Being a Mormon Man

Selling life insurance was a perfect fit. After returning home from his mission for the LDS church, it was a natural opportunity.

Shortly after his career started to bloom, the internet snowballed into a monopolistic platform and life insurance was no longer a haven for cold callers. Kid number two on the way, he and his eternal bride moved into the in-laws basement—the lord will provide.

After father-in-law funded his education, he landed a job as a teacher. Five boys now ran the basement halls, all under the age of ten; celestial family intact—while daddy kept his secret life on the school computer.

It all came crashing down.

A sting operation uncovered adult pornography on his school computer and he was fired. I can’t imagine the horror he felt as his thoughts of wife, children, church community, in-laws, all of it stared deep into his person—the inadequacy, the impending doom of a life of lies quickly became public knowledge.

There is a lot of pressure on the Mormon men because the women are typically more faithful and submissive. The doctrine states; if you don’t get in to heaven with your bride, another will take her home. If you are not worthy to lead her through the veil into the presence of the lord, she will be given (along with all your sealed children) to another more righteous that you.

His whole life and self worth is dictated by a doctrine of the groveling sinner, All of his insignificant secrets condemn the man for his natural urges, while his wife controls his sex life with her puritanized upbringing. Not only is his sexual adventure suppressed, it is taboo to even discuss such fantasies with his wife without being suspect of perverism.

Now he is not only monitored by the lord, but by his church community. He interviews with his bishop twice a year to make sure his little problem is in suppression, while the lingering disapproval of his weakness reigns.

His wife has forgiven him for his secret (which never should have needed to be secret) and he sells mattresses to supplement her income—because of some dirty pictures he should have been viewing with his wife to begin with.

Advertisement

Religious Evolutionary Atheists

The transition from religion to atheism was incredibly easy for me. Roughly 80% of Mormons who leave the faith become atheist and never align with another belief system. Made me wonder why. I knew that as a Mormon from my own way of thinking, that if I wasn’t LDS, I wouldn’t be anything. After a few years of atheism now think I figured out why. It is probably the most materialistic world view of any other religion.

Mormon theology teaches three basic principles about where we came from, why we are here, where are we going, and also how to get there.

1. Where we came from– LDS doctrine teaches that we existed before the world was created. That we were intelligences of fine spirit matter. Energy. Spirit offspring of god, and that matter has always existed but some is more pure or fine. But matter nonetheless. That the gods organized existing matter to form the worlds. We are eternal beings living in a mortal existence capable of progressing, evolving, if you will, in a cosmos completely filled with matter. There is no empty space, but all is comprised of matter according to the doctrine.

2. Why are we here? Ultimately the goal is to become like god. Man is as god once was. He is part of the same matter that makes up man. Not separate from it. He is governed by the same natural laws that we experience, only he has perfected it. He was once a man, and though multiple progressions or cycles of learning he was able to achieve godhood. That when you die, you don’t go straight to the highest heaven, but you progress to become more through training and experiences and obedience. Essentially Mormonism was directing me on a concise , focused program to progress (evolve) to the highest life form. Just different wording.

3. Where are we going? Mormon doctrine teaches that when you die, you continue on in spirit form for a time, then after resurrection you have a body of flesh and bone in its perfect form. Then judgement comes and those that are most worthy progress to the highest level. Not as gods, but ready to become such. To continue on the path. To take your place in the expanding universe. (Hubble Deep Space) This is the LDS version of natural selection or, evolutionary exaltation of the fittest or most worthy. The best get to continue on. The other are not damned to hell, but damned as in a halt to their progress. Unknown if those get another chance.

The sole purpose of this creation and the universe is for all of gods creatures to have joy and find happiness and reach their full potential. It feels to me that Mormons transition to atheism easily or naturally because when no longer believing in god or religion, a evolutionary alignment with an atheist worldview is a switch flip. Making the world a better place and for everyone to find the most happiness and joy. Personal happiness and human potential. Also, Matter/Energy cannot be created or destroyed but can only change forms. It can evolve to a higher form given time. Very materialistic view incorporating different forms of matter and potential life cycles.