Welcome to Wholly Apostate

My name is Bruce and I am an apostate from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, more often known as the LDS Church or Mormon Church. This site's purpose is to tell my story.

At 58 years of age, I tackled a project I had long been interested in completing. I had often held positions (aka "callings") within my congregation (aka "Ward") that, in some way, regarded Gospel Instruction, aside from or in conjunction with positions of authority. Now, most lesson manuals only provided basic information, particularly regarding Church History. You know, "milk before meat". However, meat is never served. Ever.

So, I decided to butcher my own beef, so to speak, and tackle Church History from the Church's own sources! Beginning in January of 2013, I began a 14 month deep dive by reading the 7 volume "History of the Church", the 6 volume "A Comprehensive History of the Church", "History of Joseph Smith by His Mother", the 26 volume "Journal of Discourses", and the Standard Works of the Church twice (Old Testamant, New Testament, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price).

Even being a quick reader, this still took some time! As I read, particularly the Journal of Discourses, I read things that I mentally set aside because they came into conflict with what I thought I knew about the Church and its teachings. I mean, I had held many callings wherein I taught and what I was reading didn't match up all the time. Yes, I was experiencing Cognitive Dissonance! To relieve that cognitive dissonance, I had to go back and re-read some things and see them in a new light. I began to learn new things and to gain a perspective and "flavor" for Joseph Smith, Jr. and the early Church leadership.

It was this project that led me to realize it was all a fraud, that Joseph Smith, Jr. was a fraud (intentional or "pious"). It was this project that also gave me an intense thirst for further study. It was all disappointingly revealing. My world, at age 59 then, was shattered. So very much of my life was tied very tightly to Mormonism. Unrvelling could cost me dearly, maybe even everything.

Fortunately for me, my wife (my second marriage) and I had become best of friends before travelling the road of romance and marriage and we're still best friends and still married! But, my children, siblings, and extended family are not as accepting of me and my new found knowledge as my wife is and even my wife is not accepting, yet, of that knowledge. But she fully accepts me!