Why are PostMormons so Angry? Or are they?

I'm sure we've all seen or read something referring to angry Post Mormons being spiteful, and "attacking" the LDS Church beliefs.   A favorite saying is "They can leave the church, but they can't leave it alone." which of course is another adage depicting Post Mormons as angry attackers.

It couldn't be further from the truth.  This depiction, or demonization of Post Mormons is merely propaganda to lump all Post Mormons into a single category that is anti-mormon wanting to tear the church down brick by brick.   Some do, and I can't deny that, but most don't.   It's also easier for Mormons to see all Post Mormons as the same type because most Mormons have a stereotype.   If you're Mormon, you're understood by Mormons, or more to the point, each Mormon can understand the Mormon part of you.   Therefore, it's easy to reason that all Post Mormons must be the same.   Right?

Post Mormons are all the same in one single area.  They once used to be a part of the LDS Church, and left.   Mormons usually can't wrap their head around why anyone would leave such a wonderful and loving organization.   But people do for various reasons, and Post Mormons are extremely diverse as this survey shows.

Focusing on anti-mormons, you'll see a thousand or so here and there with a grudge, and a bone to pick.  There are facebook groups, general conference protests, and so on and so forth with the complete and total dedication to bring the LDS Church to it's knees.     A thousand is a generous number of spiteful Post Mormons, but out of how many?  Millions?   Angry anti-mormons are usually seen as a small number, and the LDS Church so large, but there are more Post Mormons, than there are Mormons.   Fancy that; a much larger number not making waves for their former comrades.

Why are they angry then, if so many aren't?   Aside from the ideal that Post Mormons are very diverse, there's a progression when they leave the LDS church.   What every Mormon has is The Gospel, and it's basically Mormon Doctrine Personified.  The Gospel itself was a very real and important part of our lives because we were once Mormon, and losing the Gospel was so very painful.   It's loss is akin to a death in the family, or some other momentous loss.  Just like with death, there is a grieving process.

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The 5 stages of Grief

Denial / Isolation

At first, our head is spinning because the world we grew up in, and everything we know is crumbling.  We don't know how to handle it, and we deny it.  It can't be.  We search, ponder, and pray, but nothing.   We get frantic, and search through everything we can find in the hopes of validating our cherished beliefs that are no longer.  It's truly maddening.

Anger

After accepting the LDS Church is, dare I say it, not true, we get angry.  How could the church lie to us?   Why did I give them so much money?   They are still fooling my family and friends?   These issues are frustrating, but they are just a catalyst for the real problem.   Once finding out the LDS church isn't true, we of course share our doubts with our families.   Only instead of understanding, and comfort, the usual response, is ignorance, belittlement, and fear.

We just lost our precious Gospel, and are hurting so very badly, that when we reach out to our family and friends for support during a most hurtful time...  We get shunned.   That's like going to a funeral, and kicking a widow or widower in the stomach for losing their spouse.  How dare they lose someone they love?    And that is where this extreme hostile anger comes from.   Pure unadulterated pain and suffering.

Bargaining

After the anger subsides a wee bit, there's the bargaining stage which usually consists of trying to find another religion that's true, or trying to find a belief system.  Something to replace the gaping hole that the Gospel filled.  Some even consider going back to the LDS Church because it hurts so badly not to have that comfort.   (I've never seen anyone actually go back after losing belief.)  

Depression

The LDS Church covers all bases.  It's a social group, and most Mormons derive their social needs directly from other members, so that's gone.  The beliefs are gone.  The support group is gone.  Family and friends are distant.  Getting out of bed is tough.   Everything just sucks.

Acceptance

At this stage, Post Mormons are usually putting their lives back together again.  They've usually custom built their own Moral code to replace the cookie cutter mormon one.   Hobbies, and activities have replaced callings and church service.   They focus more on life rather than church.  From here Post Mormons branch out everywhere.  Most leave the Post Mormon communities because they are no longer needed.   They settle in their respective lives happy without Mormonism.

