Former Mormons Answer Your Questions!
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- Опубліковано 3 жов 2024
- My husband Brendan and I are ex-Mormons. We asked if you had any questions about the Mormon church, and you had a ton! (: Hope you enjoy the video!
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Testimony meeting can be fun with a wild story. I still remember 25 years ago someone gave testimony that their husband put his hands on their car and gave the car a blessing, then it started!
Hahahaha
Haha classic!
[puts hands on a slammed custom] Praise the Lowered! lol
They had this scene in the movie Jesus Revolution too. Lol
I worked at Geneva Steel years ago. We were having trouble with an iron making furnace. This super Mormony boss (One of the Pattens) places his hands on it and gave it a blessing!
Hearing these questions from never been Mormons, make me feel so cringe for ever having been a part of this religion. And never realizing how bizarre and cultish my upbringing was. Like how did I not ever see it 😅😂
Well, at least you're coming out of your shell a little bit!
Don't kick yourself too hard- by which I mean not at all. It's so easy for any of us to have blinders on...
Me too!
"Just curious if you've accepted Christ..." Brendan does MAJOR eyeroll 😂
You should emphasize more the fact that the tithe is ten percent of gross income, not of disposable income. For more than half of the US population, who cannot afford to build an emergency fund of 800 dollars or more, ten percent of their disposable income is just about zero dollars with zero cents. For more than ten percent of the US population, a ten percent of their disposable income is actually a negative number, so it is the church which should be giving them tithes not the other way around.
Then making them find missions. Pay for and attend Mormon college. Buy or rent temple clothes. Buy Mormon underwear. Buy stuff from Mormon stores. While the church buys stocks and build more temples to make more money!
#Andres Villarreal Wow! I didn't know it is 10% of gross. That is disgraceful. So, in reality, they are actually paying far more than 10%. What a grift?
Shoulders tattoos facial hair oh my 😂 you guys are a perfect couple. I’m so happy you’re out of that and still in love
What Brenden said about the “being forced to go on a mission” question totally resonates with me. It was constantly “when” not “if” you go on a mission growing up. It was my plan as a young teenager, and to continue beyond a mission to be married in the St. George temple where my parents where married, and have 5+ kids. But real life threw a wrench in that plan (thank goodness), and I lost both of my parents to cancer. I decided on my own path, and started leaving the church at 18 because I was still pressured into going on a mission. I am the only son of my father (who serve in Chile), and my older male cousins disappointed the family. So, it was up to me. I lost my parents at 17, and I have a younger sister who was 11 at the time. My mind could hardly wrap around the loss of my parents yet alone do the churches dirty work. I was done. My own family disowned me and my sister (who was kicked out of our uncles house at 18). We are black sheep because I never served, and we are not “living worthy”. We are happy now with our own families, and we are closer than ever because we dropped the church! I officially retracted my membership last year in October. I love watching you, and I love what you do!
Here is when they talk about a mormon mission 17:39
I got the "when" not "if" stuff from ward members, but fortunately not from my parents. I did end up attempting a regular mission by having a "trial" mission here in Utah. I was not too far from home but I had a companion, lived in an apartment, and did the whole full time mission thing for a while before being called to Michigan. I did all this without going to the MTC, but did go after getting the official call. That didn't work out and I ended up doing a service mission instead. Never any pressure from my parents. This was years ago and I've just recently left the church.
I am so glad that you and your sister survived all that and are now thriving. So wonderful that you have each other.
I would love to see someone wear the temple garments, complete with green apron and pillsbury dough boy bonnet as a Halloween costume!
What would happen if someone did this in Mormon community? If you did in my small town in Mass I doubt anyone would know it was Mormon. But downtown Salt Lake?
@@fluffyduckbutt24 I live in Idaho, 2nd most populous mormon state in the country.
@@JayBandersnatch I have a friend in Jerome and she is not LDS. She faced serious negativity (I have no words) at her job by the Mormons who worked there. But seriously, what would happen to you if you wore scared temple clothing outside? Would u be shot? I assume everyone in Idaho carries?
@@fluffyduckbutt24 I grew up in Idaho Falls and was discriminated for being a non-LDS Christian, and now in the Treasure Valley I would still be discriminated against if I came out atheist.
