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Historical and doctrinal issues

A FAIR Analysis of: "Why People Leave the LDS Church" (2008) A work by author: John P. Dehlin

An analysis of "Why People Leave the LDS Church" (2008)—Social issues

The PowerPoint screencast "Why People Leave the LDS Church" (2008) by John Dehlin deals with two different major issues related to those who leave the Church:

1. Historical and doctrinal issues which surprise and shock members.
2. Social considerations regarding the way that members who deal with these issues are treated by other church members.

This article reviews the historical and doctrinal issues raised in the presentation. For a review of the social considerations raised in this presentation, see "Why People Leave the LDS Church"—Historical and doctrinal issues.

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"Why People Leave the LDS Church" by John Dehlin says...
When Church members discover the gap between what they have been taught and what history shows, they feel stunned and betrayed, like they've been lied to, like there has been a cover-up. They feel disgusted and very angry.

Things to think about

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"Why People Leave the LDS Church" by John Dehlin says...
They starting thinking about all the tithing they paid, and all the time they spent in the temple. All the sacrifices and all the callings. How much they gave to the Church. Worth a lot of empathy and understanding.

Things to think about

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"Why People Leave the LDS Church" by John Dehlin says...

• Once this happens to you...you never look at Joseph Smith the same way again.

Things to think about

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"Why People Leave the LDS Church" by John Dehlin says...

• Once this happens to you...you never look at scripture the same way again.

Things to think about

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"Why People Leave the LDS Church" by John Dehlin says...

• Once this happens to you...you never look at the Church the same way again.

Things to think about

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"Why People Leave the LDS Church" by John Dehlin says...

• Once this happens to you...you never think of "authority" the same way again.

Things to think about

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"Why People Leave the LDS Church" by John Dehlin says...

• Once this happens to you...your concept of God and Jesus and "the one true church" can change dramatically.

Things to think about

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"Why People Leave the LDS Church" by John Dehlin says...

• How do we treat those who leave? Fear. Labels—"Anti-Mormon," "Ex-Mormon," "Apostate," "Dangerous," "Ark-steadiers."
• What did Jesus do? Defended those that were struggling against the "religious."

Things to think about

• The labels "anti-Mormon" and "dangerous" refer to someone who actively seeks to destroy the Church after they leave it.
• The label "ex-Mormon" is simply descriptive, and is applied by ex-Mormon's themselves. They choose to identify themselves as ex-Mormons in the public forum. If they choose to define themselves with a name that clearly identifies them as no longer being associated with the Church, then that is their right. Not all members who leave the Church will chose to identify themselves this way.

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"Why People Leave the LDS Church" by John Dehlin says...

• How do we treat those who leave? Cease communication. We ostracize and distance ourselves from them.
• What did Jesus do? Associated with everyone (Publicans, etc.) Go after the 1...leave the 99. Go the extra mile. Turn the other cheek.

Things to think about

• We completely agree with this. It is completely wrong to shun and cease communication with those who leave. This is a cultural issue that should be overcome.

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"Why People Leave the LDS Church" by John Dehlin says...

• How do we treat those who leave? Results. Divorce, dissolution of family. Loss of community. Job loss.

Things to think about

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"Why People Leave the LDS Church" by John Dehlin says...
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Things to think about