LDS/Mormon People....?

Question

I just heard a quote from Dallin H. Oaks. he said, qquoting an observation of someone else, "People can leave the church, but they can't leave it alon.e" How many of you have noticed that here on Yahoo Answers? I know I have,

Let me clear something up Joe...I'm not force fed...everything that I know I've worked hard to know. I've been going to church alone since I was eight...catching rides, praying alone, ect. I am not force fed. It's my choice, my decision. I know it's true and that is that. It's true so what else matters.

It's true, and I know it. I've looked at much of the contreversy, read into, and still, I know it's all true. I'm not being lied to. I think for myself, I study for myself. I know it's true and that's all that matters.

Answer 1

That is a perfect description.

Answer 2

A very true statement. Many who once knew the truth, but have denied it, have the "need" to try and justify their about- faced change. If the LDS Church were just a big farce, you would think that they would just walk away quietly and move past their "mistake" of joining. But this is not the case.

I look at it this way: all of the criticism supports Mormonism as being the truth, and the Lord's Church. If it were not, it would be a thing of naught and no one would care. However, if Satan also knows it to be true, how hard does he work to try and disparage Mormonism and convince everyone that it is false? He tries with all of his might because he also knows it is true.

Answer 3

I don't believe Elder Oaks originated that quote. It's been floating around a while.

When you accept the Gospel of Jesus Christ and are baptized in His name, when you receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, you step off neutral ground and make a choice for good. Once you've made a step towards good, you can't move back to neutral ground. If you turn away from it you arent becoming neutral you are following a darker path. And the darkness cannot tolerate the light.

On a non question related side note: I have to marvel at some of the absurd things critics of the Church say. The Church does not and cannot force anyone to believe anything. Even if it were possible, it would be contrary to the order of the priesthood.

In fact, the very fact that they claim to have rejected it demonstrates conclusively that they weren't forced into anything. If they were they would have been unable to reject it. I always have to question the credibility of people who claim to have belonged to the Church and make claims that even casual observers would realize are inaccurate.

I once had a guy try to claim he was a former member of the church and thus should be listened to. He said he convered in college. and then several years later when he learned about baptism for the dead, he rejected it as satanic... Only problem is in order to be baptized one has to take the discussions which clearly teach baptism for the dead. So he was clearly lying about his experience.

Another guy tried to claim he was a LDS missionary and had no clue what an Elder was. I kid you not.

So when i hear stories of "thought control" and other things so contrary to the Gospel red flags raise to the validity of what they are claiming.

Answer 4

The 1st poster changed his name and posting anti Mormonisms all over the place with a bad tongue.
Cussing like the devil and demons from the pit.

People who leave the church feel like they are duped.
Well they are duped by religious bigots, people who don't like the church, and just plain ignoramuses.

They go spewing crap feeling they are going to save others, but they are the ones who need to be saved.
Not by the religions of the world, but by the true church, The living God and his prophets.

They really need is the spirit of the lord witnessing to them of the church of the gospel. But most of the time they like to bible bash. blah blah.

Thinking why does dkwr14 have the same vocabulary as the first poster? force fed.....He probably got another yahoo name

Answer 5

I have used this quote myself. I don't have a problem if some one finds a better path and they want to proclaim it. A few have said they joined another church are are happier. More power to them. In all things there needs be opposition.

I just find that most ex members here are without a testimony. They are bitter and full of critism, but they are not leading any one to Christ. I'm in the Church to make it and myself better. When I stand outside, I can't do either.

Answer 6

Mr. Peepers is always so clever... gotta love him, even if he is a little extravagant somewhere. The chiasmus... the DNA link... it's classic.

That being said, let me illustrate the concept a little bit:

As a child, I lived with my family in France. I was there for a few years and liked it ok while I was there. Well, we left France, and ever since we left it, I can't leave it alone. I have gone back to visit. I continue to be fluent in French. I married a French woman. Any time I see a newspaper article about France, I read it. France is very close to me and is an intrical part of who I am. Therefore, I can't leave it alone.

