Well ok, but do still believe in Gods and supernatural things. If you do, you have not done very much at all. The idea is too escape from religion entirely and only believe in things that are supportable by evidence gained through the scientific
method. Faith based beliefs will never help you and almost certainly will harm you or others thru you.
I grew up in England where I was the only Mormon in my entire school. Let me tell you, I was so grateful for my faith, when in my teens, many of my friends started drinking, sleeping around, experimenting with drugs. I was grateful that I had the courage to say 'No' to those things. Heck..we were so young! Now I'm a mum with 4 kids. What do I try and teach my kids...to be honest and kind, and to love God. I love the Mormon church....my life has been so enriched by it, and by the people in it.
@mrninjap00p It is NOT A BRAINWASHING CULT! OH YOU PEOPLE MAKE ME FURIOUS! WHAT A THING TO SAY! I'M A CONVERT TO THE MORMON CHURCH AND WE ARE NOTHING LIKE THAT AT ALL! LEARN THE TRUTH ABOUT THE GOSPEL BEFORE YOU GO AND SAY SUCH RUDE, MEAN THINGS!!!
@cindybin2001 YES SHOUTING MAKES YOU CORRECT (sarcasm). Let me put this this way, Mormonism is to Christianity, what Scientology is to ALL world religions. Both founded by Con Men, with NO proof or basis, run by money grubbing leaders and effectively dividing, deluding and degrading people. So yeah, you just joined a brainwashing cult. Good luck coming out of it, before they sap your 401k.
Feel free to private message me if you care to have a conversation and understand why I make these videos. I love the Mormon people and many things about their religion. Would you care to explain why you are so adamant that the only purpose for this channel is to "hate"?
You don't believe that I could possibly do it out of love? It seems you made a quick judgement that I am a hateful person.
@PinkPantherFan102 criticising the church is hate??? really? why dont you go to pakistan and watch christians being murdered because of their religion. why dont oyu go to africa and see some christians being burned alive there. maybe then you will know what actual hate looks like. and maybe then you will know just how good you have it here. nothing should be free of chriticism, least of all religion.
@PinkPantherFan102 my point exactly. in pakinstan and in certain places in africa your kind would not be lightly criticised or questioned. you would be killed. so quit complaining because somebody DARES to criticise or queston you faith. this is not hate. this is an open society we live in. and you and wacky,americanised version of christianity, benefit from it tremendously.
@PinkPantherFan102 insulting you? really???i have done no such thing. is it not agaist your religion to lie??? aparently not, because you are lying right now. please, report me. i would love to see how you will explain away your bald faced lies.
@PinkPantherFan102 lying again. please show me where i called mormonism a cult. give me the quote, full and unedited. is that too much to ask? probably considering i never wrote anything of the sort.
@PinkPantherFan102 well, that shut you up did it not. shame on you for lying like that. I expect an appology. or do christians simply lie whenever it suits their purposes? I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO ADMIT THAT YOU BLATENTLY LIED ABOUT MY SUPPOSED INSULTS. OTHERWISE I JUST MIGHT REPORT YOU.
@PinkPantherFan102 When you have people actually setting up videos to explain their reasons to leave a church, it's a good sign that that church had some powerful holds on them in their lives. The LDS is most certainly a cult. It fits the characteristics of a cult. It has "secret" knowledge, that one must earn. It has oaths. It has heavy controls.It alienates you from the outside world. It also takes a hold of you, as we see here, and makes it difficult to leave... even after you stop believing.
@joshbmorrow no I'm a former mormon who is now a born again christian saved by grace.............I love being a born again christian.......the biblical Jesus is awesome.....
@oceantalk1 Oh here we go again with someone getting all hung up on that saved by grace thing. I suppose you think that Mormons have to work their way to heaven, right? And you think we don't believe in the Biblical Jesus. The LDS church will bring you CLOSER to Jesus Christ and the Bible than any other church! I'm a convert to the LDS church.
@cindybin2001 mormonism destroys families and a happy home,lds is toxic to families,me and many others resigned from mormonism cause my former mormon bishop was corrupt and joseph smith just flat out lied......you shall know them by their fruits. mormonism is filled with hypocrites,that is what really always got the biblical Jesus Christ worked up about the pharisees hypocrisy lds.
@oceantalk1 Oh brother. It does NOT destroy families and happy homes! That is CRAZY!!! And there are hypocrites in every religion. That doesn't mean the LDS church isn't true. I can't imagine being a member of any other church. It will bring you closer to Jesus Christ and the Bible than any other church, because we have the fulness of the Gospel, the Priesthood, the correct doctrines, etc.
@oceantalk1 I'm a convert to the Mormon church and I read all these scriptures you talk about 30 years ago when I was first investigating the church! We do NOT have a "cursed gospel"! Oh this makes me so mad! YOu people do NOT know what you are talking about!!!
@cindybin2001 You've been typing almost exactly the same spam for about six months now and know perfectly well that mormonism is false. You must do as enough of us anti mormons have pointed you towards the truth about the mormon church. There is no excuse and it is time for you to face the truth.
@cindybin2001 The 'Correct Doctrines' and the Priesthood, eh? How about discrimination and suppression of women? And before you even ramp up...any women Priesthood Holders in your life? Even one? No, the husband /Priesthood holder makes all the decisions and the wife/wives follow in harmony...keeping sweet, right?
@bedfordjumpergirl OH FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE!!! Yet ANOTHER person who thinks the LDS church discrimiantes and suppresses women! That is so untrue! I've been a member for over 30 years and I know what the church teaches, I know what it is all about, and it is NOT anything like what you describe! I would NEVER have joined a church that did that!!! Just because there are no women priesthood holders does NOT mean thaty the LDS church discriminates and suppresses women! that's not what it's about at all!
@bedfordjumpergirl Oh this makes me so mad! you people drive me nuts. You just want to tear down the church and you don't even bother to understand what the gospel is about! I'm a convert to the church and I studied, pondered and prayed for a long time before joining--I wanted to make sure I was making the right decision! I don't know ANY women in the church who feel discriminated against or suppressed in the least! you just don't understand the doctrines of the church!! But of course no matter
@bedfordjumpergirl what I say here, you will DISAGREE with me. I just know it. I know what these YouTube boards are like. In most cases, it is like talking to a WALL. Oh you people make me so mad!!!
@ExMormon66 im not even mormon so dont jump to conclusions. i just feel that this channel shouldnt be on here. you dont see some "iamanexchristian" channel do you? or "iamanexbuddhist?" how about "iamanexmuslim." i really don't care if you know them because you knowing them doesnt make me care about their stupid video or family. get a life and stop trying to stand up for people who should be able to stand up for themselves. end of conversation dont comment back
@TLMelander sorry you're not that lucky. First of all trying to argue with someone saying "end of conversation don't comment back" is immature and childish. Second, there are many videos of Ex-Christians, Ex-Muslims, Ex-Jehovah's Witnesses, so you are wrong there as well.
Just wanted to tell you how much I respect you and your family. Belief should be a free choice, not a forced one. I hope you'll be happy together for many years to come!
Life isn't about everything making sense, rather humbling ourselves to seek out and embrace the will of God. To think we know better than God is dangerously naive. The Church is Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) is based upon personal revelation directly between man & God. All on earth are free to pursue a personal relationship with God through prayer, and if they do so humbly, with true desires to put His will above their own, they will be lead to more truth and maximum happiness.
"based upon personal revelation directly between man & God"
Really? Did you know that there's lots of people who have that same experience in their own churches? So does that mean all those churches are true, too? By your standard, they would be!
@jacobgotime So basically the role is to be robots that can't make your own decisions? If you are going to tell me I need to obey God because he knows better than me than you first better show me enough evidence that he exists. Don't start with your just have faith crap either please.
@ExMormon66 If you close your eyes and someone puts a certain object in your hands, you know exactly what it is without seeing it. Not even because you've seen it before, but because it FEELS familiar. You KNOW the feeling. Like the warm sun, such is my knowledge of God. I don't remember seeing Him, but I know He exists because I have FELT His spirit throughout my life. For me, it isn't faith, it is knowledge. I therefore happily choose to follow His will to the best of my ability.
@jacobgotime I felt warm feelings when I was in the church when watching R-Rated movies that had good emotional stories that were almost as strong as listening to testimonies to the church being true. So what would that make those feelings? I guess the church was wrong about how you shouldn't watch R Rated films.
