apologetics section.

John Powell

[Jin-Roh]

Jin-Roh,

Nope I haven't been LDs for some years. I am an Elder in the Community of Christ (formerly RLDS) but they are a VERY different fish from the LDS!

Kiwimac

Oh yeah.
Remind why the RLDS splintered off. I read about it once.

[kiwimac]

Jin-Roh,

Actually we argue that the LDs is the splinter group. But nevermind! :smile:

...On June 27, 1844, an angry mob broke into the Carthage, Illinois, jail and killed Joseph and his brother Hyrum who had been imprisoned there.

Following Joseph's death the church was in a state of confusion and disorganization for several years, and divided into factions. The largest group moved westward to the Great Salt Lake Valley under the direction of an influential church leader, Brigham Young. Smaller factions scattered in all directions.

The Reorganized Church came into being in the 1850s. The "Reorganization" believed that Joseph Smith Jr. had designated his eldest son, Joseph III, to be his successor as president of the church. The Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints was organized on April 6, 1860, at Amboy, Illinois, under the leadership of Joseph Smith III. His leadership spanned 54 years marked by wisdom and sensitivity. His presidency saw the church grow from a small fragmented group to a church of over 70,000 persons with representation throughout the United States and in several other countries. Since April 1920, the official corporate headquarters of the church has been in Independence, Missouri.

In 1915, Frederick Madison Smith succeeded his father in the presidency. He emphasized the social expression of the gospel, advocating the establishment of Zionic conditions merging both spiritual and temporal dimensions. After his death in 1946, Frederick M. Smith was succeeded by his brother, Israel A. Smith.

Israel A.Smith’s twelve years of presidency were marked by a postwar, post-depression search for stability and growth. However, due to his pastoral caring personality, the period provided a growing unity unprecedented in the church's history. It was highlighted by an increased missionary emphasis and progress toward completion of the Auditorium in Independence, Missouri, the headquarters building Frederick M. had conceived and begun many years earlier.

In 1958, W. Wallace Smith became the third of Joseph III's sons to follow him in the presidency. His presidency experienced the expansion of the church into other Western and non-Western cultures. The 1960s and 1970s were marked by evaluation of program and message and the adoption of a more decentralized style of church administration.

In 1976, W. Wallace Smith designated his son, Wallace B. Smith, to succeed him as prophet-president after a two-year period of preparation. Wallace B. Smith was ordained to the office in 1978 and presided over the church's sesquicentennial celebrations in 1980.

In 1995, President Wallace B. Smith designated W. Grant McMurray as his successor upon his retirement in April 1996. McMurray was ordained at the 1996 World Conference in Independence, Missouri, and currently presides over the church.

Delegates at the church's 2000 World Conference passed legislation to change the name of the church to Community of Christ--a name that more adequately represents the church's theology and mission: "We proclaim Jesus Christ and promote communities of joy, hope, love, and peace." On April 6, 2001, the anniversary of the church's 1830 founding, the church officially became Community of Christ.

Source: http://www.cofchrist.org/seek/history.asp

Also note our Basic Beliefs:



Our Faith and Beliefs

Recognizing that the perception of truth is always qualified by human nature and experience, there is no official church creed that must be accepted by all members. However, through the years various statements, such as those listed below, have been developed to present the generally accepted beliefs of the church. All people are encouraged to study the scriptures, to participate in the life and mission of the church, and to examine their own experiences as they grow in understanding and response to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

God

The one eternal, living God is triune: one God in three persons. The God who meets us in the testimony of Israel is the same God who meets us in Jesus Christ, and who indwells creation as the Holy Spirit. God is the Eternal Creator, the source of love, life, and truth. God actively loves and cares for each person. All things that exist owe their being to God who alone is worthy of our worship.

Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ is "God with us," the Son of God, and the living expression of God in the flesh. Jesus Christ lived, was crucified, died, and rose again. The nature, love, and purpose of God are most clearly seen in Jesus Christ, our Savior.