Although I admit that non- LDS Christians think less of Mormons than LDS think of non-LDS Christians. At least mormons simply think you won't go to the top tier heaven, but will not end up in hell, whereas non-LDS Christians believe mormons worship Satan and are going to hell.
@@JayBandersnatch you are correct. I was taught it's not direct satan worship but by default because of the living prophet stuff. When I got into the IBLP and fundie stuff they accused Catholics of the same satan worship bec of the statues and praying to the dead saints.
I recently left and can say that I was unaware of the CES Letter prior to leaving. I knew that ppl had secretly filmed temple ceremonies but I avoided them and I knew there was tons of anti-Mormon stuff but I never paid attention. I am VERY grateful that I’m finding these things at my own pace now so I can take time to digest, further research and deal w/my own personal fallout.
When was your last time you went to church?
@@purpleflowers92 End of March 2023.
@@nomollyshere You are brave and have a lot of courage .
Definitely do more parts to this. I love seeing the kinds of questions nevermos have
Yes I loved this
I've noticed that, in general, if an investigator's first time going to church was for a fast & testimony meeting, they usually didn't come back.
Cattle Decapitation rules. Love them.
On the topic of purpose and what matters:
I had a discussion with a good friend where he said that nothing matters if their religion is wrong. My response was, "Sure, nothing matters, but doesn't that mean EVERYTHING matters? We get one shot, one life on this planet. When we die, that's it. No heaven, no hell, just this one life. So make it count."
Since leaving the church I've actually grown in purpose, while in the church nothing felt like it mattered. Sure, you get the different tiers of heaven and whatnot, but when the bottom of the barrel is still said to be a paradise compared to Earth then what is the point of following the church? What is the point of keeping this planet livable when the second coming is just around the corner? Why is the only reason to do good a threat from a supposedly loving father that he will punish you?
If this is it, if nothing comes after death, then we should do good because we are good people. Being kind to other people is important because you in turn want people to be kind to you. This scales up to everything. We should take care of the planet so it will take care of us. We should take of people because WE are people. Goodness matters, not because a God is threatening you, but because this is it.
Regarding testimony meetings, I had a friend in high school...a devout Mormon...who often joked about walking up to the pulpit, immediately bursting into tears, and sitting back down.
This is, of course, because being crying is such a common trope in testimony meetings, even when...as Brendan mentioned...the stories are totally mundane.
(Maybe they're actually just bored to tears by their own stories...perhaps subconsciously lamenting the fact that, in the name of their faith, they're not actually _living_ their lives.)
I also love how Brendan described standards of appearance simply as, "Micromanagement." Is _that_ not every aspect of the BITE Model in nutshell?
Another good way to find purpose is to help others
Something the LDS Church offers avenues to do
Faceless Cinnamon Dan, the church was just fined $5,000,000 after the SEC discovered they were hiding tons of money among shell companies that went straight to voicemail. They teach that families can be separated forever unless they pay 10% of pre tax income, and they have more than 100B-b-billion, son.
Children's church Sunday school/Primary, we had to sing songs about how we hoped to go on a mission someday. Starting at about age 4 or 5.
"to teach & preach, & teach & preach, and..!"
“Oh man, I had to go to the hospital last week to get my endowments removed”
This was a great Q&A! I remember once when I was about 16 (mid 1990's) a coworker found out I was mormon & he said "You know you are in a cult, right?!" I replied "You're probably right".
He was right. :)
The lyris Brendan quoted just did a real number on me, in good way. I have been going through the most ridiculously trying time lately, enough to make me consider ending it. But my friends (who are really my family) and my cats and dogs😅 help me go ahead and try to get through it.
Thanks, Brendan
Hang in there. It gets easier with time.
Happy to help, keep at it, things always get better as long as you work toward it. ❤
My dogs brighten every day for me. Please accept their unconditional love and know that you are worthy of that love!
@@nataliescott5594 Thank you. I know how much my "kids" love me. I have 3 terriers and 4 cats and at times, they have been the only thing keeping me here. I promised each of them that I will be here to care for them all their lives. I never break my promises if at all possible, especially to them. I have raised them to know I will never lie to them or trick them to do something I want them to do. Because of this, even the cats trust that, when I ask them to do something, they will usually do it for me. How could I possibly leave sweet little people like that?