@ExMormon66 Most movies aren't rated R because of the good parts which cause you to feel peace, love, joy, happiness, comfort, hope, etc. I'm sure you did feel those warm feelings. In those types of movies, it's often the very minor moments added which cause the movie to be inappropriate. Very few would subject themselves to a delicious shake with an added spoonful of poo. Anything which draws us closer to God is good. Anything which increases distance between Him and us is bad.
@jacobgotime I also get a warm feeling when listening to "Imagine" by John Lennon which is a song about no God, no heaven, no hell, and no religion. So I guess God gives warm feelings to that which is bad too.
@ExMormon66 That which is good is of God. That which is bad is of the devil. We all know the difference when we're honest with ourselves. When we do good, we feel good. When we do bad, we feel bad. I wish you the best.
@AnkokuEvangeline To be honest, the first I saw this video I didn't even think about this because I understood exactly what it meant. The church is built on family togetherness to the point where they make you fear losing your family for stepping out of line so the quality time you spend together with your family is usually with the church in mind while you're doing it. It isn't all religion related though.
I find this really sad. But also interesting how none of the people in the video say why they left the church...my thought is that it is because they were offended or unable to overcome guilt and repent. I could be wrong, but this is the impression I get from all of these people.
@tanis666 oh how you wish you knew anything about me...I left the church for a while and it got me nowhere but caught up in addictions and miserable. not saying everyone who leaves the church is going to be miserable but eventually it catches up to you. and it's not like I left the church for a short period of time and came running back, I left for well over a year and realized my decisions weren't getting me anywhere. So please don't tell me to look up definitions I already know the meaning of
@bkell390 If you go to the iamanexmormon website you will see the stories under these videos. These are actually not just your thoughts, they brainwash members into thinking that anyone who leaves either left because someone offended them or they were unworthy. They never mention the fact that maybe they left the church because it actually is false.
If you lost friendships when you left the church then they were not true friends! They were fakes, you will find a lot of fake friends under the umbrella of Mormonism!
if you're born in Utah 98% chance u will be a mormon, if you were born in Saudi Arabia 99% you will be muslim and if you were born in south america 97% you will be roman catholic. It is not a divine plan or holy scripture or nothing guaranteed to be 100% true, it's called INDOCTRINATION.
why would they be afraid to leave? THIS CHURCH DOESN'T HOLD ANYONE HOSTAGE. They have the AGENCY to believe what they want and leave if they so choose. It is a process to break away, but if you want to you CAN leave the Church. Stop misinforming people, you are helping them make a descision that should be theirs and theirs alone; without any false bias to encourage them one way or another.
@bebegurl31291 Have you ever tried to leave the church? You don't understand it if you haven't. When virtually everything in your life, from what you say to the underwear you wear, is partially based on the views of the church you fear what life will bring when you no longer have that guided path. It's taking the training wheels off of your bicycle and hoping you don't crash and burn. Trust me, as somebody who struggled for almost a year to leave the church it is not easy, and very scary.
@pro0glenn - No I have not tried to leave the Church. I joined the Church late in age, so I do have an understanding of life outside of Church. I understand your point and it is a valid one, but this video portrayed a different situation; the family was claiming fear social banishment as a reason why they were nervous to leave. It is not a practice of the Church to treat people a certain way because they choose to live their lives differently. And you should never let anyone control you; AGENCY
@bebegurl31291 - You may understand life outside the church, but you have no understanding of life AFTER the church. You speak very blithely of it not being a "practice" to treat people a certain way, when you have no knowledge of what actually happens. We have left the church, and the social banishment we feared has actually happened. All our friends have cut us off. No one in the neighborhood speaks to us unless they have to.
@bebegurl31291 - It IS the practice, and it IS taught in the church to treat people differently. ESPECIALLY "apostates". People in the church are taught to fear us. They are taught to avoid us, in case we ruin their testimonies. Boyd Packer referred to us as "disease germs"! So please don't speak so authoritatively on a subject for which you have no knowledge and no experience. Until you've lived it, you have NO idea what people who choose to leave the church go through.
Pro tip from the D&C and Church History Gospel Doctrine Teacher’s Manual Lesson 24
on how you should treat apostates differently:
"Avoid those who would tear down your faith"
Directly from the teachers manual. This means that if you feel your faith waver when someone asks a difficult question about God or church doctrine, you would be justified according to this lesson to shun them.
@iamanexmormon - "This means that if you feel your faith waver when someone asks a difficult question about God or church doctrine, you would be justified according to this lesson to shun them."
You really need to stop placing your own interpretation into what this quote, "Avoid those who would tear down your faith" means.
It has very little to do with "someone [asking] a difficult question."
Yes, I agree, I just felt the "spirit of reason" leave.
@tanis666 -"People in the church are taught to fear us."
This is laughable. People in the church are not taught at all to fear apostates. Hmmm....let's see, yes, home teaching...wait...yes...I home teach an apostate who wants nothing to do with the church. We are friends. Thus, your statement is fallacious.
The personal actions of some members is not the teachings of the Church. I would agree, don't speak so authoritatively on something you know very little about.
why would they be afraid to leave? THIS CHURCH DOESN'T HOLD ANYONE HOSTAGE. They have the AGENCY to believe what they want and leave if they so choose. It is a process to break away, but if you want to you CAN leave the Church. Stop misinforming people, you are helping them make a descision that should be theirs and theirs alone; without any false bias to encourage them one way or another.
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
Hey kids, I know you are young, but the day might come when you realized you were used by your parents in making this vid. Hopefully, you will still feel like bowling together in the back yard.
@shooster11 They are a great family, I know them well. Personally I agree with you that the indoctrination of children and misuse of power is something we should all look down upon. I don't think that is what the Leavitt family is doing based on my interactions with them. They do their best to empower their children with the ability to choose by teaching them critical thinking skills and giving both sides of the argument. Personally, I don't know of many religious parents that do this.
@shooster11 Poor young kids are forced to stand up in mormon churches and say things are true which they can't possibly have really considered. I'm sure their mormon parents believe they are training them the right way. These ex mormon parents believe they are doing the right thing too.
@bossendenwoodconvict - And poor young kids are forced to stand up at Republican or Democratic rallys and say things are true which they can't possibly have really considered. And poor young kids are forced to stand up as members of Westboro Baptist Church saying things like "God Hates Fags" because their parents told them to. You nailed it when you said "I'm sure their mormon parents/these ex mormon parents believe they are doing the right thing. Guess what? That's true of all parents.
@shooster11 Ok, so why did you write so negatively about this family? Why would the kids want to stop spending fun times with their parents for being in this vid?
@bossendenwoodconvict - I'm not writing negatively about this family. Far from it. My point is that perhaps one day these kids will see that they have been used by their parents and they may not feel like bowling in the backyard together with their parents or even have anything to do with them. When one learns they have been used, they generally don't react positively.
@shooster11 Yes, but they've been used for a good purpose-exposing a cult. They haven't, as is the case with certain young people, been sent away for two years, faced rejection and riddicule and wasted thousands of dollars of their own savings doing it. That is using people.
@bossendenwoodconvict - Um, no one is forced to go on the two-year journey numbnuts. If they were, you might have an argument, but as it stands now, you have nothing but the mindless crap that's been spewed for nearly two centuries.
@shooster11 There is pressure to go on a mission. If your Dad, Grandad and Great Grandad went on one you might feel obligated. If you don't go people may wonder why. Anyway, IF these kids in the video are later unhappy with their parents' beliefs (or in this case non beliefs) I'm sure they will be able to forgive them for involving them in this. More likely they will be grateful for having parents who cared enough to do the research and not waste their lives in mormonism.
@bossendenwoodconvict - Pressure to go and forced to go are two different things mr./mrs. convict. As for these kids and how they will be forgiving later in life, that's quite a bold prediction considering they aren't your offspring.
@shooster11 Think about it... if your parents went through the stress of facing this problem when you were still young, wouldn't you be grateful? The parents have got out when the kids are still young, therefore they have saved the kids from years of wasting their emotions and energy trying to sustain belief in the unbelievable. They did something uncomfortable (facing the truth) to save their children pain of doing this on their own later in life. What great parents!
@bossendenwoodconvict - They may have also set their children up for massive disappointment and resentment later in life. It's not an easy thing to look back and realize you were used. Think about it.
@shooster11 If we do not face a problem we pass that problem, and the pain of facing it, on to someone else." So wrote Charles Larson at the end of "By His Own Hand on Papyrus," a book about Joseph Smith's "translation" of ancient papyrus. These parents are not passing that pain onto their offspring, they are not sending them out into a hostile world (which is now connected to the internet) for two years.They are not setting them up for countless hours of trying to make sense out of nonsense.
