Benji Schwimmer on How LGBTQ Mormons are Deceived by the LDS Church
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- Опубліковано 9 лют 2021
- Professional dancer and choreographer, Benji Schwimmer, discusses his discomfort with the public relations efforts of the LDS church - particularly how "active" LGBTQ members are misrepresented within the Mormon community. He and John also go on to explain how this deception sets people up for failure, as it makes it impossible for Mormons struggling with same-sex attraction to ever achieve the ideals presented by the church.
This excerpt is from Mormon Stories episode number 1001 - “Benji Schwimmer: Life After Mormonism, pt. 2”
The full interview can be found at: • Benji Schwimmer - Life...
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#Mormon #LGBTQ #NorthStar #BenjiSchwimmer #SYTYCD #Dance
The check writing is so sad. Why hasn't someone said, "write a check to feed a family, or pay someone's electric bill." No, it is all gatekeeping and control.
And I know from experience they won’t write a check even if a full tithe payer for over 25 years needs temporary help. That man who had a wife & 3 children still at home, lost his job & was desperately trying to get another one fast.
I am a member and this is a load of crap
I’ll keep saying it, these highlight segments are brilliant!
Thanks Jacob!
@@UnderstandingMormonism I wish Benji would have named more names regarding those at North Star because I am pretty sure some are still working for the church as contributors for the Mormon and Gay (or whatever it is called now) site. In the last two years I have seen a few "testimonials" taken down quietly. Now there are barely any left. Makes you wonder....
I love how you said the church's only priority is to "avoid being at fault."
I also loved John's rant about how the church keeps re-cycling new "happy" gay members because the role models they used before have all left.
I noticed this also. They seem to prop up these "glowing examples" and then quietly take them down with no explanation.
The most important question was missed though: Is Benji single?
(Asking for a friend...)
🤣🤣🤣
😂🤣😂
Thank you, John, for putting out these highlight segments! We can catch up on some awesome conversations.
Thank you for your support!
I helped organize Restore Honor at BYU.
One of our primary goals was to make the treatment of homosexual and heterosexual relationships the same under the honor code (i.e., if a guy and a girl can hold hands on campus... two guys and two girls can too).
Sitting in meeting after MEETING with BYU's upper administration and seeing them repeatedly and point blank ask "well why is this even important? Why can't 'they' be like [insert Mormon mixed orientation poster couple]?" was... sickening.
Honestly.. It was one of the first moments I think I saw visible "cracks" in my shelf as... It became all too clear that there were high ranked members in church leadership who simply did not want, and refused to even conceptualize equality --even on a basic, scholastic level.
I went through a very similar experience while attending BYUI. Thanks for sharing this and thanks to Benji for talking about it. I needed to watch this.
Great video. Love the short clips on this channel.
Yes, these segments really are brilliant. Thanks to everyone involved for getting this one out there!
Thank you for your support!
“Religion makes you do some crazy shit.” Amen, brother.
He was brilliant!
Maybe one day I'll be able to share my story with you guys, as a Brazilian gay person who was born in the church!
Thank you so so much for sharing this!
great highlight!
Love these John. “They can say what they want to say but they don’t want to suffer the consequences for it.” Well said Benji (I shared your nickname as a kid).
Eye opening revelations. These excerpts from previous interviews are excellent. Now I will go back to the full interview. Mormon Stories Podcasts are pure gold. I am a relatively new listener (about a year). The abundant ongoing content is more than enough but the archive is really a treasure trove. Better than television and other media because of the honesty and unhurried pace.
Wow. I'm so sorry you struggled so much.
It's a struggle for so many of us.
I know exactly which bishop he is talking about. I was in the same singles ward as Benji during prop 8 and it was a huge issue for me as well. I realized just how much I couldn’t support it.
Wasn't proposition 8 over 10 years ago?
How courageous of Benji to tell his story. What an inspiration. The church should never have become a billion dollar organization. The BoM could be the truest book ever, but the organization itself is so corrupt at this point that I refuse to be a part of it. If God and Jesus are real, I can't imagine why they'd return to earth and say "good job Mormon church". No way.
