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Permalink Reply by Tyler Jones on May 10, 2011 at 10:12am

Wow, that was long! :) Anyway, it was a good story. I am still trying to be less judgmental alhough I have tendancies to dislike anything mormon. (because im gay, they are not against something I believe in. They are against ME.) but I do realize that that needs to be changed in order to move on with my life and be a better person. My personal experience was very similar to yours, and I came to a lot of the same conclusions. Thanks for sharing.

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Permalink Reply by Idaho Spud on May 10, 2011 at 12:56pm

I enjoyed your story and find it similar to mine in several ways.  The main similarity is your experiences with not being able to see the difference between feelings the Holy Ghost may give you and the feelings from non-religious events.  That was the thing that made me start seriously thinking the church was not true. 

I’m learning more every year about how easily deceived we are.  We even deceive ourselves quite often because we want something to be true so strongly. 

I remember one story a church education speaker told about himself.  He did not believe in UFOs at all, but something brought him in contact with a group that did.  Shortly after listening to their stories for an hour or two, he was standing on his porch at night, when he suddenly saw a light in the sky that was moving very rapidly all over the sky, making sharp turns without slowing down.  It was a big ‘WOW’ moment, and for a few seconds he became a believer.  Then his logical mind took over, and he steadied himself on a porch post and sighted along the post at the light.  The light instantly stopped moving and never moved again.  With just a slight exposure to UFO stories, his brain had manufactured wild movements that were not there.  I’ve heard hundreds of stories like this and worse, where people see and believe something without any good evidence of its truthfulness.  This is most likely where a lot of “visions” and “revelations” come from.

I’ve also seen many scientific studies that shows how easily influenced we are.  The ease with which it happens is amazing.   One striking example was a study where women’s performances in various tasks were measured before and after they were shown a commercial.  The commercial had in it a very slight and hard to detect bit that could be construed as slightly negative about women.  The women’s performances were dramatically reduced after seeing the commercial.  Their self-confidence had been sabotaged by a very minor thing. 

If we can be so easily manipulated, how can we know who or what to trust?   The only way I can see is with much evidence derived from good scientific studies.  Science has some good, non-supernatural explanations of “visions”, “revelations”, and other “spiritual” experiences, with lots of good evidence to back-up their explanations.

From many things I’ve seen and read, my conclusion is that, if we greatly desire something, our minds will conjure it up for us!

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Permalink Reply by LexiD3 on May 10, 2011 at 1:32pm

Very well written!  Your reasons for leaving are so close to mine.  Thank you for sharing and I hope it has helped in explaining to others why you have left.

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Permalink Reply by Noirceur on May 11, 2011 at 3:08am

I knew that 116 pages story never made sense!! That's damning evidence in my book, thanks for the insight! haha.

You're letter is extremely well written. I've been trying to think of the best way to break the news to my best friend. I think that this will go over as well as it possibly can. Good luck!

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Permalink Reply by Deepthinker101 on May 19, 2011 at 3:43pm

A very well-written, open-minded, and honest post.  Your reasons for leaving, some of them (i.e. spiritual feelings, polygamy, heavily biased books and materials, etc.) are congruent with mine and are presented very thoroughly. I may have to use you as a source.    Thanks a bunch.

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Permalink Reply by Allicat on May 20, 2011 at 1:42am

You make your mother proud.  Regularly.  As you know, I was thrilled to receive this news from you (the one family member you knew would welcome it  )  but I was so impressed and quite amazed at how quickly you processed these thoughts and feelings - without getting bogged down in the anger phase like I and so many do.   Not that there's anything wrong with that...  everyone has their own path to take - but your path seems particularly healthy.

 

Your Aunt Kathleen is here reading this with me and says "I've always appreciated your honesty - particularly in matters relating to the church/gospel.  I am proud of the journey you have taken.  It takes courage to be willing to examine and accept contradictions in long held beliefs.  And even more courage to act upon those and follow a new path.  Your letter is especially impressive in its honesty and insights, and I can see only positive, joyful experiences ahead for you and your family."

 

We love you!

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Permalink Reply by Brandags on May 20, 2011 at 11:58am

Thanks, everyone, for taking the time to read my story, and for the great feedback and kind words. I have attached an updated copy of the story for those interested. It's even longer!!! :) But it touches on a few things I forgot about that were important in my transition.

 

Thanks again,

Brandon

Attachments:

• Why_I_Left_the_Mormon_Church.pdf, 327 KB

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Permalink Reply by Brandags on July 22, 2011 at 8:26pm

Okay, I keep finding things I want to reword differently, or add, so I'm keeping a live version of my exit story on my website, which you can download at any time at:

http://www.brandonpearce.com/why_i_left_the_mormon_church.pdf

 

Thanks!

Brandon

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Permalink Reply by Phil on July 24, 2011 at 3:45pm

I'm sorry I only got to read your story today. It's one of the best and most balanced exit stories I've ever read and you convey it so eloquently, far more erudite than anything I could express.

Many thanks!

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Permalink Reply by MikeUtah on July 24, 2011 at 5:24pm

Hi Brandags.  You can also edit your discussion here to keep it up to date if you'd like.  Just click Options above your post, and then click "Edit Discussion".  Great work!

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Permalink Reply by abbie on July 24, 2011 at 7:38pm

I did not feel compelled to tell my story to anyone.  No one really seemed to want to genuinely understand it.  It was very much a personal conviction and I felt no imperative to share or justify myself.  I personally didn't feel I had a right to even passively try to alter someone else's views of their most personal beliefs, and I have found far too many people in the world are too easily persuaded by other's passion, when I believe we must find it within ourselves without the influence of dialectics and emotional words.  It is too easy for people to believe what someone else implies.  I think people have to grow harder on themselves, not listen to others without a clear mind.  In my experience a clear and open mind is rare.  Also, I don't believe that my experience has anything to do with another person.  It's mine alone.  But when I hear similarities I share, because we are not isolated, but I think we should be very careful of our influence.

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Permalink Reply by JD on July 27, 2011 at 10:10pm

Wow!   Thanks for sharing your story.  I left the church about four years ago and wrote a less detailed story to help me resolve my beliefs.  Wish I would have read this 4 years ago to help resolve those issues.  I would think that it would be of great service to others who are attempting to resolve their beliefs as well.  But then again, be prepared for repercussions from those close to you who are entrenched in their beliefs.

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