Swiss mormon here, only one in my school for all 12 years. Never had many friends, but once puberty hit (and sexuality started to be a topic), I stopped interacting with my classmates for fear of their satanic influence. I got over that eventually, but I still struggle with that barrier of fear and my pious superiority today.

this one hits hard. i recently told my parents i'm stepping back from the church, and their response was so in line with the teachings there. they pity me for my decision to choose everlasting death, and they can't accept that i did everything i could to justify staying to myself. i always appreciate your ability to dissect what's wrong with these talks. i struggle to do it, all i know when i listen to this that it feels wrong and makes me angry and seems unfair--feelings that i suppressed for most of my indoctrinated childhood

Essentially she’s saying it’s okay to psychologically, emotionally, and mentally abuse your kids if it’s to help them remain in the church.

I grew up in the US but on the East coast. I was the only member in my school. This meant that I grew up never really learning how to make friends and not having friends all the way through high school because my peers were a threat. I thought my peers were “bad kids” because of stupid things like swearing and “immodesty”. 🙄

I remember I was the only member in my friend group at school. None of them attacked my beliefs or made me feel uncomfortable. I loved the group of friends I had outside of church.

Growing up in the LDS Inc cult is one of the main reasons why I currently have mental health issues... If I could sue them, I certainly would!

When she talked about teaching kids how to feel the Holy Ghost and receive personal revelation, it of course made me think of the eventual double bind it put me in. As a gay man, I spent years studying and praying for personal revelation about what to do about my sexuality. Long story short, in every way my "personal revelation" was to embrace my sexuality, even seek out a relationship with another man. Of course, the LDS church teaches that is a horrific sin. So, to follow the teachings of the church I would end up having to put aside two decades of what they taught me.

I can’t tell you how refreshing it is to watch this video. You so eloquently express the things I was screaming in my mind while I listened to this woman spout toxicity.

As an ex Jehovah’s Witness, I know a cult when I see one.

As someone who grew up in Texas I can definitely relate to being the only member in school. I was always ashamed and scared that someone would find out about my membership in the church. It was a form of very unnecessary anxiety.

Awesome! I am not articulate whatsoever, which is frustrating, so I love that you’re so clear, concise, & to the point. It makes my brain happy. 😁😂

Adult Convert, served in primary for years. The song Dearest Children exacerbated my ocd, religiosity disorder unbearably. I experienced constant trauma growing up and became terrified that my abuser could read my thoughts. The primary song woke up the nightmare I thought I’d outgrown and it felt more real than anything I’d ever experienced! I can’t imagine what the ideas in that song and many others can do to children’s minds. Angels spying on them, writing down their bad words and deeds, telling God, and constantly imagining Jesus standing next to them 24/7 to judge their behavior. I miss the kids so much, but I couldn’t continue facilitating this abusive indoctrination.

As a child, I was traumatized by Malachi 3:8-9, verses to motivate tithing. "Will a man rob God? Yet ye have rob me in tithes and offerings." I believed that I was "cursed with a curse" if I did not pay full tithing, and that I was "robbing God" by not paying it with exactness. At night, I had nightmares that I had received a $1 of value that was not tithed, and in Afterlife, God evicted me from Heaven. It was psychologically painful; and significantly harmed my childhood.

Imagine asking your 4 year old, who’s just been sleeping and fell out of bed, “Why did you do that?” Classic 😂👍🏼

Excellent video Nemo, thank you.

I prepared my children by keeping them well away from the church, both are doing well and have developed their own beliefs and morals and more importantly are mentally and emotionally healthy. I wish I could say the same for nieces and nephews brought up in the church 😢

Excellent analysis. I want to point out another trauma of having baptism and accountability at eight years old: Many kids, my wife included, wish they would die and be guaranteed to reunite with family because they fear getting baptized and sinning and now having the real chance they might not make it. Its not all kids, but its not a difficult analysis to make, and a recurring theme I hear from many in and out of the church. I would definitely call creating a situation that encourages kids to conclude there are benefits to death or suicide an emotionally abusive practice. Thanks for the video!