Especially with how much of its original content and policies changing. Polygamy was written out for political reasons with the state of Utah & The US, not because LDS wanted to end it. When missionaries started spreading more throughout the world and preaching the BoM they had to change the race in heaven and priesthood part to not be racist. I don’t understand how this doesn’t affect the desire for one to continue or to convert to Mormonism.
Benji is a breath of fresh air. Good stuff.
As a gay man myself, I find Benji attractive
Preach it! Benji!! Tell em all about it!
this video was so refreshing to watch. so many of my friends growing up in the church were lgbtq+, including myself, and it made me so happy to see them leave the church and be free from its manipulation
Our bodies are designed heterosexually. So no matter what we feel God has designed it to be man and woman.
@@Sirach144 reproductively yes. but not everyone is heterosexual.
@@Sirach144 lol
@@reiiashton because we are fallen. Jesus even defined marriage when he said “ did you not know that he who created them from the beginning created the male and female? For this reason man leave his parents and he shall cling to his wife and the two shall become one flesh. “ We can-t mistakes desires for god acceptance. God didn’t design us heterosexually and then accept contrary to what he designed. Read Romans 1:26,27.
@@Sirach144
Correct 🙏🏼💜
Dang, I'm watching the impeachment trial "live" at the moment
I did everything they asked, got married in the temple and you're right, it doesn't work.
He’s so handsome!
Agreed!
@Cat x Who is?
Yes!!
The church's involvement in proposition 8 and its policy on same-sex attraction is disgusting.
Hi Benji, This was an eye opening discussion. I am active in the LDS Church and I feel close to God being a member of the church but I also struggle with same sex attraction. My priesthood brothers are wonderful to me as long as they don't know that I have these feelings. I have been rejected and discriminated against by priesthood leaders when they have found this out about me. I have often wondered how many of the General Authorities also struggle with same sex attraction. It is scary to contemplate that some or several of the priesthood leaders are living a double life and maintain this facade. I have a friend who's sister worked for an insurance company. One of the salesmen would come from Idaho Falls to
💗 He's so articulate.
That Bishop was a big manipulator.
Still is
😂😂 "going full Nephi" this video was very informative and at times hilarious. Thanks you so much for sharing :)
I know northstar I know benji what a life we people who were apart of northstar and knew Fred and Marlyn Matis and Ty Mansfield. We struggled.
I am 71. I questioned (traditional religious). I found the answers I needed at the time through a non traditional church, which finally led me to God because they allowed me to have questions. I don't need to belong to a "church". My favorite song growing up was In the Garden. That's what it's come down to now for me. The joy we share as we tarry there. . . Time spent with God. That doesn't have to be it for everyone, but like Benji says, you have to find your own truth. You don't ever have to feel "bad" about what feels right in your soul. Go Benji!
This is eye opening, and at the same time so sad. I wonder if the wives of those board members are aware of this?
this! ^
I'm guess YES. What are the wives's options? They don't want to lose their "celestial marriage" so they just put up with it.
Carol Atchley
If the wives do know it is very hurtful towards them but they will stay in the marriage for public image sake.
If they do not know, whew, sad.
@@christineadams1284 I don't want to be judgmental but it seems that some of these women are with these men BECAUSE they are gay, not in spite of it. It makes these women "special" and unique. It almost seems like a transactional relationship. The men get to parade around their wife and pretend they are "making it work" and the wife gets to treated like a saint for being so understanding. I'm guessing many of these women are low sex drive women anyway so marriage with almost no obligation for sex plus they get to reach sainthood while alive... I can see the appeal for some women.
How do you know he's even telling the truth?
I am not gay but this was one of the reason I left. Another reason was when we were pushed to vote for anyone other then Obama because he is African American. It's sad to see that church and state there really is not separate and how racist they really are.
I don't believe in the church anymore but there is no need to lie about them. The church did not in ANY way say or even imply that you shouldn't vote for Obama because he is black. At the most, it is implied that the republican platform more closely aligns with our religious views than the democrat platform. In 2012 Mitt Romney was running (famous mormon who saved the Salt Lake City Olympics) so of course tons of members were probably openly supporting him. Again, nothing to do with Obama being black.
@@nickdipaolofan5948 it shouldn't matter, the church shouldn't have a party. And as a YSA Latina I expirenced some racist BS, you can only speak for yourself like I'm speaking for myself.
