.:AFTER MORMONISM WHAT? — What does an LDS person do when he or she breaks free from Mormonism?
You may be asking: “So What Do I Do Now?” You have finally broken free from the “herd” of Mormonism, but you feel hopelessly lost and without direction now…
HOW DID YOU GET HERE?
In the LDS Church, you were told what to think, where to go, what to do, and how to do it. You had your Church Handbook that was approved by the Presidency of the Church for your study and spiritual edification. You maintained faith with the Brethren and local leaders of the Church. You had been told to simply follow the Prophet and everything will be made sure.
You carried a membership card that got you into the temple. You passed your exams with the local Bishop, the Stake President, and anyone else who had been proclaimed to be an authority over you. You memorized all the songs since primary, memorized a few Scriptures from the Book of Mormon, dressed like everyone else in the Church, spoke like everyone else, served without reservations like everyone else. You were in fact, a living clone of everyone else in Mormonism.
You knew what time your assigned meeting schedules were and stressed the importance of being there on time in your Sunday best as you scurried about to get your preferred seat in the Chapel. You knew where the Church House was located, what Ward your were assigned to and who your Stake President was. You never had to think about what you were doing, because you were doing what everyone else seemed to be doing. You were not alone. You thought there was safety in numbers. You were officially one of the “herd.” You wanted what everyone else was wanting, which was an assurance that God loved you and your family and that He had a place for you in the eternities. You felt that your near insanity from hours of countless stewardship assignments was evidence that you were doing all that you could to assure yourself of a place in the Celestial Kingdom with God. Am I right on this?
WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO NOW?
This is going to be fun folks. Now, that you have chosen to be free from the mindless tasks that encumbered so much of your time, what are you going to do now that you have stepped off the train? You no longer are choosing to be a Mormon worker-bee, running mindlessly from meeting-to-meeting, task-to-task, event-to-event. You have been kept so busy that you have never been really free to think for yourself and to truly commune with God as He has intended. There is no one telling you what to do now, no one calling you on the phone, no one from the Bishopric stopping by to give you another calling, no more Home teachers or visiting teachers with cupcakes. Nothing! You are going to have to make your own cupcakes now.
YOU ARE FREE TO…
You now are free to think; you are free to act responsibly, and you are free to walk with Christ as His Gospel was intended for you. This new feeling of freedom may be a little scary to some; yet eagerly embraced by others. Your heart feels free, but your mind and years of weekly habits may insanely be driving you to feel compelled to get ready for the next meeting, but there are no more meetings now. There are no men claiming “priesthood authority” over your life and aggressively advising you of what not to do, or reminding you of your responsibility in your Church “calling,” and no more tireless guilt trips.
You may struggle accepting the fact that you have permission to think for yourself again. However, God gave you a mind, and now you finally get to use it. You are now free to commune with God on a more personal level, and to seek the work He intended for you, without someone telling you that you have been “duly called” to serve in whatever capacity they think is best for you. The authority kick is now gone. There is only you and God. Do you get it? Just you and God!
It is now all about your relationship with Jesus! It is the basic foundational understanding of Who Christ is, what He has done for you, what He means to you, and what He truly wants for you, that will set your spirit free!
“And you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free… So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.” —John 8:32, 36 **
Get rid of the Standard Works “Scripture” offered through the LDS Church. Consider getting rid of your King James Version of the Bible and purchasing a modern translation, like the New King James Version, or BETTER yet, the New American Standard Bible or the New International Version. Reading the Bible in your current language will be refreshing for you, because for the first time, you will begin to understand what the Bible is actually saying.
Remember, there is nothing special in the archaic language of the King James Bible. Nobody speaks that way anymore, and God certainly doesn’t regard those who talk that way in their prayers as more holy than those who speak in modern English. So, I recommend that you get a Bible that you can actually read and understand. Then, over time, you will begin to know what Christ’s message truly is and how it applies to your life.