I am grateful for my accidental conversion to Christianity. We had a little reading nook in the corner of the family room. I took a large print New Testament and I read it since I was interested in knowing where my first name came from. It was suddenly obvious that the Book I was reading was not about the person named Matthew. I realized that it was about Jesus. I first started my faith journey as a scripture reader that day. I read it until I was atleast finished with the Book of Matthew. My investigation of the Church was more intentional when I was 14. I read the Book of Mormon and noticed that it has many references to the Bible, and I never saw it as contrary to the Word of God (the Holy Bible). My testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith was ingrained in me by my father as he taught with convicition and power about Joseph Smith. Let's fast forward to 2021, post COVID and post other trials. I was appalled that President Nelson closed the temples in March of 2020 due to COVID. I was suddenly hit with fear that if the temple was closed where I would I find the solace and peace. I had some occasions to go to cemeteries of my ancestors and felt some strength. Yet, it was not enough. The helmet of Salvation was already infiltrated, and my spirituality was in danger. I read the Book of Mormon during this time, but it was not enough. My marriage crumbled (it was not enough). I was grateful to partake the sacrament and grateful for the infusion of the sacrament and the peace it brought to me, but still it did not seem enough to save me from myself, and the pending destruction around me (social unrest, the pandemic, and fear itself). Everything failed me. However, if it was not for the Holy Bible, and my faith in Jesus Christ I received from the accidental conversion I had to Christianity at about the age of 7, I would have met my demise. Jesus Christ is sufficient and his book; the Book of the Lamb of God; The Holy Bible is enough. Everything else failed.

I was the only member growing up in my nonmember peer group. The church definitely created a disconnect between me and them, I always felt that I didn’t really belong, even though I wanted to. We had a school reunion yesterday, and despite having resigned from the church, that disconnect still resonates. They all seemed so pleased to see one another, but me, they never really knew, so once again I was on the outside.

Always appreciate how articulate you are. Amen to everything you said.

Nemo. You are a breath of fresh, intellectual, honest, and logical air in the land of Mormonism.

“…bleed on the battlefields of life.“ Gads how depressing! Nemo, you’re so refreshing! Thank you!

I think the real purpose of this talk is to make parents feel guilty. This is a common motif of all conference talks --- make listeners feel guilty and encourage them to serve harder, pay more tithing, more attendance, etc... The Church identifies the problem (disobedience to Mormon teaching) and offers the solution ( increase your faith).

Hi Nemo, as a NeverMo who has lived deep in Mormon Country for many years, I can't believe I am paying attention to the content of GC. I guess the pandemic and toxic US politics has led me down a Mormon history rabbithole which quickly leads to the ex- and prog-Mo communities. The extent to which my family thought conference affected us was that we have to avoid going to downtown Salt Lake City those weekends due to the crowds. But it has become increasingly clear how much these talks affect not only Mormons across the spectrum but also all of us non-Mormons in LDS-dominated communities. Most of us gentiles just want to live our lives peaceably and as we choose based on our own value systems, ethics, and morals - and let others do the same. Unfortunately, we don't often seem to get the same treatment. I listened to RFM and Jonathan Streeter discuss this session, too. You had similar observations with your own unique perspectives. Anyway, everything about this talk makes my skin crawl and blood boil, honestly. I concur that the "us vs. them" framing is toxic and damaging. So the "them" (i.e. me, I guess, and all nonmembers) are agents of the adversary at all times and in all things? ugh spare me. DIdn't someone else in another talk concede that non-members and - gasp - even atheists - could actually be good people?? (newsflash!) Someone else help me out here, whose talk? Maybe not GC? TMFKAEnsign? I was particularly offended by the comparison to a US military example and specifically, a Vietnam drill sargeant and soldiers in training and then combat. So let's get this straight - she is saying that all nonmembers including fellow schoolchildren are literally the enemy in a war that TBMs are fighting now and for eternity? That we are all the equivalent of the North Vietnamese? Weren't the N Vietnamese (and their Chinese geopolitical backers) experts at indoctrination themselves? My head is exploding! Meanwhile, my father is a Vietnam vet who served honorably. He was also profoundly disillusioned and traumatized by the war. He likely found himself often in the situation she glibly describes. Except that as he told it, his leaders were usually incompetents who were more likely to get them into danger than save them from it. To dad's credit, his wartime experiences did not extend to prejudice against the Vietnamese people. One of my best friends in school was a Vietnamese refugee who my family warmly accepted. Joy Parks' choice of this fraught political and military debacle is beyond tone-deaf, its monstrous IMO. The war in Vietnam was a colossal disaster for all involved, a colonial/anti-communist blunder of the highest order. Why on earth would she choose this as her analogy about parenting? Don't they have speech reviewers to flag this kind of thing? (Bad Analogy Police where are you? [Dilbert reference ICYMI]. Healthy parenting should be all about teaching children empathy, helpfulness, critical thinking, and how to gain confidence and grow into their true selves as adults. This story is only one of the really truly terrible things about her entire talk. It scares me that members take this as direction and inspiration. As a neighbor, colleague, co-worker, team member, do all the TBMs in my life really see me as an enemy who is in the thrall of the adversary? No wonder I don't feel like I can ever make real friends with them - though my life is filled with wonderful, smart, funny, warm, generous exes. How do you function in a multi-cultural, religiously diverse nation (I am speaking from a US perspective, a country with a fully secular constitution) and think like this woman does? Maybe I shouldn't follow GC after all, it was better to not know how much the TBMs around me scorn and shun us behind our backs, apparently. Fake friendliness is still fake.

