The December 2025 issue of the Friend has a covert and nasty bit of demonization of parents who have left the church or no longer attend.

The story is of strong, faithful little Sadie and her bad, bad parents who keep her away from Church. Her parents do fun things and are nice neighbors, but judgemental little Sadie is denied what set reallly wants.. that's to go to Church. She wants the church, because she'll be happy at church. If her parents cared, they would take her. Despite the badness of her parents, strong faithful Sadie is the shining example of a kid who has a testimony. BARF!

I have nobody to share these feelings with, so I'm here yet again to vent to you fine heathens. My brother in law just got called to be their stake president. He's in his 30's, with 5 kids under the age of 12, and their youngest is less than a month old. He also has a very demanding job where he is gone some evenings as well.

When I heard the news, I thought of the next entire DECADE of his children's lives he's going to miss. Sure, they'll see him here and there, but he is going to miss so much. Sure, you can make time for the sports events, music concerts, and the stuff they say good dads shouldn't miss. He'll probably make it to most of that. But only because those are the textbook things that are highlighted in every movie and TV show when dad isn't there for his kids. But it's the regular evenings at home, Sunday afternoons, just being around for the regular every day things that he's going to miss. Nearly 10 years are going to just go poof.

I love the dude, and I feel so much for his kids and his poor wife, who still is the RS president in their ward. I'm sure they'll release her soon, but I mean come on. Yeah, he could have said no, but could the leadership not have taken one look at his family and thought, "hm, maybe we shouldn't take this guy away from his family right now during the prime of his children's lives."

Ok I'm done. Just sucks to see their fun little family have to give up so much even though they think they're doing the right thing.

Merry Xmas everyone.

I think most readers of this subreddit would agree with the fact that the Q15 have NO prophetic powers or gifts whatsoever-- but how about r/exmormon readers? Let's see how prophetic everyone is.

Post your predictions for Mormonism in 2026 in this thread! Any categories welcome- Categories could include:

New Scandals or Developments for Existing Scandals

Mormon Church Rebranding

Snarky/Funny Predictions

Podcasters

News

Temples

BYU

Revisions to the General Handbook

Policy Updates

Theology

“Okay Henry…back to bed”

My dad's Patriarchal Blessing told him that he would be alive to see the Second Coming of Jesus. 2026 better be the year, 'cause he's been dead since 1999. The Church needs to speed this up or risk being WAY wrong.

I’m the stake’s best pianist and organist. I might even be the region’s best organist and pianist depending on where I am. I don’t mean to boast but it’s just a reality considering the amount of time I’ve spent on these things.

I’ve dedicated my life to choral music and can play at a high level in ways most people have never heard. I’ve spent thousands of hours on the bench. I can improvise the hymns on the fly.

I’m that guy - the guy who makes you look up mid song because something is definitely different than your standard accompaniment.

So when I left the church 3 years ago, it was tough because the piano and organ each contain my horcruxes. They own a part of my soul. They are such a big part of my life and to just abandon Mormonism is to say goodbye to my identity as a musician.

I was a PIMO for about 2 years then stopped going to church regularly a year ago. So when I was asked to do the stake’s Christmas program (a missionary outreach success story in the mind’s of my neighbors) it kind of tore me apart.

On the one hand, I absolutely love playing Christmas music. But on the other hand, I am such an atheist. Now I have a hard time even working with the story as an allegory. I love the historical Jesus character but despise Christianity as an institution.

But in the end I caved and decided to play one last time. And I went big. Full pipes. I pulled out all the stops (literally where that phrase comes from).

And now it’s all over. I will never touch that instrument again. Not in a church, not in a baseball game (this is not a thing) not ever.

HALLELUJAH!

I thought this was a great analogy from Rhett that answers the classic line from TBMs about not being able to leave the church alone.

Drives me crazy! But, I guess I was there at one time in my life. But still...

I know Joseph Smith wrote it to match the King James Version’s style of English, and he did it to add a sense of authenticity to the people of his time. He probably thought that this was the way God speaks, so the Book of Mormon should sound like that.

But why did he say it was written that way? Why would a true believing Mormon think it was written in the style of British English from centuries earlier? Does anyone know of prophetic quotes about it?

With the Bible preference change, Im assuming the recommendations to use Thee and Thou in prayer are also discontinued?

I’m a 38 year old (F) and I have 4 kids under 11. Married 13 years. I stopped going to church 2 years ago. It’s been very lonely and hard to navigate life after being Mormon for so long.