Spirit

The Holy Spirit is the continuing presence of God in the world. The Spirit works in our minds and hearts through intelligence, comfort, guidance, love, and power to sustain, inspire, and remake us.

Salvation

God loves us even though we are sinful. Through the ministry of Christ and the presence of the Holy Spirit, we are able to turn to God and receive the gifts of salvation and eternal life. Those who accept the gospel are called to respond to Christ through baptism and committed discipleship. As individuals exercise faith in Christ and follow his example and teachings, they become new people.

The Church

Christian discipleship is most fully possible when it is pursued in a community of committed believers. The church, as part of the body of Christ, is the means through which the ministry of Christ continues in the world today. It is a community of people seeking to bring God's love to all through compassionate ministry, worship, the sacraments, and witness.

Revelation

The process through which God reveals divine will and love is called revelation. God continues to reveal today as in the past. God is revealed to us through scripture, the faith community, prayer, nature, and in human history.

Scripture

The scriptures provide divine guidance and inspired insight for life when responsibly interpreted and faithfully applied. With other Christians, we affirm the Bible as scripture for the church. In our tradition, the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants are additional scriptural witnesses of God’s love and Christ’s ministry.

Sacraments

The sacraments express the continuing presence of Christ through the church. They help us establish and continually renew our relationship with God. Through them we establish or reaffirm our covenant with God in response to God's grace. The sacraments of the church are baptism, confirmation of membership, the Lord's Supper (Communion), marriage, blessing of children, administration to the sick, ordination to the priesthood, and the evangelist's blessing.

Human Worth

God loves each of us equally and unconditionally. All persons have great worth and should be respected as creations of God with basic human rights. The willingness to love and accept others is essential to faithfulness to the gospel of Christ.

All Are Called

All men, women, youth, and children are given gifts and abilities to enhance life and to become involved in Christ's mission. Some are called to particular responsibility as ordained ministers (priesthood) in the church. The church provides for a wide range of priesthood ministries through calling and ordination of both men and women.

Free Agency

All people are free to choose, resulting in real consequences of good and evil to our lives, the lives of others, and our environment. Commitment to Christ, sensitivity to the Holy Spirit, and participation in the faith community help people make responsible choices that enhance human life and respect creation.

Stewardship

All things were created by God and should be used for God’s purposes. Stewardship is the wise management of gifts and resources to enrich personal, family, congregational, and community life, as well as utilizing natural resources for the good of all creation.

The Kingdom

God's kingdom is present wherever people acknowledge the lordship of God over life, relationships, and creation. The full coming of the kingdom awaits the final victory over evil when divine rule is established and justice, peace, and righteousness prevail.

Zion

The "cause of Zion" expresses our commitment to pursuing God's kingdom through the establishment of Christ-centered communities in families, congregations, neighborhoods, cities, and throughout the world.

Peace

Because of our commitment to Christ and belief in the worth of all people and the value of community building, we dedicate our lives to the pursuit of peace and justice for all people.

Resurrection

God conserves and renews life as revealed in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, a sign of God's ultimate victory over death. In Christ’s resurrection, we find hope and courage for living. Through resurrection, God transforms individuals, bringing them into the fullness of eternal life.

Judgment

Our eternal destiny is determined by God according to divine wisdom and love and according to our response to God's call to us. God's judgment is just and is based on the kind of people we have become in relation to the potential of our lives.

End Time

God is acting in history to reconcile all creation to divine purpose. The meaning and end to which history moves is revealed in Christ. The ultimate victory of righteousness and peace over injustice, evil, and sin is assured because of the unfailing love of God and the conviction that Christ is coming again.

Kiwimac

[Teach_4_Jesus]

Hello to all readers.

This is my first post to this website. I look forward to reading you and participating in this forum.

My name is David. I am an ex-Mormon, but more importantly I am a born-again Christian.

Now... to Jin-Roh's questions:

Posted by Jin-Roh on 07-14-2003 07:10 PM:
Questions for the Ex-Mormons...