Your content helps me not feel alone. The church culture does not tolerate anything but complete compliance. I've felt it was wrong, but have been corrected that following the church teachings is what's most important, and I am not to steady the ark.

So grateful to have your rational thoughts on this. I am 40 and still heavily indoctrinated so when I first hear a talk like this, I don't think its so bad because to be honest my critical thinking skills are not very good but I am working on it. :) Hearing a rational mind talk through these kinds of talks really help. Her comments are everlasting death are scary. And whats more scary, when I was all in I wouldn't have given this a second thought but agreed with it. Talks like this contributed to my religious scrupulosity as a teenager. Also, why is it that GC seems to be a way for leaders to showcase new catch phrases like, "Eternity is the wrong thing to be wrong about"? So they can get a book deal or stick the quote on wall art to be sold at Deseret Book?

I wasn’t the only member in my school, but I was one of very few. I felt othered. I had so few friends because I viewed my peers are bad and sinful, apt to lead me astray.

Being far enough in keeps you asleep. Sounds about right.

You missed the irony of 16:16 “…to teach them that they are free to act for themselves” except that the whole purpose of her talk is to urge us to teach children how to be unquestionably obedient so that they don’t face, everlasting death, or severe consequences because they chose wrong. You’re my favorite Nemo. You make me feel less alone.

Her Eyes! she's so locked in. just looking at her screams "Im brainwashed"

Great discussion as always. I look forward to hearing your information each week.

These speakers are so passive/aggresive. Powder puffing with talk of love and kindness invoking the example of the Saviour. Suddenly their speech reminds me of the fanatical pulpit pounding preacher spitting out threats of fire and brimstone should any not conform to their beliefs. I say yes teach children about God and Christ , and how to treat others with respect. But leave out the nasty narrative of manipulation. Thanks again NEMO. Your insite is valuable.

Now I've got to do some serious decision making to do tonight... Do I choose everlasting death? or should I chose everlasting gobbstoppers??!!

I’m so happy you smacked down this talk on how to lead someone into a cult as a child.

I don't recall ever seeing someone like this Jones woman: someone who desperately wants to "look happy" while showing eyes that cannot hide the fear that lives within. (And, quietly struggling with your dentures doesn't help anything, either, Sister Jones.)

Hi Nemo, you asked your audience to comment if they grew up as the only members of the church in a public school setting. I have had this experience. Especially when that school setting often has the exact opposite values the church promotes. In addition I grew up in a very traditional lds family on one parent's side and the other parent is the only convert in her family. I'm well acquainted with loneliness and a psychological war between indoctrination and critical thinking. Both my parents are still "all in" and always will be. We basically can't have a real conversation. I will say this. The eternal life vs eternal everlasting death dogma sets up the entire foundation of black and white, insider vs outsider rationality that exists both in church doctrine and it's meant to be a guilt trip. It's meant to promote a false option of perfect obedience or spiritual unhappiness in the minds of the members. It's one of Dr. Robert Lifton's 8 points on thought reform and the psychology of totalism. After all wickedness never was happiness. Why would you choose death? That's just stupid. It's a cult.