@shooster11 Well I know Sean and Stacy but I don't know their kids. However, their kids seem to be very content and happy not having to go to church anymore. They also don't have to be made to feel like dirt for not following all the rules and policies of the church which are utterly ridiculous.
@ExMormon66 - WOW!! For someone who doesn't know the kids, you sure have quite a bit to say about them and what they are feeling. I think it's very safe to say that you are just ASSuming a lot of things about the kids based upon this transparent vignette and your own biases.
@shooster11 Well actually I said I don't know them personally. However, out of respect for the Leavitt family I am not going to tell you the stories I know about what they went through but I can tell you that for them along with many ex-mormons I know life now compared to then is much better than what it was then.
@ExMormon66 - Of course their life is now better than what it was because they gave up and took the easy way out. Way to go mom & dad and way to take your kids down with you. Remember, critical thinking does not mean everyone thinks the same as you.
@shooster11 So you're saying they should have done the opposite of giving up and taking the easy way out so their lives wouldn't be better? They are happier than they have ever been, they are no longer tied down to a religious cult, and they have more friends and are a closer family. So what exactly have they done to bring them down?
@ExMormon66 - They are happier than they've ever been? And so to prove that, they are trying to convince everyone who views their video that they are happy. But really, it's a wasted cause because anyone with a level head who sees these vignettes will say "OK, so you were in a church and it didn't work out, so what? Where's the need for all the drama?" I can safely say that if the Leavitt's spouted any of their "I'm an Ex-Mormon" dribble around here, folks would say, "What is your problem?" LOL!
@shooster11 - Talk to me about who you really think is more used... The kids in this video, who spoke their own minds and voiced their own views and opinions, unprompted by anyone.... or the little kid in testimony meeting aping what daddy is whispering in their ear. And before you start going on about "well, we don't know what happened behind the scenes..." or something like that, keep in mind: they're my kids.
@tanis666 - Well, it sounds like in both examples you give, both kids are being used. Of course your kids spoke their minds and voiced their own views, they are trying to please you and they live under your roof. Are you seriously trying to tell me if your kids decided to stay in the LDS Church while you didn't you would be able to live with it??
@shooster11 - And they definitely didn't get what they said from *us*. So I'd appreciate it if you kept your unfounded accusations that we "used" them to yourself. Especially in light of what I mentioned earlier.
@shooster11 Umm, shooster. You're pulling arguements from your sphincter. If anything ever occurs to you that's beyond the tiny bubble of a perspective you have on the world around you, you'll probably still be too closed minded to make an insightful post on this channel.
@TheEnviousdominous - You mispelled "arguments." Please show some smattering of intelligence. The only thing you are pulling from your sphincter is the crap that is the basis of your postings on this channel. Just because you have something up your sphincter about a particular organization does not mean someone has a "tiny bubble of a perspective."
@shooster11 Stop trolling. If you're a true religious person than you wouldn't be spreading hate. If you aren't a religious person then you're being a total asshole.
@redshark618 - Ah, you show your true weakness by proclaiming hate because you have no other defense. You're like the little kid that just get so frustrated that he says "everybody just hates me!!" Grow up dude. I am only setting the record straight on the people in these vignettes are saying, and it's obvious that that gets under your skin and the only way you can deal with it is by putting a hate label on it. That is quite pathetic.
@shooster11 I think you're pathetic, asshole. Who trolls on a video where families tell their story of escape from religion? In the end, these children were better off growing up without a church than with one. All children are born atheists, and they shouldn't be indoctrinated into any church. And now I am done talking to you. Because you don't have anything else to bring to the table.
@redshark618 - So really, your beef isn't specifically with the LDS Church, it's with all religions. Well, that speaks volumes about who you are, and what kind of a dumbass you truly are. You are nothing more than a hateful atheist. Pathetic.
@shooster11 Actually there is a point. The point is to reach out to the other ones struggling with their faith thinking it is their problem to let them know it is not. Millions of others are there with you and are there to support you. If it wasn't for these videos, I may not have found the support I need to have left the church. Now I know the church is false and is the problem, not me for disagreeing and being myself and not who the church says I should be. I am an atheist, and I'm proud.
@ExMormon66 i agree the mormon church is not of God all you have to do is a little research but i visited one and man they have teachings that go against the bible but dont really teach from the bible and are always talking about Joseph smith. i was asking one questions and they will get upset if they cannot answer unless they are well trained. but, you shouldnt let this experiance keep you from God because being in the mormon church and not having God is equal.
@1ghost7771 Yes the Mormon church goes against the Bible, but I also don't believe in the Bible so this is irrelevant to me. The Bible is man made as well so there is nothing of divine influence to support it. Being in the Mormon church and not having god is equal only because there is no God to begin with. Admitting that you don't believe in God is the only wise thing to do.
@ExMormon66 is not everything that we learn, has it not all came from man. we have been taught everything we know by a man or a book written by man. and i agree it is not wise to follow something that you dont believe that would be crazy. but, i would be
not very wise to say he dont exsit when he and i know he has revealed himself to me and it would make me a lie and he would not be very happy if i didnt acknowledge him. but, i understand what you are saying.
@1ghost7771 I think a lot of your beliefs have been decided by your emotional experience, which is not valid. I believed I had seen the power of God at many times in the past, but they were psychological experiences. Enough studies can be done to get you to see that subjective experiences are nothing more that results of natural psychology, but it requires people to open their minds and apply skepticism and not just simply accept that "it must be from god."
@ExMormon66 - WOW!! You are the only atheist I know that points to a series of videos for support. The overwhelming majority of atheists I know stand on much more firm ground than you. Hmm, you sound like the typical Utah atheist. You have to tie it all to the Mormon Church. LOL!!!!!!
@shooster11 What I meant by the support is some of the videos had directed the viewers to different websites and forums, and I e-mailed some of the people to elaborate on some of their video comments. I am actually not from Utah and never lived anywhere near it to be quite honest. I think someone is a bit bitter to be going on to ex-mormon videos and trashing on people for them. Why grind your ax against former mormons?
@ExMormon66 - I am not grinding an ax with my posts. I am giving a realistic view of what these ex-Mormons are doing and in many cases, I am setting the record straight on the claims that they make. It's very clear, I don't like whiners and in many of these vignettes, there is a whinny undertone that really is annoying. Most of the people in these vignettes say they are happier than they have ever been. But again, there is a tone of "I am happy, but I MUST convince you that I am happy." Pathetic
@shooster11 So do you have an equal disgust with missionaries going door to door talking about the Book of Mormon making them happy, or the "and I'm a Mormon" videos trying to convince the world that Mormons are happy, or Lehi trying to get people to eat of fruit of the tree of life?
@ExMormon66 - No, I do not have any disgust with missionaries going door to door talking about the BofM making them happy. That was not my approach, but if it works for them, then more power to them. I don't know if missionaries use the "and I'm a Mormon" videos, so I cannot comment on that. As for the Lehi story, yeah, I guess that would work because most religions of the world are encouraging their members to hold fast to the Godly principles.
@shooster11 So why don't ex-members have a right to encourage others to follow them? It is the same principal. Missionaries go door to door to get others to leave their religious faith to join them, so we make these videos for the same purpose.
@ExMormon66 - You have the right to encourage others to follow you. If you really feel like this is the highest and best use of your time, knock yourself out! But it is my right to set the record straight and making clarifications on these videos. I don't spend a great deal of time doing it, but when I feel something needs to be said, I will say it. And these videos need my efforts because I spoke with the creator of these vids and he says he doesn't research the claims made by the participants.
@shooster11 I don't believe that these people have said anything that is false. They are sharing their stories and personal experiences. Although these videos often don't get into the nitty gritty details of why they believe the church is not true, I found as I filmed that most doctrinal reasons for leaving the church were similar to my own reasons. There would be no reason to do research on claims I have found to be true in my own research already.
@iamanexmormon - I can see where stories and personal experiences are difficult to "research." However, the vignettes that center around LDS Church-affiliated educational institutions, i.e. the unknown BYU-Idaho student that said that "none of your credits will transfer" and the calendar guy that said "BYU revoked my degree" are bogus. As one who works in higher education and understands the accreditation involved, you present false information and your credibility as a filmaker has taken a hit.
@shooster11 The individual I filmed (BYU-Idaho student) was actually in that situation and he wasn't lying. The particular path of education he chose made it next to impossible to keep the credits if he chose to leave. He stayed and graduated before he went public about his beliefs. As far as the BYU calendar guy (Chad Hardy), I did not film that, he made it himself and I am not sure how his situation worked out.
@iamanexmormon - I am going to say this with the utmost professional respect, but you saying that you did not film that calendar guy and that he made it himself is totally unacceptable on your part. Whether you made the video or not, it has your name on it and you gave the thumbs up for the approval. I believe I have said this before, but as an investigative reporter, I guard my credibility at every turn and if you are going to be in this business of directing films, then you should do the same.
@shooster11 Chad Hardy didn't say that his degree was revoked. He said that he was excommunicated for his humanitarian efforts a few weeks before graduation and the school wouldn't give him his degree he earned unless he got re-baptized into the church.
@ExMormon66 - "The Cult", ah yes, actual proof that you are full of mass insecurity and very much threatened by an organization. Truly pathetic on your part.
@shooster11 Kinda like how the other side tries to convince others that those who leave are miserable. They're miserable but I must convince you that they're miserable. Pathetic.
The father of this family looks sorta like former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman, Jr. The wife of this family looks like former "One Day at a Time Star" and well-known drug addict McKenzie Phillips!!
Congrats on leaving the Church. The LDS is a cult and I'm so glad that you all have seen the light. Good luck on your future and just remember, you have friends out there looking out for you and I don't mean the LDS. If you want to get right to the point, the LDS doesn't care about you nor anyone else... Good Luck!!
My records are getting transferred to the ward boundaries where I live. After that happens I'll be able to send in my letter of resignation from the LDS church.
@Cetsonle Why don't you think that I'm right? Everyone has hidden truths about themselves that make them do what they do, I just want to know what that hidden truth is. Honesty I hope I'm wrong, but I know I'm not. God bless you brother. You're right, just because someone says that something is the truth doesn't make it so. If you're not strong enough to find the truth of something yourself, always trusting other people, you've build your house on the sand.
Be honest—if you can—name names. Tell us about the experiences that you had that offended you, or tell us about your husband’s extreme porn addiction and how he’s not strong enough to get over it. I’m just saying that something happened that you’re not telling us.
@Justicejamesb Why do you assume they were offended or that he has some addiction? Why do you also assume that something happened that they aren't sharing? Couldn't it just be that they don't believe in the teachings of the church? Just because others say "I know the Church is true" doesn't make it so.
Yes, the LDS religion by definition is a cult. But, so is all of Christianity. People are so misinformed about the beliefs of the LDS church; or they apply presentism to what happened in the past. It’s your agency to leave the LDS church, I’m happy that you’re expressing it. But, what part of the church could you not live, or whom offended you??
Congratulations on the courage it took to find the truth about the cult and leave. I think they you happy not high or foolish as some loving mormons suggest. Now that you are free I suggest the Bible and the real Jesus Christ who is the one true God who became our kinsman redeemer and died for our sins, resurrected and offers eternal life to all who recieve him as savior. He is God in flesh and loves us more than we can understand. God desires that all mormons repent and come to HIM
The Leav-itt Family ....how appropriate, smh lol
TrickTrolan 45 minutes ago
Well ok, but do still believe in Gods and supernatural things. If you do, you have not done very much at all. The idea is too escape from religion entirely and only believe in things that are supportable by evidence gained through the scientific
method. Faith based beliefs will never help you and almost certainly will harm you or others thru you.
veronicats100 1 day ago
were they all at the swimming pool before this video was filmed ? because they all had reddish eyeballs - did anyone else notice that LOL
oh and good on them for taking a stand and realising mormonism is a complete LIE
dieneddie 1 week ago
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I grew up in England where I was the only Mormon in my entire school. Let me tell you, I was so grateful for my faith, when in my teens, many of my friends started drinking, sleeping around, experimenting with drugs. I was grateful that I had the courage to say 'No' to those things. Heck..we were so young! Now I'm a mum with 4 kids. What do I try and teach my kids...to be honest and kind, and to love God. I love the Mormon church....my life has been so enriched by it, and by the people in it.
rachd31 2 weeks ago
Feels good to know, people are escaping the brainwashing cult
mrninjap00p 3 weeks ago
@mrninjap00p It is NOT A BRAINWASHING CULT! OH YOU PEOPLE MAKE ME FURIOUS! WHAT A THING TO SAY! I'M A CONVERT TO THE MORMON CHURCH AND WE ARE NOTHING LIKE THAT AT ALL! LEARN THE TRUTH ABOUT THE GOSPEL BEFORE YOU GO AND SAY SUCH RUDE, MEAN THINGS!!!
cindybin2001 3 weeks ago
@cindybin2001 YES SHOUTING MAKES YOU CORRECT (sarcasm). Let me put this this way, Mormonism is to Christianity, what Scientology is to ALL world religions. Both founded by Con Men, with NO proof or basis, run by money grubbing leaders and effectively dividing, deluding and degrading people. So yeah, you just joined a brainwashing cult. Good luck coming out of it, before they sap your 401k.
mrninjap00p 3 weeks ago
You made the right choice.
holgerspeckter 4 weeks ago
@cindybin2001 and @oceantalk1 trying to convert each other is hilarious. Don't miss it.
Meurglys33 4 weeks ago
Most of these ex-mormo leave mormonism for christianism... Out of the frying pan and into the fire... It's hardly an improvement...
Anyway... if any of them read this: you left a stupid faith behind, imagine going one step further.
Meurglys33 4 weeks ago
Reading all these comments, it makes me glad I don't buy into religion.
ShadowKaiserin 1 month ago
dang is everyone in utah mormon???
lilfreeway21 1 month ago
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Hate is still hate, no matter how you disguise it! Shame on the people running this channel!
PinkPantherFan102 1 month ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@PinkPantherFan102 Awww someone mad? haha well season 2 of this show is coming this summer. Enjoy! :)
liamlloyd77 1 month ago
@PinkPantherFan102 That would be me.
Feel free to private message me if you care to have a conversation and understand why I make these videos. I love the Mormon people and many things about their religion. Would you care to explain why you are so adamant that the only purpose for this channel is to "hate"?
You don't believe that I could possibly do it out of love? It seems you made a quick judgement that I am a hateful person.
iamanexmormon 1 month ago 14
@iamanexmormon Excuse me, sir, but trying to get people to leave their religion that they've grown up in their entire lives isn't my idea of love.
PinkPantherFan102 1 month ago
@iamanexmormon these videos really do seem to be about hate. sorry but i dont feel they are appropriate
TLMelander 1 month ago
@PinkPantherFan102 criticising the church is hate??? really? why dont you go to pakistan and watch christians being murdered because of their religion. why dont oyu go to africa and see some christians being burned alive there. maybe then you will know what actual hate looks like. and maybe then you will know just how good you have it here. nothing should be free of chriticism, least of all religion.
avalsonline2 1 month ago
@avalsonline2 Nice try, sir! Mormonism IS a Christian religion! Blocked!
PinkPantherFan102 1 month ago
@PinkPantherFan102 my point exactly. in pakinstan and in certain places in africa your kind would not be lightly criticised or questioned. you would be killed. so quit complaining because somebody DARES to criticise or queston you faith. this is not hate. this is an open society we live in. and you and wacky,americanised version of christianity, benefit from it tremendously.
avalsonline2 1 month ago
@avalsonline2 STOP INSULTING ME, OR I'M GOING TO REPORT YOU!
PinkPantherFan102 1 month ago
@PinkPantherFan102 insulting you? really???i have done no such thing. is it not agaist your religion to lie??? aparently not, because you are lying right now. please, report me. i would love to see how you will explain away your bald faced lies.
avalsonline2 1 month ago
@avalsonline2 HOW IS CALLING MORMONISM A CULT NOT AN ATTACK, SIR?!
PinkPantherFan102 1 month ago
@PinkPantherFan102 lying again. please show me where i called mormonism a cult. give me the quote, full and unedited. is that too much to ask? probably considering i never wrote anything of the sort.
avalsonline2 1 month ago
@PinkPantherFan102 well, that shut you up did it not. shame on you for lying like that. I expect an appology. or do christians simply lie whenever it suits their purposes? I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO ADMIT THAT YOU BLATENTLY LIED ABOUT MY SUPPOSED INSULTS. OTHERWISE I JUST MIGHT REPORT YOU.
avalsonline2 1 month ago
@PinkPantherFan102 When you have people actually setting up videos to explain their reasons to leave a church, it's a good sign that that church had some powerful holds on them in their lives. The LDS is most certainly a cult. It fits the characteristics of a cult. It has "secret" knowledge, that one must earn. It has oaths. It has heavy controls.It alienates you from the outside world. It also takes a hold of you, as we see here, and makes it difficult to leave... even after you stop believing.
