unpackingexmo-blog

[unpackingexmo-blog]

The Mormon church is an abusive cult. - No mandatory reporting of sexual abuse. - Members are taught to pay tithing money even if they can't feed their own children. - No disavowal of white supremacists like Brigham Young. Racism, sexism, and bigotry. - They teach people to ignore and suppress negative emotions rather than process them. - They threaten you with eternal damnation and loss of your eternal family if you don't comply. - Local bishops make you comply by threatening to take away your temple recommend.

#exmormon #cult #mormon #lds #church #religious trauma

[unpackingexmo-blog]

Yes, marital rape is a thing.

I did not enjoy my honeymoon. I had never learned to say no to sex. My freeze and fawn responses were alive and well.

Admitting that that was rape has taken me years.

I experienced marital rape because I was raised as a Mormon girl.

I was taught that women have to earn the fidelity of a husband and OWE him sex.

She is responsible for fulfilling his sexual desires.

Bishops are known to BLAME WIVES for a husband's infidelity.

I was never taught to say no.

What else would you expect. Mormonism was founded by rapist men who practiced predatory polygamy.

To be clear: when I say I experienced marital rape, that does not mean my husband is a rapist. I  married him because I think he is very good about consent and I felt comfortable with him.

It was not his fault that I felt obligated to say yes to sex on our honeymoon.

I blame Mormon social pressure and cultural expectations about honeymoons for that. If I had not been brainwashed and groomed, I might have been able to clearly communicate the "no" I was feeling.

#exmormon #marital rape #consecutive

[unpackingexmo-blog]

You don't owe anyone your discomfort. It's ok to leave people who make you uncomfortable out of your life. https://unpackingmormonism.blogspot.com/2023/03/you-dont-owe-anyone-your-discomfort-its.html

#boundaries #mental health

[unpackingexmo-blog]

New therapist was shocked to hear that there is not mandated SA reporting in the church.

Also, I've never brought up before that my polygamous ancestors included teens raped by old men.

It was unsurprisingly very helpful.

Mormonism is abusive. Important not to downplay that.

#exmormon

[unpackingexmo-blog]

Mormonism is abusive. It is a rich and politically-powerful cult that brainwashes people like me when we are children.

#exmormon #cult #mormon church abuse

[unpackingexmo-blog]

I was ok with becoming an atheist after leaving Mormonism because it God is real, he's an absolute jerk.

#atheist #exmormon

[unpackingexmo-blog]

This is what I'm sending to government representatives: "Assault rifles need to be banned. There is no reason children should be dying in school shootings. Please act."

#ban assault weapons

[unpackingexmo-blog]

"Why don't you just..." is the stupidest phrase well-meaning people use.

If you feel yourself about to use that phrase, why don't you just shut the fuck up? *This is specifically in the context of talking to someone about their personal life.

[unpackingexmo-blog]

I got called woke because I think Brigham Young calling for the death of interracial couples makes him a white supremacist. Yikes.

[unpackingexmo-blog]

It's ok to show emotion. It's ok to cry.  Let it out! 

 Don't apologize for your feelings. 

 You matter! 

 Making other people comfortable doesn't need to be and shouldn't be your top priority. 

 Prioritize yourself.

[unpackingexmo-blog]

People don't get it, so I'll say it again: I hear from a lot of parents who say that they regret having children and if they could go back they would choose NOT to be parents.

Yeah, that sucks. Don't dismiss their experiences. There really are people who regret their kids. It's already hard to admit this publicly for them. There's so much social pressure not to say it. I think that's very unhealthy. I'm glad I've heard from these people. I don't want kids. It's nice to hear the honesty.

#exmormon

[unpackingexmo-blog]

Can't believe I was brainwashed into believing there was divine purpose in changing poopy diapers. So glad I escaped the cult before I had kids. No offense to people who enjoy being parents, but I would hate it. I did waaay too much child care when I was still a child myself. I get messages from people telling me they are happy for me when I talk about leaving Mormonism before having kids, because some DIDN'T escape the cult before having kids, and they DO regret it. Good luck to you out there who regret your children! That's a rough spot to be.

#exmormon

[unpackingexmo-blog]

Mormon temple secrecy is tied to the history of needing to keep polygamous marriages secret. Traditionally, marriages are large celebrations. Mormon marriages became secret and exclusive when knowledge of polygamy needed to be kept within a trusted, vetted group.

#exmormon #mormon temple

[unpackingexmo-blog]

People have told me I should be afraid that posting about the problems with the Mormon church will hurt my employability. Here's why I'm not worried: If they don't want to hire me because I post about sexual abuse cover-up and criminal financial activity, I don't want to work there. I will continue to post about problems with the Mormon church because the information is important and should be shared, especially in professional settings.

#Exmormon

[unpackingexmo-blog]

I have started to post about problems with the Mormon church on LinkedIn. I now have more followers. LinkedIn markets themselves as a place for thought leadership, and it's not hard for me to want to lead in informing people about Mormonism. I'm glad people are listening.

#exmormon

[unpackingexmo-blog]

Please enjoy/share/use this art I made. It's a message that feels important to me right now. There is no freedom OF religion without freedom FROM religion.

Blog post with different image versions: https://unpackingmormonism.blogspot.com/2023/03/free-art-there-is-no-freedom-of.html

#exmormon #atheist #atheism #Utah #Utah politics

[unpackingexmo-blog]

Mormonism taught me contention was of the devil because if I had been taught to listen to my anger and discomfort I wouldn't have been so easy to manipulate.

You know who doesn't like anger? The people in power who benefit from oppression and the silence of victims.

There should be more anger in the world.

As I see it, we allow the wrong people to be angry.

Oppression exists, abuse exists, extortion exists, manipulation exists.

Yet often it is the perpetrators of aggression who express anger while the victims are expected to stay quiet. https://unpackingmormonism.blogspot.com/2023/03/mormonism-taught-me-contention-was-of.html

#exmormon #anger #angry exmormon #mormon #mormon cult #lds cult #lds church #mormon church