Plan of salvation

Pros of Mormonism from the perspective of the
Believer	Ex-believer
The believing Mormon takes great comfort and satisfaction in knowing concrete answers to some of life’s most challenging questions.   “Where did we come from? Why are we here? Where do we go after this life? No longer need these universal questions remain unanswered. From the very depths of my soul and in all humility, I testify that those things of which I have spoken are true.” – This talk from president Monson, and the talks and scriptures from prophets before him lay out clearly our purpose in life. They speak of our premortal existence, of what we need to do now, and of where we are going.   Perhaps most importantly, the plan of salvation speaks of God’s plan to redeem all mankind and provide kingdoms of glory for nearly everyone. This redemption makes the plan of salvation one of the true gems of Mormonism. Within it, there is an argument to be made that the God that Mormonism describes is among the most loving of all the Gods in the world.	Some ex-believers lament that they can no longer take great comfort and satisfaction in knowing concrete answers to some of life’s most challenging questions. Many ex-believers find themselves having difficulty letting go of Mormonism because of the grand belief that there is a plan for them and that God will redeem nearly every human being that ever lived. If Mormons leave Mormonism behind, they often take their belief in this type of loving God with them. On this front, many who leave the church remain faithful in defending Mormonism and echoing the believer in saying: Perhaps most importantly, the plan of salvation speaks of God’s plan to redeem all mankind and provide kingdoms of glory for nearly everyone. This redemption makes the plan of salvation one of the true gems of Mormonism. Within it, there is an argument to be made that the God that Mormonism describes is among the most loving of all the Gods in the world.

 

Cons of Mormonism from the perspective of the
Believer	Ex-believer
One of the seeming flaws in the plan of salvation is that only those in the celestial kingdom will get to have eternal families. Should more people be given this blessing?	One of the fatal flaws in the plan of salvation is that only those in the celestial kingdom will get to have eternal families. To the ex-believer, it would seem that a loving, powerful God would work out a system where every decent human being gets to be with their family again. Decent human beings who do not accept the church, however, go to the terrestrial kingdom, where families seem to not be allowed to exist together.   The ex-believer is also likely frustrated by the concept and need for temple work (see “Temple work”)   Some ex-believers come to find that they develop more of an emphasis on things that are happening now in this life once they lose the eternal perspective. When you don’t believe that there is an eternity to be with people and an eternity to grow and develop, the time we have now in this life can become all the more rewarding and important. Some ex-believers find that it was only when they left Mormonism that they were able to live in the “here and now”.