Apostasy

Many Mormons are leaving the religion. It’s very likely that everyone reading this knows someone close to them who is now exMormon. Why did they abandon the cherished religion? How could anyone turn away from the gospel of happiness and jeopardize their celestial salvation? The attached video is quite lengthy (57 min), but I strongly encourage you to set aside the time to better understand and sympathize with your apostate family.

First, I want to share a few of my thoughts and perspective. I have the not-so-unique advantage of having been a true and faithful Mormon for the first 28 years of my life AND the experience of being a proud and certain Atheist. When I was growing up and I heard about members becoming inactive or apostate I knew the only possible cause was evil. Maybe they never had a real strong testimony or they were just lazy. I was sure they were deceived by the cunning devil Lucifer and tempted to partake in sin. They weren’t diligent enough in reading their scriptures and praying and going to church and their testimony had atrophied overtime. Maybe a difficult trial or traumatic life experience had shaken their faith and they were mad at God. It could also be that they had been offended, but that is the fault of imperfect people and the true gospel was still the kingdom of God on Earth. However, most apostates I knew growing up were not in my close group of family and friends. We were all faithful Mormons…

And then, one of my close return missionary friends admitted that he didn’t believe. Immediately my indoctrinated instincts began to justify and excuse his legitimate reasons. There was no need for him to explain his side because I wasn’t listening. I just knew he was lazy and had been deceived by Satan. Maybe it was the sinful alcoholic beverage he decided to consume. Surely the cause was pure evil.

A couple years later another one of my friends and his wife admitted to leaving Mormonism. I couldn’t believe it! What was happening?! I felt frustrated that my close friends had abandoned the true and everlasting gospel. I wanted to reach out to them and help them back to the light. I knew they were mistaken. It also seemed especially curious because this friend grew up as a super spiritual example of the Mormon elite.

It wasn’t until I found myself in a pair of apostate shoes did I truly understand my friends’ perspective. I hope those who are still believers and reading my posts will truly listen as I share my actual reasons for leaving the church. I had a very strong established testimony, nothing ever really offends me, I wasn’t caught up in evil sin, and I wasn’t deceived by Satan. I wanted more than anything for the Mormon version of heaven to be real and I was greatly concerned for the salvation of my soul. I desired a closer relationship with my personal Heavenly Father and I wanted to prove with certainty that Mormonism was true. I desired to help my apostate friends too. So I increased my amount of study and prayer and I researched and I spoke with my bishop and I fasted and prayed some more. When I struggled or was unsure… I prayed some more. I cried and I hurt and I pleaded with a omnibenevolent God that he might show me mercy and seek out his 1 lost sheep of the 99. I exhausted my God given strengths, but I knew God wouldn’t challenge us with anything we couldn’t overcome.

With the most reasonable certainty I’ve ever had I discovered the truth - Mormonism is an extremely deceptive and seemingly true work of fiction. It’s a con and a fraud. It has been the most difficult life changing fact to accept, but personally I value a difficult truth over a consoling lie. With the risk of losing my wife of 6 years I did not make the decision lightly. I had to be 100% sure. I even continued to pray and study long after I lost faith that God would ever answer my prayers.

Another huge misconception is that Mormon gospel is the only way to true joy. This is false. I am more filled with joy than I have ever been. Leaving Mormonism was the best decision I’ve ever made. I look forward with great anticipation at the rest of my life free from religion and superstition. This is one of the main reasons I have created this Sacrilegious Sabbath series - to help other believers better understand the problems with religion and hopefully discover a new fulfilling way of life based on actual truth.

Fellow apostates, please share your reasons for leaving in the comments. Share. And thanks for reading.