""Come on! ye prosecutors! ye false swearers! All hell, boil over! Ye burning mountains, roll down your lava! for I will come out on top at last. I have more to boast of than ever any man had. I am the only man that has ever been able to keep a whole church together since the days of Adam. A large majority of the whole have stood by me. Neither Paul, John, Peter, nor Jesus ever did it. I boast that no man ever did such a work as I. The followers of Jesus ran away from Him; but the Latter-day Saints never ran away from me yet...When they can get rid of me, the devil will also go." -FLDS/LDS "Prophet" Joseph Smith (History of the Church, Vol. 6, p. 408, 409)
They DO lie to you Jeff. They lie to you, cheat you, steal money and time from you, and now are steering you on a hard left political course that you will follow if you do not come out and be free.
I too once was blind, but now I see.
I am sorry for your experiences. I am sorry they have had the impact on you that they have to whatever degree they have caused sorrow or hurt.
That's a part of life's experiences we all face.
I understand all the quotes, all of the matrial, etc., etc. I was a convert to the church as a teenager when my father and I joined. We had been very active and participating Baptists before, my father a Deacon in the chirch we attended.
I saw all of the negative literature, claims of lies, falsehoods, cheating, etc., etc. I saw it again many times over as a missionary, and have seen it over and over since. From those I am acqujainted with, including family members outside of the Church.
Yet, I received the answer I did anyway, and have never had a call from God to go back on it. Nor do I expect I ever will. I too am a High Priest in the Church, Sentinnel, have been in Bishoprics and numerous other callings.
Again, sorry for your experiences...but I still wish you and yours well.
As is pertains to the defense of our liberty which is founded on the principles of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, I again, wish you great success in your efforts. We all must work together for those principles of accountability before God, the saving grace and mercy of His Son, and His Gospel of love, compassion, and adherance to His principles if we are to remain free.
All of us can do that together, and it is what I am dedicated to...whether with LDS folks, Catholics, Baptists, Evangelicals, Methodists, or any other person who believes in and adheres to those underlying moral principles.
Again, God's speed.