Regret LDS Expereince

Have any former Mormons expressed regret about joining the religion? If so, what led them to leave and how was their experience with other churches after leaving Mormonism?
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Ray Farmer
Jealous of and Zealous for the Book of MormonJust now

I don’t regret having joined the church. I knew the Book of Mormon was true long before I joined. Joining up with people who I supposed believed that book made sense when I was 19 and dumber than I am now.

The Church provides opportunities to experience many wonderful things. I went on a mission to Italy, taught in Sunday School, Seminary and Institute. I spent 24 years in Scouting. Ministered to troubled families and led groups of young men and Elders as Young Men’s President and Elders Quorum President. I learned many things and served in a host of ways. The Church is a great place to serve and do many wonderful works.

If that was what salvation was all about, if doing many great things got you into heaven, then the LDS Church would be the place to be.

But all of those things, as wonderful as they are and as helpful to Father’s Children as they are, all that is not what Salvation is about.

Often in conference talks, this verse is quoted,

Alma 5:16 I say unto you, can you imagine to yourselves that ye hear the voice of the Lord, saying unto you, in that day: Come unto me ye blessed, for behold, your works have been the works of righteousness upon the face of the earth?

100% of the time it is understood that this is what faithful, covenant-keeping saints should expect to hear. If doing great and wonderful things was what it took, with a little grace tossed in to make salvation complete, after all we can do, than the LDS plan would do the trick. But we find out that Alma was asking the question rhetorically. Indeed, he posed the question to a bunch of church members that were so wicked that he had to give up his job so that he could bear strong testimony against them. When he asks them “can you imagine”, he was asking them, in other words, “oh, so you think so?”

If Alma’ further question was posed to LDSaints, “can ye look up to God at that day with a pure heart and clean hands? I say unto you, can you look up, having the image of God engraven upon your countenances?”, they would say, “probably not”, even if they thought otherwise. They would probably comfort themselves with the pleasing thought that they can check all the boxes found along the “Covenant Path”. After all, what else is there?

Alma’s point of his whole sermon is,

Alma 5:21 ….there can no man be saved except his garments are washed white; yea, his garments must be purified until they are cleansed from all stain, through the blood of him of whom it has been spoken by our fathers, who should come to redeem his people from their sins.

It must be understood that we better not expect to hear before the bar of God, “Come unto me ye blessed, for behold, your works have been the works of righteousness upon the face of the earth”, But more near to what we read in Doctrine and Covenants 45

3. Listen to him who is the advocate with the Father, who is pleading your cause before him--
4. Saying: Father, behold the sufferings and death of him who did no sin, in whom thou wast well pleased; behold the blood of thy Son which was shed, the blood of him whom thou gavest that thyself might be glorified;
5. Wherefore, Father, spare these my brethren that believe on my name, that they may come unto me and have everlasting life.

These are two different “Plans of Salvation”.

It took me near 40 years to see the difference. I have lived the LDS plan, but it opened my eyes to see the plan as laid out in the Book of Mormon. I may not have gotten to this point without my LDS experience. Therefore I do not regret a day among them.

Experience with other Churches

Through the years, I have always enjoyed and been inspired by the Sermons of John Wesley. I was amazed at how close his teachings are to the teachings of the Book of Mormon. If someone asked me what the best commentary on the Book of Mormon was, I would tell them the Sermons of John Wesley. I have concluded that Wesley was a forerunner to the Book of Mormon who was to prepare the minds of the people to accept it.

I did some studying to discover if there was a church in the area that had Wesley for a foundational teacher. I found one and started attending. Their prayers are personal and heart-felt even being sure to pray for members of the congregation by name who need much prayer. Their Hymns are always Christ centered without deviation. They rarely mention their church. Their sermons are always Christ-centered heavily citing the scriptures. Their “welfare” program is better than the LDSaints’ system. The opportunities to serve each other and the community are plentiful and organic, such as cleaning up yards for old folks, visiting the local prison and helping out at food kitchens and facilities for “troubled” young ladies. They meet during the week often and their meetings are about Jesus. They are faithful, humble, righteous and true believers. To my delight, I have never once heard teachings that contradict even a verse in the Book of Mormon. Although I long ago moved a thousand miles away, we still keep in contact and they continue to pray for me and my family in our stressful situation.

I find myself in a religious no-mans-land. LDSaints, even here of Quora, would think I am lost, even a wolf in sheep’s clothing, because I choose to believe in the Book of Mormon rather than the Church’s doctrine. Members of other churches would freak to hear that I believe in the Book of Mormon. There I am and I am content.