Well here is yet another thread for the Mormonism Forum. :teeth:

1. When did you become a Mormon and why?

I was born into a mormon family. I was baptized at age 9 (later than most - what a rebel!). When you have no other concept of truth, you believe what you are told.

2. How involved and how long where you part of the LDS church?

I was very active. I attended regularly, held many "callings", and served in the leadership of every qurorum I was a part of. I on one occassion visited the Los Angeles temple and did a session of baptisms for the dead. I don't recall how many, but it seems like maybe 20 or 30 dead folks were vicariously dunked through my naivety.

3. What made you leave?

Here we go. lol. Any number of things contributed to my decision to leave... and more are piling up since I did leave and have researched the truth of the church more indepth.

The mormon church discloses doctrinal secrets little by little and only gives you the real meaty/blashemous ones once you have become too invested to leave. As a child I figured we were just like every other Christian church (except we were right, of course). Studying at seminary, in high school, some things began to open my eyes.

High school was the first time I discovered the polygamist past AND FUTURE of mormonism. As Utah's statehood was being held in the balance, the "prophet" was "instructed by God" to cease polygamy. However it is still taught that all righteous men will advance to the place of polygamist gods in heaven.

Here's the next thing, and this is BIG. The nature of God. In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The beginning of what? Mormons believe that god the father was once a man on a planet like earth just as we are and that he earned his way to godhood. They believe in countless gods before him and after in a concepte referred to as "Eternal Progression". This is blashemous. This was a big reason I left.

As a young mormon boy, I was endoctrinated from an early age to want to go on a mission. The littlest of pre-school kids sing the song "I hope they call me on a mission"... As you get close to mission age (the teen years) the pressure from the bishop and parents and congregation and peers becomes extreme. I felt absolutely bullied into serving a mission... but luckily my dad was not a very "good" mormon and he saw more benefit in college, so I was not allowed. As a 19 year old mormon who was not going on a mission, I became an untouchable. It was unbearable. I stopped attending the church.

4. What is your current worldview and your attitude towards the LDS now?

I spent my 20's as a disgruntled sort-of-mormon, then an atheist (this was not a happy time), then dabbled in buddhism, quakerism, and other such things before being drawn back to the bible and to Jesus Christ. My faith was renewed. I had completely divorced myself of all LDS teachings. I for the first time understood the gospel of Christ. I asked Him into my heart and was saved. The rebirth I experienced is still staggering to me. It is so real. 2 Corinthians 5:17 is so true. The Spirit has been sanctifying me daily - burning away the old and building up that of me that is rested in Christ. I thank God for the little girl that witnessed to me bringing about this transformation.

I believe the LDS church is made up of honest, well-meaning people. I believe that since their concept of God's nature is faulted, they are not truly accepting Christ. To accept the brother of Satan as your savior is an unlikely door to true salvation. I can say experientially that as an active mormon of 15 years or so I thought I was a Christian... but as a born again Christian of 2 years I firmly know that I was not then saved. I once was blind, but now I see. Praise Jesus.

Thanks for reading all this,

David

Philippians 1:18-21

18 What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice. 19 For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, 20 According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.

21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

KJV

[Xmansmommy]

Hello David, so glad you joined. What a wonderful first post. :thumb: Always great to hear how God is working in the lives of those that truly seek Him. :yipee:

[Timothy Leary]

1. When did you become a Mormon and why?

I was born into it.

2. How involved and how long where you part of the LDS church?

I was "active" until I was 15, and made it clearly known to my family that i wanted nothing to do with it when I was 16.

3. What made you leave?

Originally, because the LDS church didn't match up with what BY and JS taught. Eventually, I came to a better reasoning - the beauty of the sects of Judaism.

4. What is your current worldview and your attitude towards the LDS now?

Worldview??

LDS - They are good people,though some are a bit too pushy about their faith, and most are extremely over-protected against what was originally taught, and thus can not make a educated decision about their beliefs.

[Timothy Leary]

Most exmo's do go aethiest

[Jin-Roh]

Yoshiah, Worldview is basically your religion or whatever philosophical school of thought you ascribe to if you don't have one. You've already answered that question.

