Thank You for the message

That is so true! Most of the time anyways. I've seen the rare occasion where people are chosen by "inspiration".

Isnt that the only thing that makes sense? Why would God call a bishop that didn't have the right social circle to serve?

@@drewhanna9057 so they don’t serve the whole ward? Just a certain social circle?

@@shawnbradford2243 I dont understand what you are asking. We are talking about being called to serve, not who they serve. What do you mean?

It’s good you did what you thought was best for your people. Caring is half the battle!

@@shawnbradford2243 Thank you Shawn.

Thank you so much for sharing your experience!

You mention you left the lds church. May I ask if you still have a connection with God? What I noticed from your comment is you really seem to care and that’s such a big part of helping. Some lds are critical of Christian pastors getting paid. They get paid because it is their chosen vocation and calling. They tend to do it for their entire career. Most go to college for a minimum of 4 years, but more often 8-12. They are on call 24/7. I do know Bishops who put in that kind of time, they are the better ones. I’ve spent time in both the lds church and now for the past 30+ years in a Christian church. My husband is also exmormon and has been Christian for almost 20 years. You mentioned some guilt related to years as a bishop (if I understood correctly) Jesus can help remove that guilt. If you have any questions I will try to help.

How can they be speaking from God their appointed to a position I doubt very much they get spiritual help because some of the questions they ask teens and their one-to-one interviews are totally totally inappropriate and should be not be asked by anyone but a therapist who is probably not ordained by God I don't think God has anything to do with this

Thank you so much!

Boy, you nailed the problem exactly right.

Thank you much for sharing! I'm so glad this video resonated with you. You are always worthy!

So many boys go through this, and lots of them feel alone about it, and feel they can't tell anyone. This process from the church makes the normal difficulty of growing up even worse.

Ditto

@@grizzrider2684 lmbo !

You are naughty. You should always tell the truth. Especially when the bishop is going to tell his wife, his counselors, his siblings, and all his friends everything you confessed to him.

Heavenly Father knew..

@@oznerriznick2474 then how do they get appointed to church leadership and get access to the temple?

It is funny how the higher up you go, sometimes is when it becomes more clear that there is not the inspiration you thought there was. So many people you see get callings and you wonder how they were chosen. Then you realize that there is regularly a connection. Our bishop is life long friends with the Stake President, who just happened to choose his good friend to be bishop. Our stake president just happens to be related to a very recognizable family name in Mormon circles. It is even worse (nepotism/connections) when you look at the general authorities. It is so crazy to look at most apostles (Hinckley, Smith, Ballard, Kimball, etc) and you notice that most of them had immediate relatives who were also big wigs in the church. It is almost like a family business....

It was founded by two families to begin with and both got wealthy from it!

@@shawnbradford2243 I just learned this week (from our Gospel Doctrine class...haha) that Dallin H. Oaks is a direct descendant of Martin Harris! The "H" in Dallin H. Oaks is HARRIS and Martin is his great great great grandpa or something. Sheesh! Aside from the token German or Latino, most of the brethren really are in a family business it seems.

Great points, couldn't agree more!

Interesting thank you

Thank you for sharing, and thank you for your support!

Thank you!

Thank you!

Thank you so much for your support! It is so wonderful to hear that we have been helpful to mormons in need

Some of them are very power hungry and controlling too.

You're all moaning losers..

@@benjamintrench8722 when you cant dispute the facts use ad hominem...

@@georgezeller6046 Awww you poor soul.. facts..Rofl..Just live with it and eat it. You and your sad kind are not going to change anything with your very rants. The Church of Jesus Christ is GrrrrOWING. Eat it ! 😇

@@benjamintrench8722 Yes facts. Do you always accept claims that contradict reality without any research or evidence? The truth is the Mormon church is bleeding members like never before. There is a reason for all the rebranding. There is a reason membership statistics are no longer shared in conference. There is a reason the church is now admitting to things they have called anti Mormon lies and denied for years. Yesterdays apostasy is today's gospel topics essays. If current trends continue the Mormon church will experience negative growth within a decade. Behold the stone cut from a mountain without hands.

