What I found interesting is that his two grown daughters are out and his 5 brothers are researching the LDS church's claims and coming to the same conclusions as Lamborn has.
I am very proud of this man for not allowing LDS Inc. to publically humilite him, but to answer back in a measured, calm way that preserves his right to investigate and think for himself.
I think LDS Inc. will be surprised at the result of their attempted public discrediting of this man when even more people start to look up info on JS, his 33 wives and all the other historical facts that they conveniently neglect to mention in the classrooms.
Susan, I agree with your observations. I also think it's a lesson for why people should resign, instead of lettng the Church take control by excommunicating them. I think a resignation letter should inform the Church that this is to be a private matter, and legal action may be pursued if that stipulation is violated. Then the person who leaves the Church has some recourse if it should do what they are doing to the man in the article.
I find it sickingly fascinating how the "defenders of Morg" are quick with the "church is true, ppl arent" statement as well as the "I cant believe he didnt know..." when he said he knew but not the entire story,etc.
Once again proving how they dont hear it all, just the parts they like.
Jeff Ricks:Susan, I agree with your observations. I also think it's a lesson for why people should resign, instead of lettng the Church take control by excommunicating them. I think a resignation letter should inform the Church that this is to be a private matter, and legal action may be pursued if that stipulation is violated. Then the person who leaves the Church has some recourse if it should do what they are doing to the man in the article.
My two bits worth.
I can see your point, Jeff, but from my vantage point I envy this man. I wish I had had the opportunity to explain to a newspaper why I was being discredited and pushed out! I sort of would have enjoyed a public brawl with them and believe me, that's not my usual style. But in their case I would have made an exception. ;)
Jeff Ricks:Susan, I agree with your observations. I also think it's a lesson for why people should resign, instead of lettng the Church take control by excommunicating them. I think a resignation letter should inform the Church that this is to be a private matter, and legal action may be pursued if that stipulation is violated. Then the person who leaves the Church has some recourse if it should do what they are doing to the man in the article.
My two bits worth.
I can see your point, Jeff, but from my vantage point I envy this man. I wish I had had the opportunity to explain to a newspaper why I was being discredited and pushed out! I sort of would have enjoyed a public brawl with them and believe me, that's not my usual style. But in their case I would have made an exception. ;)
Hmmmm . That's a tough call, but I think I prefer to sue them for zillions (I almost wrote "zions" )
utater:I know this guy. I went to school with him. I'm going to try to contact him and find out if he knows about our support group. What a horrible SP!
I contacted him after reading a post of his on the eastvalleytribune.com site. I also invited him to come to postmormon.org
Lyndon Lamborn
If any of you would like to read my summary of searching for truth, e-mail me at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) and I will be happy to e-mail you a copy. I really appreciate the wonderful comments and support. There is MUCH more to tell, as most of you know. Polyandry and Helen Mar Kimball are only the tip of the proverbial iceberg"
I am still pretty shocked that this guy was excommunicated just for looking. Even people like Grant Palmer only received disfellowshipment for writing an entire book that exposes Mormonism as a giant fraud.
I imagine the stake leaders thought that excommunicating him was going to make this guy go away, but has only shown the world yet again how incredibly controlling and paranoid the LDS church is.
"enjoy any membership privileges, including the wearing of temple garments and the payment of tithes and offerings.”
I had to laugh at this. If anyone is TRULY leaving the church, wearing garments probably won't be an issue. And not being allowed to pay 10% of your hard earned money, wow. I would be so hurt. Humpf! I wonder why he would want to continue to go to Sacrament Meeting if it would be embarrassing for his wife.
I'm all with this guy -- until he says he still wants to attend. Why? Why would anyone want to go to a church he knows is lying about its past, aggressively covering up the lies? It's a mystery to me. The great fellowship? Like -- you know -- the way they have treated him? Like -- you know -- they way Mormon kids treat non-Mormon classmates? Who's he kidding? And why?
I think it's great he has learned about the history of the Mormon Church. Now he needs to become as informed about the whole world. LDS Inc. is not the only organization in the world that does global charity work. It is not even the best. A few years ago I came across a list of non-profit organizations to which one could donate. The organizations were ranked by how much of the donations went to charity as opposed to administration or raising money, how valuable the work, etc. Doctors Without Borders was number 1 of a hundred. The LDS Church? Nowhere in sight, although several other religions, including Catholic, made the top hundred. I later found out why -- the Mormons aren't ranked at all because they don't let anyone inspect their books, not even the books on their charity work. No one knows where the money comes from, how much money is involved, or how it is spent -- consequently, no ranking.
If this guy wants to do good in the world, I'd recommend the Red Cross over LDS Social Services, even though the RC is only in the top 20, not the top 10. If he wants fellowship, I think any bar would better serve him, (if you will forgive the pun).
I suppose it all comes down to 'judge not,' eh, but I think he still has some miles to go before he sleeps.
