Why I left the Church and decided to come back | with Jensen 

Same here. But my excommunication was 8 years or so. And have more of a deep appreciation for the Gospel and the lds church.

So glad you are back. Thank you for sharing. Your unique experiences need to be made known and shared so we can all learn and grow together.

Just wanted to add another perspective here: I left the religion about 12 years ago due to me digging into Joseph Smith’s history and discovering some truly shocking things about the man. Since then, I’ve become a more honest person. I feel like my mind has never been more free and open to the mysteries of the universe. It’s an incredible feeling-stronger than I ever had when I was an active member. I’m sorry you had bad experiences on the outside. Just know there are many who live great lives after leaving.

I left for about 8 years in 2010 so we came back around the same time. Leaving was the worst decision. Coming back was the best! Keep having faith! :)

@@harryhenderson2479 I appreciate your perspective Harry. Many know of claims made against Joseph Smith. Are you speaking of polygamy? If so then that has been known about Joseph since the 1800's. I don't know if anything else that is nearly as shocking. And each person decides where to go from there and which narrative to invest in. Those that consider him a prophet and those that do not. I consider myself honest and I believe Joseph was a prophet of God. And the main reason is because of the Spirit and the witness it continually gives to anyone who seeks those answers in prayer. So my experience concerning him have had the opposite effect on me. So I just wanted to offer an alternate point of view than yours. I respect you for your conclusions. But my position is no less credible than yours. And if Joseph was a prophet then negative arguments about him were in error.

Well said 👏

So true

I notice so much of the time we say “the church and it’s standards”, yet, these are Jesus Christ’s standards which the church abides by. Direct commandments and revelation’s of Jesus Christ. The rest of peoples issues are possibly more culture related. If we remember we’re abiding by the standards of Jesus Christ I wonder if we would stop placing blame for things on the church.

That's awesome! We'd love to learn more about your journey, DM us on our Instagram!

BEAU, glad you are happy. PEACE🙏

It's never too late to seek the path that brings you peace and fulfillment. It takes courage to listen to your heart and consider returning, and I admire you for considering that possibility. Take your time, perhaps try taking some baby steps, consider your feelings as you do so, and know that you're always welcome. Our community is here to support and uplift you on your spiritual journey ☺

Come back! We love, need and miss you.

Thanks for watching, DW!

"Satan's temptations" are more than likely just a person's intuition telling them that the LDS church is not good or not working (for that individual). The "feeling or need" to go back is just the guilt and shame that members have been indoctrinated and conditioned to feel for not aligning themselves with the herd.

@@alesso_me Satan's ;biggest lie is convincing people he doesn't exist. The feeling or need to go back to Church is not guilt. Its called wanting to repent. Something I suggest you do instead of being condescending to those who have.

@holidayrap If that is true, then mormon God must be Satan because there is absolutely no evidence he exists and billions around the world are convinced he does not exist.

@@alesso_me Firstly there is God/Heavenly Father. Not "mormon god". And there are billions of planets and creations of God in the universe that testify he does exist.

@holidayrap There are hundreds if not thousands of deities around the world. There is nothing to suggest that the specific one you worship is any more real than the others. So yes, we have to specify which one we're talking about, in this case, Mormon God Also, the fact that the universe exists is not proof of a God.

We each have our own to go through!

Thank you! We love to share stories like these.

YOU ARD BACK, that's what's important.

Heavenly Father loves you. Your true self is his child.

And who’s preventing you from eating? Some old coot in a suit with a superiority complex

After our first son died I had multiple events happen that seemed like such a heavy burden on me that it seemed like I was in a vice that only grew tighter and tighter till I cracked. I developed severe anxiety and experienced panic attacks until it became painful disorder and then I developed severe depression. My soul seemed to die with debilitating grief and sorrow which only worsened by the poor actions of a Bishop, his counselor who both later became a stake president and high council member. My job became a burden with unkind and thoughtless coworkers constantly stabbing me in the back. Family members at times said some very hurtful things and so I found no solace even at church. I no longer felt the Spirit for about ten years. I felt like I wasn't a member because my soul was sick and felt dead. Excommunicated, disfellowshipped, or not I wonder if none of us can escape severe trials that seem to rock our world at some point. I guess we are to come to know extremes: extreme sorry and pain vs incredible joys so that we might have experience. So many in the world suffer without God and freedom and prosperity and are burdened by their government, culture, and environment. It's so hard sometimes but doesn't last forever. I believe it's true that God can turn all this misery for our good.

David, I'm glad you are back. I'm so sorry for your struggles. We need you. The church needs your story.