Yes as a bishop you know your ward personally and if you are a well connected to their feelings you know what to say.

Amazing you figured that out.

So sorry that you were put that position at such a young age! Bishops should truly never be allowed with children alone. Thank you for sharing your experience.

@@mormonstories i remember not understanding some of the questions then, but feeling really uncomfortable. Also doesn't the Mormon church state all children under the age of 8 are without sin, so there shouldn't be any worthiness interviews a child's baptism.

I’m so sorry that that happened to you.

@Sally Jean That is stalkery-specific...

They figure embarrassment is what's going to keep you on track

Much appreciated! Thank you so much for your support!

Thank you for sharing! Experiences like yours are why understanding this information is so important.

Eileen, I feel sad for you. I want you to know there are women out there, guided by God, who are intervening and speaking up. In a quiet way I have assisted in getting a woman out of one of these marriages before he killed her, healing another marriage where he was willing to change, and with my daughter, getting a molester into the state pen. Women must speak up for and support each other. I wish someone had been there for you.

Thank you!

And then they'll need to go dig up Golden Plates in the mountains, and then drag them all over the place, and then... Ah, to hell with it! They just need the damn stone and the hat!!!

Lol

If you don't repent you wont get yours if believe the Bible if you dont know it's in Revelations where it talks about the white stone fools mock but they shall mourn Brother

@@robertlewis7208, It seems that you find it very gratifying that your God will sternly punish everyone who doesn’t believe the same nonsense you do.

Why dont you just tell us why you have hope in Christ instead of putting down his servants think positive and have faith Brother

Well, I don't know about that, I don't go to church anymore, but I know bishops don't earn a salary. They are more inspired by power and control over their congregations.

Agreed!

You do need two people to count money though! Abuse a person no problem, steal money....heck no!!!!

I also think that the Bishop should not be meeting alone with adult women either. It is inappropriate for a ministering teacher to meet a single woman in her home alone, so why would it be appropriate for a bishop to meet alone with single women or other mens wives?

Londo you're a long way from Centari ☺️

Wow! What a story. Thank you so much for sharing and for your support!

Chuck, I would also encourage you to not be tempted to constantly imply that every decision you make is "inspired" or when you call people maybe don't use the phrasing "the Lord has called you" or "God has called you" because you are basically lying in most cases. Just because you prayed and felt good about a decision does not mean God is making that decision. It makes Bishops look like they are full of shit when their decisions don't turn out so good. In stead, just tell people the truth. "Hi brother/sister so and so, we have a vacant position for (enter calling) and we prayed about who should be called to that position and we felt good about extending the call to you. Would you be willing to accept this calling?". See, no emotional manipulation, no false authority being used, no guilt. Just honesty.

@@nickdipaolofan5948 Hi! Thanks for taking the time to reply to my comment. I agree that sometimes emotional manipulation might be used, although, I don't think it's intentional most of the time (not saying that's ok though.) I like to think that Bishops usually try to have their members best interests at heart and say things that encourage the member they have they capability to serve in whatever capacity is being extended to them rather than manipulating them to receive the calling. I joined the church a bit later than most members, and have been a member about 15 years I can only think if one interview/meeting where I felt emotional pressure to do something. I think a good practice and hopefully one that most leaders use is to give members time to think about, and pray to seek their own spiritual confirmation that the calling is indeed for them. Happy to hear other other suggestions, feedback or experiences (good or bad) you might have had. God bless you . 🙏