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President Henry B. Eyring, in speaking about those with doubts, said: “In your love for them you may decide to try to give them what they ask. You may be tempted to go with them through their doubts, with the hope that you can find proof or reasoning to dispel their doubts. Persons with doubts often want to talk about what they think are the facts or the arguments that have caused their doubts, and about how much it hurts. … “You and I can do better if we do not stay long with what our students see as the source of their doubts. … Their problem does not lie in what they think they see; it lies in what they cannot yet see. … We do best if we turn the conversation soon to the things of the heart, those changes of the heart that open spiritual eyes” (“‘And Thus We See’: Helping a Student in a Moment of Doubt” [address to Church Educational System religious educators, Feb. 5, 1993], 3, 4; si.lds.org).

Here we are going through one of the most horrific experiences in our lives, and our friends and family are being counciled Not to talk with us about our hurt and pain.    We're alone in our doubts.  So is there really any wonder why there are angry Post Mormons?  

Tip for Mormons:  When someone is having doubts, just love them.   Don't be scared, or hurt that they no longer believe.  Just love them.  Be as open and accepting to them as you were before you found out they no longer believed.  

All in all though, Mormons truly do get a very nice pass on most Post Mormons being angry because the truly spiteful and hateful anger is only a stage in the grief process.   Granted, there are some grudges held because we got duped for 10% of our money, and quite a bit of our free time.  But most importantly, we still love our family and friends very much, and they are still being exploited.  

Many have gone through the grieving process alone, but luckily, there are Post Mormon Communities out there to help people during their exit.   Our sense of community was not lost in our exit.

Energizing

I appreciated the help from the other admins and friends in the group a lot.  Beth felt incredibly energized and liberated simply by marching.  It was also great to see many friends in the crowd.  We did fantastic. 

The booth and parade were huge successes.  No one gets more cheers than the Postmos, even if we aren't the largest group out there.  Can you imagine how it must feel, if you were a closet Mormon, to see a group like ours get so many cheers?  To see people be so interested in us, and give us so many thanks for what we are doing?  It's amazing.  There was always someone interested in our booth.  I might have actually made the money back that I spent on trinkets !  (I sell stuff to bring character to the booth.  It doesn't actually come close to bringing in any money to the group, especially when I offer free hairspray.. except for that hour or two where I charged $1, until I realized the Walmart brand sucked.)

The festival wasn't without it's frustrations.  I learned that Provo Pride was being audited, on charges of embezzlement.  They found nothing on Dave, so my guess is that some silly Provo Mormon simply complained loud enough.  I also learned that Pat Bagley spoke at the Leonardo on May 30th, which was just two days after I originally had him scheduled for the library, which I felt like that could have stolen some of our thunder with having him speak.  Luckily, I'm sometimes incompetent, so we have him during a time when I can generate different buzz.  On Saturday, some stupid kids stole all of the extra hairspray.  I could recognize them if I saw them, because they talked about it with me right next to them, which I called them out for.  ("Dude, I can hear you...")  Unfortunately, the stores where I bought hairspray were closed on Sunday, and Walmart hairspray brands suck (and bleed like crazy).  On another day, a Postmo that is rarely around stole a stack of parts that I was making buttons with.  Yeah, I know who, but I won't tell anyone, because I don't care.  (But seriously, who does that?  Weirdo...)  I originally blamed it on the Mormon groups, but realized soon who I was talking to before it disappeared, who was standing there, when there was no wind and I turned around for just a moment.

Here's what I see though.  I see those minor frustrations as the price to pay for doing something good.  Those kids who stole hairspray?  They stole it because what we do is fucking awesome.  Who wouldn't want to try to take a part of that home?  Life's too short to be afraid or angry at ridiculous people who are probably not happy with themselves.  So I say, bring it.  Steal my trinkets.  Audit the group if you want (please don't.. that would be slightly annoying).  Do whatever the hell you want, because whether anyone shows up to help or harm, the end result is the same over here on my side -- it gives me more energy to keep up the good fight.  Pride is energizing.  I don't care what anyone believes -- Mormon, not Mormon, theist, atheist -- what I want isn't the "right" belief from people, but the right attitude, that we are all part of the same human race, that we are all in this together, that while we may occasionally disagree, most of just want to get along, make friends, have a good time, and help others if we can.  So that's what we're going to fucking do.

SLC Lecture: Bob McCue: The Evolving Self in Post-Mormon Relationships

Thursday, April 24, 2014

7:00 PM

Legends Bar and Grill

677 South 2nd West, Salt Lake City, UT

Bob McCue will be speaking at Legends Sports Grill, 277 S 200 W, SLC, at 7pm on Thursday, April 24th, 2014.