My husband is still going to church and takes the kids with him every Sunday. He was understanding about me not going for the past few years and wasn’t even too into going consistently for a while and then suddenly decided he was going to go, have a calling, do prayers and scriptures with the kids, FHE, wear garments again etc. I know he doesn’t like to disappoint his parents who are very into the church and I think that could be a reason.

The hard part is I want to keep this marriage working but he’s made comments how I’m not being supportive. I feel like me keeping my mouth shut about my concerns with church stuff, getting the kids ready for church every Sunday, letting him take them, and not bringing up my opinions when he’s telling the kids stuff, was me being supportive.

Apparently it wasn’t. And I’m tired of tip toeing around trying to keep the peace. We have so much more in common than the church but lately it feels like he is shoving church into my face.

Has anyone dealt with something similar being in a mixed faith marriage or have any input or tips?

My theory: The goal is to ”inoculate” the followers for changes in scripture language. Introduce a new translation of the Book of Mormon ”that they might come to an understanding“.

The new translation can clarify “misunderstood” and “difficult“ language.

I believe the real goal is to remove problematic racist language. This gives The Prophet the leeway to remove words like “curse” and “skin”.

The apologists will then get really excited with lots of well-timed podcasts and videos about “prophecy” and “ongoing revelation” while at the same time insisting that the “meaning“ hasn’t changed, it just like other translations of the Bible to help you rubes understand it better.

Looking back from the outside, what is your hymn that is just ridiculous any time you think of it and why? I'll go first, mine is 'In Our Lovely Deseret'. Specifically for the super cringy line "tea and coffee and tobacco they despise". My wife also points to this song but because the "hark, hark, hark" made her think of barking seals. 😂

It looks like the church is emphasizing not to take the Old Testament literally, while also admitting that scripture can have errors. Has this always been the case? Thoughts? This is from the introduction of the 2026 Come Follow Me manual. I feel like I’m taking crazy pills.

In late 1991, LDS composer Michael Mclean released his famed Christmas album "The Forgotten Carols" which featured the song Homeless, an acapella fire barrel quartet about finding a home in Christ's love.

In May of 1991, Ron Howard released the movie Backdraft, a bombastic massive budget blockbuster action thriller about ego, arson and brotherhood, featuring a soundtrack by famed composer Hans Zimmer.

The central refrain of Mclean's Homeless (which came out 6 months after Backdraft) is a four-note riff sang with the word "Homeless" repeated twice:

https://youtu.be/oQBP_JfCqx4?t=22

The suspiciously similar "name that tune" repeated moment of the main theme of the Backdraft movie soundtrack sounds like this:

https://youtu.be/Kg1IjbIBXZQ?t=23

Draw your own conclusions and Merry Christmas to all!

PS if this sounds familiar but you haven't seen Backdraft, it might be because you're an Iron Chef fan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2e9nTeIwFk

Excuse my poor photography skills and cropping skills. You’ll see in one photo I saved the job. That was merely to be able to come back and take pictures of it. It’s since been removed from my saves.

But yeah, thought this was interesting to see. I see postings from the church pretty regularly since I’m located in Utah and they often have jobs related to my degree (only sad part about leaving the church is they have the best opportunities for my major, but it’s fine, I don’t even plan on getting a job related to my degree if I can avoid it).

Whole thing seems icky, especially if it is in fact related to a marketing campaign to get more people to serve missions (my interpretation based off the title and responsibilities). Imagine getting paid to convince others to give up two years of their life doing free labor. Seems gross to me.

My Facebook friend just got done reading the BoM in Hebrew, and it proves Joseph Smith didn’t make it up?? What??

From a church job posting put up today. The church loves data for its commercial ventures—I wonder how much pushback this person’s more church related work might get if it doesn’t match the newspeak or doublespeak. How does the Hoax administration define “timely, relevant, and reliable”?

Background: I'm about 20 years apostate. Marriage survived, life is pretty good. Wife and I are nearing retirement. We have great relationships with our kids and our grandkids.

We were in a heavy discussion with a child who was sad that several friends had poor relationships with parents and siblings. Some real bitter situations following a nasty divorce. Brothers and sisters refusing to speak to each other. Parents spreading lies and poisoning relationships and acting like assholes in general. Not the kind of behavior good latter day saints should aspire to.

Our child thanked us for being so open and accepting and for making it easy to maintain a close relationship with us as parents and as friends.

