Untestimonies

[silverfox]

How about some untestimonies -

I have to admit I always felt if I didn't pay tithing I'd be financially doomed. Of course we never had any big wonderful financial blessings when we did BUT we figured it was our fault since we were never "good" enough.

Anyhow - I want to bear my untestimony that we make more money than ever, have had better than ever money making opportunities within our lines of work, etc. And I know that if this should all change tomorrow and we became destitute I know it has nothing to do with any religion or religious beliefs.

Since our apostacy, our marriage is better than ever. I want to bear my untestimony that since our exit from the church niether hubby nor myself are alcoholics, junkies, kinky sex maniacs, thieves, adulterers, etc, etc, etc

Who was it that said that the church doesn't have the market on morals? It was in a post yesterday and I am sorry I forgot who stated it but it is sooo true.

I wanna hear your UNtestimonies.

[free thinker]

I am happier than I have been for 30 years. The weight of mormonism is off my back. I am more forgiving, and understanding, of myself and others. I love my (non-mo) parents more than ever. I realize, now that I am no longer trying to convert them, what super people they are!! :)

I just had my best year ever in my business!

I sleep better at night!

I have a great, loving, and beautiful woman in my life!!
She is better than I ever was as an active member. She really knows how to love. She is one of the best mothers I personally know. She would NEVER have anything to do with mormonism!!!

I do not believe Joseph Smith was a prophet!! I think he was a liar, a manipulator, and a religious con-man! I think he used his position to manipulate young women into "so called celestial marriages" so he could sleep with them. I want to make this clear. I think Joseph Smith was a sexual manipulator of the worst stripe! Why? Because he came in the name of God! The worst stripe!!

Brigham Young was a back woods bigot!! He was a viscious man! Brutal really! Read "Under The Banner Of Heaven" by John Krakauer , if you have any doubt about that. I do not believe he was a prophet.

I do not believe Gordon B. Hinkley is a prophet, and he certainly is not a seer, or , revelator. He also is a liar. ( remember the TV interview!!?) B honest Gordon!!!

The best day of my life so far, was the day I decided to leave the mormon church!! How I put up with the duplicity, shame, fear, guilt, and manipulation for so long I do not know!!

This is my untestimony!! I want everyone who reads this to know that I beleive the mormon church is a fraud!!

Free Thinker

[silverfox]

I am happier than I have been for 30 years. The weight of mormonism is off my back. I am more forgiving, and understanding, of myself and others. I love my (non-mo) parents more than ever. I realize, now that I am no longer trying to convert them, what super people they are!! :)

I just had my best year ever in my business!

I sleep better at night!

I have a great, loving, and beautiful woman in my life!!
She is better than I ever was as an active member. She really knows how to love. She is one of the best mothers I personally know. She would NEVER have anything to do with mormonism!!!

I do not believe Joseph Smith was a prophet!! I think he was a liar, a manipulator, and a religious con-man! I think he used his position to manipulate young women into "so called celestial marriages" so he could sleep with them. I want to make this clear. I think Joseph Smith was a sexual manipulator of the worst stripe! Why? Because he came in the name of God! The worst stripe!!

Brigham Young was a back woods bigot!! He was a viscious man! Brutal really! Read "Under The Banner Of Heaven" by John Krakauer , if you have any doubt about that. I do not believe he was a prophet.

I do not believe Gordon B. Hinkley is a prophet, and he certainly is not a seer, or , revelator. He also is a liar. ( remember the TV interview!!?) B honest Gordon!!!

The best day of my life so far, was the day I decided to leave the mormon church!! How I put up with the duplicity, shame, fear, guilt, and manipulation for so long I do not know!!

This is my untestimony!! I want everyone who reads this to know that I beleive the mormon church is a fraud!!

Free Thinker

FT, my bossom (bosom? Bossoms? how do you spell it????? hahaha) has never burned so deeply! I am on FIRE! I've got GOOSEBUMPS!

