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Kumihito: Funny how local interpretations make so much difference. My Bishop is a self admitted zealot and draws hard lines in the sand on every possible subject. I’ve been part of the WC for the past 2+ years (I was just released from my position, so no longer) and it has generally been a very unpleasant room to be in. It doesn’t help that I have a hard time not speaking up when I disagree about things that I think matter. Our relationship is strained right now, to say the least.

Wayfarer: Mind blowing concept, I need to ponder on that for a while.

I am amazed at how much effort people here put into helping one another and I love it. Thank you to all that responded to me and to all that created this superb thread over the past few years.

Ray, I’m going to read “His Hands” tonight.

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Wow, this is one of the best threads I’ve read on this site.

I’m really trying to learn for myself what things in this church God actually expects of me and what things are the philosophies of men mingled with scripture. The way tithing is taught today in our church is one of the latter for me. I’m not interested in toeing any lines I don’t think were put there by God anymore.

Now, how to explain this to my children without causing them to be cast off by their leaders and peers as apostates?

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Tim

Welcome to the board. I hope you find the same kind of uplift that I have from reading this board. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to go back to how I felt about the church before I had my eyes opened. I feel for you, this is hard to deal with.

I am having the exact same questions concerns and doubts that you are. We have very similar family situations as well. My biggest concern is definitely how to work my way through this without hurting my family.

I am currently operating under the premise that progression requires change. I think that maybe my faith and understanding needed to evolve past my former orthodox strict views. I really believe I’m on the right path and to reject that would essentially stop my progress. I don’t think going back is an option for me. I see everything a bit different than I did before and honestly I think my new outlook is more Christlike and charitable than it was before.

I don’t know how long it will take to figure out this new position I find myself in, long I am afraid. Not surprising though when I consider how many years it took to get me where I was prior to my awakening, why shouldn’t it take an equally long time to relearn or modify that into something deeper.

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Thanks to all for the welcoming notes.

Cache Valley is beautiful, but cold and smoggy with inversion today.

I’m kind of lost I guess. I don’t quite know where to go next. The apologetics like FAIR are as hard for me to read as the vitriolic anti-commentary that is easy to find in many places.

Any suggestions on books to read or other materials that you have enjoyed or found helpful.

I’ve been studying intently for months and months, reading everything I could to try to make sense of this mess. At first I was in a dark place and angry when my faith crumbled. I still get upset when I hear stupid things or witness pharisiacal or hypocritical behaviors (there are many examples I could list) but I am mostly over the deep anger that once filled me up over this.

I can no longer accept the one true church bit. I’m fairly certain the LDS church doesn’t have the market cornered on salvation. I don’t think church will ever be the same for me again.

I have felt inspired that this evolution I’m experiencing is not a bad thing and that I’ll be a better person as a result of all this. This is one of the most unpleasant but also liberating journeys I’ve ever been on in my life.

My wife at first was very upset and is still highly concerned, but accepts me as I am and wants the best for me/her/our family. This has been hard on her too.

Thanks again for the welcome.

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I am another that feels this article could have been written about my personal faith crisis. What I don’t see is much of anything in the suggestions for solutions that were presented that will help me get over what seems to be wrong.

Maybe I’m not ready to receive help?

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Thanks for the welcome, I hope to learn more from my journey here as an active participant rather than just an observer. I hope that by sharing my experiences I can help someone else who might be in a similar place, like others here have done for me.

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