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Ex-Mormon

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See also List of former Latter Day Saints

Ex-Mormon refers to a disaffiliate of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or any of its schismatic breakoffs, collectively called "Mormonism". Ex-Mormons, sometimes referred to as Exmo,[1] typically neither believe in nor affiliate with the LDS church. In contrast, Jack Mormons may believe but do not affiliate; and Cultural Mormons may affiliate but do not believe. The distinction is important to some ex-Mormons, many of whom see their decision to leave as morally compelling and socially risky. Many ex-Mormons experience troubles with family members who still follow Mormon teachings usually because of their inability to respect their families choice to remain within the faith.[2] Aggregations of ex-Mormons may comprise a social movement.

Reasons for leaving

See also Criticism of the Latter Day Saint movement

Most ex-Mormons leave Mormonism and the LDS church because specific intellectual or spiritual reasons have led them to a conviction that the religion is false. The foremost reasons are disbelief both in Joseph Smith as a prophet[3][4] and in the Book of Mormon as a religious and historical document.[5][2] Reasons for this disbelief include issues with anthropological, linguistic, archaeological, and genetic evidence for the Book of Mormon in the New World. In addition to rejecting the Book of Mormon for such reasons, the Book of Abraham and other Mormon religious texts are rejected on similar grounds.[6][7]

Individuals leave Mormonism for a variety of reasons, although "single reason disaffiliates are rare among former Mormons."[8] Research shows that 43% of Mormon disaffiliates left due to unmet spiritual needs.[9] Other reasons for leaving may include a belief that they are in a cult, logical or intellectual appraisal, belief changes or differences, spiritual conversion to another faith, life crises, and poor or hurtful responsiveness by Mormon leaders or congregations.[10] Of former Mormons surveyed, 58% switched to other faiths or practices.[9]


Post-disaffiliation issues

After their decision to leave Mormonism and the LDS church, ex-Mormons typically go through an adjustment period as they re-orient their lives religiously, socially, and psychologically. The church preaches freedom of agency and in many cases would still be accepted by their families and communities if they would accept not everyone believes as them. Unfortunately the majority of ex-Mormons try to reverse-evangelise their friends and families, pushing them away.

Religious

An online poll of ex-Mormons found that a majority of ex-Mormons do not self-identify as a member of another faith tradition, choosing to describe themselves as agnostic, atheist or simply ex-Mormon. Some can also become apatheist. Others either retained belief in God but not in organized religion or became adherents of other faiths.[5] Among ex-Mormons with no current religious preference, 36% continued the practice of prayer often or daily.[9] Ex-Mormon attitudes toward Mormons and Mormonism vary widely. Some ex-Mormons actively proselytize against Mormonism, while some provide only support to others leaving the religion. Other ex-Mormons prefer to avoid the subject entirely, while still others may try to encourage healthy dialogue between adherents of their new faiths and active Mormons. Attitudes of ex-Mormons also differ regarding their church membership. Some formally resign, which the LDS church refers to as "name removal," while others simply become inactive.

Social

Ex-Mormons who publicly leave Mormonism usually face social stigmatization, usually because of the intolerance of the traditional church they espouse. Family members express only disappointment and sorrow and try to reach out in understanding to their new belief system. Some stay under threat of divorce from spouses that still believe. Still, many ex-Mormons are completely shunned by their own choice and agency. Consequently they lose spouses, children, and the ability to enter Mormon temples to witness life events of family members.


Latter-day Saint views of ex-Mormons

Depending on the circumstances of an ex-Mormon's departure, Latter-day Saint views them as individuals who have simply strayed from the path. The LDS church teaches that people leave for a variety of reasons, but that regardless of the reason the underlying cause is deception by Satan.[11] Reasons range from trivial to serious (including doctrinal disagreements). Latter-day Saints view turning from the influence of the Holy Spirit as having potentially devastating spiritual consequences, and they generally hope ex-Mormons will "return to the fold."[12]

Reasons for leaving

The reasons given for a person leaving the church vary according to who is offering the opinion. LDS Sunday school manuals say members leave because of unwarranted pride, committing sins which drive them to alienation from God, or because they have taken offense to something trivial. The manuals also claim members leave because they have been deceived by Satan[11] who according to LDS scripture is actively seeking to destroy the souls of men.[13] Furthermore, those who "depart from the truth" will be judged in the final judgment[14] for falling prey to this deception.[15] The deceptions that Satan uses include acceptance of a false prophet, pride and vanity, being critical of leaders' imperfections, being offended, rationalizing disobedience, and accepting the false teachings of the world.[11]

In the Book of Mormon, a figure named Korihor[16] preaches disbelief and challenges prophecies and church leaders.[17] He then demands a miracle and is miraculously struck mute for the acts. One Mormon scholar likened the philosophical analysis employed in an essay compilation edited by an ex-Mormon to Korihor's tactics.[18] Church authority and popular LDS fiction writer Gerald N. Lund compares any reasoning that leads to disbelief in God or Mormonism to Korihor.[19]

Mormon historian B.H. Roberts wrote of an account of a member leaving the LDS church over the misspelling of a name in church records.[20] The LDS church uses the story of Frazier Eaton (who gave $700 for the Kirtland Temple but left after being unable to get a seat at the dedication ceremony) as an object lesson on how members can leave after being offended.[11][21]