And yes, from what I've heard, most exmo do go atheists, but because of David's post theres hope. :smile:

[Xmansmommy]

Amen! Over the course of the last 2 years I have come in contact with many ex Mormons, mainly on PT. I truly never realized how many people actually do leave the LDS church....many become atheists, at least from my understanding because they lose faith in God because they felt they were truly seeking Him and they were deceived. It's hard to get them to understand that God will allow them to be deceived. They have a hard time recognizing that it's because of their desire for truth, God lead them out of the Mormon church. :frown:

[Bloodnut]

For those of you who remember LDS apologist Marc Schindler, he passed away last night.

[Bill the Cat]

Oh dear Lord... Condolences to his family and prayers to the same...

[T.J. Maxx]

I can't believe he is dead. He was so young too. What did he die of?

>>>I truly never realized how many people actually do leave the LDS church....

How many is that? How many Christians leave Christianity on a annual basis, compared to the LDS?

>>>many become atheists, at least from my understanding because they lose faith in God because they felt they were truly seeking Him and they were deceived.

This would be what you'd like to think I'm sure, but maybe it is because once you take Christ out of their lives, there is nothing else left? Most ex-Mormons I speak with say that if the LDS Church isn't the true Church of Christ, then no other could be. If it is GOD who is working in them to get them out of the Church, then why is it that so many of them head towards atheism and so few run to the nearest Protestant Church?

>>>It's hard to get them to understand that God will allow them to be deceived.

It isn't about being deceived. Go check out the ex-Mormon forum. Most of it is about not being comfortable in the social setting. "My Bishop was a jerk", "The LDS were too judgemental" etc. Very little of it has anything to do with "It wasn't real Christianity." Like you said, most of them head towards atheism.

== They have a hard time recognizing that it's because of their desire for truth, God lead them out of the Mormon church.

And even further away from your brand of Christianity.

And just how many of the hundreds of thousands of annual LDS converts come from Protestant/Catholic backgrounds? About 80%.

Do you ever realize just how huge THAT figure is?

[dizzle]

Oh my goodness!!!!! Marc and I enjoyed a very friendly cordial email relationship, I liked him very, very much. This is so very sad. I am sorry for the loss of your friend.

[Timothy Leary]

Yesterday @ 03:59 PM post located here (http://www.theologyweb.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&postid=251121#post251121)
Bloodnut:

For those of you who remember LDS apologist Marc Schindler, he passed away last night.

Also, if y'all remember the maytag man from the commercials, he was LDS, and died last month :(

http://www.ldsmag.com/arts/030924jump.html

I noticed it when I was looking at this site for an article that an LDS associate did.

[Jin-Roh]

It isn't about being deceived. Go check out the ex-Mormon forum. Most of it is about not being comfortable in the social setting. "My Bishop was a jerk", "The LDS were too judgemental" etc. Very little of it has anything to do with "It wasn't real Christianity." Like you said, most of them head towards atheism.

Is exmormon.org a Christian board Tj? Their frontpage states: "We are not affiliated with any religion And we do not advocate any religion." Not exactley a fair sample of individuals. I could just as easily point out that so far there's been only one Exmo here who is an atheist. But of course, we expect to find more theists on a theistic board.

And even further away from your brand of Christianity.

And just how many of the hundreds of thousands of annual LDS converts come from Protestant/Catholic backgrounds? About 80%.

Do you ever realize just how huge THAT figure is?
:shifty:
Yeah. Nevermind that there's plenty of not-so-christian Christian denoms. I should probably remind you that there's plenty of Chrisitians who recoginize the Mormon "infiltrators" when we see them. You'll be hard pressed to get any converts from my church T.J.

T.J., why evaganglize Christians if Mormonism is just another Christian denom? If Mormons are Christian, aren't Christians Mormon? I don't go out of my way to persuade every non-pentacostal Christian to join the Assemblies of God.

[T.J. Maxx]

Here is the scoop on Marc's recent passing

http://www.uncorrelated.com

[Bill the Cat]

Thankss for the link TJ...