Same
@@lifewithsulmy7504 I don't question that you as an individual experienced a few racist comments or people but that does not at all equate that the church as a whole was against voting for Obama due to racism. That is what I had an issue with regarding your comment. I am a republican, there are several black conservatives politicians I would gladly vote for if they were in my district. If Thomas Sowell had ever ran for president I would have voted for him in a heart beat. I am guessing you might not have voted for an ultra conservative black intellectual like Thomas Sowell, is it because you are a racist? or is it because you might not agree with his politics???
Again, I don't believe in the church anymore. But you lose credibility if you just throw baseless accusations at an entire institution (such as "the church" was pushing people to not vote for Obama BECAUSE he was a black candidate) flippant accusations of racism is a political tool used by left wing lazy people.
@@nickdipaolofan5948 you have your experiences and I have mine. Let's agree to disagree.
They are doing this with David Archuleta now.
I'm Gay before i was converted to Mormon church. After a years i left Mormon church years ago. I decided to left the church due to homophobic members. I experience some word's like "are you gay". & Also i left coz no one support me as prospective elder. Im the only convert in my family so it was really hard. I did all everything but my faith to so called "God" was fall apart. Also the feeling of not belong to the other LDS due to family status in life. Literally its so hard breaking to church but i feel more im free now.
I'm grateful for Benji because when I say things like, “How can a gay person remain a Mormon?,” “How can a woman be a Christian when the Bible treats women as “under men?,” or “How can a black be a Mormon when Brigham Young was a racist?,” I almost always get accused of ”wrong.” “Oh, you are calling gays/blacks stupid, or you are a racist.” Neither is true. I really don't get it.
actually LDS stands for latter day scoundrels not latter day saints
NICE!
Yes, it does 🤣
I was a Latter day sucker
Amen. A RM gay man. Still consider myself to be Mormon. This Church is not the Church established by Joseph Smith. There are very good books out there that show Joseph Smith was not a big homophobe. I am a believer of God, open minded and explorer of the origins of the Bible. They tried to get me to marry to get over my sexuality. I said why would I marry a wonderful women who is looking for for her prince. I do have friends that married and they all cheated, married in the church. Yet I was excommunicated for sex with a man. Thank you, Benji for your story.
Who is he talking about at 10:42?
EDIT: Nevermind, he clarified as he went on. So sad.
From overseas: What does Benji mean about Proposition 8, was he being asked to support it or fight it ? He said his then-bishop was homo friendly, I think.
Ugh his manipulative bishop makes me feel sick to my stomach. I’m so sorry that happened Benji!
Prop 8 broke my shelf.
That’s what the church did in my opinion with Christensen’s brother.
If you came for tea you'll not be disappointed
Great message! Benji is a beautiful soul! It's obvious the LDS church is not inspired by the one they claim to represent...
Please catch me up a bit and please don’t take this harsh. I believe his claims but please explain how Benji Schwimmer knows about these hidden aspects of the upper levels of the church. Thanks
I would encourage you to go listen to Benji's full interview for more context! He has such a great story and it is definitely worth a listen. You can find the full episode here: ua-cam.com/video/EddOczFqSrM/v-deo.html
8:56 "They just recycle new role models." It's sort of like the local news weathermen completely missing and blowing a weather forecast. They come on the next day and don't even mention how wrong they got the forecast the previous day. There's no, "Sorry I told you we were only supposed to see a few showers and we got a deluge of rain and flash flooding, instead."
As I watched this video I could not get out of my head that Benji Schwimmer should not throw stones, the old adage, those who live is glass houses should not throw stones. He said he protested gay marriage thus actively went out of his way to make things at least more difficult for the LGBTQ community. I am not saying what the LDS faith has/is doing to anything right but both Benji and the LDS church have done the same thing, actively sort to damage/harm the LGBTQ community.
I am new to mormon stories and John Dehlins work and so I may have miss understood, I am open to that. Growing up in the LDS faith I understand the pressure placed on you as an individual (I have only just had my first cup of coffee this year!) but can that be used to excuse behaviour that's only intention is to damage/harm another human being or group?
is he talking about North Star?
Yes.