@@chuckgrenier8898 Thank you, it is comforting to know that there are many bishops like you who do not intend to manipulate the members by implying greater authority than they actually have. I know that when you are set apart you are told that you now have priesthood keys for the ward and you are entitled to spiritual guidance for the flock. And I also believe that we ALL have felt promptings from God that have guided us is particular situations. But having served in a few presidencies and having interacted closely with many bishops and stake presidents, it is clear that your judgment, inspiration, etc is not increased after another man prays over your head and calls you to this position. And deep down I think you are aware of this also if you are honest with yourself. I personally feel that telling bishops this is also a manipulation tactic for the church. They really keep their unpaid leadership invested by making them feel special and closer to God than the people they are serving and also make them think they must be doing something right for "god to call them" to this important position. I believe they prey on the good hearted and dedicated members by pumping up their ego with local leadership callings. In the last couple years I began having doctrinal questions due to several prophets contradicting each other on statements of objective truth. When meeting with my stake president, he first denied that there were contradictions, then when I brought up the quotes, he dismissed me as someone who was just looking to make trouble, then he punished me by telling my bishop to release me from my calling. When I was released, my bishop made up a reason for my early release. I called him on it and point blank asked if the stake president had anything to do with it. The bishop eventually confesses to lying to me and admits the stake president requested the release. Both men acted deceitfully with me, yet both still act like they are inspired in their callings. God did not call them, they both had connections to the people doing the "calling". The church has more nepotism and cronyism than most family run businesses.......

@@chuckgrenier8898 Hi Chuck, just curious, are you still a Bishop right now?

@Nick DipaoloFan Hi Nick! I am, yes. :) It's been about a year and a half now.

Откуда ты, друг?

@@annemiker4623 из Саратова.

я из Екатеринбурга!

@@annemiker4623 тоже разочаровалась в "церкви"?

@@exmodeadpool и очень сильно))

So glad it was helpful! Thanks for your support

@@UnderstandingMormonism I didn't know how invasive those questions got. I somehow left at the age of nineteen without the church going there with me. I am certainly glad to know that I will never have subjected my children to this treatment, as well as myself, because of my choice to leave a long time ago and stay away. You help strengthen confidence in my past choices with this information you spread and it reminds me of how much God loved me then and still loves me by clearing any doubt I may have lingering around my subconscious about my choices. Thank you and God Bless!

We'll take it! Haha. Thanks so much for your support!

@@UnderstandingMormonism John, I am a lifelong and currently active member who lost his testimony this year. Served in several YM and Elders presidencies. Never a time I wasn't a full tithe payer, never a time I denied a calling given to me. My epiphany was when I saw how the church changed it's tune on LGBT issues. You and I are on opposite ends of that debate but the church shifting it's position on it and pandering to LGBT with their Mormon and Gay website is what made me start questioning if they really are inspired. I met with my bishop, stake president, and then wrote to church correlation. Their pathetic lack of answers and dodging questions sealed it for me that NONE of them are really inspired by God and the church leaders are willing to change the church's stance on ANYTHING if they get enough social or political pressure to do so. I then started looking up the history and noticed this was nothing new, most major changes were derived out of major outside pressure to do so, not God telling them to do so. Polygamy, blacks and the priesthood, temple ceremony, church two hours, and on and on. It became so clear that everything they do is simply poll tested and bended to reflect and fit the sensibilities of the majority at any given time. It is either that, or God is very indecisive and contradicts himself regularly. During the time of my transition I listened to many of your interviews and want to thank you. Even though you and I are almost opposite in our social and political opinions, we seemed to have reached the same conclusions about the church from opposite ends of the paradigm. I'm still active but told my bishop that I will not be paying tithing ever again and he immediately took my temple recommend. My wife still holds a calling that requires her to attend ward council and it is very awkward because she knows in the back of her head that none of the church claims are true but she enjoys her calling and still wishes it was true. I'm trying to let her come to her own conclusions on her own timeline but it is hard seeing the church take so much of her time. I never looked at it that way when I thought it was God asking us to do the callings but now I look at it as unpaid labor. I was Gospel Doctrine teacher (and a few smaller callings) when I started asking questions about how the church could justify changing their stance on whether someone was born homosexual or not and I eventually got released because I was openly not satisfied with their non answers and dodges. They love you UNTIL you start questioning them, then they turn on a dime.