The grips (handshakes) in Masonry are a “mode of recognition”… “Where one brother Mason may know another in the darkness as well as in the light.”
7:35 it’s so funny… You can get married at age 18 but if you’re not married, you have to have a curfew of 11 PM. Those kinds of inconsistencies are everywhere in Mormonism. I can think of a few actually in the United States as well, but just thinking about how you can’t date till you’re 16 but you can get married at 18 it’s kind of crazy.
I really like the way you are so genuine and sincere. You express what you think without being judgemental or condemning others. Your presentation & attitude is much appreciated.
Question 1: LDS talks about being with your family forever. What are the specifics of this- how does this work? Cousle A has 4 children Each of those children marry and have children of their own. Extend this forward and backwards. Extended families get quite large, and when you consider in-laws and their families... What an entanglement! Must be a huge palatial mansion. Also, what ages are everyone? Children? Teens? Young adults? The age when you die?
Question 2: Are the protective underwear & other garments produced by a LDS company? They must have tight security... Mustn't let any of those fall into the possession of heathens... And what year did this practice of the holy underwear start?
Keep up the great work!
Wow it has been 5 years out of the church for you. I remember looking at your videos during the 2020 pandemic and starting to not believe in the church and it’s teachings. I had to stay part of the church until after April of this year when I graduated BYUI. Now that I graduated, I can be fully out of the church so, my deconversion started in 2020, but was not in full swing until this year. I find myself not believing in any God or religion. Religion is used just to control peoples’ behavior. I feel so much more free without the guilty of religion.
U don't have to be religious, have a relationship with Jesus. God is great. He never leaves u.
In my last bishop interview, he said I needed to stop pleasuring myself. I said why! He said because I am trying to interview you.
LOLLLLL
Love the video! I’d love to see a part 2. Also the absolute loving way that Lexi looked at Brenden when he was so into talking about how important the music lyrics were to him was so precious. Love you both! ❤
I appreciate your consideration from us Never Mormon.
Excellent video! Male members have as much choice to go on a mission as they can “choose” to pay tithing.
Always love videos with Mr. Exmo-Lex!
I used to bear testimony every single month from the time I was 8 til I was about 12. It became expected of me and the adults always talked about how faithful I was because of it, despite the fact that I was definitely just parroting what I heard from the adults. After that, I stopped bearing as frequently because I started to feel uncomfortable with certain doctrines I recently learned (sadly didnt leave until adulthood though). As soon as I started to miss bearing my testimony every month, all of the adults were suddenly so concerned that I was losing my faith and pushing that I should keep bearing my testimony and that I needed to be a spiritual example for the younger kids. I was 12. I had no actual clue about church doctrine and did not deserve that pressure. I have had people ask me about starting to regularly bear my teatimony again all the way up until I was an adult. I now understand why my fiance was creeped out by testimony meeting!
This style of Q&A is definitely worth a part 2.
Fellow Idahoan here.
34.8% of our population is non religious. That makes us less religious than 2/3 of US states.
So don't let the churchgoers make you think you're alone here. You're not!
One day, maybe I'll run into you guys and tell you to your faces how awesome you are for making these videos.
Your authenticity is too rare and worth so much in the world today! 👍
I love you guys! I'm so grateful I found your channel. :D I left TSCC 3 years ago but questioned it throughout my life. I am 38 now. I love Brendan's advice: "You do you and fuck the rest!" :D :D
This is my first time "meeting" your husband and it's great to see him and hear his perspective. (You are so cute together, btw 🥰) I'm a Gen-X exmo who has been out for 15+ years. I still get a lot of insight from your content. It's encouraging to see how social media is influencing so much soul searching and enlightenment these days. And it's only going to get better. My 13yo hasn't been raised in the church. And even though we are still in Utah, we definitely don't feel like a minority here like we definitely would have 30 years ago. None of my kid's friends are Mormon. Times are changing. We love to see it. Keep up the great work!
Another great episode! It's always fun when Brendan joins in. Absolutely needs a pt 2.
Absolutely loved the Q&A, you are such a lovely couple! ❤
And if they ever wanna go on a picnic, he can pack the whole lunch in his beard!