YOU ARE NOT GOING CRAZY!
There are so many emotions an Ex-Mormon feels when he or she steps off the treadmill of Mormonism. Feelings of betrayal, anger, distrust, fear, depression and confusion are just the beginning of a list that could go on and on. Yet, every person who begins to think for himself—as God intended the creative human mind to do—will begin to experience a sense of freedom and a feeling of being lost, without direction at the same time.
God has been waiting for you to open your eyes and to see life as it was meant to be. If you feel lost, it is only because you have become used to being told how to jump, when to jump, and how high you must jump to receive your “glory” in God’s Kingdom. But aren’t your legs a bit tired by now? Mine were! God never put jumping games on the earth that required people to hop through so many silly hoops to get a bit of heavenly real estate. So, stop jumping around! You no longer need to play the game “Simon Says.” (A game for children where Mr. Simon tells one what to do and that person must do it perfectly in order to win).
Trust me on this; works-oriented religions, like Mormonism, are nothing but a game made by people to control as many other people as they can. Members of the LDS Church love to play a religious version of the game “Simon Says.” They just don’t realize that they are playing it in hopes of obtaining peer approval and spiritual points. Peer approval is silly and stressful. It has nothing to do with God’s approval on your life. Why not become approved of God by placing your full trust in the sufficient sacrifice of Jesus Christ on behalf of your sins? That’s all that really matters anyway. Do you feel better now?
“He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” —2 Corinthians 5:21
“And may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith.” —Philippians 3:9
FORGETTING THE PAST AND MOVING ON…
“…I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”—Philippians 3:12-14
Learning how to forget what has been deeply engrained in your brain will take time, my friend. Be patient with yourself. If you have been a Mormon since childhood, the roots of what you have been told run deep, but regardless of how long you have been involved, it takes time to deprogram yourself and detach your feelings from it as well.
Remember that this Mormon mind-game was of men’s doing, not God’s. You were programmed to sit, smile, bear testimonies, tell your friends that families can be together forever, serve a mission, marry a missionary, go to the temple often, pay a full tithe, give a fast offering, provide community service, serve in the ward, teach, call each other “brother” and “sister,” protect yourself by wearing holy garments, perform baptisms for the dead, research and put together your genealogy, remember your secret new name given in the temple, the signs and penalties and the promises associated with each one of them. Good golly! Were you stressed out? You were not alone!
Now is the time to get rid of your temple garments. If you honestly believe they will protect you, light them on fire and be grateful you weren’t in them as you watch them burn; or you can borrow a gun and go shoot a hole in them. Why do this? Because Superman never wore them, and there is no reason to falsely believe they are able to protect you. They are not magic and mysterious, and they don’t stop bullets. The sacred emblems stitched on them are rather silly too. I’ll prove it to you. Look up the signs and emblems used in Free Masonry. You will find that the emblems of Mormonism are used in Masonry, and they even have similar meanings within the Masonic Lodge too!
LDS Temple Garment Compass
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Masonic Compass and Square
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LDS Temple Garment Square
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Do you see that Joseph Smith was influenced by Masonry? Did you know that he was himself a Mason? Oh, now your eyes are beginning to open! While we’re at it, how about those sacred handshakes that will great you by the angels who stand as sentinels at the gates of heaven. Well, the Masons already laid claim to those shakes too. The problem is that the Masons have been around a lot longer than Mormons. Please don’t think that God is a Mason. He is not. This was all designed by man in their secret clubs and societies to make followers believe that they are a cut above the rest. Even the language used in the temple is similar to the rights and rituals of Mormonism.