@@nickdipaolofan5948 good for you, hope you start getting more joy from life now.

@@shawnbradford2243 Thanks Shawn, it is difficult because we are still close with our ward members/neighbors and at this point most don't even know where we are at regarding the church because we are still very active. All they know is out of nowhere I was released from three callings but my wife was not release from anything so I'm sure there is speculation going on. While they are speculating on what sin I committed, I am sitting there holding on to my integrity knowing that the church leaders are the ones not being completely honest about the church's history AND how they come to decisions today. The current church leadership want you to think they are receiving direct visitation from God but you will notice that they never actually say that anymore. They like to imply that they are "special witnesses" of Christ as Joseph Smith defined it (seeing God face to face) but they will never outright declare they have. This is because other church leaders have looked silly making other declarations (such as Brigham Young saying God told him that He will never take polygamy from the earth again) so current church leaders avoid specific and profound declarations like the plague because all they do is make the church lose credibility down the road. You will notice that in our missionary efforts we mostly promote the social aspect of the church (great community, crafts, sports, mutual, ministering, etc) but we avoid most of church history and we avoid in depth doctrinal conversations as well. I used to buy into the "milk before meat" explanation but the more I realize the church does not like to discuss church history details or doctrinal details with seasoned members, I realized they NEVER want to address the meat, only pacify us with the milk. That is when the house of cards came down for me, when even church correlation gave me sunday school answers to my in depth and specific questions (several page letter). I would like to just stop going to church and move on but my wife is afraid that if we do that it will make us outcasts in our neighborhood. So, we are still in a tough spot sadly.

@@nickdipaolofan5948 you got everything correct! Your analysis is spot on. They are lead by god when they want and they are just men when they don’t like what was said by someone. And no revelation or and firm statements on anything because they don’t want to be pinned down. I would recommend finding an ex mo group online to find others in your area that are in the same place, if your in Utah John would be a great place to start. Good luck and hope your much more happy living the truth!

Thanks for listening!

🤮🤮🤮

@@jordanboyack3932 agreed. :/ 😥

I hope the bishop was arrested. He probably did things to others as well. It's unlikely this was an isolated incident.

Jesus.

The bible is not a moral book or a book to base your life on. The bible condones rape and slavery and many other immoral practices. Its time we trust science, and require evidence before believing claims that defy logic and reality.

Thank you for your support!

Thank you so much for your support!

You have to be called by God, the biblical God, spirit filled , you can’t be holding up Joseph smith or go by the Book of Mormon.?

It's all thanks to the messed-up ideology that all sexual thoughts and actions come directly from Satan until marriage. So yeah, I understand that Bishops think that they are doing their job by asking these questions, but why do they never question the fact that God is letting Satan have total control over everyone's libidos, and it's our job to constantly fight it? What kind of messed-up God do they believe in?

@@mylesmarkson1686 The pamphlet "To Young Men Only" can help answer that question. It was written in 1976, and it was discontinued in 2016. It was standard fare in those years. That may give you an idea of the messed-up God (men) they believe in.

@@AaronBrewer1973 Thanks George. You're a man of infinite wisdom. Say--Did you ever think about starting up your own religion?

hopefully he told you that you needed your own confirmation on that one. I no longer believe the LDS church claims but even under the church operation, the bishop has no stewardship over things like that. He should have (hopefully) just told you that he has no access to inspiration on your personal life decisions.

Understanding Mormonism is more of clips show that keeps the videos to 10-30 minutes as opposed to 1-4 hours.

Much better, they say that brevity is the soul of wit

@@michaeltaylors2456 or brevity = wit

Except John Dehlin’s video was so much more thoughtful than my comment. Thank you John!

It’s because they are all gay!