@@anichols2760 sorry for what you have been through. But it is true. We need to experience bitter to appreciate the sweet. In 2021 my Dad and I were diagnosed with COVID-19 Delta Variant, with Double Pneumonia. But my Dad didn't make it. When I was experiencing this event, I remembered feelings are choices. You do have feelings, but you can control them. So I chose to focus on getting and feeling better. Choose the better feelings you want to have in your life. Obviously consult with you doctor first. While I was in the hospital they did have me on antidepressants, but I choose to feel how I felt when I was on the antidepressants, so I could wean myself off those horrible meds. Please note. Not recommend without doctor supervision. Put your name in the Temple too.

We learn from our mistakes and then you can reach down and pull others up... Where MUCH IS GIVEN, MUCH IS REQUIRED. But SO WORTH IT!

Glad the video was helpful 😊

Glad you enjoyed Jensen's story!

Thanks for watching!

@@joeoleary9010 Christ only organized one Church, the rest are man made. It tells me that MANY people will ultimately be humbled.

@@jamesoneil1388 but they aren't Christ's Church so it's a moot point.

Everyone??😂

@@rickyricky4738 Well, it just depends on what level you wish to achieve in heaven. Your choice -- make it a good one.

@@jamesoneil1388 Christ only organized one Church. The rest are man made. People just can't seem to grasp that. Love how people remove comments because they can't handle the truth.

Glad you enjoyed it!

Baptism generates Membership too so when one has their membership removed the Baptism becomes null and void so if you return to the Church and desire membership then you must be Baptized again

So I’m guessing you want a slightly technical theological answer. So like Catholics and unlike most Protestants LDS do believe in baptismal regeneration, baptism isn’t just a sign of faith but it does cause a form of spiritual rebirth. However LDS do not hold to a doctrine of original sin unlike Catholics and many Protestants. So baptism remits sins but not original sin. Also baptism in an LDS context functions as a covenant to follow Christ “mourn with those that mourn, comfort those that stand in need of comfort”. So in this way baptism is a necessary covenant with Christ (which can be broken) and a sanctifying act.

I agree with all that was said regarding baptism but the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints also believes that baptism is the gate to the path back to God and we believe there is no other way back but through that gate as a starting point which ultimately leads to eternal life or in other words living again in the presence of God. The Book of Mormon speaks of this. I recommend reading 2Nephi chapter 31 in the book of Mormon and it will shed light and understanding on this topic.

This is apparently another practice in contradiction to the vast majority of Christiandom. Most Christian denominations understand baptism to be a one and done sacrament. You are baptized into Christ’s death and resurrection. Doing it again would be seen as sacrilege, like saying the promises of Christ in the sacrament just “didn’t take” the first time. I accept the idea that the LDS Church may be the only Church with the authority to baptize, that’s a logical conclusion of the Great Apostasy. But multi baptism is contrary to the nature of the sacrament as presented in the Bible and the Book of Mormon.

@@kevinofiowa4959 maybe you misunderstood. If someone is no longer a member then their old baptism is null and void. I understand it may seem weird to someone who thinks it should only be done once no matter what, but this is the theological belief of the LDS church. I see no problem with it. In fact it makes total sense to me.

This is something a victim in an abusive relationship would say. The church has conditioned it's members to have a dependency on them (whether that be spiritual, emotional, or mental, it can vary). Members have the capacity to thrive in all those aspects without the need of a corporate business (the lds church) over their head. It just takes time and effort to break down the indoctrinated mindset.

@@alesso_me 😂😂😂

i went to the store on a sunday… in normal underwear!! 😂😂😂😂

I have lunch with my wife out on the town and with several members of my church body on Sundays. It’s great to be able to fellowship.

@@creb2429 and this is usually the response of the person being abused.

I agree that you should be kind to everyone but it's very difficult to respond positively when those who have left, want validation for breaking commandments. Being kind is quite different then agreeing with wrong actions, and in most cases that's what those people who leave the path are looking for, validation for their wrong decisions.

@@eleanorbrace2324 I guess I was just thinking about how members tend to assume someone is sinful, weak, lazy if they step away from the church. (I've heard this rhetoric from top leaders, so I can't really blame the members). Not very nice, and often not true. But you do make a good point, that sometimes the sinful part is accurate. Not always for sure, but sometimes. What kind of wrong decisions do you have in mind though? Drinking coffee, or something that is more harmful/risky/inconsiderate of others?