There seems to be a "Get them while they're young" attitude for all religions now. It's a lot harder for someone to de-program themselves when they've been programed and indoctrinated from a young age.

I watched your advert with delight.

Nice to see Tapir Dan at the beginning of the video.

I was not born into the church. I was adopted into a Mormon family at 13. I didn't understand the gospel or history of church at that time. I learned many years later which made it a bit difficult for me to decide what to do for myself until now.

Amway meetings and these general conferences are 96% identical to one another!

You present a very clear and concise response to the video. Thank you!

this will hurt me , more than it hurts you, is a phrase im sure she knows all to well.

My daughter moved into a ward that had a bishopric member that had been convicted of molesting his daughter years before. She found out when she mentioned to her grandmother who her bishopric were and her grandmother knew about the molestor. My sister lived in a ward where her son was going on trek. She found out the lady that was going to be his ma on the trek had been convicted of sex abuse when she was the high school volleyball coach. I lived in a ward where a 12 year old boy came to my home and started doing inappropriate things in front of my young boys so I sent him home. Later I found out he had molested two girls ( one during sacrament meeting in the bathroom) and everybody was keeping it quiet because his adopted dad was a professor at the local university. My husband pick him up and told him to stay away from our boys. We found someone else that had a child he had molested and told them to call the authorities and since it was the third report they came and picked him up and he was out of his home for 1 year. He did call my husband later when he was back home and thanked him for getting him the help he needed. Everybody else was just ignoring him and what he was doing. When my boys got older they joined the order of the arrows for the boy scouts. I had a very bad feeling about the leader and the camp they went to so I told them they couldn't go anymore. Later that LDS leader ended up in jail for child molesting. The church really does not take predators seriously maybe because Joseph Smith was a predator.

I will bet all of my tithing money that being taught like this as a kid was why I isolated myself from others, and why I have seldom had good friends. I feel like I was fighting a losing battle against everyone else, and it gave me social anxiety because of all the cognitive dissonance between knowing that everyone around me was a “bad person”, and wanting friends and being happy. I am empathetic and the church forced me to turn that off to everyone but its members to the point where it permanently damaged me. I’m glad that I’m free from the belief, but I still have a long ways to go to be free from the brokenness they caused.

@NEMO I've recently left the church. My eldest (18 yo) and I listened to this fact checking video. While l listening, my daughter saw and listened to my reactions. The shock I was feeling piled on and on. I'm 40 and have a pioneer heritage on one side, and convert grandparents on the other side. Mormonism is strong on both sides. I've grown up in a family and church that are abusive in varied ways. Thanks for this detailed look on this talk and so many others!

Growing up in the church but not really in a strict Orthodox way. I found that friends I had whose parents were strict and Orthodox grew up with a ton of emotional guilt issues.

Usually, when people say, "I had no choice", what they usually mean is that there was either only one outcome that could result in a good or favorable consequence for themselves or for whomever the choice mattered, or there were no good outcomes and the person had to choose between the "lesser of the two evils". For example, a criminal asks you hand over your phone... and they have your child at gun point. In order to give your child the best chance of survival in that moment, you have to comply. You comply, and they give you back your child while they escape with your phone. Or maybe in a less serious situation, some elementary school bullies have your backpack with your homework in it and in order to get it back they tell you to crack an egg on your head. What the church is doing is more like rigging the lottery so you win, but if you don't accept the winnings they'll split you and your family up and put you all in separate prisons for life. It's completely unnecessary coercion and would be considered a bizarre red flag in any other situation. So in this more colloquial way of speaking, people don't really have a choice in the church. edit: It almost makes you wonder what they're hiding behind the 'life in prison' option, right? Like, what are they trying to disguise behind the punishment option that takes lottery winnings (or the promise of lottery winnings) in order to incentivize people to not explore it? edit2: It's like in Beauty and the Beast. Belle has all the friends she could ask for and the resources of the castle pretty much at her disposal. But she can't help but wonder what's so forbidden about the west wing.

Did you pay tithing on that voucher?

LDS apostles telling my parents to have 4x the number of children they could adequately feed, physically and emotionally, blighted my childhood and that of my younger bros and sisters. My parents were religious addicts. Less religion is what is needed, with more common sense.

My wife laughed when I said we were raising strong inquisitive daughters.

This is good.

"If they hear something...that disputes their beliefs..." One would hope that they would listen thoughtfully and critically and re-evaluate their beliefs. I can totally relate to what you said about hostiles. I've been out of the church for a few years now but I still have trouble with the hostiles mentality. I have a really hard time feeling comfortable around people.

I think we have a moral responsibility to teach our children the difference between right and wrong as well as the path we believe will lead to the most happiness in this life and in the life to come. That being said, we also need to teach our children to find out for themselves what is true and not just take our word for it. A kid at a young age doesn’t know sticking their finger in an outlet is bad, and we may have to be stern about teaching that to our kids so that we can ultimately save their lives. Obviously abuse is not okay, and she says so in the talk, and I think with the drill sargeant example she meant we need to sometimes be stern with them in order to protect them from future harm. The same goes for teaching them important truths about how to love people and how to treat people fairly. It’s our responsibility to teach them to be good citizens even if they don’t always like what we’re saying.

He's right I've often heard the word pony be replaced with the word tapir here when you know cowboys are talking about ponies and stuff sometimes they say tapir

Background checks are mandatory for Australian members of the church who work with children, and this is audited.

OMG! Love the “Mormon Horse!”

She flat out admits, without remorse, that she sometimes felt like a drill instructor in how she treated her kids. The ends justified the means for her then, and even now, as she gives heavy handed manipulative parents the green light.

_"It is about this 'getting far enough in' that I would like to speak this morning."_ Alright! Who wrote her talk!?

Free to act for themselves? Everlasting death vs eternal life? Hmmm what to choose?

I never agreed with this talk, it's why I'm glad of my Dad leaving the choice to me until I became an adult. According to science, during the first 7 years of life people don't have the brain capacity of a conscience, so we lived by hypnosis. So during the early stages of childhood we were more vulnerable to influences, it's easy to manipulate and hypnotize children so easily. The other way to hypnotize people is repetition, it's why I hate hearing children on stage saying "I know this church is true." Basically what you've described is "operant conditioning" which is all about bribes and threats even though people don't like using that unpleasant language to describe themselves. I were the odd one out until social media brought neurodiversity communities online, a place with other people who know what it's like to be disabled.

Excellent work, as always, friend.

Glad she was not my mom.

I was the only mormon in my class and yes I did feel like everyone else was somehow against me.

I have mixed feelings about this talk. The section 10.43 to 11.19 was actually good advice. Children are vulnerable to peer pressure. If the child has a ready answer, which they have rehearsed in order to resist peer pressure, that could be empowering. Having a ready answer could help protect the young from unwanted sexual advances or taking drugs when offered. Parents have a responsibility to protect children from physical harm and being led astray by their peer group. So her role play idea could be used by people of all religions and none to help children. Where the talk seemed to promote indoctrination was to do with BELIEFS. Children do not have religious beliefs apart from the ones we impose on them. They do not have critical thinking skills. The irony of this talk, and mormonism in general then, is that while it gives people learned defences against harmful things such as peer pressure to sin, it dismantles children's defences against inapropriate parental ( and peer pressure) to conform to religious authority.

What I picked up from what she said was immortal glory. We cannot have immortal glory. It is God who will have the glory! That fact is in the Bible where the word of God is found.

Great job again! I don't see too many of those stumpy short horses here in Northern Utah. As a "never mo" family we simply observe and I have researched the Church quit a bit. All that reading led me to several questions, one being shouldn't there be more circumcisions? This little tidbit from the JST Bible keeps bouncing around in my head, "Genesis 17:11 And I will establish a covenant of circumcision with thee, and it shall be my covenant between me and thee, and thy seed after thee, in their generations; that thou mayest know forever that children are not accountable before me until they are eight years old." I understand that the LDS Church does not use the JST Bible, but to my knowledge they do believe that it is an inspired translation.

