I was very disturbed to read this article. I would like people who read this post to keep in mind that I am an ex-mormon who requested that my name be removed from the church roles. With that said, I thought that this was a disgustingly slanted (dare I say it) piece of ‘journalism.’ Although I have absolutely no intention of voting for Mitt Romney I feel that the question must be posed when has any other political candidate been do under fire for his religious belief system? There are many other politicians that have had belief systems that are far more dangerous and far more conservative and their religious beliefs have not come to the forefront of the media agenda. To identify LDS church members as a cult creates a slippery slope that bears a great deal of scrutiny. If we began disseminating all the different religious theologies and singling out those leaders which are criminal or suspect I wonder what religions would be left. Furthermore, it is insulting and inaccurate to classify the LDS church as a cult without beginning to call into question nearly all small sects of conservative fundamentalist religions. Anyone who has studied theology beyond the basics will tell you that the basic Christian tenets of the LDS church are not any more “aberrant” than many other religious articles of belief. Clearly the author of this article is not a theologian, but it does not take a scholar to realize that if you begin to classify one religion then we must also take a close look at others and I don’t think that the author intended to interrogate the other politicians on their respective religious ideologies. Many times when someone is so fanatically targeted for their belief system, it is because of fear. What.. If Mitt gets elected their will no longer be a total separation of church and state? As if we have that now? We will all be part of a secret government plot to convert to Mormonism? Mitt will be unable to separate his religion from his duty as President? So we have Presidential Leaders who do that now? Perhaps Mitt will make LDS doctrine US law? Well at least the Mormon Church only asks for 10% and does not spend billions and billions of dollars of its member’s money on defense. I do not support the church, but I also absolutely do not support the interrogation of only one candidate based on religious beliefs. That is akin to saying that every other candidates belief system is valid and ok no matter how outrageous it is, as long as it is not Mormon. As far as I am concerned there are far greater issues to be laid on the table. None of the other candidates are required to defend their beliefs, why should Mitt? I think that the real issue is that many people are curious about his beliefs, while simultaneously giving into the fear and stereotypical images they have taken in. Rather than interrogating him, do some real research. Talk to members of the wider church community and their neighbors. Do some investigative journalism. This would serve a far greater purpose than fear mongering. It is a testament to how biased this article is if someone like myself is willing to go to bat for a candidate whose belief system I have shunned. I am going to go wash the bad taste out of my mouth now.

thank you

whatever, your not an ex-mormon. I'm a mormon and I've never heard an ex-mormon have anything neutral or positive to say about the church. quite pretending. lol

I have no intention of justifying my religious beliefs. I was born and raised as a member of the LDS church. Most of my family still resides there. It is really too bad that you have never heard an ex-mormon present a non negative view of the church. I find that unfortunate. My arguement with the church was strictly theological. With that said, I still hold most of the people of the church (those who are non-judgemental, kind of spirit, and believing in what is right for them without persecuting others or making false assumptions about others personal choices and motives) in the highest regard.

ex-mormon my @ss. Nice try

I assume you are being tongue-in-cheek with that, but I know of at least one other ex-mormon posting here today with a similar point of view.

rubix_08:

.....I've never heard an ex-mormon have anything neutral or positive to say about the church. quite pretending. lol

I would say "quit LYING."

There have been many posts like his, of mormons obviously pretending to NOT be mormons. Do you get lots of instruction in lying and deceit in your church? (although I have to respect you, rubix_08, for being honest about this. I've visited the ex-mormon site, and those people are ANYTHING but neutral. Leaving the church was clearly a DEEPLY emotional event for them all; and they all felt very STRONGLY about their reasons for leaving)

I meant to say most of my family still resides in SLC. There is a great deal of love between all of us. I wanted to add something..Many of the church members who have left have been because of the emotonal damage that was done to them by church members. My reasons for leaving were theological. There are many people who were damaged by members and they are the most vehement about the negatives of the church, rather than calling out the people who hurt them for what they are. Evil and mean spirited, perhaps using the church (wrongly) to do serve their own personal agendas. I have been very careful not to judge any religion or people by their worst examples. There are ex members out there who feel the same way I do and still hold the good and faithful members in the highest regard inspite of their theological differences.

Can I jjust say I find it extrememly interesting that people seem to think just because someone doesn't have something bad to say about Mormons automatically means their Mormon? Does that mean I'm automatically Jewish if I stood up for their beliefs if this article was against Jews?

Wall of text, please learn to format

I am glad that you got it. I am amazed at how many people believe that I have some ulterior motive for claiming to be an ex church member.

mm, I guess it just means they can't think for themselves, so can't comprehend anyone else being able to.

no it does not mean your jewish. but the general population feels the beliefs of mormons are more extreme and therefore, people seem to be more opinionated about the faith.

It's not unfortunate I haven't known anyone neutral, I was raised in california, moved, to utah, and am now in texas, and it is just rare to find someone who is neutral, only because the faith attaches itself to you emotionally, so people who leave generally have strong feelings one way or another.

rubix_08:

t's not unfortunate I haven't known anyone neutral, I was raised in california, moved, to utah, and am now in texas, and it is just rare to find someone who is neutral, only because the faith attaches itself to you emotionally, so people who leave generally have strong feelings one way or another.

I was more refering to StevieN's post and the many like it all over the site that assume anyone with anything good to say about the LDS church and it's members has to be a Mormon in disguise regardless of their true affliations.

Anyway, in response to your post. Yes all faith has emotions attached to it but growing up just a few hours north of Independence and going to the CoC backed university I have run into members of the CoC and different restoration divisions who were at one time members of the LDS church. Having spoken with them in general they feelings toward the LDS were ambivilant. They said while it may work for some people it just didn't fit for them and so they left. I've also run into people who have gone the other direction and become Mormon. I think it all really depends on why a person has left the church in the first place.

are you kidding me!? LOL. I didn't know Mormon-radar had been invented yet.

btw... just to pretend that you were serious when you asked if they taught lying in the church... Being raised by LDS parents, I was taught early on to be honest in all I do. When I was young, I found a cute piece of paper on the floor of a store. I took it home. My mother took me back to the store and had me return it because it did not belong to me. Without going into much detail, this experience made a life-long impression on me. Too bad you don't know any real Mormons. Its ok though, we're used to being verbally abused by people who don't know us. ... ok, I'm not being very Christlike by making fun of you... So I'll stop now. Merry Christmas!