You don't have to be sinful to leave, you might just be so tired mentally that you think you can't go on and get spiritually weak and begin to believe everyone you hear who has begin to find fault with leaders or with church history, etc. We are ALL just humans trying to make it back HOME When that happens, rather then to ask for a blessing or just take time away from the problems or say more prayers and ask for help from our Heavenly Father, we tend to get upset because we cannot do it ourselves. We cannot run faster then we are able. That's when we need to rely on HIM more. Then we tend to announce that we will leave the church rather than admit that we need help. It is then easier to start staying away from church and finding fault with it. Then Satan (LAUGHS). then Satan can say.... Another one bites the dust. Each of us needs to go to the Temple more...pray more, have a blessing and HANG ON FOR DEAR LIFE. The Lord has absolutely promised to help, and HE DOESN'T LIE. His very nature and character is to tell the truth. This is meant with the greatest of love. Sometimes I hold on from the tips of my fingers and TRUST Him.

@@eleanorbrace2324 Can't argue with you, this may be your experience. And you're not the only one I'm sure. I've had a bit different experience though. The mental tiredness you speak of is relatable. For me it though, it was more than tiredness, it was the fatigue of living in fear and confusion. The toll it took on me was unbearable. There are many ways I could try to put things in a nutshell, to give you a sense of what I'm talking about - but this example may work: I remember being terrified and confused reading of Jesus killing cities full of families in America, just after praying FOR his enemies in Jerusalem. That's a very dramatic example, but I think it pretty well encapsulates what was injuring my soul. Can you see how that would be terrifying and confusing to me for the first few decades of my life? At the time I couldn't think, "Well, these are prophets speaking their best but -not-perfect understanding of God. Jesus is the one who knew and illustrated God best". That just wasn't an available thought in my head. I had to trust the religious leader 100% - trust and obey what they said 100%. That formula had to work for me to have hope of happiness; and if I wasn't happy, it just meant I needed to trust and obey the authorities more - period. I had to be ok with the rational of "Those people in all those cities were so wicked, it was right to destroy them" - there was no other option. But that did not solve the terror and confusion for me. The terror and confusion continued, because of course the babies weren't so wicked it was right to destroy them. Of course not! And this is really serious stuff, that relates to decency, morality, what God is really like, why would I want to be like that kind of a God, etc. Anyway, I don't mean to argue about anything, or say my perception is the correct one. I'm just trying to communicate the darkness/fear I lived with. Eventually my health failed to the point I needed hospitalization. Then I really started to look for something that I could hold to - something that would really improve my life. Long story short, I read the Synoptic Gospels and found Jesus to save my soul. His emphasis and example of mercy/healing/compassion/never injuring or killing anyone/love others AS self/etc. This actually works for me and brings me inspiration, and all the good stuff church leaders always insisted I could only find within the church. But I didn't find it within the church, I found it with Jesus. It took years of careful and tremulous steps to distance myself from the church, because of such deeply indoctrinated church fear, but I've made it this far. Now, I do still go to sacrament meeting to sit by my son for various reasons, when I say distance from the church it's more of a psychological distance where my psyche is safer and healthier. For inspiration/guidance/peace/wholeness keep reading the Synoptic Gospels and wonder more and more why what Jesus taught and demonstrated while he was speaking with his own voice, is not enough to bring heaven on earth. Why is that not enough? And the key is what he emphasized most. When you read the Synoptic Gospels, what do you see Jesus emphasizing most? And why is that not enough? He lived at one with the Father, and led us to be one with them - now. It didn't seem Jesus endured to the end of a miserable life in order to be with God again after death - But rather, it seems he lived WITH God during his life. He had a good life, full of purpose and meaning, helping people, bringing truth to set the captive free etc. Of course the last couple days of his life was miserable, but that wasn't his whole life. At church the focus is not on Jesus' life and teachings during his ministry. The focus is elsewhere. Am I making any sense? Can you relate at all? I'm guessing you haven't come across my experience before. Church authorities certainly never talk about people with my experience. Does it sound like I'm really weird, and there's not likely many in my situation, so you can pass it off as too odd to think about much? Just wondering

When I joined the church a wise member gave me some advice I’ll never forget. “Do it for the gospel, not for the people”, he said. With that in my mind, all these years, it does not matter what members do or do not do to me. I’m not there because of them. I’m there because of Jesus and because I believe the church is true. Of course, it’s much nicer to be at church when everyone is actually Christ-like towards one another, like they should be. But I also keep in mind that 100% of church members are imperfect and we’re all at different stages along the path. Just my two cents.

yet you're watching?

@@1zcott I do watch as I like to stay up-to-date on everything Mormonism. I do it hoping the leaders will make some sweeping changes for me to come back. I know it’s unlikely, but I won’t give up hope.

Glad to hear it! It's always uplifting to see how the Savior and His gospel brings comfort and guidance to people's lives. Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts.