Ex-Mormon Accuracy

Do you find that Ex-Mormons often give more accurate information about Mormon beliefs than Church members because they're not trying to push the church's "milk before meat" ideology?
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Ray Farmer
, Jealous of and Zealous for the Book of Mormon
Answered just now

Although "often" would not be how it may best be described, there may be rare occasions where the observations of "ex-Mormons" may be more accurate and, if nothing else, helpful in the pursuit of truth.

As humans, we miss truth that is plain and precious simply because we approach topics from a preconceived notion. Like vocabulary words we have never seen before, our minds will skip over the unfamiliar as if they weren't there. Expand your vocabulary with a few new words you never read before and, amazingly, you will now see them everywhere! How could authors have known you learned that new word to include them in their article! In reality, they were always there. We just skipped over them.

When reading the Book of Mormon, there are many truths that we don't see because they don't fit the doctrine we believe. We either don't notice them or we conclude that we don't understand such mysteries because they seem to contradict our belief system.

Once we clear our minds of preconceived notions and look at the Book of Mormon apart from them, taking the words as standalones, we begin to see things a little more clearly. We see things we never saw before.

Some ex-Mormons can present their understandings of what the Book of Mormon actually says with this new found clarity.

Of course, those fixed on preconceived notions will attack this clarity and say that ex-Mormons are being hateful or ignorant or spiritless commentators rather than considering their argument. That would be the easiest course and it is usually taken. That's just the way it is with most. Others will consider those observations and either change modify their beliefs or come up with a reasonable answer for future use and to set their troubled hearts to rest. Either way, they are highly benefited and have gained wisdom.

Two Examples

Those who believe that repentance is possible after death will skim over Alma 34:33-5.

I beseech of you that ye do not procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end; for after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed.
Ye cannot say, when ye are brought to that awful crisis, that I will repent, that I will return to my God. Nay, ye cannot say this; for that same spirit which doth possess your bodies at the time that ye go out of this life, that same spirit will have power to possess your body in that eternal world.
For behold, if ye have procrastinated the day of your repentance even until death, behold, ye have become subjected to the spirit of the devil, and he doth seal you his; therefore, the Spirit of the Lord hath withdrawn from you, and hath no place in you, and the devil hath all power over you; and this is the final state of the wicked.

The above does not "fit". When someone who believes in repentance after death reads that, they must knowingly or, as I believe, subconsciously, skip over that. However, someone who has shed all notions prior to reading the Book of Mormon can see and point out that section because their clarity has allowed them to read and accept the simple truth. Their teachings regarding the day of probation and the inability to repent after death will be more accurate.

Someone who takes for granted that, if we don't repent in this life, we can suffer and atone for our own sins in the spirit world and thereby qualify for a glorious reward after the judgement will slide over verses such as:

Alma 38:9 And now, my son, I have told you this that ye may learn wisdom, that ye may learn of me that there is no other way or means whereby man can be saved, only in and through Christ.

Mosiah 16:5, 13 But remember that he that persists in his own carnal nature, and goes on in the ways of sin and rebellion against God, remaineth in his fallen state and the devil hath all power over him. Therefore, he is as though there was no redemption made, being an enemy to God; and also is the devil an enemy to God.....And now, ought ye not to tremble and repent of your sins, and remember that only in and through Christ ye can be saved?

3 Nephi 12:25-6 Agree with thine adversary quickly while thou art in the way with him, lest at any time he shall get thee, and thou shalt be cast into prison. Verily, verily, I say unto thee, thou shalt by no means come out thence until thou hast paid the uttermost senine. And while ye are in prison can ye pay even one senine? Verily, verily, I say unto you, Nay.

2 Nephi 28:8–9 And there shall also be many which shall say: Eat, drink, and be merry; nevertheless, fear God--he will justify in committing a little sin; yea, lie a little, take the advantage of one because of his words, dig a pit for thy neighbor; there is no harm in this; and do all these things, for tomorrow we die; and if it so be that we are guilty, God will beat us with a few stripes, and at last we shall be saved in the kingdom of God. Yea, and there shall be many which shall teach after this manner, false and vain and foolish doctrines…

Someone who is an ex-Mormon, or an honest and wise member, will pause over these. They will ponder over these verses, having taken note of them, and either modify their beliefs or come up with explanations. The point of the matter is that they now see the verse that they never noticed and the conundrum presented and now have the opportunity to deal with it, resolve it, an opportunity they didn't have before.

Conclusion

In summary, those who have shed the scales, good or bad, from their doctrinal eyes can, perhaps, see more clearly and accurately.

Such ex-Mormons should never be dismissed out of hand.