LOL!!! My secret name was Leah also! I guess we went on the same day of the week!
I love these Q and A videos it's good for people to learn and it's always interesting to see what people are curious about.
22:46
"You enjoy me?"
"Well duh"
#goals
#FourKids
Never mormon here! I grew up christian and had a few mormon friends, but didnt know much about mormonism. Im fascinated by religion, cults, psychology, history and true crime... which naturally led me to the world of mormonism and I started consuming more exmo content than anything else online in the last few years. I love your channel and content and very much appreciated this video in particular! Id love a part 2 😊
Excellent video with you and Brendan. I would love to see more q & a’s with both of you💙💙💙
I would love a part 2. I usually watch UA-cam while cleaning and prefer longer talk style videos, so this was great.
As a NeverMo, would love a part two! As a fun story: overall, Mormons aren't big fans of RPGs like Dungeons and Dragons, right? Because the in-laws of my old gaming group in grad school's Dungeon Master were horrified by the fact we played D&D, Call of Cthulhu, and pen and paper Dragon Age. I was the only non-Mormon!
I'll never forget how the whole table went silent and stared when this Mormon housewife, who was always so quiet and sweet, said in the middle of a siege during a campaign, "I want to roll to kick the flaming child into a Darkspawn."
I grew up Mormon and playing D&D with my brother. There are definitely those who would say games of that sort are bad, but my parents didn't mind.
I grew up with only women from age 3 to 14. When we moved in with my Step dad and brother I was told I cannot wear tank tops around the house anymore because it was inappropriate 😅
My wife and I left back in 2016ish and people just stop talking to us. As the years past, more and more people we know keep leaving.
Sometimes it takes one person to leave before others follow. I left and my dad followed a few years after.
Great video you guys! Thanks for being so transparent and making it fun. I'd love to watch a Part2!
Thank you! As a Never-Mo with lots of Mormon friends, your videos are fascinating!
Brendan has grown an impressive beard!! Good to see you both expressing yourselves freely, including the ink.
Cool couple. Yes, part 2, please and thank you.
Part 2-5 please!! .....Coming home early from a Mission is not nearly quite as bad as it was decades ago. Some people have become enlightened about mental health issues. How its abnormal to be with a stranger 24/7. ...Many people who have left the Church have become Agnostic or Atheist. I'm more in league with a quote from former LDS Movie Director Richard Dutcher who called himself "An open minded skeptic." (Now it seems he may be leaning to Born Again Protestantism.) .....I'd like to think there is truth and falsehoods in all religions. Maybe Mormonism has to be mixed in with eastern religions, Daoism, Unitarianism, etc. before it can really have a sensible plan for everyone.
Leave the church but don't run from GOD. God never leaves u. God is great. Have a blessed day.
There’s an awesome The Moutain Goats song called Amy aka Spent Gladiator 1 that was a very comforting song when I first left the church. My favorite lines are:
People might laugh at your tattoos
When they do get new ones in completely garish hues.
I hide down in my corner, because I like my corner.
I am happy where the vermin play.
Make up magic spells, we wear then like protective shells
Landmines on the battlefield
Find the one safe way and stay alive. Just stay alive.
Thanks! Love your videos!
As someone who was never a Mormon, I'd love to hear about the difference in your understanding of the sort of person Joseph Smith was now and how that differs from your Mormon understanding and upbringing.
Yes, part two please! Fun to watch you kids together. 🤩🤩
I love when you two film together! This was a fun video!
I loved this video and I would love a part 2!!
Also, Leah and Eli sound so cute together! You guys are the best
Saw an attempted “take down” by a Mo big wig of the first chapter of the CES letter. Doesn’t pass muster to most independent minds but I’m sure the LDS folks loved it - but … they want to read more which could be a problem.
😮you guys are great. I believe you folks have an honest agenda to actually help others that have been trapped in this cult. You look great together too. All the best
Yes to more parts. I am a never-mormon, and I find it all fascinating. Love your content.
more great content, as always. Part 2 would be great
One of my best friends is mormon, and growing up he sometimes had to leave if we started watching some movie, and couldn't hangout on sundays.
The weirdest thing, as an outsider, was being invited to his wedding, but finding out the day of that we couldn't participate or watch the ceremony. So I guess we (about 4 of us) were the only non mormons, and we all waited outside until it was over. Still nice to be there I guess...