Bob is a post-Mormon of pioneer stock on both sides of his family. He is a Canadian tax attorney, holds a BA in Russian with a religious studies minor, an MBA and a law degrees. Bob served a mission to Peru, as a Bishop for five years, and in a variety of other LDS leadership capacities.  In June of 2002, his Mormon world painfully imploded during several days of intense research he conducted while attempting to help a friend debunk anti-Mormon literature. Until then, Bob had followed the Mormon injunction to avoid anti-Mormon material.

For about five years following Bob's departure from Mormonism, he read and wrote extensively about adjusting to life outside of Mormonism, how our brains work, and various topics related to Mormon origins. He was trying to understand how he could have been wrong about so many of his foundational beliefs, while learning to exercise more reliable judgement. Bob also describes this period as a massive brain re-wiring project that helped him take the first few terrifying steps into new life. Samples of Bob's writing can be found  on websites such as Mormon Curtain  and bobmccue.ca.  Bob's initial letter to Elder Holland, and a response letter, have been widely read and resonate with many former and current LDS people whose religious beliefs are evolving.

Now over a decade into his post-Mormon walk, Bob regularly expresses gratitude to family and friends for how life has surprised him. He seldom thinks or talks about religion, and when recalling his Mormon life or his trauma on the way out of Mormonism, feels more like he is remembering a book he read than his own experience.  The gulf between his present and former lives fascinates him.

Bob will share his thoughts with regard to the various evolutionary stages he believes he has experienced since leaving Mormonism. He will address particularly:
·  the role fear plays in preventing personal growth;
·  how hard it is for most of us to grasp our own capacity to change;  and
·  how a new physical or social environment can facilitate fundamental change.

Bob acknowledges that what works for him will not for many others, and believes that the more opportunity we have to listen to people trying to make sense of their experience, the more likely we are to discover what works for us.

Bob offers his story as a perspective that he hopes some will find useful, and no more than that. This personal sharing is also another small installment on the debt of gratitude Bob feels to people like Michael Quinn, Grant Palmer and countless others with whom he interacted over the Internet as he took his first trembling steps toward Mormonism's exit door. Without the perspective and support they provided, Bob could not have changed as he has.

Bob believes that we can look forward to a life-long process of emerging from ourselves in surprising ways as we seek resonance with the changing music around and within us. These rebirths are terrifying at times, and far more often exhilarating.

After Bob's presentation, there will be ample time for Q&A.

A Brief History of Postmos

Long ago, I was alone.  I went to work, and I went home.  I didn't know how to meet people, and didn't know where to begin.  I lived alone, so there were some days where I may not have even talked to anyone.  That was for about a year, maybe two.

These days, my life is very different.  I meet so many people, that I can't keep up.  It's been a fun, wild ride.  I don't have time for the people that I do know, and I can barely keep up with my own life, much less with organizing Postmos.  In fact, I'm about to step down from being the chairperson of our group -- I've done this for years, and my life is changing enough that I no longer have the time to do what I used to.

The Beginning

As mentioned, I didn't know where to meet people.  I was afraid to just go to a bar, because I didn't even know where to begin.  I watched the Exmormon Conference online, and wished that I had gone.  I was very disappointed that I didn't go, because I couldn't find any groups to go to.  It was another year before I even saw anything social for exmormon groups posted anywhere online.  There's lots of secret exmormon Facebook groups, but you'd never know if you weren't already in those circles.

I went to an exmormon brunch, nearly a year later.  That brunch was life-changing.  I don't know what it is, but somehow meeting other people and talking things over with them gives you the confidence to be the person that you want to be.  It still wasn't enough, as soon I felt like I didn't know where to meet people.  But I had the confidence to post a question online --- whether anyone else was interested in meeting at a coffee shop once a month.  Soon, I received an email from a lady, Heather, who was already trying to organize a group in our area.  She basically said that I was interested in doing it more often than her, so that I should just lead the group.  She then gave me an email list.

So, I organized our first coffee.  There was about 12 people there, and it turned into a discussion with the group of us in a big circle.  I don't remember exactly how it turned out, but I realized that I didn't like that particular style.. at least not for the staple event.  So, the next event, I got a clown and that had about forty people there.  The next event was the Danzigs, I think, and that was about 25 people.  It's been interesting seeing the swings in crowds and people.  It's been interesting seeing the psychology of the different people involved.

The First Drama and the Admins

About a year into it, we had our first set of real drama.  A picture was posted to our Facebook group, that was somewhat sacrilegious.  I'm not a person with strong opinions about very much, but this encouraged the organizational structure of our group.  Basically, the idea was that I simply did not know enough (and maybe didn't care enough) to handle many of dramas that could arise.  For more, most issues are typically non-issues.  Additionally, I'm always a busy person.  We also wanted some protection in the case of a lawsuit, so that the individuals in our group were protected if something were to go wrong beyond our control.  Thus, our first admin group was formed.  Myself, Valerie, Hilerie, Lisa, Brian, and Tera. 

Utah Valley Postmos

It was about a year in that I was emailed by a girl named Anne.  She wanted to find other people in Utah Valley.  I then gave her the opportunity to start up a group, to use some of the resources that I had been using.  Anne is amazing, simply funny, smart, and personable.  Anne became a "godsend" for people in Utah Valley. 

Our groups grew.  People need a place to meet.  It isn't even about meeting other Postmos, it's about meeting thoughtful people.  I'd rather be with a thoughtful, non-dogmatic Mormon, than an unthoughtful, dogmatic atheist.  I simply prefer being around people who are not judgmental, and are understanding of people who come from different walks of life.  Most of us crave that, and so that's what our groups became.  And it's been a blast.

Seeing lives change

This has been hard work.  It's been rewarding work, but I've been amazed that we've been able to keep it up this long.  There are so many different personalities and philosophies among Postmos, that sometimes it can be hard finding the right balance.  Keeping things on a personal level, making sure everyone feels that connection, and making sure that the quirks in any individuals personality don't destroy the connections that could be made.. it's all though work.  Especially when you have so many people that you meet, so many stories that you hear. 

There's things that I simply didn't have time for, but that I've helped with.  The connections made in our group formed the basis of people who started the Provo Pride Festival.

But when it comes down to it, it has been rewarding.  Long term friendships have been made, and although people move on from our groups, you can see those friendships last.  I can name a lot of people who are getting married from meeting in our group.  I can think of lives improved.  My own, to say the least.  It's been the most rewarding thing that I've ever done.  Unfortunately, what we can do is limited, because we all only have limited funds, time, and energy.  But I'm glad to have been part of it all.. I'm glad to call myself a Postmo.  I'm glad to have made all the friends that I have. 

"Book Club" - The Scholar of Moab with BYU Professor Steven Peck

Thursday, April 10, 2014
6:30 PM

Kafeneio Coffeehouse
258 W 3300 S, Salt Lake City, UT

 
Steven L Peck (an active Mormon and BYU professor), and author of "A Short Stay in Hell" which we enjoyed in a previous book club, will be joining us for our discussion of his book! Spread the word, as this should be an especially enjoyable meeting.

This month should be especially enjoyable, as we will have the author of our subject material joining us... again!.. to discuss another one of his books: The Scholar of Moab 
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12463921-the-scholar-of-moab

Note that we have between 12-20 people at "Book Club" events, even though many don't RSVP here.
More of a "subject specific" discussion group. The intention is to come together once a month to discuss a book, podcast episode, specific subject of interest, etc.

Fun Bus to Wendover

Event Date: Saturday, March 22, 2014

UTA Trax Station

3300 S 200 W, Salt Lake City, UT

Come join the Postmo fun bus. Craaazy fun adventures await us all. Nothing is more fun than hanging out with all of the Postmos on a trip to Wendover.

Alcohol is allowed on the way there, but not on the way back.

The schedule is to LEAVE from 3300 Salt Lake Trax station at 4:30 and then to leave Wendover Nugget at midnight.

The cost is $20. This comes with a ticket for the buffet, a free alcoholic and free Starbucks drink, and a a redeemable coupon for $5 (I think...). 

Refunds are available through request. To pay, RSVP pay through :http://www.postmos.org/fun-bus.html  Seats are first come, first serve, and only guaranteed for people who pay. 

"An Imperfect Book: What the Book of Mormon tells us" Earl Wunderli

• Thursday, March 13, 2014

   

  First Unitarian Church

  569 S 1300 E, Salt Lake City, UT
  

  Hosted by the Humanists of Utah.

  Earl M. Wunderli has degrees in philosophy and law from the University of Utah. He retired in 1993 as Associate General Counsel for IBM in Connecticut. Now in Utah, he is a member of the board of directors of the Sunstone Foundation; he has presented aspects of his research at the annual Sunstone Theological Symposium in Salt Lake City. He has published two studies of chiasmus and Book of Mormon geography in Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought.

  http://www.amazon.com/An-Imperfect-Book-Mormon-Itself/dp/1560852305

If they had nothing to fear...

why would they hide information?

This is, in my opinion, one of the great indicators that the LDS Church is threatened by the Tom Phillips lawsuit against them.

The website that helps the Church receive an extra 20% from charitable donations of the UK government, was removed yesterday.  I, literally, was looking at it yesterday when I published the previous post in this blog.

Why is that important?  Because the LDS Church in the UK receives matched donations from the UK government.  That may have some relevance on the case, since, fundamentally, the case is reclaiming tithing that was lost due to fraud.

Now, the LDS Church wouldn't remove it if it wasn't at least a little bit concerned about the case.

Two things to note:

1) Many people are stating that the LDS Church is different from other churches in that it is a corporation.  In my understanding, all entities registered with the government are corporations, including churches.  The difference between the LDS Church and others is that it is a sole-corporation, which means that the head of it, Thomas Monson, is responsible instead of a board of trustees.

2) You can sue for beliefs.  Imagine this hypothetical -- if a child was taught, and convinced that there was a Santa Claus for 18 years, and his/her parents did all they could to make sure that that child believed in Santa Claus, then that belief would likely have caused harm in the life of the child.  I would highly expect a lawsuit to be able to win in such a case.  There are countless examples of where simply claiming to believe something does not absolve responsibility from the party who did the convincing, which may be a topic for later.

The "October Surprise" or LDS President sued

This week, a summons was issued in England for Thomas S Monson, President of the LDS Church on allegations of fraud.

Now, before you read, realize that I'm just an arm chair speculator, and probably don't know much about what I'm talking about.  That said, I like thinking threw these things and consider the implications fascinating.

A little backstory:
It was two years ago at the exmormon conference, where I was pulled aside.  A couple people had this crazy idea about suing the church, under charges of fraud. 

You might think, why would anyone sue a religion, with essentially unprovable claims? The difference between the LDS church and other churches is that you aren't required to pay tithing in any other church for eternal blessings.  Second, other churches often have open finances.  However, in the LDS religion, you need to pay tithing in order to both go to the temple and the Celestial Kingdom.   If you then collect this money

Most countries have laws to prevent fraud.  There's probably more than just fraud that the LDS Church can be sued for -- they involve themselves in politics when Churches aren't supposed to, without losing tax-exempt status.  (Link for one example of recent politicking against gay marriage, and link for politicking for liquor law changes that may cause more harm than good.)  Something interesting that may have an impact on future lawsuits against the Church, is that the Church has to disclose its finances in the UK.. what if those finances don't line up with how a church is supposed to be?  The LDS Church is the largest private landowner in Florida, WITH TAX-EXEMPT status because it's a church! 

Anyways, the case has been a couple years in the making.  Although the Deseret News quoted lawyers in how bizarre the case was, and how it would be thrown out of court, the case only started after careful inspection by various lawyers about whether there was even a case.  Originally, Phillips intended on everything occurring in October 2013, so the case had been called the "October surprise", although few knew what it was actually about.  I personally believe that the Church caught wind of what was going on, and tried to stop it back then, as rumors about it had occurred for months.  That's why it's occurring in February -- Tom Phillips had to sure up his case, and convince the UK government that the case was useful and necessary.

The momentous announcement about a summons to Monson occurred with no press release, but a simple image posted to the Mormonthink website.  The LDS church denied that a summons had arrived by then, as it likely had not.  The rumor is that David Twede's blog had been hacked, so that Mormonthink released the story early out of fear that others would break it first.  Looking back on it, I don't know whether even if it was hacked, that was a wise idea to do, as I doubt the writer as USAToday, who was likely a believing Mormon based on this piece, was the best person to "break" the story.  The change in the media received probably would have been little to no different, if they didn't post the summons to their blog first.  (Forgive me if I have these details wrong.. rumors are funny things and can likely be wrong.)

Is there a case?

Yes.  Realize, that it isn't Tom that's suing, but two other individuals, who lost ~$30 million to tithing, over the last decade.  Since the Church presented the Book of Abraham, and the other 6 points, as act but not mere belief, Philips plenty to stand on.  As it stands, the Church has books and books, and talks and talks, advising members of the historicity of many disprovable teachings.


Regardless of the initial downplaying by articles, like in the Deseret News, the Deseret News still published information about if the case went to court.  In my mind, here's the possibilities:

1) Tom Phillips drops the case, possibly by settling out of court.
According to rumor, the Church has already tried to settle out of court.  The case is still proceeding.  I highly doubt that Tom Phillips would settle, as this is not about money, but about morality.

2) The Church gets the case dismissed.
Considering that the case has already been delayed, I believe multiple times, this seems highly unlikely.  The Church likely has been fighting against this well before the larger public knew about it.  They probably didn't know the exact details, but enough to find out.  The LDS Church wants its members to spy on others, which often has negative consequences, so I imagine the information was passed along after being rumored about on various forums.

3) The Church wins.
In the scenario that the Church wins, the bad press for the Church has already occurred.  The longer the case goes on, the more bad press for the church occurs.  I mean, it isn't good press that a religion is being sued for fraud. 

I consider it highly unlikely that Monson shows up in the UK.  One, it's a slight gamble since these are criminal charges that he'd be unable to leave, if the church were to lose (unless he can get diplomatic immunity by being an important person in the US?). 

One important factor in winning the case could be that he, himself, not lawyers, has to strongly testify that the teachings of the Church are correct.  That's part of what the case revolves around -- that Monson and others believe things other than what the church teaches.  It's partially apparent that they believe differently, as the recent additions to lds.org show.

Additionally, the proceedings of the case are likely to be publicized.  I suppose the Church could attempt for details of the case to not leave the court room, but that seems unlikely, as I can't see any good grounds for it not to (but then again, I'm not a lawyer).  That means, that all of those controversial aspects of the church, all the teachings they've claimed as fact, could be publicized in international news.  No one cares about why the church isn't true, because only 99.95% of the population doesn't think it is.  However, the longer the case goes on, the more likely more stories cover ongoing details about it, and the more likely people learn about more nuanced church topics. 

Discovery orders will be issued, so that the Church has to open more of its finances.  The likely result is that the Church doesn't.  It will hide a lot of information.  This is the smoking gun in the case, imo, because they don't bring information to the case, they will lose credibility in the eyes of the law in the case.  If they aren't fraudulent, then why wouldn't they present the information requested?  I don't see the Church as presenting its internal workings, as they have a lot of fingers in a lot of funny pots.  (Rumor has it that the Church Office building security has tightened up dramatically over the past couple months, so that no one can leave with certain documents.)

Another interesting dynamic to consider, is who will they throw under the bus?  There are very few people who know the entire inner workings of Church finance.  There's the First Presidency, the Chief Financial Officers, and the Presiding Bishopric.  Will the First Presidency throw the CFO's under the bus, making them testify?  What about throwing Apostles or Seventies under the bus?  Image is everything, in the Church, so what lengths will they do to protect their image?

Even if the Church wins, the UK government is giving a portion of their taxes to the LDS Church, which will likely be brought out in trial, and end that portion of the Church's income.

I don't believe the Church can win, even if it wins the case... (see what I did there?)

4) Tom Phillips wins.

Now the case where Tom Phillips wins is interesting.  What would happen then?

Well, for one, it requires proof that the LDS Church knowingly misrepresents its teachings, which is pretty easy to prove.  Here's on example, the Church changed its teaching on tithing and misquotes an LDS prophet in modern manuals (compare this from year 1899, on page 28, note the statements on tithing versus modern teachings).

First off, it then gives Phillips more credibility.  At the moment, Mormons are baffled by the case, and consider Phillips a angry, exmormon, crackpot, as pointed out by numerous Facebook threads. 

1) A warrant is issued for Monson's arrest, which then proceeds to either an extradition order to get him from the US or they'll simply wait for if he shows up in the UK.  Obviously, this is speculation on my part, but I highly doubt the US would follow through with an extradition order.  That would be weird, considering US Senators who are LDS would probably fight tooth and nail against that.  However, it means that Tommy boy wouldn't be able to show up in the UK, unless he wanted to risk arrest.  (I'm curious -- once Tom Monson dies, will the summons then pass to the next in line?  That might require a new suit..)

2) The Church is fined.  This seems to be the most likely result -- $30 million awarded to Philips and company.  The Church has to play nice, unless it wants its property in the UK to be confiscated.  The result of the trial is worse than paying out a measly $30 million, as that likely has a much higher impact on membership in the UK and worldwide.

Now, perhaps the most interesting result of this case, if Phillips wins, is that it then becomes incredibly easy for others to sue the LDS Church in the UK, by using this case as a precedent.  This all will have the result of reduced membership in the UK, because families will tell each other of how other people are suing the Church and winning, leading more members to question. 

In my mind, the likely result of the case is that Phillips wins, because the Church is too terrified to put in any real effort to defend itself (they've already stated Monson won't show at trial... isn't that an admission of guilt?).  The next step is that the same suit then is repeated in both the UK and other European countries.  Perhaps, eventually, it moves onto lawsuits in the US.

I leave with this:

Why wouldn't Monson show up at the trial?  I mean, it's in the Articles of Faith of the church that he should.  Why wouldn't he copy Paul before King Agrippa, if he's supposed to be a prophet for our times?  He should stand before them, and testify of the truth of the things that the Church has taught for two centuries.  If those things aren't true and historical fact, then why did we need a prophet again, especially if they are going to be repeatedly wrong?

We believe in being ^asubject to ^bkings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in ^cobeying, honoring, and sustaining the ^dlaw.

I imagine in the Church Office Building....

I imagine right now, in the LDS Church office building, that LDS authorities are snickering at the article that came out.  It starts off describing Becky McKinnon as hungover.  It then moves onto her boyfriend, Timmy, who talks about his efforts in proselytizing history and support sites for non-believing Mormons.  It fits into the narrative that the church sells about people leave the church because of "cares and pleasures of the world, temptation, persecution, tribulation" (Former LDS Apostle, Neal Maxwell). 

The importance of the article though, is in the next section, "Doubt is Just a Click Away".  Just consider this advice on "Anti-Mormon Literature" from the church, that "it is a waste".  It goes so far to claim that, "Most of its [anti-mormon] questions and claims have been brought up—and answered—time and time again for over 100 years. But because anti-Mormon authors want to discredit the Church, they keep writing the same stuff over and over in the hope that they can reach a new audience."  It also claims that we "often all too willing to rely on deception and dishonesty to achieve their goals."

"The Lady doth protest too much"

The LDS church is projecting.  We're not the ones relying on deception and dishonesty -- it's the LDS church that's doing so.  Simply consider that in the past few months that it has quietly slipped in different First Vision accounts to its website.  Most members didn't know that these even occurred, as we've only been taught a single, official version.  The problem with the accounts is that Joseph constantly embellishes the story, despite having no reason to hide it in the first accounts, in his own personal journals.  \

The church also is using pseudoscience to justify the lack of DNA evidence in the American Indians, claiming that others use speculation but then speculates itself.  The Church used to teach that Nephites were the principal ancestors of the Native Americans.  It's in the Book of Mormon itself, teaches that America is a "choice land" and "the Lord would have that all men should serve him who dwell upon the face thereof" (Ether 2:8, 13:2), which presumes that practically only the Jaredites and Nephites were its inhabitants.  The Book of Mormon teaches that the Nephites and Lamanites consisted of many tens of thousands of people, which would certainly leave plenty of genetic evidence!  The church article on LDS.org even goes so far as to suggest that "Nothing is known about the DNA of Book of Mormon peoples", which seems to deny that Lehi and Sarah had Israeli blood!

