Breaking Free

2009-6-17 04:52:00

Good discussion my friends.

I achieved enlightenment about the church and higher teachings after I was married and had kids. It would have been a lot easier to rebel when I was single, but my wife was a diehard Mormon who felt I was being led astray by the devil.

I hated with a passion the fact that I could not openly discuss any thoughts that were not approved by the church authorities but was pretty careful not to break this rule. As time passed I realized my days with the church were numbered for I am the type of person who can only be held prisoner for so long.

My nephew Curtis forced my hand before I was ready. I gave him a short article I had written illustrating that there was progression from one kingdom to another after death. I warned him to not show it to anyone, for if it got to his Bishop he could wind up getting kicked out of the church.

He didn't believe that was possible, especially when the article only quoted accepted scriptures.

A few days later he found out I was right and soon we were both excommunicated for not having our minds "right."

Now some think the church is correct in insisting strict adherence to doctrine with no discussion allowed on deviations. They think it would lead to chaos.

I don't think so.

For one thing Joseph Smith allowed such talk, and in Nauvoo they had public debates on all kinds of subjects.

Secondly, our country is a good example of the benefits of open debate. We have a basic constitution that makes us all one, but we are all free to discuss any political philosophy we want (at least for now). The diversity of discussion in this country does not create chaos but it helps make us more stable and to see certain basic truths.

Being powerfully subject to LDS authority, and then escaping it made me realize the principle behind the Beast and why most people willingly receive the Mark in their right hand or forehead.

May we all instead receive the name of God in our foreheads (Rev 14:1) where we learn of the authority within.

  

"To deny our own impulses is to deny the very thing that makes us human."
  -- Andy and Larry Wachowski, [the movie] "The Matrix," 1999.