"My name is Jack and I'm an Ex Mormon"

http://www.i-am-an-exmormon.com/

http://www.exmormonfoundation.org

http://www.postmormon.org/

http://www.exmormon.reddit.com

http://www.LifeAfterMormonism.net


When I was 19, I made one of the best decisions of my life, and left the LDS church. I had finally accepted that the part of me that was attracted to women was a beautiful part of me, and that I deserved an environment of respect and love. Although at the time I had hope the church would change it's views and I could exist in their walls again some day, I knew what would be best for me, and that wasn't to continue as an LDS member. When I was 20, my relationship with my girlfriend was suddenly revealed to several members of our very, very Mormon neighborhood, including my girlfriend's family. The constant, longstanding abuse and manipulation received at the hands of people that had been close to us in the recent past, caused an enormous amount of stress to be put on me and on my girlfriend. And although I recognized that the LDS leaders were not directly to blame for the members' bad behavior, I wondered about the effect that the Church had had on these members to have them act this way. It hurt to watch my girlfriend, a woman I deeply loved, being so directly harmed by the community that had, only a few months ago, always had their arms open. After finally moving away, I welcomed a chance to heal-- but more changes were on the way.

Since I was a young child, I've quietly thought of my Self in male terms. I never quite felt right in my female body or my life. It was deep and intangible, and I didn't have the language to consider it consciously until I was almost 21. As a young child, I thought I would, and desperately hoped I would, grow into a man. I was a staunch feminist, and did not necessarily mind being a woman if I was one, but I would think about how much I wanted facial hair, and to look like a man and to live as a man and how much I did not fit in. I felt that this was how it was- I was born with a female body, and that was it. I had no clue that I would be able to better match my body to my brain, my self.
(CONTINUED)

To read the rest of Jack's story, please visit the following link:
http://www.iamanexmormon.com/2011/08/my-name-is-jack-and-im-an-ex-mormon/

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[iamanexmormon]

@hannahbanna93 That's a good question! I feel like it requires a long response though because the answer is so tied up with why I left the LDS church that I'm not sure where to start! It's ironic that ExMormons ask Mormons the same question! Mormons tend to answer that they have a spiritual witness or that they rely on faith. For me, I rely on facts. I will not claim that these people are flawless. Do I believe that they are truthful? Yes I do- but I base that answer on many things. PM me :)

[josephrawlins]

Wow. I'm proud of you, Jack.

[bary1234]

Religion is poison. Im so happy to hear you got out of the cult. Congratulations!

[sscottrell]

This scares me



[jollgreen55]

@Gregorio1234ify He has been diagnosed as transgender which means that although he was born with a female body, he was born with a brain that was wired to be male. This explains the voice and slight curves, but the APA and AMA (American Psychological Association, and American Medical Association) recognize transgenderism as a legitimate condition. They also recognize transition (taking hormones, surgery) as the appropriate medically necessary treatment.

[xhunterforest]

@Gregorio1234ify she female listen to the voice closely that should help next time and if that doesn't look at body curves if you can see more than that.

[Gregorio1234ify]

Wait I feel bad for asking but is this a boy or a girl.

[RandyChristianLee]

Just recently resigned from the LDS church as well. My sexuality was a big key issue too, and after the repeal of Prop 8 and Washington legalizing gay marriage, it just failed all logic to remain a member anymore. It's a very sexually, physically, and emotionally repressing religion for those of us who "think differently", especially those who were raised in the religion, and had to deal with the negative societal factors and stigmatism that followed.

[gunshitknife]

Awesome! Good for you that you came out of it! Congrats!

[AdamanFisher]

@LDStothecore I still wasn't twisting what you said. I used to be a Mormon myself, and in seminary they taught me that sinners are inferior to righteous people because they're not capable of going to the celestial kingdom. So I'm saying this out of personal experience of being judged in my own seminary class.

[LDStothecore]

@AdamanFisher You are twisting what we believe by saying we believe homosexuals are inferior to others, because we do not feel that way.