What the Newsweek article does

The primary thing that the Newsweek article does is show us how restrictive church culture is.  The focus on alcohol could just as well be applied to a focus on coffee, relationships, standard non-LDS approved history, and many other things.  The focus on alcohol was there simply as an entertaining example for people outside Utah, where alcohol isn't as large of a deal.  Many exmormons still choose to never drink alcohol or coffee, and that's okay.  In the article, it even mentions a girl who drank too much, and that people were there to help.  Many feel lost in a world that they've never experienced, which is one of the reasons why we do what we try to do. 

Additionally, the Newsweek article lets others know how to find us and other groups.  It lets both Mormons, exMormons, and neverMormons know that groups like this even exist.  Even though parts may feed into Mormon stereotypes of exMormons, those Mormons are not threatened by an article that does that.  And now they know more, about their own historical flaws and that there are support groups.

So, I imagine that there are those who are sitting in the Church Office Building, reading this article, amusing themselves with how we just helped the church out..  To them, I think, this article serves to further isolate the church from the outside world.  And, at the end of the day, it's just one part of a much larger problem -- the LDS Church simply isn't true, and is still using half-truths despite hemorrhaging members.

In Newsweek!

In Newsweek!

In our biggest media attention yet, we have been in Newsweek.

Just take a look at the comments -- the article is controversial among Mormons and Exmormons alike.  The existence of the groups that it talks about moreso.  There are five sections in the article:

1) Becky and Timmy do "Exmormon missionary work".
2) Utah therapists have to handle exmormon issues, because large numbers of people leave due to google
3) Timmy, a lifelong member, couldn't stay in the church, after a SL Tribune article and spending years researching the subjects
4) Coverage of "Liquor 101"
5) A brief history of Postmormon groups
6) The fun that Exmormons have together

The criticisms are that many exmormons feel that 1) and 4) misrepresent them.  Some feel that it presents exmormons as leaving the religion to drink.  The exmormons who do "missionary work" are a very small minority, and most feel like they want to just move on with their lives.  Those who do missionary work, do it because they feel royally screwed by the LDS church, and don't want others to feel the same.  However, those are the hooks for an international audience, for sensationalization.  No one outside of Utah has any idea that there would be people who do that.

Despite that criticism, points 2) and 3) are fantastic.  It points to there being real reasons that people are leaving the religion.  It tells the story about places that exmormons can go.  It points to resources to help people overcome their fears.  It makes leaving the religion a little less scary, for people who want to do so.

And, at the end of the day, it shows the weirdness of it all. Because mormons consider themselves "a peculiar people", leaving mormonism is also very, "peculiar".

The Additions to the LDS.org website

Over the past year, the LDS.org website on church doctrines has had controversial (among believing LDS people) material added to it.  This includes,

Commission:
Multiple First Vision Accounts:
This details the changes in the first vision stories told by Joseph Smith.  You can see the story evolve, to become grander.  Why didn't Joseph mention all the details at first?  He had plenty of followers at that point.  Soon, I'll go over the contradictions with this and the details given by other prophets about the first vision.


Details of the Translation of the Book of Mormon:
This indicates that Joseph Smith used a "seer stone" and not the Urim and Thummim for parts of the translation.  This would be the same seer stone that he used unsuccessfully for "money-digging".  So, we can only assume that the Book of Mormon is as accurate as his use of a seer stone.

Omission:
The Changes to Priesthood Doctrines:
As most of us know, the ability to be sealed in the temple for people of African descent was only begun in 1978 by the LDS church.  In this, they seem to ignore that the church believed that people who weren't white were cursed.  In fact, the Book of Mormon had a recent rewrite to remove all the references of "white" and skin color changes in it.  The Book of Abraham bans blacks from having the Priesthood, according to standard LDS interpretation of that scripture.  For being "the most correct book[s] on earth", the scriptures sure seem to be wrong.

Polygamy in Early Utah:
This article seems to try to justify polygamy in early Utah.  It points out a scripture from Jacob in the Book of Mormon, without citing the prior scripture about how polygamy "was abominable" for the mormon god.  It puts the start/end dates to polygamous marriages later than they started and earlier than they began.  For example, Joseph's relationship with 16-year old Fanny Alger began around 1833.  The article downplays Joseph's role in polygamy, by stating "in some cases blah blah blah occurred", without mentioning that those cases happened with the early church leaders.  In addition, the article gives no solution as to why women were taken from men who were already married.  (Poor Henry Jacobs.. he had his wife taken twice!  By both Joseph and Brigham!)