I go to BYU, and am an active member of the Church. We were asked to write an Op-Ed on a topic we felt was important. As a recently returned missionary, I thought I would write on a topic that has helped me recently: The Positive Impact of Ex/Anti Mormons on the LDS Church.

My whole life I’ve had issues with the church. Anything from the bishop covering up me being sexually assaulted by one of the priests in my ward, to literally hating myself over not being worthy enough because I thought I had sinned, to dealing with terrible lds friends, and much more of the sort. Even then, I remained a true believer for years until I stumbled upon countless inconsistencies and things which I were once told were “anti-mormon lies” on LDS.ORG in the gospel topics essays, and reading about Helen Mar Kimble and many many other things surrounding the history of the church, Joseph Smith, and the Book of Mormon, and etc., were what REALLY got me to leave. Not the fact that I was offended or judged or had bad experiences, but the fact that it isn’t true.

/r/exmormon Thread