I used to drive down that road every morning to work.  It’ll attract a lot of attention!

My friend who is not a Mormon but knows all about my story sent me a text this morning because she saw this billboard - “you have to go check this out!” And here I am.  I had no idea this community existed.  I work right near where this billboard it and it will get lots of attention.

I was very excited when I noticed that billboard the other day!  Please don’t let it be taken down!  I am sure there will be quite a few annoyed Mormons in my neighborhood, I just hope they don’t try and somehow get it removed, although I wouldn’t be surprised.

Trapped, the billboard will come down before the end of the month. Unfortunately it’s not a permanent one. We paid $3,000 for 30 days, which is a good deal for that location. Billboards are not cheap!!

That’s sad to hear.  Thank you for all of your efforts, you are providing a valuable service, keep it up!!

Also one suggestion.  Please keep the link to the video of the Lost Book of Abraham on the front page.  It is very well done!

The simple fact that you take time out of your lives to state these comments and people spend thousands of dollars on getting their opinion out proves to us faithful LDS members even more that there really must be something about the Mormon church to keep even your unwelcomed negative feedback coming.  Thank you for making my testimony stronger.

You are welcome, glad to be of help.  We wish you well.  By the way, why are you here?

A co-worker pointed out the press coverage of this billboard in AZ Central today.  Like the commenter above, I too know the church is true and I encourage anyone with concerns about its validity to seek personal revelation as to its truthfulness.

I can understand why an organization like this would arise for people who have lost their faith, but I know the church is true, that Joseph Smith is a prophet and that the gospel of Christ is retored to the Earth.

Why are you here then?  To bear your testimony?  Do you think that we haven’t heard that line thousands of times before?  Did you not get the chance to bear your testimony yesterday?

Maybe instead of just bearing a blanket testimony, such as “I know the Church is true.....”, why don’t you just ASK why people here feel the way they do?

“The simple fact that you take time out of your lives to state these comments and people spend thousands of dollars on getting their opinion out proves to us faithful LDS members even more that there really must be something about the Mormon church to keep even your unwelcomed negative feedback coming.”

Umm, yes, it’s an annoying fraud.  Or do you believe that people are so evil as to hate the truth?

I can answer for them WestBerkeleyFlats.  Yes.  Yes they do think that Satan himself is behind this website.  In their minds, the people on this site just want an excuse to be immoral, and THAT MUST be why we no longer believe.  I mean how else can you explain it?  They KNOW it’s true, if you just pray hard enough you will find that out.  But if you get a different answer from them, well that was Satan talking.  Just pray HARDER !

Trapped, one question for you, what has happened in your life to make you so bitter and hateful toward something that millions of members feel so strongly about?  A belief that you, too, felt strongly toward at one time?  Seems to me you are still rapped up in the church somehow and are hating yourself for the way you feel about it.  I am sorry for you.

Thanks for asking.  First of all, I am not bitter or hateful.  If I were bitter and hateful, don’t you think my LDS family (all generations of them), including my loving wife and kids might pick up on that?  That is YOUR assumption, and I understand why.  You see, I used to think just like you.  There is much that you don’t know, believe me.  Remember, YOU are the one who came to this site, bearing your testimony.  Be honest now, you really aren’t interested in any of the issues that were disturbing enough to cause people to lose faith and respect for a church they once believed in so completely.  You just wanted to get your “dig” in. 

Don’t be sorry for me.  My life has never been happier.  I don’t hate the church.  I participate in it to the level that I want to.  My bishop knows how I feel.  I have many friends there.  They know how (not why) I don’t believe, and they like me anyway.

So...why are you here?

I saw the posting on azcentral and really, I was sad to see how excited people get just to see a billboard about the mormons.  How many meetings did you sit through where we singled out other faiths?  It is just surprising to me to see the way people react to the LDS church.  I was raised in the church, and only recently, as I have gotten older have I come to realize for myself how much the gospel means to me in my life.  I dont need to hear anything disturbing.  I tried living my life differently, without the church. And unlike you, I was never happy. Yes, I am young, but I wouldn’t give up what I have now for anything.  I love how much I have grown in the gospel and I crave to feel the spirit everyday.  My relationship with the Savior is more important to me than anything.