[peter_mary]

I would feel ungrateful if I didn't sit at my computer today and express the feelings of my heart. Therefore, I bear solemn witness that:

I have never been happier in my marriage than I have been the past few years out of the Church;

I have never felt more free to pursue the things I love than I have felt the past few years out of the Church;

I have never felt closer to my children than I have the past few years out of the Church;

I have never had more friends, REAL friends, than I have the past few years out of the Church;

I have never been as financially secure as I have been the past few years out of the Church;

I have never felt as creative as I have the past few years out of the Church;

I have never felt as well informed as I have the past few years out of the Church;

I have never felt as loving towards the rest of the people with whom I share this planet, and the planet itself, as I have the past few years out of the Church;

I have never felt I understood life, the universe and everything (with a nod do Douglas Adams) as well as I believe I have these past few years out of the Church;

I have never felt as accepted by so many people for who I actually am rather than who I felt they expected me to be as I have these past few years out of the Church;

I have never felt as at peace with what my life means and what will happen when my life expires as I have these past few years out of the Church;

I have never felt as "at home" where ever I visit on this globe as I have these past few years out of the Church;

I have never felt as hungry for personal growth as I have these past few years out of the Church;

I have never been so filled with compassion for people who are really different from me, living in places and conditions that I can only imagine, than I have these past few years out of the Church;

I have never been so free of guilt as I have the past few years out of the Church;

I have never felt so comfortable with the sea of things I do not know than I have these past few years out of the Church;

I have never felt so alive, so loved and so completely a part of the tapestry of all life as I have these past few years out of the Church.

And that is my testimony,

In the name of ME,

Amen.

Paul

P.S. I would NEVER have believed there were so many good, honest, men and women of integrity struggling with the same things as me until these past few years out of the Church!

[nikki]

How about some untestimonies -

I have to admit I always felt if I didn't pay tithing I'd be financially doomed. Of course we never had any big wonderful financial blessings when we did BUT we figured it was our fault since we were never "good" enough.

Anyhow - I want to bear my untestimony that we make more money than ever, have had better than ever money making opportunities within our lines of work, etc. And I know that if this should all change tomorrow and we became destitute I know it has nothing to do with any religion or religious beliefs.

Since our apostacy, our marriage is better than ever. I want to bear my untestimony that since our exit from the church niether hubby nor myself are alcoholics, junkies, kinky sex maniacs, thieves, adulterers, etc, etc, etc

Who was it that said that the church doesn't have the market on morals? It was in a post yesterday and I am sorry I forgot who stated it but it is sooo true.

I wanna hear your UNtestimonies.

I think 'untestimonies' is also a great way to work out anger.

I am not at the place where life is great, and sailing is smooth.

I am glad I left, and wish I had many years ago, when my children's lives would not have been so harmed.

My untestimony is I know the church in NOT true, and the deception done by JS has been revealed. The 'spins' done by the church, to give false impressions, is damaging to 'the church's' membership.

And you do not deserve the money people work and sacrifice to give the church.

My untestimony is I do not believe in your organization as a place inspired by God.

Amen

[Jeff_Ricks]

How about some untestimonies -

I have to admit I always felt if I didn't pay tithing I'd be financially doomed. Of course we never had any big wonderful financial blessings when we did BUT we figured it was our fault since we were never "good" enough.

Anyhow - I want to bear my untestimony that we make more money than ever, have had better than ever money making opportunities within our lines of work, etc. And I know that if this should all change tomorrow and we became destitute I know it has nothing to do with any religion or religious beliefs.

Since our apostacy, our marriage is better than ever. I want to bear my untestimony that since our exit from the church niether hubby nor myself are alcoholics, junkies, kinky sex maniacs, thieves, adulterers, etc, etc, etc

Who was it that said that the church doesn't have the market on morals? It was in a post yesterday and I am sorry I forgot who stated it but it is sooo true.

I wanna hear your UNtestimonies.


I want to thank all of you who have born your untestimonies today. They have been very inspiring (seriously, they have been). I know we’re running out of time, the unbishop seems to want me to sit down, and everyone is hungry and wants out of here so I’ll be brief.