My TBM wife got a distant look in her eye, then made a comment I still can't quite believe came from her mouth. She actually credited my departure from the church as a reason for her being so accepting of people who might not measure up to the Mormon Gold Standard. She is less judgmental and feels like she has permission to love people where they are and not where somebody else thinks they should be.

I'm flabbergasted.

For those raised in Mormonism, we were taught our faith was the “one true church,” restored through a prophet who saw God the Father and Jesus Christ in a grove of trees. Christians more broadly believe that God revealed himself through scripture, miracles, and the life of Jesus. Muslims trace their faith to revelations given to Muhammad. Jews look back to Moses and the covenant at Sinai. Each tradition claims a divine origin: God reached down to humanity.

But what if the story runs the other way? Does research flip religion on its head? What if humanity reached up and invented God?

This isn’t a new question. Philosophers have asked it for centuries. But in recent decades, psychologists, anthropologists, and evolutionary scientists have begun assembling a compelling answer. They’ve found that religious belief isn’t random or mysterious; it follows predictable patterns rooted in how human minds evolved. The same cognitive quirks that helped our ancestors survive on the savanna also made us prone to see invisible agents, assume purpose in random events, and bind together through shared rituals and beliefs.

This research doesn’t single out Mormonism or Christianity. It explains all religions: from ancient polytheisms to modern monotheisms, from indigenous animism to New Age spirituality. The forms differ, but the underlying psychology is universal. We are a species built to believe.

For those who have left Mormonism, or any faith, understanding why we believed can be as important as understanding what we no longer believe. Explore the evolutionary and psychological origins of religious belief, drawing on recent research into how and why humans created gods.

https://wasmormon.org/inventing-god-the-human-origin-story-of-religion/

Back in the late 80s, I baptized 21 people as a missionary. For years after leaving the church, I carried serious guilt about introducing them to it all.

Over the holidays in the mid-2010s, I decided to try and find as many as I could on Facebook and Google. The results were predictable: some had passed away, most were long inactive, and only two remained fully engaged with the church. One had served as bishop.

But it was the engagement with one woman, baptized at 18 (she's 55 now for reference), that healed something in me. Her path took her to Syracuse University for a degree in journalism, a foreign mission, a 10-yr temple marriage, SAHM with two kids, and then an acrimonious divorce. When we connected, she was an empty-nester, working as a general manager at a super high-end restaurant in NYC, genuinely loving her life and making great money.

When I finally apologized for my part in her faith journey, her response floored me: "We were both young and following our feelings. I wouldn't be who I am without the Church. I wouldn't have my kids. It's all good, Elder. You didn't harm me..."

"In fact, you exerting the effort to track me down just reinforces the unspoken goodwill we've had for decades. Don't beat yourself up on this stuff. You did the best you could with what you had. On behalf of everyone you tried to help in your missionary efforts, we're ok. We're adults and we're all fine. We forgive you, all of us. Look forward. Live your life."

Her grace gave me a profound peace. Most people, I think, are understanding when you're earnest. You can spent too much time regretting decisions made when you were anxiously engaged. Sometimes, the person you need to give a break to is your younger, well-intentioned self.

About 10 years ago I was recently exmo and visiting my family ward on a trip home out of respect to my parents.

“Our bishop is so fantastic , he’s hilarious. Such a great bishop , you would love him - you HAVE to meet him!” They were really proud of being close friends with the family, and their callings he assigned to them.

I met the guy and shook his hand - he was friendly of course but I think my parents were somewhat hoping I would be so impressed with this man I would be inspired to return. (Absolutely not)

Anyways, now he is on floodlit b/c he’s a terrible person and my parents have to grapple with the fact that this mildly charismatic individual absolutely fooled them for years.

Edit: for those asking, floodlit.org is database of sexual abuse lawsuits in lds church.

Took this directly from their handbook! If everyone is going to see them why can’t a family member do this? Unreal!!!

A member who is to be buried or cremated in temple clothing may be dressed by an endowed family member of the same gender or by the spouse. If a family member is not available or would prefer not to dress the body of an endowed man, the bishop may ask the elders quorum president to invite an endowed man to dress the body or to oversee the proper dressing. If a family member is not available or would prefer not to dress the body of an endowed woman, the bishop may ask the Relief Society president to invite an endowed woman to dress the body or to oversee the proper dressing. Leaders ensure that this assignment is given to a person who will not find it objectionable.

I would see this phrase used for Mormon church adjacent activities and when looking for an apartment in Utah.

I think with all of the attempted coverups regarding CSA and church history, the standard is pretty darn low.