Yes please definitely a part two !! And thank you for the mindful recommendations ❤
I never realized how strict the LDS church was with tithing. We were told and hear sermons about it but that was it. When I look at Brenden I hear the beginning of a ZZtop song! Dig the beard!!
Love your videos. I decided i wanna resign from the church. What is the process/ how to get it done?? You should do a video with steps and the process, i cant find anything updated.
QuitMormon.com !
Don't do it, you'll be sorry in the long run. No amount of worldly freedom is worth the price of your soul. I feel sorry for those who become stumbling stones for others.
Quitmormon is the main way but the cult put a notary obstacle as an annoyance. Since it's not worth bothering a bank to get free of a cult, where else is left? Their crooked lawfirm by itself should be a shelf breaker.
@@sjenson6694 The government is crooked. The Church has to protect itself. People just look for excuses to leave.
@@hrv4908 Your church is as crooked as it comes. They hide everything as long as they possibly can. They make billions in profits over gullible members like you. Wake up!
The time that was easy was when layering was the in thing, but couldn't wear anything showing garments and the constant adjustment of clothing or saying can you make it modest
Not a Mormon, but have been called an investigator (though conversion is extremely unlikely). I've had many conversations with missionaries (I also work alongside some of them when they volunteer at the nonprofit food bank I work at) and they often find themselves out of their depth when I bring up a lot of spiritual concepts, concerns, and just plain history (which I try to be respectful of the peculiar blinders the LDS church has when it comes to history), so my questions to them often get glossed over at best or the most clever missionaries tend to just respond with a different question.
In particular the few times I brought up that I'm gay, they try to just ignore it and move on, which I find funny since the current propaganda seems to be the church is ok with gay people as long as they are celibate...even though it really isn't, lol
I'm curious if Brendan ever had to deal with a similar difficult but genuinely curious investigator during his mission?
I did actually have several, and eventually those people just cold - turkeyed on our lessons and we never saw them again. Now I finally understand why 🤣
comment for algo. and part 2 as well
So many of the same feelings. I left and never looked back shortly after my mission in 1999. I believe I have stepped foot once into a church since for my grandpa's funeral a few years ago, felt odd. The mission is what broke me, it wasn't spiritual, it was like a job. A job I hated. Now it has been over 22 years and I don't regret it at all, my family and I don't speak religion, they now ignore my beliefs and I theirs. It helps I left the country not only the state, so easy to avoid this topic over the phone or email. Best decision I ever made, my wife is eastern orthadox and I am fine with that, it is mostly for the rituals easter, christmas, etc.
As far as the temple ordinances and the signs/ secret handshakes. In the early 1990’s, I read David Coates book “In Mormon Circles” where he describes them in detail (I didn’t realize this until later). Also, a found a fully transcribed copy of the full temple ordinances and read it. For me, it was no surprise when I finally went through the temple. I don’t feel like I did anything wrong by reading them ahead of time even though the few believing Friends I had tried to shame me over it.
As always, you're doing important work! Thank you!
Another video, yes please. ❤ ❤ ❤
Very common for people never in a high demand religion to follow exmo channels. Mormon Stories audience is half nevermo (John once did a YT-poll), and I think it's thouTube same for ex-JW channels. Wouldn't surprise me if it were the same for ex-scientology and others.
I watch @telltaleatheist and GMS and Mormon Stories and anti-mlm and Tesla stuff.
I think you are right on the money. I did not grow up in a high demand religion. We were pretty plain Jane Christians. I found all the info about Mormons, JWs, Scientology, and others to be fascinating. Plus it keeps me informed on what to avoid!
I was baptized, as a convert from Catholicism, on 11/21/15. When the missionaries got me, I was grieving the loss of my mother who had died 1/2015. They got me by bringing ex-Catholics to lessons, and promising I would be reunited with my family in the next life. BUT...they never told me all the crazy stuff in the temple I'd have to do to achieve this promise and others. I have been seriously questioning my conversion for over 6 mos now and am so turned off by the whole "family" thing with the church...and the emphasis on youth! I am 58 with no kids and have never been married. Frankly, some kids are just brats, and I cannot tolerate them. I SERIOUSLY WOULD LIKE SOME PEOPLE HERE TO TELL ME HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT SINGLE OLDER ADULTS BEING IGNORED!!!!??? PLEASE...DO RESPOND. I AM DESPERATE FIR ADVICE...THANKS.