@@UnderstandingMormonism I'm wondering if you could ever interview ty, jeff, etc and kind of confront them on all of this but I realie that may be way too confrontational.
I was doing a show in 2012 and i was also working in one of the Obamas campaign offices. During that, i have befriended a couple Mormons who really didn't even believe that the Mormon church was so invested in trying to stop the passing of prop 8. And i am like, " i don't want to upset you but I can totally show you evidence if you want to see it,. I just stopped bringing it up. There are amazing people in the LDS church and many of them are as loving to gay people as they are to each other. (nothing like the sanctimonious Protestants. The leaders of the church need to drop this because it's so cruel to do to the members who are gay or have someone gay in their family. I have one friend who is determined to not be celibate to have God accept him and i have tried dating a guy who was really broken from the church's ex-communication with him. My stance with different religions is if people i care about a letting their church hurt them for thinking they deserve that. And it frustrates me. People should not still be doing this. Hopefully, your performing in CA sometime when things open up again. Hang in there.
Church is too worried about PR, they need to pick a side cause they're not making any friends on either side
exactly, they are trying to appease both sides of the argument in hopes of enjoying the attendance of both groups but they are actually going to disaffect BOTH groups and be left with neither of them believing in the church. I am conservative and now no longer believe in the church leaders BECAUSE of their flip flopping on this and other issues.
I hope he names names of the North Star Board members and also any contributors of the mormon and gay website. The first time I looked up the mormon and gay website I had my suspicions that something didn't pass the smell test.
Nick DipaoloFan
He can't, he most likely would end up dead, these men have community reputations that Must be kept squeaky clean to the public.
Freemasons do not play games, they keep their secrets secret, and if someone steps out of line, Goodbye, alleged suicided.
@@christineadams1284 you're saying they would murder him proving to everyone he was telling the truth?
Who was he talking about who was cheating on their wives? It was a weird cut.
Great interview but lots of awkward transitions. I’m gonna have to watch the long version
Link to Pres Benson placed the Church under Condemnation
A segment from 'Saved by the Light of the Buddha Within'... by a gay author...
My new understandings of what many call 'God -The Holy Spirit' - resulting from some of the extraordinary ongoing after-effects relating to my NDE...
Myoho-Renge-Kyo represents the identity of what some scientists are now referring to as the unified field of consciousnesses. In other words, it’s the essence of all existence and non-existence - the ultimate creative force behind planets, stars, nebulae, people, animals, trees, fish, birds, and all phenomena, manifest or latent. All matter and intelligence are simply waves or ripples manifesting to and from this core source. Consciousness (enlightenment) is itself the actual creator of everything that exists now, ever existed in the past, or will exist in the future - right down to the minutest particles of dust - each being an individual ripple or wave.
The big difference between chanting Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo and most other conventional prayers is that instead of depending on a ‘middleman’ to connect us to our state of inner enlightenment, we’re able to do it ourselves. That’s because chanting Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo allows us to tap directly into our enlightened state by way of this self-produced sound vibration. ‘Who or What Is God?’ If we compare the concept of God being a separate entity that is forever watching down on us, to the teachings of Nichiren, it makes more sense to me that the true omnipotence, omniscience and omnipresence of what most people perceive to be God, is the fantastic state of enlightenment that exists within each of us. Some say that God is an entity that’s beyond physical matter - I think that the vast amount of information continuously being conveyed via electromagnetic waves in today’s world gives us proof of how an invisible state of God could indeed exist.
For example, it’s now widely known that specific data relayed by way of electromagnetic waves has the potential to help bring about extraordinary and powerful effects - including an instant global awareness of something or a mass emotional reaction. It’s also common knowledge that these invisible waves can easily be used to detonate a bomb or to enable NASA to control the movements of a robot as far away as the Moon or Mars - none of which is possible without a receiver to decode the information that’s being transmitted. Without the receiver, the data would remain impotent. In a very similar way, we need to have our own ‘receiver’ switched on so that we can activate a clear and precise understanding of our own life, all other life and what everything else in existence is.
