[Surfah]

Originally Posted by Robin

I'm a former gospel doctrine teacher, former missionary, former zone leader, former young men's president, and former Mormon that has left the church for greener pastures. By 'greener' I mean a personal search for truth and meaning in life outside of the structures of organized religion. I am very grateful to the Mormon tradition for instilling in me the basic desires that guide my own seeking today -- the desire to be good, kind, spiritual, forgiving (sorry Mike), and generous. I have many fond memories of Mormonism, and few hard feelings. I think the LDS faith does a lot of good for a lot of people in the world, and that is wonderful. But from a spiritual development POV, I can't help but wonder if in the LDS faith would find more personal development if they were able to apply the same degree of energy and effort to spiritual development outside of the church. Speaking ONLY for myself, I felt that I had reached a point of seriously diminishing returns in the LDS faith, where the efforts of activity did not bring a satisfactory degree of spiritual development. I was spinning my wheels.

Anyhow, I don't mean to set myself up as any sort of spiritual pargon or anything like that, especially because after my 'MikeWaters is LIKE a child-molesting-nazi' rant that would all fall pretty flat. But I can say this for sure -- I am a better man for having spent a significant chapter of my life as a Mormon, and I am an even better man for having walked away from the church.

I wouldn't recommend this course of action for everyone, and I try really hard not to be anti (I'm not... or so my wife says. She is an active member, and I have no problem with that.) But that is what I am up to, and the context of my response.

I have a few friends and even family members who have argued this same point, that structured religion (not just Mormonism, though those to whom I am referring to were all once Mormon) hinders or impedes a personal search for truth and spirituality.

In jest I have thought the same thing, in fact today in Gospel Doctrine when the teacher was woefully unprepared and lacking of knowledge in teaching the Creation. This was the first time I have attended GD in over a year and I think the primary class I was teaching could have provided a more meaningful, profound and insightful discussion.

But in speaking with each of these people about this to some extent it appears most evident that there is a structure or religious tenet that doesn't actually impede their personal spirituality but rather a stricture of sorts that they cannot fully comply with, i.e. tithing, WOW, LOC, etc. Obscure and problematic doctrines often coupled with the flaws and faults of the Church and its leaders whose errors are amplified to levels of extremity become an easy out. I realized I am generalizing and being presumptive here, but a few have actually admitted to me as such. And in a few instances these individuals have seperated themselves from the Church because of hardship and no longer acknowledging God or a Redeemer, though I think ultimately they still do believe but find it easier to choose to say they don't than reconcile everything bad that has everything happened to them with the loving and benevolent Father in Heaven they have always believed in or taught exists.

My point is, I guess I do not understand how a structured religion (any, not just Mormonism) actually impedes personal spiritual devlopment. I have never, in my own experience, felt that the Church was restrictive in this. I was never taught to lean on the testimonies of others. I have never felt that I couldn't receive my own personal witness to what I have been taught, or to even disagree with what I have been taught. Instead, I was brought up to learn out of the very best books and develop a personal relationship with God. Any counsel I have received or even the worst SS lessons I have endured have all aided and abetted my personal growth by giving me a chance to share with others that which I have learned through my own personal development. The commandments and covenants I have made are simply controls that provide guidance and oft times protection in my pursuit for truth and knowledge, not walls.