I have a similar thought, I'm 52, single, and gay...so yes, lots of strikes against me other than as a dash to add to the convert list
Not a Mormon but someone that has tried to understand the religion: I think you need to be married in the temple to be able to be exalted. Maybe that is one of the reasons that single older adults are being ignored by some in the LDS church??? Best wishes and hopefully you will get some more responses from people that know better than I do!
I can’t tell you how sad that makes me to hear about you being ignored in the church because of your age :(
I’m not a Mormon, I’m a Christian. In my church, we younger folks really love the mentors we have in the older folks of the church. We have weekly community groups where I go to this older lady’s house. There are some thirty year olds, some twenty year olds, some fifty year olds, and some sixty year olds. We love learning from those that are older :) The Bible says that with age comes wisdom, and we younger folks take that seriously.
It just breaks my heart to hear about you. Leave Mormonism. Come to the true Church. There will be people over there that will love you, and won’t care at all that you’re not married and don’t have kids. In true Christianity, being married and having kids doesn’t make you better than others.
I also think Stepford Wives and Pleasantville are also movies that I can relate the story to mormonism.
Not pressured to go on a mission? I wish I lived in that universe 😂
I recommend reading Meditation for Dummies by Stephan Bodian. This book teaches mantra meditation and other modes of meditation that help increase concentration and focus. These meditations make it easier to practice mindfulness throughout the day.
Would love to see a part 2!
Curious about the bride under a sheet & the temple worker annoints their body???
I liked the temple ritual. It was over the top weird and made me laugh. I kept thinking Joseph smith did shrooms.
yes a part 2 please
Regarding the Mormon outlook on other religions - I realize it’s from a TV show but they refer to Catholicism as a “gutter religion.”
What a lovely couple!
Thank you for your answer! You're the best!
Shout out to Brandon, I have that same exact Kimetsu no Yaiba (Demon Slayer) shirt.
Definitely would love a part 2 ❤
I have a question as a never mo… does the Mormon church discourage it’s members from joining the Mason’s?? How would they explain the similarities?
Part 2 please!
Excellent video.
Thanks, this was really fun!
great video!
I enjoyed this thanks
Kinda unrelated but your husbands shirt reminded me of something. When I was little my bishop said anime was against god 💀. Me and my dad didn’t rlly care tho.
Yes make a part two!
Lexi!! We had the same name! 😆
I like jow both your tatoos match and your hubbys beard looks awsome on him.
Love your video.??explain consecrated oil. I heard it mentioned in Netflix's Murder Among the Mormons. Is it in a vial? Plastic pouch like ketchup? What do you do with it? Does it go bad? What kind of oil? I was raised catholic so I understand weird stuff like holy water.
the fact that your garments cant show is absolutely wild to me bc i b looking at old footage of like mitt romney looking straight at his garments like ??? ok harlot cover yourself
Great video :)
I’ve seen Masons at funerals doing some of their rituals and they have aprons, too. White aprons is what I recall.
Ex mainstream protestant. My parents bounced around. Dad wound up becoming a chaplin. Testimonies weren't real common. Mostly from the pastor(on occasionl, or from a guest speaker. Usually in a Pentacostal church. And almost never from a congregant. But, there are lots of variations...
Good stuff, Lex!
Would love to see a Part II (didn't you say hundreds of questions"?)
I have a question about the "Mormon Militia". Does it still exist? I saw a movie years back where Mark Kaufman (not sure of the name) was bombing places and there was a scene where it made me think he was being followed by the mormon melitia in his car, like the FBI or something.
If you cannot find purpose in your life without resorting to an authority figure, you should learn about depression and related issues. We are hardwired by evolutionary psychology to find purpose in participating in our community, so for most people letting your instincts drive you into a purpose in your community is the answer. Depression, among other things, can make it difficult to find such a purpose, and some psychological assistance, not a second daddy in the sky, is the best place to find your meaning.
Beautifully said!! I needed this. Thank you.