Chanting Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo each day helps us to achieve this because it allows us to reach the core of our enlightenment and keep it switched on. That’s because Myoho-Renge-Kyo represents the identity of what scientists now refer to as the unified field of consciousnesses. To break it down - Myoho represents the Law of manifestation and latency (Nature) and consists of two alternating states. For example, the state of Myo is where everything in life that’s not obvious to us exists - including our stored memories when we’re not thinking about them - our hidden potential and inner emotions whenever they’re dormant - our desires, our fears, our wisdom, happiness, karma - and more importantly, our enlightenment.
The other state, ho, is where everything in Life exists whenever it becomes evident to us, such as when a thought pops up from within our memory - whenever we experience or express our emotions - or whenever a good or bad cause manifests as an effect from our karma. When anything becomes apparent, it merely means that it’s come out of the state of Myo (dormancy/latency) and into a state of ho (manifestation). It’s the difference between consciousness and unconsciousness, being awake or asleep, or knowing and not knowing.
The second law - Renge - Ren meaning cause and ge meaning effect, governs and controls the functions of Myoho - these two laws of Myoho and Renge, not only function together simultaneously but also underlies all spiritual and physical existence.
The final and third part of the tri-combination - Kyo, is the Law that allows Myoho to integrate with Renge - or vice versa. It’s the great, invisible thread of energy that fuses and connects all Life and matter - as well as the past, present and future. It’s also sometimes termed the Universal Law of Communication - perhaps it could even be compared with the string theory that many scientists now suspect exists.
Just as the cells in our body, our thoughts, feelings and everything else is continually fluctuating within us - all that exists in the world around us and beyond is also in a constant state of flux - constantly controlled by these three fundamental laws. In fact, more things are going back and forth between the two states of Myo and ho in a single moment than it would ever be possible to calculate or describe. And it doesn’t matter how big or small, famous or trivial anything or anyone may appear to be, everything that’s ever existed in the past, exists now or will exist in the future, exists only because of the workings of the Laws ‘Myoho-Renge-Kyo’ - the basis of the four fundamental forces, and if they didn’t function, neither we nor anything else could go on existing. That’s because all forms of existence, including the seasons, day, night, birth, death and so on, are moving forward in an ongoing flow of continuation - rhythmically reverting back and forth between the two fundamental states of Myo and ho in absolute accordance with Renge - and by way of Kyo. Even stars are dying and being reborn under the workings of what the combination ‘Myoho-Renge-Kyo’ represents. Nam, or Namu - which mean the same thing, are vibrational passwords or keys that allow us to reach deep into our life and fuse with or become one with ‘Myoho-Renge-Kyo’.
On a more personal level, nothing ever happens by chance or coincidence, it’s the causes that we’ve made in our past, or are presently making, that determine how these laws function uniquely in each of our lives - as well as the environment from moment to moment. By facing east, in harmony with the direction that the Earth is spinning, and chanting Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo for a minimum of, let’s say, ten minutes daily to start with, any of us can experience actual proof of its positive effects in our lives - even if it only makes us feel good on the inside, there will be a definite positive effect. That’s because we’re able to pierce through the thickest layers of our karma and activate our inherent Buddha Nature (our enlightened state). By so doing, we’re then able to bring forth the wisdom and good fortune that we need to challenge, overcome and change our adverse circumstances - turn them into positive ones - or manifest and gain even greater fulfilment in our daily lives from our accumulated good karma. This also allows us to bring forth the wisdom that can free us from the ignorance and stupidity that’s preventing us from accepting and being proud of the person that we indeed are - regardless of our race, colour, gender or sexuality. We’re also able to see and understand our circumstances and the environment far more clearly, as well as attract and connect with any needed external beneficial forces and situations. As I’ve already mentioned, everything is subject to the law of Cause and Effect - the ‘actual-proof-strength’ resulting from chanting Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo always depends on our determination, sincerity and dedication.
For example, the levels of difference could be compared to making a sound on a piano, creating a melody, producing a great song, and so on. Something else that’s very important to always respect and acknowledge is that the Law (or if you prefer God) is in everyone and everything.