What is ridiculous is your willingness to accept claims that are demonstrativly false. Enjoy your delusion Benjamin.

@@georgezeller6046 " Though hast said." My last words to you...Who rattled your cage anyway..lol

@@benjamintrench8722 Your church and their verifiable lies. Clearly.

Truth

@@shawnbradford2243 I'm 6th generation member of the Church of Jesus Christ as well. True blue through and through. Some of the most tender hearted human beings I know are bishops, stake presidents, relief society presidents, primary presidents, etc.. They are absolutely inspired by God. They work very hard and have to sit up on the stand in front of people much like you. Not a single one them are perfect. That's truth.

@@oznerriznick2474 so when a church leader commits a crime it was gods will? Are all bishops loving to all members? Do you believe the bom is historically accurate and the boa is Chaldean Rahleenos written by the hand of Abraham on papyrus?

@@shawnbradford2243 We try not to speak unkindly about our ordained ministers. That's not taken lightly by God. Bishops work full time and are not paid. They are not perfect men. A worthy bishop can definitely have God's inspiration. The BOM, the dates and geography are aproximated. It's message is solid. It's the word of God. Have you read it? The Book of Abraham, a funerary papyrus. It's only a partial record. It's interesting. We don't base all of the doctrine of the church on just that. I do know that Joseph Smith was a prophet. He had a Urim and Thummim. He translated ancient hyroglyphics. I believe the BOA was written by Abraham.

@@oznerriznick2474 so bishops are not called by god to serve? Are the bom dates and geography not America and from the Tower of Babel (jaredites) to the fall of Jerusalem (nephites)? Was the bom not Chaldean Rahleenos written by the hand of Abraham on papyrus? And what do you call the Urim and thummim Joseph used? What year was the term Urim and thummim first used in Mormonism?

So sometimes god is right and sometimes he is wrong you never know which it is? How can they be gods spokesperson and be wrong otherwise? The thing is some of them a good people who love and care about that person and will give them good advice like any friend or family members would do. Others are not and just get by. The problem is Mormonism is founded by a man and not god, the bom is not historically accurate and the boa is a false translation of common Egyptian funerary papyrus. They are all just men some are just good men and better than the others and do what’s best for their friends and family (ward).

@@shawnbradford2243 I didnt say sometimes god is wrong or right, but sometimes the bishop is inspired or not. It just seems like most of the people who are on here commenting have a very childish view of religion in general. Its like they dont get the point. For instance, the man in the interview got his rent and food paid for and then blamed the bishop because a Jewish guy helped him get a job. A child acts that way, its just never enough.

@@drewhanna9057 so are the bishops lead by god or not? And how do you know when they are and when they are not?

@@shawnbradford2243 I think that anyone who has read the book of Mormon understands that the church can go wrong and then God condemns them. But channels like this are just pouring the baby out with the bathwater. To me, the whole point is not worrying about whether another man is calling people correctly with inspiration, but to gain inspiration for myself. I feel like this is just pouring the baby out with the bathwater. Its such a great religion! I have been a part of 5 different religions and this is by far the most tolerant and loving one. Nobody goes to hell for the most part. Its just a great chance to hear from God for yourself and practice being in a church with other imperfect people.

@@drewhanna9057 it’s the best religion? How? You know the bom is not true, those people didn’t exist and the boa is a false translation of common Egyptian funerary papyrus. That’s the point those bishops are just people picked by people to run a branch of the business. The fact that this is stop number 5 for you helps prove my point, at some point you thought the exact same thing about the past 4 religions! Maybe you should learn about the origin and history of Mormonism.

Yes they are losing America so they are moving in to third world countries. Target those with the least!

You're dead Gospel is loosing faster each day!

Where you served a mission? Did you destroy people faith to convert them to Mormonism or reaffirm their faith in their own religion?

You went on a mission to destroy peoples faith in their own belief system to join yours. Do you not see the hypocrisy in your comment?

Please be specific on what is not true.