The LDS church has gotten somewhat better about not demeaning other religions, but I heard any number of comments about the Catholic church and there are certainly anti-Catholic elements of the Book of Mormon.  Of course, prior to 1990 the temple endowment portrayed Christian ministers in the direct employ of Satan and before that there was always derisive singing of Christian hymns.  Come to think of it, I heard plenty of church members and leaders commenting on the folly of the development of the Christian tradition, various church councils, and Christian creeds.  Actually, I think that any active LDS member has heard a great deal about how all other Christian denominations are in some sense the result of general apostacy.

I think it has been made very clear that both the billboard, and this website, are not directed towards church members.  They are directed towards those who have left (POST-mormons).  There are many reasons why people leave.  The fact that you are not interested in exploring any of the problematic issues of mormonism (and believe me, you are not alone in your ignorance.  Most LDS people know very little about their own history) means that you are in the wrong place.  I don’t live my life differently.  I just don’t believe the foundational stories of mormonism anymore, and I believe I have good reasons for that.

I have done my due diligence.  I have spent years studying church history, at times to the exclusion of all else.  Have you?  You claim you don’t need to.  You are happy the way you are.  That is fine.  Just don’t come on here to throw your jab at those who have put a lot of thought, study, effort and prayer into this.  I have studied scriptures just like you have, probably for a lot more years.  I have news for you.  Burning busoms are not a reliable indicator of truth.  I understand that that fact is likely impossible to accept in your state of mind (remember, I used to BE you).  Keep your beliefs.  Be respectful of those who feel differently.  They have reasons.

I have been watching the comments today through my email and have been contemplating what to say.
The truth is...can we really say anything?  The people who still are members will never listen to us, or what we have to say, or what we now believe.
It’s a draw.
My question is...what are faithful Mormon members doing on a PostMormon website?  We don’t walk into their church and preach to them...why are they here in our sanctuary, the place where we feel safe and accepted for the first time in our lives?  Why are they really here?
Are they defensive because they doubt as well?  I used to bear my testimony because I thought it was what I was supposed to do.  I said what everyone around me wanted to hear.  But it wasn’t what was in my heart.  I too would have been scared of a website or a community such as this one and tried to infiltrate it and preach the gospel to them.
It is sad that we can’t just all have our own thoughts and beliefs.
And....about the billboard....how is it different than Mormon missionaries going door to door telling people that the Catholic church or Jehovah’s Witness church (etc.) are wrong and if they don’t convert to Mormonism they are going to be lost for all of eternity?  We aren’t trying to steal Mormons from their faith - if they want to believe, let them - what we are trying to do is find a safe place where we belong.
I for one am so grateful for this site and for that billboard.
Thank you for listening.
Debbie

All of you are right, I have wasted my time.  I wasn’t commenting to persuade any of you for any reason.  Debbie, maybe people like you don’t walk into our church and preach to us, that spirit is not welcome.  You and your friends hang an enormous billboard in a city full of LDS families who are strong in their faith and who are trying to raise their children in a safe, healthy environment.  How devestating for children to have to already be exposed to such things, something we all know is to come when they are older.  How do we explain something like this to a CTR-A, 6 year old daughter who reads these signs?  Anything in life isn’t your own if you live it or do it for someone else.  Testimonies sometimes start out that way, we believe because our parents believe.  Thats an easy stepping stone.  Then we must take the next, perhaps the hardest step if we care at all, and find out for ourselves. 
People base their opinions of the church by its people and by a negative experience they or someone they know had because of another person in the church.  I am the first to admit even Mormons aren’t perfect.  The gospel is the same here as it is across the world.  It is the people in the church that tend to have more of an impact on others in the church that sadly enough effects the rest of their lives and the lives of their families that often get steered away from the church.  It is easier to pretend that we don’t believe than to live like we do.
I am sorry if I stepped into your boudaries.  Because of the state I am, I appreciate my “ingorance” and I wish I hadn’t read any of this.  I just know that I can’t feel the things that I have felt and pretend I never did.  If I could, life would much easier.

To unbelievable: You talk as if the billboard is pornography! All it says is You are not alone! and it has a bunch of smiling people and a webaddress. It’s not pornography nor is it even the least bit offensive. We are trying to reach former Mormons with our advertising—we have every right to do that—there are a lot of hurting people out there that need what we offer. If we could reach out to former Mormons without upsetting Mormons, I would be tickled to death. But that doesn’t seem possible—Mormons seem to be just too hypersensitive. We’ve tried everything we can to reach our target demographic without upsetting Mormons. I don’t know what else we can do.