Apollo5600 3 weeks ago 3
I'm curious - Do most ex-mormons become atheists?
It seems like the logical step to me. Doubt one religion = Doubt it all!
joshbmorrow 1 month ago
@joshbmorrow no I'm a former mormon who is now a born again christian saved by grace.............I love being a born again christian.......the biblical Jesus is awesome.....
oceantalk1 1 month ago
@oceantalk1 Oh here we go again with someone getting all hung up on that saved by grace thing. I suppose you think that Mormons have to work their way to heaven, right? And you think we don't believe in the Biblical Jesus. The LDS church will bring you CLOSER to Jesus Christ and the Bible than any other church! I'm a convert to the LDS church.
cindybin2001 1 month ago
@cindybin2001 mormonism destroys families and a happy home,lds is toxic to families,me and many others resigned from mormonism cause my former mormon bishop was corrupt and joseph smith just flat out lied......you shall know them by their fruits. mormonism is filled with hypocrites,that is what really always got the biblical Jesus Christ worked up about the pharisees hypocrisy lds.
oceantalk1 1 month ago
@oceantalk1 Oh brother. It does NOT destroy families and happy homes! That is CRAZY!!! And there are hypocrites in every religion. That doesn't mean the LDS church isn't true. I can't imagine being a member of any other church. It will bring you closer to Jesus Christ and the Bible than any other church, because we have the fulness of the Gospel, the Priesthood, the correct doctrines, etc.
cindybin2001 1 month ago
@cindybin2001 mormonism is a different gospel that gal 1:8 warned us about.
gal 1:8 describes what the bom is.
another angel with another gospel that is cursed.
moroni and the bom which has the word another on the front of it.
you lds have a cursed gospel.
oceantalk1 1 month ago
@oceantalk1 I'm a convert to the Mormon church and I read all these scriptures you talk about 30 years ago when I was first investigating the church! We do NOT have a "cursed gospel"! Oh this makes me so mad! YOu people do NOT know what you are talking about!!!
cindybin2001 3 weeks ago
@cindybin2001 You've been typing almost exactly the same spam for about six months now and know perfectly well that mormonism is false. You must do as enough of us anti mormons have pointed you towards the truth about the mormon church. There is no excuse and it is time for you to face the truth.
bossendenwoodconvict 1 week ago
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@bossendenwoodconvict Oh yeah, I type "spam" and I know perfectly well that Mormonism is false. Oh brother. Okay, I'll "face the truth"! Ha.
cindybin2001 1 week ago
@cindybin2001 Lord Jesus Christ is our high priest the biblical one,
in the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets
many times,and in many different ways. but now in these last
days God has spoken to us through his son. God has chosen his
son to own all things,
and through him he made the world. hebrews 1:1-2
oceantalk1 1 month ago
@cindybin2001
anyone who goes beyond Christ's teaching and does not continue to
follow only his teaching does not have God.but who ever continues to
follow the teaching of Christ has both the father and the son
2 john:9 the bom,pogp,boa,d&c,jod goes beyond Christ teachings..
let God be true and every man a liar romans 3:4
the word of our God stands forever isaiah 40:8
oceantalk1 1 month ago
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@cindybin2001 Cindy, do you live in Utah?
liamlloyd77 1 month ago
@cindybin2001 The 'Correct Doctrines' and the Priesthood, eh? How about discrimination and suppression of women? And before you even ramp up...any women Priesthood Holders in your life? Even one? No, the husband /Priesthood holder makes all the decisions and the wife/wives follow in harmony...keeping sweet, right?
bedfordjumpergirl 3 weeks ago
@bedfordjumpergirl OH FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE!!! Yet ANOTHER person who thinks the LDS church discrimiantes and suppresses women! That is so untrue! I've been a member for over 30 years and I know what the church teaches, I know what it is all about, and it is NOT anything like what you describe! I would NEVER have joined a church that did that!!! Just because there are no women priesthood holders does NOT mean thaty the LDS church discriminates and suppresses women! that's not what it's about at all!
cindybin2001 3 weeks ago
@bedfordjumpergirl Oh this makes me so mad! you people drive me nuts. You just want to tear down the church and you don't even bother to understand what the gospel is about! I'm a convert to the church and I studied, pondered and prayed for a long time before joining--I wanted to make sure I was making the right decision! I don't know ANY women in the church who feel discriminated against or suppressed in the least! you just don't understand the doctrines of the church!! But of course no matter
cindybin2001 3 weeks ago
@bedfordjumpergirl what I say here, you will DISAGREE with me. I just know it. I know what these YouTube boards are like. In most cases, it is like talking to a WALL. Oh you people make me so mad!!!
cindybin2001 3 weeks ago
@joshbmorrow Most of the ones in my experience do become Atheist as I have. I find it much more fulfilling.
ExMormon66 1 month ago
2:17 my name is allanah, im 16, and i was hit in the face with a frying pan. im also ugly as shit.
my name is brain, and i cant make my own decisions or talk right.
my name is stacy, and my pubs are red and long, ive never shaved, proud of it.
my name is shawn, and i work at charlies gay bar, where i participate in gay butt sex.
TLMelander 2 months ago
@TLMelander You're a disgusting person.
rainbow7753 2 months ago
@rainbow7753 this whole youtube channel is dugusting. you included.
TLMelander 2 months ago
@TLMelander You are a sad excuse for a human being. This is the lengths you go to in defending your religion?
Well it so happens that these people are my friends, the adults I know personally and none of the disgusting things that you said about them are true.
ExMormon66 2 months ago
@ExMormon66 im not even mormon so dont jump to conclusions. i just feel that this channel shouldnt be on here. you dont see some "iamanexchristian" channel do you? or "iamanexbuddhist?" how about "iamanexmuslim." i really don't care if you know them because you knowing them doesnt make me care about their stupid video or family. get a life and stop trying to stand up for people who should be able to stand up for themselves. end of conversation dont comment back
TLMelander 2 months ago
@TLMelander sorry you're not that lucky. First of all trying to argue with someone saying "end of conversation don't comment back" is immature and childish. Second, there are many videos of Ex-Christians, Ex-Muslims, Ex-Jehovah's Witnesses, so you are wrong there as well.
ExMormon66 1 month ago
@ExMormon66 k, thanks for your worthless feedback.
TLMelander 1 month ago
@TLMelander Anytime.
ExMormon66 1 month ago
The dad seems gay?
JordanGauger 2 months ago
@JordanGauger Defending gay rights makes you gay?
ExMormon66 2 months ago
@ExMormon66 My gaydar just went off. I fully support Gay-Rights. I'm not bashing anybody.
JordanGauger 2 months ago
@JordanGauger I hate that term Gaydar.
ExMormon66 2 months ago
Just wanted to tell you how much I respect you and your family. Belief should be a free choice, not a forced one. I hope you'll be happy together for many years to come!
sadkingbilly 3 months ago
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love one another................
oceantalk1 3 months ago
Life isn't about everything making sense, rather humbling ourselves to seek out and embrace the will of God. To think we know better than God is dangerously naive. The Church is Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) is based upon personal revelation directly between man & God. All on earth are free to pursue a personal relationship with God through prayer, and if they do so humbly, with true desires to put His will above their own, they will be lead to more truth and maximum happiness.
jacobgotime 3 months ago
@jacobgotime Why are you bringing God into this?? Mormonism is a man made religion. It has nothing to do with "God."
bossendenwoodconvict 3 months ago
@bossendenwoodconvict yes and God is a man made concept. So Mormonism is a man-made religion based on a man-made concept.
ExMormon66 2 months ago
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@jacobgotime
"based upon personal revelation directly between man & God"
Really? Did you know that there's lots of people who have that same experience in their own churches? So does that mean all those churches are true, too? By your standard, they would be!
TheKinderhookPlates 2 months ago
@jacobgotime So basically the role is to be robots that can't make your own decisions? If you are going to tell me I need to obey God because he knows better than me than you first better show me enough evidence that he exists. Don't start with your just have faith crap either please.
ExMormon66 2 months ago
@ExMormon66 If you close your eyes and someone puts a certain object in your hands, you know exactly what it is without seeing it. Not even because you've seen it before, but because it FEELS familiar. You KNOW the feeling. Like the warm sun, such is my knowledge of God. I don't remember seeing Him, but I know He exists because I have FELT His spirit throughout my life. For me, it isn't faith, it is knowledge. I therefore happily choose to follow His will to the best of my ability.
jacobgotime 2 months ago
@jacobgotime I felt warm feelings when I was in the church when watching R-Rated movies that had good emotional stories that were almost as strong as listening to testimonies to the church being true. So what would that make those feelings? I guess the church was wrong about how you shouldn't watch R Rated films.
