This is the first forum thread.
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Hello! Thanks for creating this Thomas. I look forward to participating here.
@Bret Winegar Hi Bret, thanks for posting. I'm sure others along with me would be interested in learning about what brought you on this path. Would you be willing to share some thoughts please, or even your story, in the Introductions thread?
Angelina ๐
@Angelina Farnes you bet. I actually made a long post while on a flight earlier this week and posted it, but the airplane WiFi disconnected and lost my post. Iโll reply when I get a little time.
@Bret Winegar For sure!
Hello! I look forward to hearing others thoughts and sharing my own.
@Kevin Kappen Thanks for posting. Glad you are on this path. You are among friends here. ๐
Thank you so much for all your hard work on this, Thomas. Forums are incredibly powerful, and I'm so happy to see this rolled out.
And to have a "love" button, that is so needed! For when we don't have a response but we like and agree with the post. Such a great new feature! ๐
I love forums because my path in awakening to my awful situation has consisted in, as the poem says, coming to two roads diverging in the woods, and taking the one less traveled by. And then meeting fellow travelers who are exceptional people, so I know I am not crazy and I'm not alone. That is invaluable!
Thanks again, and I look forward to the ways this will build our own strengths and build a community, as well.
@Angelina Farnes My pleasure!
Thanks Thomas, Iโm looking forward to some good discussions. Hope we can help move the needle in each others lives.
@Bryan Stone Likewise!
@Bryan Stone Glad to see you here, Bryan. I know you're busy with your YouTube channel, so we appreciate the insights you're able to share here as well. Thank you! ๐
Thank you so much! As Rob said, there's no stupid questions, only stupid people! ๐๐ And I'm one of them. I have such a lot of questions, so I think I'll be driving you mad. But patience is a virtue. And I'll appreciate this!
@Jen Grobler No problem!
@Jen Grobler Love having you here. You've already blessed and inspired many of us. Thank you. ๐
Thomas, your work is appreciated. Much like a modern day Joshua.
@Milo Jury Glad I could help!
@Milo Jury Hi Milo, so glad to see you here. I really appreciate your YouTube comments. Would you be willing to share your story of how you came to join this path, please?
@Angelina Farnes thank you so much for your efforts to generate active forum participation! I think this format may have greater importance for us all as the time of our Lord's return approaches.
I am former LDS, baptized at 8 with my mother as we took the missionary lessons together. My brother and father were also baptized but we like the seed sown into stony ground. I stayed active for many years as we lived in very poor wards in Southern California and Utah. I heard about Rock Waterman, Snuffer, and Anonymous Bishop around 2012 or so and a few others. At the same time, I was wondering how the church got those few hyperactive families like ours to carry the lion's share of the load while some did less and many did nothing but take the weekly bishop's storehouse food order. Why do LDS members respond on Sunday to, "Good Morning! How are you?" with, "Tired!"? I realized this was virtue signaling in my pride that I really thought I was better (but humble!) than those others. My pharisaic temple recommend proved that!
I think it was Waterman who extolled the writings of a man named Robert Smith who wrote Teachings for Doctrine the Commandments of Men. But I read the book and realized that I needed a change. However, I did not continue to read Rob's other works. But I continued to search until COVID and found Rob's video When the Fig Leaves Sprout. I realized this guy was more than a guy bashing the church. I have been learning ever since. I love this work and my mormon roots exhort me to testify that following these teachings can get a person closer to God. I thank God for sending His Son. I am thankful for Joseph Smith and for Rob. I encourage all to sacrifice and support Upward Thought. God will bless you for your efforts.
@Milo Jury. Thank you for your story!
Wow-- Rock Waterman. "Now that's a name I haven't heard in a very long time" (Obi Wan). Lol! I'm not sure what became of him, especially after extolling the virtues of Rob's flagship, no-holds-barred, no-going-back-from-here book.
Rock was so bold and brave in speaking the truth. It is really sad that so few people were honest enough to act upon the stirring of "something is rotten in Denmark" that his blog posts caused in his readers. So glad you acted when you later realized that there is much more to Rob's content than just a call to leave the church. Yet that's a crucial first step.
Oh man, which brings us to the Fig Leaves video.
The. Fig. Leaves. Video.
Hoo boy, if there is a kick in the gut needed, that's it. If there's anything we can go back to and see prophecy after prophecy fulfilled, that's it.
Here's the link for anyone who needs a first-round or refresher.
https://youtu.be/f6EV6cWzp_A?is=VxeKUOmaQjvuw4gs
God is so merciful to send a messenger and provide these resources to invite us to repent and come unto him. And show us exactly what that means. And warn us in excruciating detail of what's coming.
Milo, I greatly appreciate your invitation to sacrifice to support Upward Thought. That was inspired, thank you.
Keep up the support and your efforts to continually improve! And please keep posting here. Your encouragement is needed and appreciated.
And Angelina! What brings you here! Again, we are glad for you jumpstarting this forum thread!
@Milo Jury Thank you for asking! Here's the Epistle of Angelina:
http://www.upwardthought.org/forum/threads/introductions-tell-us-how-you-got-here-3#post-12
(Just like some folks can't speak without using their hands, I can't explain my story in less than a dissertation, haha!)