“How do we explain something like this to a CTR-A, 6 year old daughter who reads these signs?”

You explain that there is diversity of opinion in the world and that this is why it’s important to learn to think for yourself.

If you have raised children at all, you should know that everything a child sees or hears turns into a 20 questions game.  It is clearly not what the billboard shows, but the questions that follow and the answers we, as their parents, must give them at such a young age.

How do we explain something like this to a CTR-A, 6 year old daughter who reads these signs?

You tell these children the same thing you tell them about those who don’t believe in Santa Claus, who celebrate Hannukah instead of Christmas or Ramadan - that there are people in the world who believe all kinds of different things.  We are all children of God and all equally worthy of His love despite our differences.  That is what free agency is all about.

“If you have raised children at all, you should know that everything a child sees or hears turns into a 20 questions game.  It is clearly not what the billboard shows, but the questions that follow and the answers we, as their parents, must give them at such a young age.”

Well, then don’t tell your children misleading information in the first place.

As you, Rick’s grandson also experienced?

To unbelievable: I’m not sure if your last comment is directed at me because many people call me Rick, but my name is Jeff—Ricks is my last name. If the comment is directed at me, I don’t have a clue what it means.

To unbelievable: what is more important to you, the truth or your way of life?  The truth or what you tell your children.  It seems to me after reading your posts that you are not really interested in the truth, but only what you want to believe.  In other words, you are happy in your ignorance.

Well, there are other people who are interested in truth.  And they are willing to sacrifice everything including their friends and family for it.

That is the real purpose of the billboard.  To show those who have accepted the facts and left the church that they are not alone.  If it were an anti billboard, there would have been murch more than “you are not alone” on it.

They say it takes up to 10 years to deprogram the typical brainwashed LDS member.  so I congratulate you.  Your on your way!

“People base their opinions of the church by its people and by a negative experience they or someone they know had because of another person in the church.  I am the first to admit even Mormons aren’t perfect.”

See unbelievable, this is a common belief of church members.  You think that when someone leaves the church, it must be because they were “offended” somehow.  My experience is that this is rarely the case.  The frustrating thing for people who have taken the time to educate themselves on the problematic issues of church history, among other things, is that members make no effort at all to understand their own history and what the issues are that are so disturbing.  It is easier to just assume that there was a moral failing somewhere on the part of the doubter, or that they were “offended” by someone in the church.

Take the time to educate yourself.  I would be happy to help in a very nonthreatening way.  What do you have to fear?  You have the truth, right?  If you REALLY believe that, then why would you be afraid of more information?

“The gospel is the same here as it is across the world.  It is the people in the church that tend to have more of an impact on others in the church that sadly enough effects the rest of their lives and the lives of their families that often get steered away from the church.  It is easier to pretend that we don’t believe than to live like we do.”

More of the same.  We who have been down this road know WHY you say these things.  It is what you have been taught, and you haven’t questioned it.  You trust your leaders and everything they say.  That is a virtuous thing in the culture you are living in.  But that doesn’t make it true.

“I am sorry if I stepped into your boudaries.  Because of the state I am, I appreciate my “ingorance” and I wish I hadn’t read any of this.  I just know that I can’t feel the things that I have felt and pretend I never did.  If I could, life would much easier.”

I remember saying this exact same thing when I was in your shoes.  “I can never deny what I have felt.” Let me tell you when the house of cards starts crumbling down.  It’s when you think of times that you “felt the Spirit”, and come to realize that the thing you were “feeling” it about was NOT true.  Here is an example.  Read what the current priesthood manual or any other official Church History publication has to say about the origins of the Book of Abraham.  Read Joseph Smith’s version of events.  See if you feel the Spirit.  Pray about it.  After you have felt the Spirit of those teachings, and Joseph Smith’s version of events, and have received your testimony of it, contact me, and let’s talk about it honestly.  You can even bear your testimony to me if you want, that won’t bother me a bit.