Jeff Ricks:Susan, I agree with your observations. I also think it's a lesson for why people should resign, instead of lettng the Church take control by excommunicating them. I think a resignation letter should inform the Church that this is to be a private matter, and legal action may be pursued if that stipulation is violated. Then the person who leaves the Church has some recourse if it should do what they are doing to the man in the article.
My two bits worth.
I can see your point, Jeff, but from my vantage point I envy this man. I wish I had had the opportunity to explain to a newspaper why I was being discredited and pushed out! I sort of would have enjoyed a public brawl with them and believe me, that's not my usual style. But in their case I would have made an exception. ;)
Hmmmm . That's a tough call, but I think I prefer to sue them for zillions (I almost wrote "zions" )
I am not planning on resigning because I want to leave my options open later for excommunication. I only have one chance to leave and I would like to do it in a blaze of glory.
Besides some of my family really wants me to work to help fix the church and after they see me exed for doing that. It just might help them see the light. Who knows.
I guess everyone has their own way to do things. I never go to church but am happy to have the hometeachers come if they dare send them . Weird though no has come hometeaching since I told the Bishop whats up.
Sestra:"enjoy any membership privileges, including the wearing of temple garments and the payment of tithes and offerings.”
I had to laugh at this. If anyone is TRULY leaving the church, wearing garments probably won't be an issue. And not being allowed to pay 10% of your hard earned money, wow. I would be so hurt. Humpf! I wonder why he would want to continue to go to Sacrament Meeting if it would be embarrassing for his wife.
I think the only reason they do this is for the members who stay. It makes it sound like it is a punishment to no longer be given the privilege to wear G's and pay tithing. So if that is a punishment then it only stands to reason that it is a blessing to be able to. Thus strengthening the resolve of those who still believe to keep going. It might even make them wonder why would I willingly forgo the blessings that he is being strictly denied. cult tactics.
thewriterwithin: I'm all with this guy -- until he says he still wants to attend. Why? Why would anyone want to go to a church he knows is lying about its past, aggressively covering up the lies? It's a mystery to me. The great fellowship? Like -- you know -- the way they have treated him? Like -- you know -- they way Mormon kids treat non-Mormon classmates? Who's he kidding? And why?
I think it's just like a conversion. Sometimes people need time to figure out how they are going to behave in the long run.
I can understand it. Once I moved on I didn't want to attend anymore. In fact, now I won't attend for any reason. But for 8 years after I had decided it was a fraud and useless I still attended to keep the peace. Now you couldn't pay me to go.
I think it just takes time. He'll probably get fed up and realize it's pointless -- in fact, detrimental -- at some point and shuck it all.
You know his congregation isn't going to treat him well. And judging from his comments in the comments section of the newspaper, he's already pretty much an anti.
Wow, you mean a guy who makes $75K a year and gets ex'd now gets to keep the $7500 he was paying in every year? I'm mortified. How could they punish someone by letting him keep his money? When the government punishes you, they take it away. It's like getting "suspended with pay." Sounds like a vacation to me. If they really want to hurt the guy, why don't they force him to accept a refund of what he paid in?
So, what's the concept here? Is his money tainted? Is it somehow sullied because he found out Smith had 30+ wives, lied about the BofA, and got totally busted over Kinderhook? I stand all perplexed.
"Hey honey! I got excommunicated! Let's go buy a plasma TV! Oh, and some boxers! "
Please allow me to expand on my thoughts. Stand back, because I don't know how big this thing gets when I use it:
Maybe the government should adopt a similar policy of punishment.
"Sir, I clocked you on radar exceeding the posted speed limit, 85 in a 65 zone. Here's a check for $500."
"Damn! Don't you guys have anything better to do? Why aren't you out instead giving six-figure checks to drug dealers and armed robbers? Can't you just give me a warning and maybe a gift certificate for a free lunch instead?"
If the church really wants to hurt this guy, why don't they refund what he paid in. Now, THAT would be painful.
"Hey, honey, I'm sorry I got excommunicated for learning about Joseph's polygamy, his BofA fraud, and that whole Kinderhook thing, but will you help me unload the new plasma TV from the trunk of your new BMW? I feel so ashamed."
Interesting wordage in the newspaper article: He will not be allowed to wear his garments or be allowed to pay tithes and offerings.......And this is a loss of membership benefit???? Can't see any loss there. He gets to change his underwear...and not have wear the frigging stupid looking things that creep up your butt, he gets Sundays off and he gets at least a 10% raise.....wow I fail to see any loss of "membership" benefits in those things!!!!
The Stake President is an idiot! Talk about drawing attention to mormon lies and cover-ups. This Dim Wit just made it open season on investigating mormon lies and deceit.