My jaw dropped at 16:26! WHAAAA! 😱 is she serious?! This is shocking to say the least! I heard a story about an LDS mom who punished her child to her bedroom for a time-out. She was listening outside the door and heard the child praying to God to make mom take them out of time-out. The mom immediately rushed in and hugged the child and took them out of time-out so she could let the child see that prayer works. This is basically the same kind of indoctrination. It wasn’t actually God intervening, but the mom stepping in to ensure the child’s belief in prayer! 🤦‍♀️

Excellent! This talk makes me sick. Also 3:50 is my favorite part, he fits right in!

Keep up the great work, Nemo!!

@12.20ish ... Im just gritting my teeth.. I remember seeing quite a few kids growing up who grew up in this sort of ardor of faith. The kids that resulted from this direction are individuals who are way too over-sensitive, they break down too much, they can't function in working out differences and have to make justice or create more self injustice to be superior/right, they have the weight of the world on their shoulders (us vs them), they over exaggerate the issue to feel they have ground for being offended, they become dejected too easily, they wear their emotion rather than find their own grounding. Being level-headed is seen as a weakness as the inlook is seen as 'giving in' or not fitting the mold of what is expected. These kids also develop behaviors lacking in diplomacy and tend to become codependent in their own self injustice and cling to living in their own drama. To sum it up they grow to be hostile to being stung in their own sense of self pain and internalize on the incident to give into weird self-narratives or self deficiencies. They grow up to be very triggered individuals on frivolousness. If they somatically base their feelings on how they should feel than to understand and to be able to identify the difference of thought they self-isolate or become more aggressive on the notion of the 'principle' of belief, than to have understood the concept for self-independence in self conservation or just simply build a filter in mind to filter it out or assess the situation first before going guns blazing half-crazed in a religious mania. From my own experiences, I, unfortunately, I got more exposed and entrenched in the harsher zealotry of the faith where it bordered more on 'zeal' and the black and white fundamental doctrines of the faith (borders on sadism, terrorism, despotism, tyranny). Years of dysfunction and tons of deprogramming. The higher you go, the darker it gets! It's only made to look pure because it is myopically rationalized from above as being seen as valorous and dutiful.

Everlasting death isn’t even our doctrine.

Thank you. New here. Great analysis of how brain washing works. Subtle, but real.

"free to choose between everlasting death and eternal life" that's not a choice! that's like asking someone if they want their hand cut off or not.

Sorry I listened, raising children is the most important job I had. I indoctrinated my children to not play in the street, play with fire, I taught them not to lie, cheat or steal... I shared my belief with god with them.. I read stories to them. And I did let them govern themselves. Your purpose here is absurd.

My Dad beat the hell out of me all the time while still going to church. Some primary for me

Yeah I was baptized at 8 years old but I don't really remember that much

Why does baptism in the teens and later in life work for other religions then? 🧐

"Accidental conversion is not a principle of the Gospel of Jesus Christ". Really? I guess there is no need, then, for 75,000 active missionaries to "accidentally convert" people, throughout the world: for, such a thing is not a principle of the Gospel! (OK, all you missionary elders: you can go home, now!)

15:50 _"As children learn and progress, their beliefs will be challenged. But as they are properly equipped, they can grow in faith, courage and confidence even in the midst of strong opposition."_ I think this way of thinking is one of the reasons why religious people in general believe "faith is a virtue". While it's true that the ideology includes moral directives they believe they must follow, and therefore consider it to be virtuous to defend, There is a different context in which a misplaced bravery by the believer can be confused with a defense of one's moral principles. This is the context of rationality and _why_ you believe something. In this context, intellectual stubbornness gets the opposite treatment. But I think this is the context in which this cliché is more congruent. I think a potential source of misunderstanding in the presence of having your beliefs challenged lies in the difference between being honest with yourself about what you currently believe and being honest with yourself about the facts of your beliefs, or about your justifications for your beliefs. If you believe that you have good reason for your beliefs, and someone is trying to coerce you into proclaiming something you don't believe, sure, that's unethical because they're trying to get you to lie to yourself and whomever else the person is coercing you to lie to. And it doesn't matter if your beliefs are false, it's honorable to declare what you believe accurately and honestly. However, if you are reading material that challenges your beliefs, it is rarely seen as honorable to be dismissive of a potential falsifier for what you believe. If you can't find a rebuttal to the challenge in that moment, the honorable or virtuous course of action is to either concede the point (even if tentatively), or to acknowledge your lack of rebuttal and further research the matter. If faith is to be understood as I consider it to be described in John 20: 29, (_"Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed."_), then the belief is not based on a rational reflection of why it should be believed and to defend it is not virtuous.

In my patriachal blessing I was told that legions of Satan's angels surround me trying to tempt me to do wrong...

I wonder how many of the stories used in talks are actually true?

There are some people that are hostile towards faith, they will criticise, shame, demean, be sarcastic. Sound familiar? Sister is acknowledging these situations will arise in the life of any person of faith and it makes sense to prepare people for it. I think the intent of her words was to prepare and not to "otherise." If a family member of mine was to meet you in person or online, I would want them to be prepared as well. Prepared to challenge you as you will challenge them.

This talk offers some good points but one of the things that make me the most angry when it comes to the LDS church problems is how abuse and molestation is handled. And this talk shows the negligence of the leadership. They have created an environment ripe with abuse. And while President Nelson condemned abuse in the October 2022 conference, I find that address slightly jarring that it took this long for someone at the top to make a public statement regarding the issue. Yikes!😰 P.S. When listening to this talk in deep I got the exact same reaction. 😂

Please put your tray tables and seat backs in the upright position…

There is just something creepy about this lady.

Tapir Dan!

She talks about eternal life

I grew up in salt lake city in the 70's and 80's and i felt i had to be careful with frllow students and teachers lest thry lead me astray. That included fellow mormons. I routinely cut people out of my life if i even suspected they had had an alcoholic beverage or explored their natural sexual desires. I walked around on guard constantly and i lived aming the saints probably during the heyday of mormon membetship in slc .

Useful experiment: compare and contrast this with the D. A. R. E. lessons (anti-drug required classes in American schools, c.f. Reagan drug-associated politics).

Oh holy hell, this i sso hard to watch knowing what is happening to my kids, by their Mom, who thinks she is doing what "god" wants. UGH

Eight years of age are when children BEGIN to become accountable, according to the scriptures. Also, if children are innocent and sin-free, wouldn't it be "solemn mockery" to conduct worthiness interviews on children? She's got that glazed-over look. The lights are on, but there is nobody home. "Accidental conversion is not a principle of the Gospel." The, as Nemo said, why not use that intervening time and put it to good use? What is the church's plan for conversion? They have none. Just dunk them. This is the time to teach them the Gospel, and let them make their own choices. I only hope I can sit through the rest of this debacle to continue to comment. I love the Gospel, but this is making me sick to my stomach. I have an issue with "defending the faith". We are not here to defend some church. We are here to come to Christ. They talk a lot about Christ, but never teach you how to come to Him, when it's right there in the Book of Mormon.

As someone who converted as a young adult outside of Utah many decades ago I always found the oratory style of Utah church leadership to be very off putting. The sing-song-y artificial cadence also screams indoctrination.

Well done bro

@17:00 This is a pretty vital bit to give children. I mean, was it not Socrates who said, "I know that I know nothing?" Also, watching Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure with children is really fun.

Is there life outside of the church or is the church your life? Seems the church is everything and everything else is secondary to the primary mission of making a “perfect” believer robot to obey without question.

The whole thing just makes me sad

If they valued their children they would teach them the true God, the God of the Bible, not about an exalted man who tries to be God or Jesus. It is very sad that they do not share the true Doctrine of the Mormon church with their children or with the people that want to know more about their doctrine, they actually hide the information about who their Mormon Gods are. Stunning!!

As a teacher this upsets me very much. My job is to help students think critically, and she is painting me as an enemy?

She looks very frightened