Thread by @mattsheffield

1/x I haven't published anything about growing up in fundamentalist Mormonism until today.

Most people outside the sect have no idea how weird it really is. Here's a story of the day I almost sold my soul--to God flux.community/matthew-sheffi…

In the LDS religion, adherents are forced to give everything they have to the church. My father took things several steps further and made his kids promise to become perfect or be cast into hell. It was a very disturbing experience and the first time I didn't believe.

The idea came to my father on a trip we took to a field in northwest Missouri where Mormons believe that Adam from the Bible lived after being cast out of the Garden of Eden, which was also in Missouri, dontcha know

Mormonism is known for its absurd origin story of Native Americans but it really grew as a end of the world cult. That's why the official name is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

For more than 150 years, Mormons have taught that Jesus is coming back any day.

They don't talk about it to outsiders but this is still a current belief, taught to even the youngest of children.

We all were made to sing this song about what we'd do if Jesus returned some random day. The guilt culture starts very young.

Pretty much every Mormon who takes their faith seriously is manipulated into constantly doubting their own moral worth and to fear being burned by Jesus.

Evangelicals have developed this idea in recent decades, too.

It's such a damaging belief, so terrible to subject kids to.

Anyway. Please have a read and let me know your thoughts.

I could use some help spreading this thread as the link is the first chapter in my upcoming memoir.

Thanks!