NB: There are frightening and disturbing sounds, and there are tranquil and relaxing sounds. It’s the emotional result of any noise or sound that can trigger off a mood or even instantly change one. When chanting Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo each day, we are producing a sound vibration that’s the password to our true inner-self - this soon becomes apparent when you start reassessing your views on various things - such as your fears and desires etc. The best way to get the desired result when chanting is not to view things conventionally - rather than reaching out to an external source, we need to reach into our own lives and bring our needs and desires to fruition from within - including the good fortune and strength to achieve any help that we may need. Chanting Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo also reaches out externally and draws us towards, or draws towards us, what we need to make us happy from our environment. For example, it helps us to be in the right place at the right time - to make better choices and decisions and so forth. We need to think of it as a seed within us that we’re watering and bringing sunshine to for it to grow, blossom and bring forth fruit or flowers. It’s also important to understand that everything we need in life, including the answer to every question and the potential to achieve every dream, already exists within us.
The falsehood:
EXACTLY
"Thou Shalt Not Lie".
These men he is talking about are Liars.
Honesty is the Only way.
Great interview. 🙏🏼💜
Did Ty Mansfield divorce?
"As a man thinks, so he is"?!!! Quote from the Book you follow. A true proverb in my experience.
So for me this was my moment in Church when a woman stood up and quoted this short verse, it cut through my heart centre, I knew I could not go on pretending but needed to 'own' myself. I have come to believe the teachings of the so called 'church' all of them, are fake, wrong and untrue, the story does NOT make any sense when you stand back and take a rational view?
Those of you who bother to read this may strongly disagree, but my attempts on my life at 16 are testament to this evil, judgemental and heartless religious philosophy, yes we should love one another and forgive that which is appropriate to forgive, there are however exceptions, natural law from our concision's tells us if we let it and do not block it with these harmful teachings, they nearly cost me my life!! My hateful deeply religious Father never loved me, he tried to strangle me while my Mother watched in the door way, he was extremely strong, a farmer, in the moment i screamed in his face just as he was overpowering me: "YOU NEVER LOVED ME" at that he let go and they both sleeked away, this was never mentioned again and no one knows what i went through, no one to turn to, death seemed the only way out as i did not have the courage to run away and no where to go!
So this guy speaking makes no sense to me, he is not seeing it for what it is, he is trying to justify the narrative because, like i was, he is brainwashed by this poison, i feel very sorry for him, after 7 decades i now understand how it is meant to be, life teaches us if we are willing to learn. Life is hard, so now i count my blessings every day, my mindful meditations help ground me in reality, to stay in the present, to love those i come into contact with and not judge, in this my soul is at peace as an out gay man, so what, i love him as much, if not more than , as some men love their wife, girlfriend or partner. Love wins yet is not weak. namaste
The poor spouses being railroaded into marriages that are not in any way what they deserve to be? It’s not fair. It’s not right. That’s victimization. If someone can’t see how wrong that is, something had to have beaten the sense of right and wrong out of them. Anything rationalized as “for Jesus” can do that. It’s coerced blindness. “Don’t look at the man behind the curtain.”
You can get so much into fasting, and also to get rid of everything you own, and never miss it. And you get very thin. You think Jesus fastest lots so you live by faith, and you safe.
No religion should be given the authority over a human beings sexuality.
Very interesting. I am straight, but I have two brothers who are gay. Yes, two, not just one. Obviously, neither of them are still in the church. One of my brothers was told by his bishop to buy porno magazines of naked women and masturbate until he could have sex with a woman. Being straight, I wish my bishop told me to buy porno of women and masturbate. This goes beyond the LGBTQ issue. The church will never, never, never admit they made a mistake. Whether it be the LGBTQ issue, Blacks and the priesthood, polygamy, the massacre, etc. They can't, because they insist that they are the only true church of Jesus Christ and that Jesus Christ leads the church. So, if the church ever "makes a mistake" it either isn't led by Jesus Chris, or Jesus Christ isn't perfect. And, if Jesus isn't perfect, we don't have Christianity. So, the church has backed itself into a corner with no escape. It will never admit it made a mistake. It can't.
BINGO!!! you hit the nail on the head!! And sadly with each passing year, their inability to admit mistakes is making the house of cards fall just a little faster. The church will likely never go away, but each year more and more true believing members like I was become disillusioned and leave or become non-literal believing members who are still attending but no longer buying the false narrative. Also, with each passing year the number of new converts are diminishing.