ExMormon66 2 months ago
@ExMormon66 Most movies aren't rated R because of the good parts which cause you to feel peace, love, joy, happiness, comfort, hope, etc. I'm sure you did feel those warm feelings. In those types of movies, it's often the very minor moments added which cause the movie to be inappropriate. Very few would subject themselves to a delicious shake with an added spoonful of poo. Anything which draws us closer to God is good. Anything which increases distance between Him and us is bad.
jacobgotime 2 months ago
@jacobgotime I also get a warm feeling when listening to "Imagine" by John Lennon which is a song about no God, no heaven, no hell, and no religion. So I guess God gives warm feelings to that which is bad too.
ExMormon66 2 months ago
@ExMormon66 That which is good is of God. That which is bad is of the devil. We all know the difference when we're honest with ourselves. When we do good, we feel good. When we do bad, we feel bad. I wish you the best.
jacobgotime 2 months ago
What a wonderful family! They all are sincerely happy.
Casey5693 4 months ago
Parents: "Kids, we're leaving the Church."
Kids: "Uuuh, and are we still gonna be a family? All we ever do together is religious stuff, you know, morning to bed time."
So sad.
AnkokuEvangeline 4 months ago
@AnkokuEvangeline To be honest, the first I saw this video I didn't even think about this because I understood exactly what it meant. The church is built on family togetherness to the point where they make you fear losing your family for stepping out of line so the quality time you spend together with your family is usually with the church in mind while you're doing it. It isn't all religion related though.
ExMormon66 2 months ago
Well done to the Leavitt family - welcome to your life and free thought. May you prosper.
hotspurschool 4 months ago
Good for them.
TreeSamuel 4 months ago
I find this really sad. But also interesting how none of the people in the video say why they left the church...my thought is that it is because they were offended or unable to overcome guilt and repent. I could be wrong, but this is the impression I get from all of these people.
bkell390 4 months ago
@bkell390 - Do yourself a favor: Go to wikipedia, and look up "Confirmation Bias".
tanis666 4 months ago
@tanis666 oh how you wish you knew anything about me...I left the church for a while and it got me nowhere but caught up in addictions and miserable. not saying everyone who leaves the church is going to be miserable but eventually it catches up to you. and it's not like I left the church for a short period of time and came running back, I left for well over a year and realized my decisions weren't getting me anywhere. So please don't tell me to look up definitions I already know the meaning of
bkell390 4 months ago
Because trust me this is the definition I used to defend my choice for leaving the church and it got me nowhere. That's all.
bkell390 4 months ago
@bkell390 If you go to the iamanexmormon website you will see the stories under these videos. These are actually not just your thoughts, they brainwash members into thinking that anyone who leaves either left because someone offended them or they were unworthy. They never mention the fact that maybe they left the church because it actually is false.
ExMormon66 2 months ago
If you lost friendships when you left the church then they were not true friends! They were fakes, you will find a lot of fake friends under the umbrella of Mormonism!
jcweights 4 months ago 7
Don't like the Mormon Church? Leavitt !
CommitToFocus 4 months ago 20
if you're born in Utah 98% chance u will be a mormon, if you were born in Saudi Arabia 99% you will be muslim and if you were born in south america 97% you will be roman catholic. It is not a divine plan or holy scripture or nothing guaranteed to be 100% true, it's called INDOCTRINATION.
guayacan07 4 months ago 2
I'm glad to see an interview about a family leaving together. Very powerful.
danagirl23 4 months ago
Wow scheister again? Did the misLeaDing Seers send out their angels of death to harrass all the people who want to be free from mormon bondage?
WhatsupWorldful 5 months ago
Leavitt as in Leave it?
WiggieWomper 5 months ago in playlist More videos from iamanexmormon
why would they be afraid to leave? THIS CHURCH DOESN'T HOLD ANYONE HOSTAGE. They have the AGENCY to believe what they want and leave if they so choose. It is a process to break away, but if you want to you CAN leave the Church. Stop misinforming people, you are helping them make a descision that should be theirs and theirs alone; without any false bias to encourage them one way or another.
bebegurl31291 5 months ago in playlist More videos from iamanexmormon
@bebegurl31291 Have you ever tried to leave the church? You don't understand it if you haven't. When virtually everything in your life, from what you say to the underwear you wear, is partially based on the views of the church you fear what life will bring when you no longer have that guided path. It's taking the training wheels off of your bicycle and hoping you don't crash and burn. Trust me, as somebody who struggled for almost a year to leave the church it is not easy, and very scary.
pro0glenn 5 months ago
@pro0glenn - No I have not tried to leave the Church. I joined the Church late in age, so I do have an understanding of life outside of Church. I understand your point and it is a valid one, but this video portrayed a different situation; the family was claiming fear social banishment as a reason why they were nervous to leave. It is not a practice of the Church to treat people a certain way because they choose to live their lives differently. And you should never let anyone control you; AGENCY
bebegurl31291 5 months ago
@bebegurl31291 - You may understand life outside the church, but you have no understanding of life AFTER the church. You speak very blithely of it not being a "practice" to treat people a certain way, when you have no knowledge of what actually happens. We have left the church, and the social banishment we feared has actually happened. All our friends have cut us off. No one in the neighborhood speaks to us unless they have to.
tanis666 5 months ago
@bebegurl31291 - It IS the practice, and it IS taught in the church to treat people differently. ESPECIALLY "apostates". People in the church are taught to fear us. They are taught to avoid us, in case we ruin their testimonies. Boyd Packer referred to us as "disease germs"! So please don't speak so authoritatively on a subject for which you have no knowledge and no experience. Until you've lived it, you have NO idea what people who choose to leave the church go through.
tanis666 5 months ago
@tanis666
Pro tip from the D&C and Church History Gospel Doctrine Teacher’s Manual Lesson 24
on how you should treat apostates differently:
"Avoid those who would tear down your faith"
Directly from the teachers manual. This means that if you feel your faith waver when someone asks a difficult question about God or church doctrine, you would be justified according to this lesson to shun them.
I just felt the "spirit of reason" leave.
iamanexmormon 5 months ago
@iamanexmormon - "This means that if you feel your faith waver when someone asks a difficult question about God or church doctrine, you would be justified according to this lesson to shun them."
You really need to stop placing your own interpretation into what this quote, "Avoid those who would tear down your faith" means.
It has very little to do with "someone [asking] a difficult question."
Yes, I agree, I just felt the "spirit of reason" leave.
anddenex 5 months ago
@tanis666 -"People in the church are taught to fear us."
This is laughable. People in the church are not taught at all to fear apostates. Hmmm....let's see, yes, home teaching...wait...yes...I home teach an apostate who wants nothing to do with the church. We are friends. Thus, your statement is fallacious.
The personal actions of some members is not the teachings of the Church. I would agree, don't speak so authoritatively on something you know very little about.
anddenex 5 months ago
why would they be afraid to leave? THIS CHURCH DOESN'T HOLD ANYONE HOSTAGE. They have the AGENCY to believe what they want and leave if they so choose. It is a process to break away, but if you want to you CAN leave the Church. Stop misinforming people, you are helping them make a descision that should be theirs and theirs alone; without any false bias to encourage them one way or another.
bebegurl31291 5 months ago in playlist More videos from iamanexmormon
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Hey kids, I know you are young, but the day might come when you realized you were used by your parents in making this vid. Hopefully, you will still feel like bowling together in the back yard.
shooster11 5 months ago
@shooster11 They are a great family, I know them well. Personally I agree with you that the indoctrination of children and misuse of power is something we should all look down upon. I don't think that is what the Leavitt family is doing based on my interactions with them. They do their best to empower their children with the ability to choose by teaching them critical thinking skills and giving both sides of the argument. Personally, I don't know of many religious parents that do this.
iamanexmormon 5 months ago 17
@iamanexmormon - Just remember that critical thinking does not mean that everyone is supposed to agree with you. That's sound advice for one and all.
shooster11 4 months ago
@shooster11 Poor young kids are forced to stand up in mormon churches and say things are true which they can't possibly have really considered. I'm sure their mormon parents believe they are training them the right way. These ex mormon parents believe they are doing the right thing too.
