[johndehlin]

mackay11 wrote:

Hi John, thanks for dropping by. I appreciate your continued championing of the cause.

Can you or anyone make the point that there’s probably a difference between a “stayLDS” Mormon and a NOM? Or at least a spectrum of perspectives?

I participate in both forums and I think perhaps it’s best described as being in the same “place” but facing in different directions.

It seems that the majority voice on NOM are more in a waiting room. Wishing they could leave but not able to due to work/family commitments. On the other hand I feel this forum had a majority voice of more active will to stay.

There’s a place for both perspectives and forums. I find myself half way up the spectrum. Sometimes facing one way and sometimes facing the other.

Will do! Thanks for weighing in, mackay11!!!

[johndehlin]

Wow. What a nice treat. Thanks so much, cwald. And thanks to the others, too. Truth is, I’m barely hanging on at church right now. It has been very disappointing to me at times. This made me feel a little better….so thanks so much.

[johndehlin]

cwald wrote:

I also KNOW that the area authority who is over the Cache Valley/Franklin County is not convinced, and the SPs in those areas have been contacted and they are concerned about the “middle way” rhetoric that this site espouses.

Do we know who the area authority is over Cache Valley?

[johndehlin]

Brian Johnston wrote:

Where was this announcement made? I don’t see it. It doesn’t surprise me. I am just surprised that he announced it. [EDIT: Never mind, just saw it in the MS interview thread]

In any case, John will be just fine. I love John too. I consider him a brother and a friend. Don’t worry about this site. I don’t mean this to diminish anything about John’s involvement or his projects, but the only thing he does is own the domain name. A completely separate group of people (the list of admins) runs this site, and we have it on our own independent server. It’s not going anywhere.

We are a much larger community than it might appear on the surface. For every person you see each day commenting, there are hundreds of more people every day “lurking” and just enjoying our conversations. That’s perfectly OK.

I’m still 100% supportive of StayLDS…..FWIW. And of Brian. I would NEVER want anything but good to happen to StayLDS. Folks need it. Plain and simple. And I’m very grateful ya’ll have kept it alive.

[johndehlin]

I’m a bit of a StayLDS prodigal….but I am so very glad it’s here for people who need it (and there are many).

I’m also very, very grateful to all of you who have helped to keep it strong, and make it stronger.

Thank you. A million thank yous.

John Dehlin

[johndehlin]

Old-Timer wrote:

We don’t advocate “a middle way”. Rather, we advocate individal, personal ways. There’s a HUGE difference between those approaches, and I think John is starting to realize there is no one way for all. I’m sure he will continue to try to find another way that helps another group of people – and that’s one thing I really love about him.

Thanks, Ray. This is totally how I feel. I appreciate your understanding. Brian too. And Tom. Ya’ll are awesome.

[johndehlin]

canadiangirl wrote:

Quote:

Tom said, “Therefore while he appears to honestly appreciate the work going on here, he no longer directs people to these forums as a matter of course. And I believe his conclusion is in harmony with the philosophy and approach we take here, as we support people in their happiness, whatever direction that may lead them.”

Where does he direct them now?

This statement worried me and I’m not sure why. I guess it scared me that maybe I wouldn’t make it through this faith crisis and have to make a decision that would really rock my world and create distress among my family. URGGGh……

I have no problem referring folks to StayLDS. I love it here, and I really love you guys. This is still probably where my heart is…and I’m still on this path (at least for now…and I don’t plan on changing).

The only thing that’s changed is that I don’t hold StayLDS up as “the preferred” or “the” path anymore…and I try to provide disclaimers when I promote it….and it’s only because I don’t want to set people (or their spouses/families) up with unrealistic expectations. In my anecdotal experience….there are many friends of mine for whom this path couldn’t work in the long run on integrity grounds alone. And so I’ve allowed that data to feed back into my evangelism, so to speak.

That said…I have no idea what the percentages are. But to me, it’s important to not set people up for failure, or set family members up with unrealistic expectations about what the struggler should do (“Why can’t you just be like John Dehlin?!?!)

I still love this place, and all of you. Not that that matters. I’m just one dude.

[johndehlin]

I definitely won’t use anyone’s name without their consent….

[johndehlin]

SilentDawning wrote:

Can we submit this so it’s anonymous?

Maybe…it totally depends on the essay.

[johndehlin]

Thanks, George!

[johndehlin]

Please post your questions here:

http://mormonstories.org/?p=938

[johndehlin]

I love this.

[johndehlin]

Peaceandjoy wrote:

I am trying to get at the truth!!!!!

Peaceandjoy,

I’m just curious. Can you give me an example of a “truth” that your trying to “get at”?

What’s an example of a truth you can know — with absolute certainty — and by what means would you know it?

I’m not messing w/ you here….I’ve been thinking a lot about “finding truth” lately.

Please help if you can.

John Dehlin

[johndehlin]

hawkgrrrl wrote:

– Stage 4, 5 and 6 are personal journeys. You don’t take them with others

Not true, Hawk. We have each other here.

God bless the StayLDS community (especially you moderators).

[johndehlin]

Man I love you guys.

[Author]

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