Status Update & Seeking Advice

Hello, StayLDS Ward!

It’s been awhile. Some of you you may know me and some may not, but several months ago I quietly stepped away from the steeple (not having my records removed or anything like that) and also this site. I felt at peace with where I was at and it was the right decision for me at the time, however, I’ve occasionally came back here to lurk and check. Truthfully, despite my estrangement, a part of me is always going to be “LDS” and this has been a great resource for me even while away.

I’m coming in with a status update. I moved out of Utah and into another state shortly after I “left” the site. Life was good. Since I’m a young adult, it was a good time for exploring and living out a new identity without a lot of pressure from the largely LDS environment around me. No church attendance and happy to tell people I was raised Mormon and would further elaborate that I’m somewhat of a “cultural Mormon” if people wanted more of an explanation. I will say, though, that I was lacking community. Church options were kind of limited where I was and the few I did attend didn’t suit my tastes (Mormonism is a tough act to follow, in my opinion). I also felt a bit of disconnect between myself and the Spirit (or whatever the Spirit is) and even God. Never-the-less, I feel right about my course of action only now I want to take some time to tap into my spiritual side again and reach out to God, although not in an orthodox religious setting.

I guess the reason for my status update is two part….

1:) I’m back in Utah temporarily but will be moving back out again in a couple of months. Of course, living with family members again, and possibly attending church temporarily, made me kind of nostalgic for this site. I’m not a fan of ex-Mormon sites because I feel like they quickly dissolve into anti-Church bitterness or patting each other on the back for figuring out that Mormonism is a “scam.” I don’t want to go to a support community like that. If anyone has some good suggestions of where I could go, please help. Also, if I’m still welcome to post around here sometimes, great. It’s not my intention at all to undermine the purpose of this site. I don’t want to lead people out of the church.

2:) Living with LDS (and non-LDS) family under one roof. Oh, man. I think I mentioned once on here that 2 of my siblings were going out of the church, 1 was on the way out, and I was left. Well…quite frankly, I’m having a hard time navigating morality/value differences between siblings when church isn’t even a factor anymore (but it is for parents, and that plays a role). There’s a particular situation that’s already causing me a lot of stress to the point that I’m having trouble sleeping. I could use some advice but I don’t want to discuss it on a public forum. If you’re willing to listen, drop me a personal message.