bossendenwoodconvict 5 months ago
@bossendenwoodconvict - And poor young kids are forced to stand up at Republican or Democratic rallys and say things are true which they can't possibly have really considered. And poor young kids are forced to stand up as members of Westboro Baptist Church saying things like "God Hates Fags" because their parents told them to. You nailed it when you said "I'm sure their mormon parents/these ex mormon parents believe they are doing the right thing. Guess what? That's true of all parents.
shooster11 5 months ago
@shooster11 Ok, so why did you write so negatively about this family? Why would the kids want to stop spending fun times with their parents for being in this vid?
bossendenwoodconvict 5 months ago
@bossendenwoodconvict - I'm not writing negatively about this family. Far from it. My point is that perhaps one day these kids will see that they have been used by their parents and they may not feel like bowling in the backyard together with their parents or even have anything to do with them. When one learns they have been used, they generally don't react positively.
shooster11 4 months ago
@shooster11 Yes, but they've been used for a good purpose-exposing a cult. They haven't, as is the case with certain young people, been sent away for two years, faced rejection and riddicule and wasted thousands of dollars of their own savings doing it. That is using people.
bossendenwoodconvict 4 months ago
@bossendenwoodconvict - Um, no one is forced to go on the two-year journey numbnuts. If they were, you might have an argument, but as it stands now, you have nothing but the mindless crap that's been spewed for nearly two centuries.
shooster11 4 months ago
@shooster11 There is pressure to go on a mission. If your Dad, Grandad and Great Grandad went on one you might feel obligated. If you don't go people may wonder why. Anyway, IF these kids in the video are later unhappy with their parents' beliefs (or in this case non beliefs) I'm sure they will be able to forgive them for involving them in this. More likely they will be grateful for having parents who cared enough to do the research and not waste their lives in mormonism.
bossendenwoodconvict 4 months ago
@bossendenwoodconvict - Pressure to go and forced to go are two different things mr./mrs. convict. As for these kids and how they will be forgiving later in life, that's quite a bold prediction considering they aren't your offspring.
shooster11 4 months ago
@shooster11 Think about it... if your parents went through the stress of facing this problem when you were still young, wouldn't you be grateful? The parents have got out when the kids are still young, therefore they have saved the kids from years of wasting their emotions and energy trying to sustain belief in the unbelievable. They did something uncomfortable (facing the truth) to save their children pain of doing this on their own later in life. What great parents!
bossendenwoodconvict 4 months ago
@bossendenwoodconvict - They may have also set their children up for massive disappointment and resentment later in life. It's not an easy thing to look back and realize you were used. Think about it.
shooster11 4 months ago
@shooster11 If we do not face a problem we pass that problem, and the pain of facing it, on to someone else." So wrote Charles Larson at the end of "By His Own Hand on Papyrus," a book about Joseph Smith's "translation" of ancient papyrus. These parents are not passing that pain onto their offspring, they are not sending them out into a hostile world (which is now connected to the internet) for two years.They are not setting them up for countless hours of trying to make sense out of nonsense.
bossendenwoodconvict 4 months ago
@shooster11 Well I know Sean and Stacy but I don't know their kids. However, their kids seem to be very content and happy not having to go to church anymore. They also don't have to be made to feel like dirt for not following all the rules and policies of the church which are utterly ridiculous.
ExMormon66 2 months ago
@ExMormon66 - WOW!! For someone who doesn't know the kids, you sure have quite a bit to say about them and what they are feeling. I think it's very safe to say that you are just ASSuming a lot of things about the kids based upon this transparent vignette and your own biases.
shooster11 2 months ago
@shooster11 Well actually I said I don't know them personally. However, out of respect for the Leavitt family I am not going to tell you the stories I know about what they went through but I can tell you that for them along with many ex-mormons I know life now compared to then is much better than what it was then.
ExMormon66 2 months ago
@ExMormon66 - Of course their life is now better than what it was because they gave up and took the easy way out. Way to go mom & dad and way to take your kids down with you. Remember, critical thinking does not mean everyone thinks the same as you.
shooster11 2 months ago
@shooster11 So you're saying they should have done the opposite of giving up and taking the easy way out so their lives wouldn't be better? They are happier than they have ever been, they are no longer tied down to a religious cult, and they have more friends and are a closer family. So what exactly have they done to bring them down?
ExMormon66 2 months ago
@ExMormon66 - They are happier than they've ever been? And so to prove that, they are trying to convince everyone who views their video that they are happy. But really, it's a wasted cause because anyone with a level head who sees these vignettes will say "OK, so you were in a church and it didn't work out, so what? Where's the need for all the drama?" I can safely say that if the Leavitt's spouted any of their "I'm an Ex-Mormon" dribble around here, folks would say, "What is your problem?" LOL!
shooster11 1 month ago
@shooster11 - Talk to me about who you really think is more used... The kids in this video, who spoke their own minds and voiced their own views and opinions, unprompted by anyone.... or the little kid in testimony meeting aping what daddy is whispering in their ear. And before you start going on about "well, we don't know what happened behind the scenes..." or something like that, keep in mind: they're my kids.
tanis666 4 months ago
@tanis666 - Well, it sounds like in both examples you give, both kids are being used. Of course your kids spoke their minds and voiced their own views, they are trying to please you and they live under your roof. Are you seriously trying to tell me if your kids decided to stay in the LDS Church while you didn't you would be able to live with it??
shooster11 4 months ago
@shooster11 - And they definitely didn't get what they said from *us*. So I'd appreciate it if you kept your unfounded accusations that we "used" them to yourself. Especially in light of what I mentioned earlier.
tanis666 4 months ago
@shooster11 Umm, shooster. You're pulling arguements from your sphincter. If anything ever occurs to you that's beyond the tiny bubble of a perspective you have on the world around you, you'll probably still be too closed minded to make an insightful post on this channel.
TheEnviousdominous 4 months ago
@TheEnviousdominous - You mispelled "arguments." Please show some smattering of intelligence. The only thing you are pulling from your sphincter is the crap that is the basis of your postings on this channel. Just because you have something up your sphincter about a particular organization does not mean someone has a "tiny bubble of a perspective."
shooster11 4 months ago
@shooster11 They weren't bowling they were playing bocci you fucking idiot.
tbone2872 4 months ago
@tbone2872 - LOL!! Either way, they are all just playing with their balls!!! :)
shooster11 4 months ago
@shooster11 Stop trolling. If you're a true religious person than you wouldn't be spreading hate. If you aren't a religious person then you're being a total asshole.
redshark618 2 months ago
@redshark618 - Ah, you show your true weakness by proclaiming hate because you have no other defense. You're like the little kid that just get so frustrated that he says "everybody just hates me!!" Grow up dude. I am only setting the record straight on the people in these vignettes are saying, and it's obvious that that gets under your skin and the only way you can deal with it is by putting a hate label on it. That is quite pathetic.
shooster11 1 month ago
@shooster11 I think you're pathetic, asshole. Who trolls on a video where families tell their story of escape from religion? In the end, these children were better off growing up without a church than with one. All children are born atheists, and they shouldn't be indoctrinated into any church. And now I am done talking to you. Because you don't have anything else to bring to the table.
redshark618 1 month ago
@redshark618 - So really, your beef isn't specifically with the LDS Church, it's with all religions. Well, that speaks volumes about who you are, and what kind of a dumbass you truly are. You are nothing more than a hateful atheist. Pathetic.
shooster11 1 month ago
@shooster11 Blocked!
redshark618 1 month ago
@shooster11 Actually there is a point. The point is to reach out to the other ones struggling with their faith thinking it is their problem to let them know it is not. Millions of others are there with you and are there to support you. If it wasn't for these videos, I may not have found the support I need to have left the church. Now I know the church is false and is the problem, not me for disagreeing and being myself and not who the church says I should be. I am an atheist, and I'm proud.
ExMormon66 1 month ago
@ExMormon66 i agree the mormon church is not of God all you have to do is a little research but i visited one and man they have teachings that go against the bible but dont really teach from the bible and are always talking about Joseph smith. i was asking one questions and they will get upset if they cannot answer unless they are well trained. but, you shouldnt let this experiance keep you from God because being in the mormon church and not having God is equal.
1ghost7771 1 month ago
@1ghost7771 Yes the Mormon church goes against the Bible, but I also don't believe in the Bible so this is irrelevant to me. The Bible is man made as well so there is nothing of divine influence to support it. Being in the Mormon church and not having god is equal only because there is no God to begin with. Admitting that you don't believe in God is the only wise thing to do.