Seriously folks. I also have never been happier and more at peace as well as more financially blessed than I have been since I left the church. I’ve never had so many wonderful, true friends and such a wide diversity of friends as I have since I left the church.

- I know the church is not true.

- I know that Mormonism is essentially a mental trap of self-deception.

- I suspect that most members deep down inside, perhaps at the subconscious level, don’t really believe that it is true, and fear facing that reality.

- I testify that it’s primarily to avoid facing that fear that we used to participate in regular testimony meetings of mutual self-deception just as Mormons do now.

- I also testify that for the same reason, we used to react strongly and un“christlike” towards those who chose leave, just as many Mormons now do toward us.

- I testify that I am so thankful that I mustered up my courage 11 years ago to face my fears and walk past them. I have never looked back and never regretted for a moment my choice to leave.

- I testify that life is so much better living in reality than living in a bubble of self-deception.

- I know that Joseph Smith was never a prophet but probably a self-deceived con man and possible sexual predator.

- I know (and Hinckley knows too) that Gordon Hinckley is not a prophet but nothing more than a mediocre business executive.

I say this in the name of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness!!!!! The End.

Jeff

[silverfox]

I was thinking about this thread. As a Post Mo with a family who has accepted my choices and respects them life is good.

But it wasn't long ago where I was still in great turmoil. My husband wasn't sure he could accept me as a non believer. We teetered on divorce over it actually. It was crazy and I was in great emotional distress.

Luckily hubby was able to step back and focus on what was more important. Our love, our marriage, our family or THE CHURCH. I was not willing to "pretend" and attend church and play the part when I knew it has caused so much damage. I know some are in that position and it must be very difficult.

So while now I can bear my untestimony that life is wonderful it was not without it's challenges and obstacles.

I only hope that for those of you who are struggling in the transition, those who are at crossroads in your marriages, your families, etc that one day SOON you will be able to experience peace.

I am sure on a personal individual level you feel more free than ever but you can't spread your wings due to family, spouses, etc.

I hope you can find support here, advice, acceptance, etc. Just because some of are totally at peace doesn't mean we don't understand the challenges that others may be experiencing.

I still live with the fear that any day hubby may want to go back to being a TBM. I know I am not completely "safe" and maybe I never will be free of the church. But I do know there are others out there who are where I've been or who are experiencing challenges I may have to face in the future. It's good to know we can draw on each other's experiences now and in the future.

And I am rambling AGAIN so I will shut up. :)

[gail]

My untestimony is as follows:

I know the mormon church is a business run badly.
I know who Jesus really is and he DID NOT have a new name in the temple.
I know Mr Hinckley is a bad executive and a false prophet.
I know Joseph Smith Jr was a liar, conman and pedophile
I know most TBM's follow the prophet unquestioningly and consider thinking too much a bad bad thing.
I am proud to meet Mr Boyd Packer's criteria of feminist intellectual (ironically real feminists would laugh hysterically at this)
I know that Jeff spoke truly and accurately! :D
I know that my life is more full, accurate and most of all authentic since I left the mormon church.

In the name of truth, justice and the american way, Amen!

[miss taken]

I would feel ungrateful if I didn't sit at my computer today and express the feelings of my heart. Therefore, I bear solemn witness that:

I have never been happier in my marriage than I have been the past few years out of the Church;

I have never felt more free to pursue the things I love than I have felt the past few years out of the Church;

I have never felt closer to my children than I have the past few years out of the Church;

I have never had more friends, REAL friends, than I have the past few years out of the Church;

I have never been as financially secure as I have been the past few years out of the Church;

I have never felt as creative as I have the past few years out of the Church;

I have never felt as well informed as I have the past few years out of the Church;

I have never felt as loving towards the rest of the people with whom I share this planet, and the planet itself, as I have the past few years out of the Church;

I have never felt I understood life, the universe and everything (with a nod do Douglas Adams) as well as I believe I have these past few years out of the Church;

I have never felt as accepted by so many people for who I actually am rather than who I felt they expected me to be as I have these past few years out of the Church;