I know the church is false.  I have a testimony like none other as I do today that it hides things and the history has proven to me that many Elders have hidden the truth both today and in the past.  I know the spirit is real and I know I can feel the spirit daily if I live a good life.  I know my life is better and happier since leaving the church.  I feel closer to my wife and family than ever before.  I love Sundays where I can spend time with my wife and cherish time together with my small kids and not have to attend church.  I feel good when coming to this website to learn and grow from others and not be judemental as to whether they are gay, mormon, ex-mormon, or of any race.  I know I feel better now in my lifes and they way I am progressing.  Life is simpilar to me and I love it.  I know the spirit comes within us if we feel we are doing good, being honest, and helping others - my life has not changed in that way and I feel good about it.  I am thankful for prayer for knowing that God is happy with the way my life is going and not letting others dictate what I should be doing.

Just want to answer unbelievable1029’s question, west berkeley kind of did, but I just wanted to make it more cut and dry....

“How many meetings did you sit through where we singled out other faiths? “

Almost all of them.  I can’t even begin to count the number of meetings where the JW’s, Catholics, Lutherans, Buddhists, Baptists, etc were brought up and pitied.  After all it is a central tenet to mormonism; “we’re right, they’re all wrong, let’s try and save them all” they have a committee and missionary force set aside for it.

Good point Tibber. In fact, the Church’s current “Truth Restored” campaign is all about telling the world with advertising, including large billboards, that all churches that are not Mormon don’t have the truth—but the Mormon Church does because God restored it to them. The slogan could very well read “You are wrong, we are right!” Below is a link to more information on the Church’s website about their “You are wrong, we are right” advertising campaign.

http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=557ba6a93fcd5110VgnVCM100000176f620aRCRD&vgnextchannel=9ae411154963d010VgnVCM1000004e94610aRCRD

http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/news-releases-stories/-truth-restored-commercials-no-actors-no-scripts

“Truth Restored” billboards

It’s says much about the long suffering, patience, forgiveness and Christ-like behavior the JWs, Catholics, Lutherans, Buddhists, Baptists et. al. have toward the Mormons that they protest not these offensive billboards.

I am soon to be excommunicated because of apostasy and more than likely, heresy. This is not because I am anti-Mormon. It is because I have a more historically accurate understanding of Latter-day Saint beginnings than do most of the bishops and stake presidents. When I openly advocate the controversial aspects of our history such as women and the priesthood and blacks/racism and the priesthood, people choose to stop listening and become offended.

The LDS church has become an oppressive corporation attempting to rank and file its members and to coerce them into obedience and the threat of disciplinary action. This is NOT how Christ would have run His church.

In the spirit of Paul Toscano: “How do we forget that prophesy is a gift and not an office? Why do we confuse the worship of God with obedience to [church] leaders?”

The LDS church is arrogant and tyrannical in nature. It is the institution that needs to be saved and purified by Christ. The church is NOT my means of salvation...that is through Christ alone. Last I knew, the church is NOT God or Christ.

Peace and Blessings!

unbelievable.  you simply have not taken the time to study your own religion from objective, unbiased historians.  i felt just like you at one time, thinking i was superior to everyone else without a knowledge of the “truth.” take some time to do some serious study of church history, from unbiased sources, and you will learn that the church has deceived its own membership on an unimaginable scale.  the untold story of authentic mormon history will open your eyes to reality.  try buying some books from signature books that are more open and honest.  you will see that we are not really evil, but the church you proclaim to be so wonderful is really just a deceptive organization hiding the truth about its past.  if you have the courage to study and learn, you will find out too, just like the rest of us.

I remember being somewhat disturbed the first time I saw a Post Mormon billboard when I was still a believing, active member of the church.  I didn’t give it a second look.  It had nothing to do with me leaving the church.  Once I found out the TRUTH it sure was a wonderful support, though, and I am very, very grateful.

Before preaching to other people (Post Mormon or otherwise) about having adequate faith, I suggest you have a better knowledge of just what you have faith in.  Look into the “translation” of the Book of Abraham and Book of Mormon for starters and you might be interested in learning about the evolving accounts of Joseph Smith’s First Vision story that aren’t taught in the LDS church.  You might also be interested in Joseph Smith’s 33+ wives including marriages to young teen-age girls and wives who were concurrently married to other men.  You don’t have to look at “anti” literature.  The church’s own history and writings of prophets and faithful LDS saints give plenty of information. Then there is more scientific data that comes to light such as DNA evidence and lack of archaelogical, linguistical and other evidences of the Book of Mormon (contrary to the spin apologists would have you believe—be willing to take an honest look at both sides).