ExMormon66 1 month ago
@ExMormon66 is not everything that we learn, has it not all came from man. we have been taught everything we know by a man or a book written by man. and i agree it is not wise to follow something that you dont believe that would be crazy. but, i would be
not very wise to say he dont exsit when he and i know he has revealed himself to me and it would make me a lie and he would not be very happy if i didnt acknowledge him. but, i understand what you are saying.
1ghost7771 1 month ago
@1ghost7771 I think a lot of your beliefs have been decided by your emotional experience, which is not valid. I believed I had seen the power of God at many times in the past, but they were psychological experiences. Enough studies can be done to get you to see that subjective experiences are nothing more that results of natural psychology, but it requires people to open their minds and apply skepticism and not just simply accept that "it must be from god."
ExMormon66 1 month ago
@ExMormon66 - WOW!! You are the only atheist I know that points to a series of videos for support. The overwhelming majority of atheists I know stand on much more firm ground than you. Hmm, you sound like the typical Utah atheist. You have to tie it all to the Mormon Church. LOL!!!!!!
shooster11 1 month ago
@shooster11 What I meant by the support is some of the videos had directed the viewers to different websites and forums, and I e-mailed some of the people to elaborate on some of their video comments. I am actually not from Utah and never lived anywhere near it to be quite honest. I think someone is a bit bitter to be going on to ex-mormon videos and trashing on people for them. Why grind your ax against former mormons?
ExMormon66 1 month ago
@ExMormon66 - I am not grinding an ax with my posts. I am giving a realistic view of what these ex-Mormons are doing and in many cases, I am setting the record straight on the claims that they make. It's very clear, I don't like whiners and in many of these vignettes, there is a whinny undertone that really is annoying. Most of the people in these vignettes say they are happier than they have ever been. But again, there is a tone of "I am happy, but I MUST convince you that I am happy." Pathetic
shooster11 1 month ago
@shooster11 So do you have an equal disgust with missionaries going door to door talking about the Book of Mormon making them happy, or the "and I'm a Mormon" videos trying to convince the world that Mormons are happy, or Lehi trying to get people to eat of fruit of the tree of life?
ExMormon66 1 month ago
@ExMormon66 - No, I do not have any disgust with missionaries going door to door talking about the BofM making them happy. That was not my approach, but if it works for them, then more power to them. I don't know if missionaries use the "and I'm a Mormon" videos, so I cannot comment on that. As for the Lehi story, yeah, I guess that would work because most religions of the world are encouraging their members to hold fast to the Godly principles.
shooster11 1 month ago
@shooster11 So why don't ex-members have a right to encourage others to follow them? It is the same principal. Missionaries go door to door to get others to leave their religious faith to join them, so we make these videos for the same purpose.
ExMormon66 1 month ago
@ExMormon66 - You have the right to encourage others to follow you. If you really feel like this is the highest and best use of your time, knock yourself out! But it is my right to set the record straight and making clarifications on these videos. I don't spend a great deal of time doing it, but when I feel something needs to be said, I will say it. And these videos need my efforts because I spoke with the creator of these vids and he says he doesn't research the claims made by the participants.
shooster11 1 month ago
@shooster11 I don't believe that these people have said anything that is false. They are sharing their stories and personal experiences. Although these videos often don't get into the nitty gritty details of why they believe the church is not true, I found as I filmed that most doctrinal reasons for leaving the church were similar to my own reasons. There would be no reason to do research on claims I have found to be true in my own research already.
iamanexmormon 1 month ago
@iamanexmormon - I can see where stories and personal experiences are difficult to "research." However, the vignettes that center around LDS Church-affiliated educational institutions, i.e. the unknown BYU-Idaho student that said that "none of your credits will transfer" and the calendar guy that said "BYU revoked my degree" are bogus. As one who works in higher education and understands the accreditation involved, you present false information and your credibility as a filmaker has taken a hit.
shooster11 1 month ago
@shooster11 The individual I filmed (BYU-Idaho student) was actually in that situation and he wasn't lying. The particular path of education he chose made it next to impossible to keep the credits if he chose to leave. He stayed and graduated before he went public about his beliefs. As far as the BYU calendar guy (Chad Hardy), I did not film that, he made it himself and I am not sure how his situation worked out.
iamanexmormon 1 month ago
@iamanexmormon - I am going to say this with the utmost professional respect, but you saying that you did not film that calendar guy and that he made it himself is totally unacceptable on your part. Whether you made the video or not, it has your name on it and you gave the thumbs up for the approval. I believe I have said this before, but as an investigative reporter, I guard my credibility at every turn and if you are going to be in this business of directing films, then you should do the same.
shooster11 1 month ago
@shooster11 Chad Hardy didn't say that his degree was revoked. He said that he was excommunicated for his humanitarian efforts a few weeks before graduation and the school wouldn't give him his degree he earned unless he got re-baptized into the church.
ExMormon66 1 month ago
@ExMormon66 - Humanitarian efforts?? Since when is making a calendar of shirtless returned missionaries considered a "humanitarian effort??"
shooster11 1 month ago
@shooster11 He wanted to show that not all Mormons were the same and there are some that lead their own lives and don't follow the cult.
ExMormon66 1 month ago
@ExMormon66 - "The Cult", ah yes, actual proof that you are full of mass insecurity and very much threatened by an organization. Truly pathetic on your part.
shooster11 1 month ago
@ExMormon66 - Go back and check the video. He says his degree was revoked.
shooster11 1 month ago
@shooster11 Kinda like how the other side tries to convince others that those who leave are miserable. They're miserable but I must convince you that they're miserable. Pathetic.
HybridD91 1 month ago in playlist I am an Ex Mormon video playlist
The father of this family looks sorta like former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman, Jr. The wife of this family looks like former "One Day at a Time Star" and well-known drug addict McKenzie Phillips!!
shooster11 5 months ago
Congrats on leaving the Church. The LDS is a cult and I'm so glad that you all have seen the light. Good luck on your future and just remember, you have friends out there looking out for you and I don't mean the LDS. If you want to get right to the point, the LDS doesn't care about you nor anyone else... Good Luck!!
JPRamon68 5 months ago
My records are getting transferred to the ward boundaries where I live. After that happens I'll be able to send in my letter of resignation from the LDS church.
GiveCourage 5 months ago
@Cetsonle Why don't you think that I'm right? Everyone has hidden truths about themselves that make them do what they do, I just want to know what that hidden truth is. Honesty I hope I'm wrong, but I know I'm not. God bless you brother. You're right, just because someone says that something is the truth doesn't make it so. If you're not strong enough to find the truth of something yourself, always trusting other people, you've build your house on the sand.
Justicejamesb 5 months ago
Be honest—if you can—name names. Tell us about the experiences that you had that offended you, or tell us about your husband’s extreme porn addiction and how he’s not strong enough to get over it. I’m just saying that something happened that you’re not telling us.
Justicejamesb 5 months ago
@Justicejamesb Why do you assume they were offended or that he has some addiction? Why do you also assume that something happened that they aren't sharing? Couldn't it just be that they don't believe in the teachings of the church? Just because others say "I know the Church is true" doesn't make it so.
cetsonle 5 months ago
Yes, the LDS religion by definition is a cult. But, so is all of Christianity. People are so misinformed about the beliefs of the LDS church; or they apply presentism to what happened in the past. It’s your agency to leave the LDS church, I’m happy that you’re expressing it. But, what part of the church could you not live, or whom offended you??
Justicejamesb 5 months ago
Haha the whole family has red eyes. I guess they can all get high now. Classic
greermovies 5 months ago
Comment removed
sarmadasco 5 months ago
Congratulations on the courage it took to find the truth about the cult and leave. I think they you happy not high or foolish as some loving mormons suggest. Now that you are free I suggest the Bible and the real Jesus Christ who is the one true God who became our kinsman redeemer and died for our sins, resurrected and offers eternal life to all who recieve him as savior. He is God in flesh and loves us more than we can understand. God desires that all mormons repent and come to HIM
blutowpi 5 months ago
My girlfriend is a recent ex Mormon, when with her family she was extremely controlled . Mormons are close if not to being a cult.
LordImfamus 5 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Shawn looks like he's had a toke or two...
bornhorny666 5 months ago
Shawn looks like he's had a toke or two...
bornhorny666 5 months ago
Wooohoo!!! 4 in 1
zosko1 5 months ago
The dad looks so high at the end
DilbertHernandez 6 months ago
It's interesting that she left based on all of that reliable information from the internet.
deltonlanes 6 months ago