I have never felt as at peace with what my life means and what will happen when my life expires as I have these past few years out of the Church;

I have never felt as "at home" where ever I visit on this globe as I have these past few years out of the Church;

I have never felt as hungry for personal growth as I have these past few years out of the Church;

I have never been so filled with compassion for people who are really different from me, living in places and conditions that I can only imagine, than I have these past few years out of the Church;

I have never been so free of guilt as I have the past few years out of the Church;

I have never felt so comfortable with the sea of things I do not know than I have these past few years out of the Church;

I have never felt so alive, so loved and so completely a part of the tapestry of all life as I have these past few years out of the Church.

And that is my testimony,

In the name of ME,

Amen.

Paul

P.S. I would NEVER have believed there were so many good, honest, men and women of integrity struggling with the same things as me until these past few years out of the Church!


Ditto to pretty much all that. Amen!

[dogzilla]

I know the church is a big, fat scam.

I know that many, many Christians are hypocrites who do not see the folly in their false assumptions, nor the bigotry, misogyny and homophobia in many of their actions and all of their judgments. I know that blind faith is more dangerous than apostasy or atheism.

I know that being sexually abused as a teenager was NOT my fault. I am not responsible for it and the church was wrong to discipline me for it. The god I believe in doesn't hold young girls accountable for crimes visited upon them.

I pray that someday, my father will come to his senses and forget my step-mother's secret name and NOT pull her fat, lazy ass through the veil. (heh)

I know that, since I no longer believe in the traditional Judeo-Christian definition of "god," I can also let go of the traditional Judeo-Christian definition of "satan." And that means, I accept full responsibility for my thoughts, actions, and words. If I fail at something, I was not tempted by Satan; I simply failed and will use that situation as a learning opportunity. If I succeed at something, it's not due to the grace of God, but probably to my own hard work and perserverance. "God" will not "give" me anything that I cannot obtain for myself -- and I do not have to sacfice my Self in order to reap the benefits of striving to be a good person.

I know that I am in tune with my planet, nature and environment. I am more grounded, centered and serene than I ever would have been in the church.

I know that there is nothing at all wrong with being 35, single and not having kids. I know that it is okay to never want children and I am not going to burn in hell because I will not be having any. I know that I am far, far happier as a single career-woman than I ever would have been married to some RM with a dozen kids.

I know that I am more secure and comfortable with who I am, within my own skin, than I ever would have been had I remained a moron.

I know that I have let go of the guilt, shame and most of the stress in my life, allowing me to be loving and compassionate toward others.

And, to quote Bono, "the god I believe in isn't short of cash..."

:D

[miss taken]

I know that being sexually abused as a teenager was NOT my fault. I am not responsible for it and the church was wrong to discipline me for it. The god I believe in doesn't hold young girls accountable for crimes visited upon them.


I accept full responsibility for my thoughts, actions, and words. If I fail at something, I was not tempted by Satan; I simply failed and will use that situation as a learning opportunity. If I succeed at something, it's not due to the grace of God, but probably to my own hard work and perserverance. "God" will not "give" me anything that I cannot obtain for myself -- and I do not have to sacfice my Self in order to reap the benefits of striving to be a good person.

I know that I am in tune with my planet, nature and environment. I am more grounded, centered and serene than I ever would have been in the church.

I know that there is nothing at all wrong with being 35, single and not having kids. I know that it is okay to never want children and I am not going to burn in hell because I will not be having any. I know that I am far, far happier as a single career-woman than I ever would have been married to some RM with a dozen kids.

I know that I am more secure and comfortable with who I am, within my own skin, than I ever would have been had I remained a moron.

I know that I have let go of the guilt, shame and most of the stress in my life, allowing me to be loving and compassionate toward others.

And, to quote Bono, "the god I believe in isn't short of cash..."

:D

Absolutely agree Dogzilla. Good one!

[Free-soil]

Thank you all so much for your encouraging words. I have been thinking so much recently about the liberation I feel in my life. It is truly wonderful to hear each of your stories. Thank you for sharing! :)