@@nickdipaolofan5948 Yep - I had doubts way back in my teens about the doctrine that God has a body of flesh and blood. Senseless! This body of flesh and blood is made for this earth. Its foundation/function is organic (carbon, oxygen, hydrogen). Why does God need lungs? Why does he need a circulatory system? Why does he need a digestive system? Why does he need an excretion system (pee & poop)? Why does he need an immune system? All of that would make him mortal! Not immortal/Celestial! My my serious journey started a few years ago when I found out there were 4 versions of the first vision. Never knew that 50 years ago. So I started researching and found that everything the church preaches and teaches is a lie, manipulation, deception, coverup, etc. Since I am in academia, I compiled a summary document of all the lies, manipulations, deceptions, false doctrines, etc. I documented/referenced everything I found. I think I was in denial, so needed to prove to myself that the church was really a lie. My summary document came to over 40 pages. Bottom line is the Mormon church is exactly what Joseph Smith accused the churches of his time to be - "They draw near to me with their mouth, but their hearts are far from me!" I am speaking of the Church, not individual members.
I am convinced Ty Mansfield is on the down low.
I’m a victim of Boyd K Packer’s infamous Priesthood Session talk. Impressionable teenagers shouldn’t have to stand for being belittled by authority figures who are stand ins for a god almighty. That’s way too much abuse.
What in the cognative dissonance is this??
Anthony PC
The propaganda that the church spews out as truth.
"It's easier to fool people than to convince them they have been fooled". Mark Twain
The whole group is built on a Lie by a freemason.
@@christineadams1284 That's a very important quote.
I lived as a supposedly “gay” man for 18 years and it sucked. I didn’t leave that identity for religious reasons whatsoever.
Gay life and the promises of living life that way are totally false. 57% or more of gay identifying men are single (with just casual sex with casual partners) and the vast majority in relationships are not monogamous. (Look it up!) That doesn’t sound like a great outcome to me.
I decided after 18 years of pursuing only homo male relationships to pursue hetero dating again and it was much, much better. The attraction is different (more of a heart/friendship connection and more tender and genuine.) The gay male world is not a happy place. Even if I am unable to have a hetero marriage in the future (which I doubt) I would rather be celibate that try to make another gay male relationship work or reengage with that community.
You’re telling a half truth at best. Homo male relationships and that environment is not some sort of utopia. It’s a pretty awful place, especially if someone is sensitive and not promiscuous.
I think a lot of people in mixed orientation marriages like the North Star crowd are much better off (and happier) for it. I am thankful they present this as an option for someone like myself (who isn’t even doing this out of religion… simply out of pure pragmatism. I’m not Mormon.)
Because of NONE of it matters- “appearance” matters to religious society
Well I never. I actually thought they were faithful. But they're having side salads? Get out of here. Stuff this.
"how people are deceived by church"
Same thing went on when Christ was here on earth. Look at the Pharasees and Sadducees the hypocrites of His time. He put them in their place so they put Him on the cross.
You said that writing a check “just didn’t FEEL right”? What about same sex attraction? Did that just never feel quite right? I wanting to understand it. At what point does it ever feel right? When the numbers increase on the internet do you don’t have to be alone in this ?
The LDS Church has blood on its hands.
When I realized that a person is born gay, that it is not a "choice" made by the individual, I stopped to review what I really believed. If God was a loving father, he could not create a person to be gay and then tell them they are going to hell because they are gay. We are told that we must follow God's rules here, by faith, or we will be damned for eternity. If we manage to get to heaven, then we can sit around God's throne and sing his praises and tell him how wonderful he is for the rest of eternity. If God created us so that he would have worshipers, in fact demands that we worship him, I find that contemptible. I would not worship such a being. A bully like that does not deserve worship. I finally realized how false any religious teaching is. The whole story is so illogical. The bible DOES say that homosexuality is an abomination, so if you follow the bible you are buying into blaming a person for being who they were born to be. If there is a god, I have not seen real proof that he, she, or it exists. i think the best rule for life is treat others as you want to be treated. If everyone would follow that simple rule, society would be better. I really have a hard time when I view videos about how people have left the church because of a false teaching or, as with a gay person, the unfair treatment they receive, and then talk about how Jesus has led them to join this other church. They should review all of their beliefs and the things they have been taught, in a logical way. Stop letting the fear of death keep you from seeing the truth that this life is all we get. We must make the best life we can here. If we understood that this is all we get, wouldn't we treat those around us better? We wouldn't have to hate someone because they belonged to a certain church, lived a different lifestyle, belonged to a different ethnic group, etc. As long as a person is treating other people with compassion and respect, they are living a good life.