Because I have lots of family and close friends in the LDS Church, the LDS Church is in a sense a part of who I am. I have never had "bad experiences" with the Church. I have, however, investigated the Church with all the fervor that the missionaries tell you to investigate it with. Like Mr. Peepers has stated, ever since I decided it wasn't true and stopped investigating, the Church hasn't left me alone. Missionaries come visit. Granted, I'll visit a sacrament meeting once in awhile, just like I'll visit a Catholic mass or a Baptist sermon, but nevertheless, the LDS Church has played an important role in who I am. It is for this reason that when I see questions about the Church, articles about the Church, or studies about the Church, I like to pitch in my opinion to see if it will help other people come to the same knowledge and understanding that I have.

I feel warm inside when I bear my testimony about the truth.

Answer 7

I could not agree more. I'm so sick of all the people that are so insecure about what they believe, so they tear downt the church and claim that we're crazy, force fed, part of a cult, etc. I actually feel a bit sorrry for them, cause they know that what they are doing is wrong, even if they weren't part of the church, but they areafraid of what will happen to them, or they can't take persecution. Either way, I know what I believe is right. I wasn't force fed, or brainwashed. I made these choices on my own and I'm glad I did.

Answer 8

I've noticed it...it seems like some (not all, by any means) Ex-Mormons have such tremendous hate and resentment not only to the Church but to LDS people themselves. I can understand that they may have had bad experiences with the Church, but I'm not sure why they have to hold grudges and make present-day LDS feel bad about themselves. I, personally, have NO grudges against those who have left the Church. I just wish that everyone who leaves the Church could do so gracefully, instead of spewing off insults as they exit the doors, as if they don't care who they offend.

We all have our own ways of faith, and I respect that. I am sorry that some people have had bad experiences with the LDS church in the past, but to generalize and constantly condemn present-day members just because of past experiences is a little classless. They are pretty much offending those who had NOTHING to do with their past experiences. It's simply not necessary.

Answer 9

It is amazing how true that is. Both my wife and my mom are "ex-Catholics" and they don't spend any time or effort at all trying to criticize or bring down the Catholic church. They don't go on to public forums and talk about how much "crap" they were "spoon-fed" their entire lives in the Catholic church. (I am not criticizing Catholics here, I'm just restating the ideas of others).
Neither of them have anything against their former religion and don't constantly try to "save" everyone they can find who still belongs to it. They are just happy now that they have found the Truth. They don't have time to bash other people's faith and nitpick at their religion to try to find things wrong with it. They know that they are in the right place now and are fully occupied with following Christ now.
I definitely believe what Elder Oaks says, and Joseph Smith and others have suggested the same. After you have had the Truth in your life, you can never again be neutral about it. You are either for it or against it forever.

Answer 10

That's true!
If you check up all the ex mormons questions and answers arte about the church even in the questions or answers are mean. I've wondered why don't they just forget it but I see that it is true that they can leave the church but can't leave it alone as the quote said ^_^

Answer 11

People oppose your wacked church because of people like Mitt Romney running for President.

We all know that Romney must have been a "Valliant Warrior" in the "War in Heaven" during the "Pre-Existence". How else could he have been born "White and Delightsome" to an LDS family here on Earth? Heck, he was probably one of the Commanding Generals . Now , America needs a President with valuable military experience like that to get us through our war in Iraq. Could you please ask "The One and Only True Prophet", Gordon Hinkley, to please release those valuable records to the public? We need to know what battles he fought in. How many medals he won. How many of the "Less Valliant Soldiers" he recommended being born with black skin when they got their chance to be born on Earth. Was Al Sharpton one of THEM ? How about Jesse Jackson? Mormons, this is your chance to show the world the light of the everlasting gospel. Dont miss out. We have General Romney running for president of the USA and we need you badly right now!