How wonderful it would be if “Truth Restored” really came to be.

I read about the billboard in the AZ Daily Star and it rang a few bells. I was excommunicated many years ago at my own request, in an court conducted by none the less than Dr. Sidney B Sperry.  I was what was at one time termed a “Convert Apostate.” It is my belief that every convert should go through a one year cooling off probation period, during which they can rethink what they are getting into.  There were so many things I did not understand or had even heard about, the worst was the banning of blacks from the Priesthood and Temple ceremonies--that has since been lifted.

I am still fascinated by the Church, although quite often not in an affirmative way.

Three observations:  When I was in the Church the Seer Stones were an important part of the translation procees of the BofM, but the pictures in the various visitors centers, at least in 1995 and again in 2000, showing Smith and Rigdon (I believe its Sydney Rigdon who was his secy) merely show Smith reading from the plates without the stones.  I asked a guide in the SLC center when I visited there what happened with the Stones and after an absence of a few minutes “to find out” he said “well by “this time” Smith had become familiar with the glyphs and didn’t need them,” Oh Well, ask a dumb question. 

The second is all of the Angel Moroni Statues on the newer temples show him flying along blowing his trumpet and holding the plates, this in an addition not found in the statues on the earlier temples, unless that has been rectified in the last few years.

Thirdly, I was shocked by Mitt Romney’s explanation of plural marriage as being a phenomena of the westward expansion, yet unless the D&C;has been altered, when I was in the Church plural marriage was considered an a temple endowment, simply not practiced at the moment.

Hope this post has not been too long.

“Thirdly, I was shocked by Mitt Romney’s explanation of plural marriage as being a phenomena of the westward expansion, yet unless the D&C;has been altered, when I was in the Church plural marriage was considered an a temple endowment, simply not practiced at the moment.”

onthequest:  Do you know where I can find that quote by Romney?  I was wondering how some of this stuff was going to be spun had he won the nomination.

I am 99% certain it was in his speach explaining his faith during his run for the President.  It was probably during March or April of this year.  It was a highly advertised speach that he gave to “clear-up” any misgivings concerning his LDS beliefs.

Perhaps, if his webpage is still up it might be on there.  He further elaboarated after the speech on a couple of talk shows his abhorrence for the concept of plural marriage saying that it was necessitated in the Western expansion due to the fact there were many more men then women, saying nothing of the teachings of the church or their endowments, as near as I can remember.

I will look for that.  I am surprised no one called him out on that.  My understanding is that polygamy is an eternal concept.  It is just not practiced at the moment.

I remember as a missionary being told to answer investigator’s questions regarding polygamy by saying that the church was persecuted so heavily, and so many of the men killed, that women vastly outnumbered men and it (polygamy) was necessary in order to care for the widows.  The thought never even occurred to me at the time that it was slightly disingenuous to tell that story.  The end justified the means.

Hello, I just registered here and am excited to meet you all.  I am a ‘post-mormon’ having gone through a lot to have my name removed from church records back in the fall of 2002.  Reading this thread has been quite an eye opener!  Trapped, I will be watching for your comments...your Bishop must hate to eventually lose you because you speak with such honesty, intelligence and authority!  Unbeleivable needs to be honest with him/herself.  The only reason to still be checking back here is if he or she is finding little doubts being brought up.  It is so simple and easy to lay back and allow someone to dictate to us how to think, believe, worship and live.  I have never been very good at letting others tell me what to do or say, guess that is why I simply never fit in the church.  It is so true that knowledge is where the truth lies.  It was very difficult for me to admit that I had made a mistake by joining the church back in 1994.  I do not like to be made a fool of and hated to admit to others that I had been wrong.  I do miss some of the fellowship and the friends, but now that I have found you, perhaps now I will not miss it so much.  I have many questions, get ready because I am going to be picking brains. (grin) Oh, also, I have 4 grandchildren and as it is me that has to answer their questions, I have yet to see the devastation of me telling them about different religions, different views and what the billboard is for.  Same as when I explained why we no longer go to church or why there are pro-mormon ad’s also. (except that I do not see the billboard as ‘anti-mormon, just pro- post-mormon!) or is it just that if something is not pro-mormon, it is evil?  Well, guess that makes me an evil old lady, HA!