This part just kills me. "He will not be allowed to wear his garments?" How far are they willing to go to enforce that one? I mean, the guy probably has a big drawer full of them at home after being a member for his entire life. Do they send the underwear police over to his house to confiscate the underwear that he bought and paid for and is rightfully his to wear if he so chooses?
I've heard this many times before, telling people they can't wear their own underwear. Who do they think they are?
The TBM mindset also just can't seem to grasp the idea that once a member of "the cultch" figures out he's been had, the approved garment is one of the first things a person very happily and willingly parts ways with. Do these so called men in authority really believe anyone would even actually feel bad about having to give them up? But, if a person for some reason didn't want to give them up or liked wearing them out of habit or whatever,
how in the hell do they think they can make someone comply with this totally outrageous order?
I live in Arizona and I find this news story riveting. I think there are now 24 pages of posts on the East Valley Tribune's website. It really is stunning!
My husband and I are getting ready to send our letters to SLC and we feel that this recent episode will actually help us to leave without the fanfare it may have caused-not to say we are super Mormons and us leaving will stun the community. But, we do think that bishops and SP's will be a little freaked out to do too much.
I just hope that more people will be encouraged to act after seeing how this man was treated, rather than feel discouraged.
Teachings questioned: Lyndon Lamborn, whose personal research led him to question Mormon church teachings, is livid that a letter is being read at ward meetings today announcing his excommunication.
I have been stalling on sending my resignation letter, but reading this article has finally pushed me over the edge. I will be sending my letter this week.
I was thinking over my own questions posted on this thread earlier, questions about why someone would want to continue to attend the LDS Church after learning the truth about that organization's history. I realized that there is more than one deception going on in the Mormon Church, and it's probably quite shocking to face all the deceptions at once. Perhaps the history, BoM problems, BA problems are only the most obvious of the deceptions, the easiest to ferret out. There might be others, more subtle, less talked about.
I question LDS Inc.'s reputation as a wonderful doer of good deeds around the world. I think they would open the books on their charity work, as other religions do, if they didn't have something to hide. As they don't open the books, we don't know how many LDS businesses get contracts to deliver good and services under the auspices of charity work. We don't know how much of "charity" money is recycled back to the LDS business world. We perhaps haven't thought about ways LDS Inc. and related businesses owned by members profit from the good works. Maybe we should consider how much the Mormon Church profits from certain ads -- aired for free? -- as these ads create a positive image of the Church. I know I was reading Piety and Politics recently, and was appalled when the author reported tax dollars for Massachusetts homeless were winging their way to Salt Lake City. Huh! Our tax dollars are finding their way into the pockets of one of the wealthiest religions? Is this because fewer and fewer of us are paying tithing?
I also think the "fellowship" is a scam -- as if Mormons were the only "nice" or "friendly" people on the planet. Right. And the Book of Mormon is the "truest" book. (Don't get me started, as a writer, on "truest.") One can find just as much fellowship walking dogs, joining a book club, volunteering for the neighborhood council, or fishing. I'm sure Crime Dog can chime in here with more colorful activities. But Mormons are taught to distrust any other "fellowship," just as they are taught to distrust other books.
No wonder recovery is such a long, hard road for some!
I am not sure if this has been brought up yet, but a couple of truly scary things mentioned by church officials are::or are they only talking as men:
"They say, however, church members must be protected from what discordant ex-followers may say to damage the church."
“We need to let people know if there is a danger to them, such as him teaching doctrine that is contrary to what is taught by the church,” Molina said Friday."
Is that what becomes of people who are exed/resigned, dangerous? Is this total cult talk?
Ed:I have been stalling on sending my resignation letter, but reading this article has finally pushed me over the edge. I will be sending my letter this week.
I sent my resignation letter in a month ago. I have not heard a thing from anybody. With everything that I have read on the web I half expected to have a SWAT team of missionaries at the door. It took me a while to formally end my membership in the church, but it was a great relief to bring it to a conclusion. I know that there will be fall out with the rest of my family. My hope is that they will see the truth.
Ed:I have been stalling on sending my resignation letter, but reading this article has finally pushed me over the edge. I will be sending my letter this week.
I sent my resignation letter in a month ago. I have not heard a thing from anybody. With everything that I have read on the web I half expected to have a SWAT team of missionaries at the door. It took me a while to formally end my membership in the church, but it was a great relief to bring it to a conclusion. I know that there will be fall out with the rest of my family. My hope is that they will see the truth.
I ended up having to send a second letter and then placing several calls to Membership Records before we got the confirmation of our resignation. If you start calling them every day you'll probably get quicker results. Here's the phone number: 1-800-453-3860 ext 22053 or 1-801-240-2053. Just ask for Gregory Dodge.
. That's a tough call, but I think I prefer to sue them for zillions (I almost wrote "zions" 
)
. Weird though no has come hometeaching since I told the Bishop whats up. 
But, we do think that bishops and SP's will be a little freaked out to do too much.