LDS Aaronic Priesthood Handshake
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Masonic Handshake
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As you can see, Joseph Smith wasn’t very clever on his own, but was brilliant in converting the handshakes, signs and symbols of Masonry into his religious forum. Then, he attached the claim of mysterious promises from God if you joined his religious club. It worked! People ran to it as God’s “sacred” secrets for mankind. Joseph appointed himself as the Prophet for religious clout. People wore this funny underwear, memorized the script, and learned the rituals required at the veil and were internally brainwashed into believing that they had potentially earned their status as “Gods” and “Goddesses,” “Priests” and “Priestesses” in Heaven, being destined to live happily ever after. Meanwhile, Joseph enjoyed the privileges of his self-appointed authority, multiple wives, religious status and position, money, and growing real estate in the Church. He enjoyed it until folks got tired of his lies and polygamous activities and killed him.
It is absolutely unbelievable, but we got duped! Quit reading the Church’s publications so you can discover for yourself that history is not what others want you to believe it was. Don’t take my word for it. Do your own research of the truth and you will also see that the spiritual food Joseph Smith served is no longer delicious. Joseph was not all the Church builds him up to be. We are so happy you decided to set down your fork, and remove your napkin. Your first challenge is to stop wearing those crazy garments! There is no need to dress up in funny underwear any longer. Enjoy your freedom and be daring! Choose underwear with colors and see how you feel tomorrow. Be free at last!
FACING YOUR LDS FRIENDS…
One of the things you’ll have to face is the fact that your friends in the Church will not understand your new freedom. They will not comprehend how you could let this perceived “eternal salvation” slip through your fingers. They will question, “What on earth happened to your testimony?” You have to realize that they still are sucked up into the “happily ever after” storybook ending of Mormonism. Just forgive them and pray for God’s Holy Spirit to open their eyes. Perhaps, later you will be able to help them question their beliefs and be instrumental in leading them out of the LDS rat race. For now, they’ll look at you with sympathetic eyes, and wonder what has happened to you.
Don’t you want to be as miserable as them? They now feel betrayed by you, as they must carry the burdens of Mormonism alone without your help. Misery loves company, and now you’re not there. They simply won’t allow themselves to grasp the idea that there are no real “Prophets” in the LDS Church, but only a “President” and two “Counselors” (that is, Vice Presidents) of the Church Corporation. Think about it; when was the last time they had any significant new revelations? Their corporation has a Board of Directors called “Apostles,” and various global leadership sales people like members of the “Seventy.” Missionaries who sell Mormonism door-to-door. They all have great stories with a blind eye of one goal, to expand their organization to ensure its survival. They might as well say something like this, and just be honest about their intentions:
“Everyone please continue to work for free in exchange for blessings we’ve arranged for you with God! We have got connections since we are the true church. Our leaders heard it from God Himself. No more worries, just keep working at those callings as we’ve got a big bag of blessings in Heaven for ya!”
That was harsh, wasn’t it? I do apologize for any hurt feelings, but sometimes we need to call it like it is in order to expose their hidden agenda. Fortunately, more and more people are seeing the truth as it is, not as “the Brethren” spin it to be, and are leaving Mormonism to seek God as Jesus Christ prescribed in the Holy Bible.
“And a lawyer stood up and put Him to the test, saying, ‘Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?’ And He said to him, ‘What is written in the Law? How does it read to you?’ And he answered, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND; AND YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ ”—Luke 10:25-27
Christ made things so simple. Love God, and love your neighbor as yourself. Now, that is not too difficult to understand, is it? People, who have ulterior motives, have mucked up His message under an “organized religion.” We all get caught up in the grandeur of something bigger and better, but God didn’t need “bigger and better” to relay His message to mankind. He gave us Christ. Now, this is your time for renewed discovery of everything Christ meant for you to have, and what God wants you to be “in Him” alone.
“But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish in order that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith.”— Philippians 3:7-9
Your quest is now to discover who you really are in Christ, and what you mean to others who need to see Christ through you. Now, you will gain a better understanding of what a ministry truly means, and how it applies to you. You will find that God wants you to join Him in His work that he has already begun in you and around you.
