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  • #206788
    Anonymous
    Guest

    I am updating my introduction because the original didn’t provide much useful information……….

    I was born and raised in Utah. I am now 33 years old. We went to church as a family but I became a rebellious teenager. I started smoking pot in ninth grade and dropped out of school the following year. I drank and did with other drugs. As my life went downhill, I determined I would die before I age 20. I frequently thought of myself lying in a deep pit of manure and I could not climb out on my own.

    While on LSD, I had a “bad trip”. I believed I was going permanently insane. I also had a terrifying revelation – I learned that death would not be an escape as I had previously supposed. I could not leave my mind and experiences behind. I somehow had to stay alive and improve my life. During that experience, I also realized all that what I had learned in Primary and all that my parents had taught me about the Gospel is true.

    I was so entrenched in the lifestyle and didn’t change despite the experience I had. It got to the point where I had to either die or change my life. One day my mom said, “Hey, you have an appointment with the bishop.” Well, this had happened several times before and I would say “no” or simply not go. This time I said “okay”. Even though I hadn’t been going to church for a while, I went to that appointment and several more after it. I will forever love and honor the man who was my bishop at that time!

    My Savior had reached down and pulled me out of the pit! It was truly wonderful.

    I prepared well for a mission despite struggling with depression. I was having a hard time in the MTC. I was sure that I was unworthy despite being told repeatedly by leaders that I was worthy. I met with a therapist there and he thought I had OCD. I was able to complete the mission despite being depressed and having anxiety at times. I had a very solid testimony.

    I got married to a marvelous woman four and a half months after getting home (we now have four kids). Within a few months after that, I was severely depressed. I visited doctors, psychiatrists, and psychologists and tried many medications over a ten year period. I was told that I don’t have OCD. I have depression, anxiety, and ADD I guess.

    So here are my issues:

    -Eventually, I lost faith because I just couldn’t find joy. I started reading anti-Mormon stuff due to sadness, boredom, and curiosity. A couple years ago, I was becoming agnostic, but I do believe in God now and I have remained active in the church.

    -I still have a very difficult time feeling close to God and I often think I am fundamentally flawed at the core and unworthy of His love.

    -I hear that only church policies and practices change, but it’s apparent that things that were clearly taught as doctrines and principles have changed. Some leaders “teach for doctrines the commandments of men” and those teachings make their way into conference talks and manuals and are eventually assumed to be doctrine. It seems that we are “like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.” I suppose this has not happened in years, which is good.

    -I am stilled unsettled regarding past policies, practices, and doctrines related to racism.

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    My old, lame introdution

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    Hi, everyone. I’ve been around this forum for a little while and want to introduce myself now. I’m in my mid-thirties, married with children, and live in Utah. Very unique, eh?

    I crashed after my mission, meaning I fell into a depression. I have constantly battled with it. I have also come across a lot of stuff from history regarding the LDS Church and my testimony has received a lot of bullet holes. At times I have done a lot to repent and live right, but I was still miserable. I have sometimes stopped believing in God.

    I hope to find support on this forum. Support so I can find my way. Thanks.

    #254787
    Anonymous
    Guest

    Welcome! it’s good to have a Nephite in our midst ;)

    I look forward to reading and learning from your posts. Feel free to use the search function to search for topics we have discussed in the past. You can always comment on old threads instead of starting new ones about the same subjects.

    Either way, glad you’re here!

    #254788
    Anonymous
    Guest

    Hey, everyone, Heber just called us a bunch of Lamanites! :P (I’m assuming he didn’t imply Zoramites.) 😮

    Welcome, Nephite. I’m glad you’re here.

    #254789
    Anonymous
    Guest

    The Lamanites were better off.

    #254790
    Anonymous
    Guest

    yup, the lamanites didn’t get killed off. Their DNA morphed into Mongolian/asiatic DNA.

    But seriously, it’s good to hear a snippet of your story. I’m pretty passionate about the Way, my “Middle Way”, and ways to Stay LDS. as you seek to find your way, hopefully we can help each other in seek the best way for us to Stay LDS.

    cheers!

    #254791
    Anonymous
    Guest

    wayfarer wrote:

    yup, the lamanites didn’t get killed off. Their DNA morphed into Mongolian/asiatic DNA.


    ….and their horses morphed into Llamas!

    #254792
    Anonymous
    Guest

    … and their cureloms and cumoms into … well, never mind.

    Welcome, Nephite. Glad you found us and I hope you find as much comfort here during your journey as I have … which is to say a lot.

    #254793
    Anonymous
    Guest

    Oh crap, thanks for giving me material to ruminate over :think: Anyway, we shall see if I am a blessed or cursed Nephite.

    #254794
    Anonymous
    Guest

    Glad you spoke up!

    If you’ve lurked a bit, you already know the folks here are as supportive as it gets. You’re gonna love it :)

    So… welcome :wave:

    #254795
    Anonymous
    Guest

    Depression is serious stuff. I hope you find helpful support here.

    #254796
    Anonymous
    Guest

    Nephite, welcome to the group.

    I’m looking forward to hear more from you.

    Keep it coming.

    Mike from Milton.

    #254797
    Anonymous
    Guest

    Maybe Qui-Gon Jinn didn’t really die and he is here among us now as Mike!

    #254798
    Anonymous
    Guest

    either that, or orrin porter rockwell…

    #254799
    Anonymous
    Guest

    Either way, I suddenly feel safe. 8-)

    #254800
    Anonymous
    Guest

    I never realized it before, Orrin looks like a star wars character.

    A man before his time. (or after)

    Mike from Milton.

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