I would love you as a next door neighbor.
It's all about the money
Write a check to support the LDS crusade against Prop 8? The nerve... Isn't 100 billion dollars more than enough? Greediness never was happiness.
They ain't gonna use their money! Are you daft?! Then they wouldn't have 100 billion dollars! It's like, they are not going to pay someone to clean the church when they have you, who will do it for free!
Benji: "He's like, 'well, you need to pray about [donating to Prop 8],' and, it just didn't feel right."
So, did you pray about it or just trust your feelings? Guess who it is that teaches people not to pray? It's not the Holy Ghost.
Guess who isn’t real? The Holy Ghost 👻
@@missamytaylor93 The Holy Ghost is how God often communicates to us. The scriptures mention the Holy Ghost.
@missamytaylor93 An INSTIGATOR, I see! :)
i'm so glad not to be a part of any religion now
So the church needs to grow, like all of us, how does that leap to, its all false, Im not on that band wagon. Many sad messed up stories. Church is everyones scapegoat for their own problems they cant fix themselves.
Lol
People should listen to the prophets talks and elder Hollands and The church of Jesus Christ of latterday saints General Conference talks to learn the truth about the church IF they REALLY Want to learn the truth because all these anti mormon podcasts are full of miss understanding and lies
Is this typical of all churches. I don’t think so. Be careful not to speak about this as being inclusive of all churches. Individual humans are sinful in nature. Then there has no been true salvation.
Doctrine and Covenants 19:31 And of tenets thou shalt not talk, but thou shalt declare repentance and faith on the Savior, and remission of sins by baptism, and by fire, yea, even the Holy Ghost.
What people fail to comprehend is the church belongs to God not man it's God's law that matters not man
Margaret James
Absolutely correct, God's Law, Only.
LDS is man made.
Why does it feel so wrong then
The church gives me a bad feeling
@@inchworm20 pray to God about it that simple
@@christineadams1284 LGBTQ is man made up now what
@@margaretjames7313 trust me, I have
Benji, you are putting way too much value into imperfect people. The church is true. Every example you came up with was men bending scripture and commandments to fulfill their own desires.
I'm now a HUGE supporter of the LGBTQ movement: Let's Get Biden To Quit
Again someone making a video from misinformation. Fact : The LDS church believes this... God loves everyone! He knows we will ALL struggle here on this earth with different things. FACT: Marriage is between a man and a woman and sex and procreation should stay within that boundary. LGBT or not. FACT: We accept everyone in our church , but they have to abide by God’s laws. You can be lgbt or straight or whatever but if you can’t stay within God’s boundaries you will be excommunicated. Meaning sex without marriage among others. The church did not make this up. God did,so we could avoid unnecessary pain and problems in our lives. The church would not and has not deceived. Occasionally there may be an individual in the church that may not be correct,but the church itself is.
And now the church allows gay marriage
This isn’t that complicated. Don’t try to make more of it. God does not recognize marriage between two men or two women so neither can the church. Or anyone who believes in God. Take it up with Him. However, we love everyone. Loving doesn’t mean we accept sin . Not sure where the confusion lies?
Lol
God recognizes Love. I love my husband. What’s the problem?
@@davidf4898 I have no problem. My husband loves me. I was responding to the o.p. About “what’s confusing”. I’m not confused. The “help” that LdS people were offering me years ago was to remain celibate for life or marry a woman. Neither was or is tenable for a gay man who falls in love and deserves love with and from another man. Or a woman with and for a woman. Again. God is love, as the scriptures tell us plainly. God loves me, created me, and desires that I offer love and receive love in this life. It’s sad to me that some of the churches that claim to be God’s church don’t see it that way.
@@davidf4898 it’s quite judgemental sounding to write that I live without God. I’m actually an ordained priesthood member with Community of Christ. Don’t be sorry for me or my husband. We have God in our lives.
@@davidf4898Christ didn't do naked massaged. Ty Mansfield does though.