Consequences of leaving

Latter-day Saints may view ex-Mormons as stronger candidates for eternal damnation based on their former devotion to Mormonism, since those who were never adherents will be judged more lightly. In addition, one who goes so far as to deny the Holy Spirit could become a son of perdition and be cast into outer darkness.[22] Outright apostasy of members will lead to a church disciplinary council, which may result in disfellowshipment or excommunication.[23] However, members who ask for their names to be removed from church records or who have joined another church are not subject to a disciplinary council.[23]

Former President of the LDS Church Brigham Young taught that members who openly disagree with church leaders are potentially cursed or condemned and that those who reject LDS doctrine or authority outright are "apostate".[24] An early Mormon epistle teaches that apostates have "fallen into the snares of the evil one."[25]

Young also said that "[if] there is a despicable character on the face of the earth, it is an apostate from this Church. He is a traitor who has deceived his best friends, betrayed his trust, and forfeited every principle of honor that God placed within him. They may think they are respected, but they are not. They are disgraced in their own eyes. There is not much honesty within them; they have forfeited their heaven, sold their birthright, and betrayed their friends."[26]

See also

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References

  1. ^ "Deconstructor" (September 2010), "Recovery from Mormonism", ExMormon.org {{citation}}: |contribution= ignored (help)
  2. ^ a b Lobdell, William (December 1, 2001), "Losing Faith and Lots More", Los Angeles Times, archived from the original on 2001-12-01
  3. ^ Backman, Milton V., Jr. (April 1989), "A Warning from Kirtland", Ensign: 26{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ Roberts, B.H. (1902), History of the Church, vol. 1, Salt Lake City: Deseret News, p. 115 {{citation}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |chapterurl= (help)
  5. ^ a b Exmormon survey from MisterPoll.com[dead link‍]
  6. ^ "Mormons in Transition: Examining Mormonism and the Mormon Church in the light of history and the Bible", IRR.org, Institute for Religious Research {{citation}}: |contribution= ignored (help)[dead link‍][specify]
  7. ^ Larson, Charles M. (1992), By His Own Hand Upon Papyrus, Grand Rapids, Michigan: Institute for Religious Research, p. [page needed], ISBN 0-9620963-2-6, OCLC 26140322
  8. ^ Albrecht, S.L. & Bahr, H.M. (1989). Strangers Once More: Patterns of Disaffiliation from Mormonism. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion (28)2. 180- 200. doi:10.2307/1387058 JSTOR 1387058
  9. ^ a b c Albrecht, S.L. & Bahr, H.M. (1983). Patterns of Religious Disaffiliation: A Study of Lifelong Mormons, Mormon Converts & Former Mormons. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion 22 D. pp. 366-379. doi:10.2307/1385774 JSTOR 1385774
  10. ^ Reynolds, Leslie (1998) [1996], Mormons in Transition (Second ed.), Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Books, p. [page needed], ISBN 978-0-8010-5811-0, OCLC 38199795
  11. ^ a b c d "Lesson 24: "Be Not Deceived, but Continue in Steadfastness"", Doctrine and Covenants and Church History Gospel Doctrine Teacher’s Manual, 2003, p. 134, Publication: 35685
  12. ^ Peggy Fletcher, Stack (2008-04-08), "LDS Church President Monson urges disenfranchised to return to the fold", The Salt Lake Tribune, retrieved 2008-04-26
  13. ^ Doctrine and Covenants 10:27–33
  14. ^ 3 Nephi 26:4
  15. ^ Doctrine and Covenants 20:15
  16. ^ Alma 30
  17. ^ Alma 30:27
  18. ^ Robinson, Stephen E. (1991), "Review of The Word of God: Essays on Mormon Scripture by Dan Vogel", FARMS Review of Books, 3 (1), Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, BYU: 312–318, retrieved 2008-04-13. {{citation}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |month= and |coauthors= (help)[dead link‍]
  19. ^ Lund, Gerald N. (July 1992), "Countering Korihor's Philosophy", Ensign
  20. ^ Roberts, B.H. (1902), History of the Church, vol. 1, p. 261 {{citation}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |origmonth=, |month=, |chapterurl=, |origdate=, and |coauthors= (help)
  21. ^ Smith, George A. (1867), Journal of Discourses, vol. 11, p. 9 {{citation}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |origmonth=, |month=, |chapterurl=, |origdate=, and |coauthors= (help)
  22. ^ Burton, Theodore M. (May 1981), "Light and Truth", Ensign: 28
  23. ^ a b Ballard, M. Russell (September 1990), "A Chance to Start Over: Church Disciplinary Councils and the Restoration of Blessings", Ensign, 20 (9): 12, retrieved 2011-09-26.
  24. ^ "Chapter 12: Preventing Personal Apostasy", Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young, 1997[dead link‍]
  25. ^ Smith, Joseph F., ed. (1938), Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book , p. 66, OCLC 718055
    Although sometimes mistaken for a direct quote from Joseph Smith, this passage occurs in the book as part of "Excerpts from an Epistle of the Elders of the Church in Kirtland to Their Brethren Abroad", edited by Oliver Cowdery and Frederick G. Williams as published in the Evening and Morning Star.
  26. ^ Young, Brigham (1867), Journal of Discourses, 12: 94 {{citation}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)

Further reading

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