If your comments are not pro-Mormon, then they are anti-Mormon.  It’s just that simple.  We live in a black and white world.  Those who don’t show by their words and actions that they love the Mormon Church obviously hate God and themselves and the world and everything in it.  Repent or be damned to hell, you sinners!!!

To Jammerwoch:  Your right, it is that simple.  Either the church is true or its not.  And believing in fiction will not benefit you or anyone else for that matter.  Your statement shows your ignorance.  I recommend researching some non mormon, non anti real mormon history.  You’ll be supprised at what you learn.  But of course, you have to want to know the truth in the first place.  And just because we non believers find it hard to believe in a religion proven to be made up by science and real history, doesnt mean we hate God, ourselves, the world and everyone in it.  We just choose to take our heads out of the sand and face reality.

Dear Todd:

A literature handbook I used in college contained the following tidbit:  “The ability to recognize irony is one of the surest signs of intelligence.”

I’ve been shaking the sand out of my brain for many years, and I am an active So Ut PostMormon.  Sorry I didn’t come across as planned.  I am reminded of an incident in which Mark Twain published a made-up story of a “Bloody Massacre.” He thought he had put enough hints of falsity into the story, but many readers missed the hints and thought it was genuine.  I guess I’m not too skilled at the game, and need to play it straight in the future.

Darn, i was just getting started.  I was hoping for a little fun!  For a second I almost thought you were my sister!

Jammerwoch,
I thought it might be a “joke” message because it was just too over the top, but I too wanted to ring your bell if it was real!
I guess I’m only partially intelligent because I recognized the irony but didn’t believe it!
I thought you might be my old visiting teacher!!! hahaha

Todd and Mrs Busby:

You are both intelligent--you would have to be since you are PostMos.  It was my lack of skill at finding the right tone.  I do get a bit upset at those who love to throw around the “Anti-LDS” label.  When Mormons complain about and attack other organizations or individuals, they never think of themselves as “Anti-American,” “Anti-Missourian,” “Anti-Protestant,” etc.  They are just “speaking the truth in love,” helping those in the wrong to see the error of their ways so they can repent and find the joy of obedient living.  Yechhh!

Man. How could I miss all the news stories? Oh yeah. Forgot I have a tivo now and the news isn’t on my to-do list. Oops.

To unbelievable: If you’re still around checking out responses to your comments, please answer one question for me. How do you reconcile what we now know (including Church leadership) about the Book of Abraham? I cannot reconcile this with the origins of the Church as claimed by its leaders and scriptures. I’m sure your testimony would be sincere and from the heart, but that’s not what I’m looking for. I need to be able to put my mind around what Joseph Smith told us the Book of Abraham is and what the evidence indicates. Any help you can give me would be great.

Thanks,
Sir Tom

The billboard was wonderful and, despite the TBMs that occasionally pop in decrying same as “anti-Mormon,” it simply affirmed to post-Mormons everywhere that others have gone through the same difficult and painful journey out as have they.  This was not at all a slap at the Mormon Church nor was there anything implied therein that ought to be the least offensive to rational Mormons. 

The billboard could no more be construed as derogative of Mormonism than would a similar billboard from a “post-marriage” group likewise stating “you are not alone” be somehow inherently derogative of marriage.

I know the church isn’t true.  However, I also know that the church does, indeed, do many wonderful things in the world.  Wouldn’t it be better if we could all just have a group hug and respect each others beliefs?  I thin it is wonderful that we don’t have to be alone.  Love is true.

Rmyth:  Were this billboard at all disrespectful of Mormon beliefs, your point would be relevant and understandable.  In fact, I would welcome your reply explaining for us all how the words “You are not alone” are somehow disrespectful of the Mormon Church, its beliefs, and/or the “good” it does in the world. 

The fact is that in this case, the only ones disrespecting others here have been the many Mormons who have publicly maligned this simple billboard while also disrespecting thereby our desire to simply find and socialize with others who, like us, have left the Church.

i drive past this every morning and finally decided to check it out..  the billboard is down now but what a good corner it was on!  i cant believe how many “post Mormons” there are out here, especially in gilbert!