Took a big step today - out with everybody

[RubinHighlander]

Maybe you can use some quotes from this talk to push back against the fear and manipulation that is being used against you:

Perfect Love Casteth Out Fear
By President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/ ... r?lang=eng

Historically, fear has often been used as a means to get people to take action. Parents have used it with their children, employers with employees, and politicians with voters.

Experts in marketing understand the power of fear and often employ it. This is why some advertisements seem to carry the implicit message that if we fail to buy their breakfast cereal or miss out on the newest video game or cell phone, we run the risk of living a miserable life, dying alone and unhappy.

We smile at this and think we would never fall for such manipulation, but we sometimes do. Worse, we sometimes use similar methods to get others to do what we want.

My message has two purposes today: The first is to urge us to contemplate and consider the extent to which we use fear to motivate others—including ourselves. The second is to suggest a better way.

I'm guessing this is just one more of many reasons Dieter was put into the less visible spots in MorCor leadership. Fear is one of the biggest tools in the COB arsenal; no way in Zion they would give that up!

[Stig]

Very well written. I wish I could just copy it, sign my name as if it were my own, and send to everyone I know. I've been slowly creeping out into the open with my disaffection, but it has been very slow.

[græy]

Congratulations! Someday, hopefully, more of us can join you.

[IT_Veteran]

Very well written. I wish I could just copy it, sign my name as if it were my own, and send to everyone I know. I've been slowly creeping out into the open with my disaffection, but it has been very slow.

If it reflects your feelings, you’re welcome to take it and change it however you want. There’s been little negative fallout since I posted it. I talked about my parents reaction, but that’s really been it so far. My TBM sister came to visit over the weekend and didn’t say a word about anything. Not even when I fired up the coffee pot.

One of the young men from our ward just unfriended me today, but that’s the only person so far. It was probably a little awkward for him anyway, since I was his deacon’s quorum advisor a few years ago. Comes from a very TBM family where everybody serves a mission, goes to BYUI upon return, gets married within a year, and starts having babies almost immediately.

My own kids read and liked/loved it.

[IT_Veteran]

Spoke to soon. Just received an email from my FIL telling me it’s too early to stab the church in the back and we’ll never have all the facts because it’s been too long, church doesn’t harbor sex offenders, one man’s mistakes, etc..

Told him as long as my wife and kids are in, I’ll continue to advocate for change to protect them.

[2bizE]

I am envious.

me too

[ap1054]

Well written! And I applaud your bravery and faith in taking that step. My wife and I are in a similar spot and this whole abuse scandal has really rocked us. Seriously questioning how we'll move fwd with the church having 3 little girls... Tough decision.

[Dravin]

Spoke to soon. Just received an email from my FIL telling me it’s too early to stab the church in the back and we’ll never have all the facts because it’s been too long, church doesn’t harbor sex offenders, one man’s mistakes, etc..

Of course if we'll never know enough facts to come to any sort of conclusion the rational response is to reserve belief. Something tells me this isn't his position.