“For it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” — Philippians 2:13
Discover the work God has for you and see where you fit in the family of Christ by visiting different Christian Churches in your area. Find a church family that teaches the Bible verse-by-verse and supports your growth in Christ. Don’t be afraid to consider a Bible study group within your congregation. For once, you may actually learn something that makes a lot of sense, and you will see that you are not really alone after all!
So, don’t worry about secret handshakes, wearing special clothes, or maintaining a certain appearance to impress people or God. Most Christians are normal people like you and me. Ties and dresses are no longer required. Jeans are okay now. I have found thongs on my feet and a pair of baggy pants appropriate on hot Sundays. No one seems to care. People come from all walks of life and from many different circumstances. Christ still accepts us as we are, and He has no ridiculous expectations of you. He wants you to remember Him and what He has done, and to live for Him each day. That’s it! Someday, maybe you’ll be ready to share this message with a friend, as the gospel is free to all who will receive it. Garments are not required. So, relax! Find Christ’s message and God’s love all over again, and this time, for the right reasons.
REMOVING YOUR NAME FROM THE LDS CHURCH…
When I left the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I took the bold step and asked them to remove my name from their records and to void my membership. Do you know what happened? I actually received a letter from Salt Lake City, finally granting my wishes. But they required a process, or rather, their corporate legal hoops to jump through in order to meet my demand. So, I wrote my letter in a particular way that prevented them from sending members of the Bishopric to hound my doorstep. You are welcome to read our sample resignation letter and to use it as an example to follow in writing your own.
The good news is that I am finally free for God now! He can use me as He wishes to use me. My relationship with God has taken a new and refreshing dimension. Ah… smell that? The smog has lifted, and a fresh mountain breeze has raised my spiritual wings.
Here is something you may consider. Someday, you may choose to be re-baptized unto Christ and to openly honor Him by renewing your faith in Him. It is okay to recommit your life. Think of it as washing away the old, and arising anew. Your choice to be re-baptized may offer you a “clean break” from your past. It did for me. It was my way of putting a period at the end of the LDS story. One big dot, and it was done. Free at last!
It is refreshing being a follower of Christ, and an instrument for God as He directs. It is really all about our relationship with Him, and no one else. You can’t do better than that, my friends. No way! In leaving Mormonism and embracing the simplicity of Christ, I simply decided to cut out the middleman, and to go directly to God. You do the same and you will be amazed by Him.
Remember, you are not alone! There are Christian fellowships around you, and they will openly love you and accept you as you are. Find a church that best fits your personality, fulfills your needs, and where you can serve in freedom. Remember, Christ accepts you as you are and true Christians will embrace you and love you with the love Christ gives. Learn from other Christians, and share the joy you have found with others. Let your quest for God begin with the freshness of Christ’s Spirit and let Him lead you into all peace, growth and understanding. It is a quest well worth your time that will bring eternal blessings. You can finally relax, ponder, and pray, without outside influences on your back. It is now just you and your God. Neat thought, isn’t it? Just you and God!
“ ‘Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My load is light.’ ” — Matthew 11:28-30
So, if you have family and friends in Mormonism that have disassociated themselves from you, realize that they never have had the love of Christ in them. Remember, you did not denounce Christ, but only omitted the static between you and God. So, be patient with them and love them with the love of Christ. In time, they may grow to admire your attitude toward life, your love of the gospel, and your ministry of faith that God has begun to do in and through you. Remember, you cannot force feed anyone that wishes not to eat. Just let them see how delicious the fruits of the real gospel truly are on your side of the fence. One day, they may choose to eat with you, and what a glorious day for you and your loved-ones that will be!
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” —Philippians 4:6-7
My friends, be blessed in Christ, Chuck
FOR MORE INFORMATION SEE:
Removing Your Name from LDS Church Membership
How to Find a Good Church and Recognize Satan’s Deceptions (4witness.org)
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** All Scripture quotations are taken from the New American Standard Bible.
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