Mormon Shelf Items
WasMormon.org
The proverbial “Mormon Shelf” is a place where Mormons are encouraged to place all their questions (especially the unanswerable questions). They are asked to have faith that the questions will be answered later, and sometimes not even in this lifetime. Either with greater spirituality or more knowledge via revelation we’ll be inspired to know the answers to key issues that can’t currently be answered in a “faith-promoting” manner. Individuals end up with a heavy shelf over the years until during some faith crisis, the shelf breaks. In this process, many realize that they knew the answers to these questions all along if they were honest and brave enough to really think about it. The answer is not faith-promoting though, so there’s no way to continue the current belief.
For many members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), faith is a carefully constructed edifice. Beliefs are meticulously placed upon a mental shelf, each one bolstering the others. But what happens when troubling questions begin to accumulate, threatening the stability of the entire structure? This is the essence of the “shelf metaphor,” a concept used by some former LDS members to describe the experience of losing faith. “The Shelf” is a metaphor used to describe the accumulation of unanswered questions about church history, discrepancies in the narrative surrounding figures like Joseph Smith, or apparent contradictions between archaeological findings and the Book of Mormon. It refers to issues that don’t quite add up or make sense, which are set aside because of faith.
“The Shelf” serves as a symbolic repository where individuals store their unresolved doubts and concerns about church history, teachings, and practices. These doubts, frequently set aside in deference to faith, accumulate until the metaphorical shelf is burdened with unanswered questions and uncertainties. Eventually, the weight may become overwhelming, leading to a crisis of faith and prompting a reevaluation of beliefs.
The burden extends beyond scripture. Members may also wrestle with the actions and teachings of Church leaders from both past and present. Doctrinal shifts and policy changes can raise eyebrows, especially when viewed in the context of earlier pronouncements presented as eternal truths. The charismatic image of church founders can be tarnished by discoveries about their personal lives or controversial practices such as polygamy.
Attempting to reconcile these issues with a literal interpretation of Church teachings can be an intellectual tightrope walk. When doubts multiply and the shelf groans under strain, some members experience a “shelf break.” This is a point of crisis where the foundation of faith collapses, leading to a loss of belief and often a painful separation from the Church community.
What exactly causes that shelf to collapse? For many members of the Latter-day Saints community, it often comes down to nagging unanswered questions about church history. When you start digging into the origins of the church, the lives of its main figures like Joseph Smith and Brigham Young, and the authenticity of the scriptures, things don’t always line up. Discrepancies, contradictions, and historical facts emerge that don’t fit the narrative taught. Then there’s the issue of archaeology. For some, the absence of tangible evidence supporting certain claims in church teachings can be a real sticking point. One hears about ancient civilizations in the Americas mentioned in the Book of Mormon, but where is the archaeological evidence to back it up? It’s like pulling on a loose thread—once you start, it’s hard to stop.
It is important to note that this represents just one perspective on why people leave the LDS Church. Undoubtedly, many other factors come into play, ranging from social pressures to personal disillusionment. However, the shelf metaphor underscores the intellectual challenges some members encounter. In an age of readily available information and critical thinking, the once-solid shelf of faith may no longer bear the weight of unanswered questions.
The Mormon “Shelf” and Why it’s a Problem
WasMormon.org
If you aren’t familiar with the Mormon shelf, the thought goes that you are studying the gospel when you come upon something that at first doesn’t make sense to you. Rather than use that as evidence that refutes your overall worldview, you just assume there is an answer that you can’t figure out right now, so you are advised to “put it on the shelf”. Once it’s there you can move on with your study or your life, and every once in a while revisit this idea on the shelf when it comes up and see if now it makes any more sense or if you’ve found any answers. Essentially the shelf is a proverbial place for unanswered questions. The idea is that as we follow the “milk before meat” pattern, and we progress to more “meaty” understandings, these questions will eventually be answered. It’s ok that things don’t make sense today, because we are promised that they will one day. We get the feeling that we are incompetent because things bother us or are hard to understand, while everyone else seems happy, we can ignore our own feelings in order to fit in and conform to expectations.
Problems with this cultural idea: it makes us intellectually lazy, it makes us feel incapable of discovering the truth, it sets aside anything that doesn’t fit with our predetermined conclusions, and it makes a number of issues become “unanswerable” in the minds of church members. Having a shelf or even the idea of a shelf being ok, makes us comfortable with cognitive dissonance until at least the shelf gets overloaded and we suffer the ensuing crisis of having to face all these hard questions (and their answers) at once. The shelf breaks!
So, the Mormon shelf is only a proverbial place to store unanswered questions it’s where our collective cognitive dissonance goes to be ignored and hopefully just go away. We learn as Mormons to put things we don’t understand on the shelf because one day we will understand everything, and why let something we don’t understand now block our progression, right? We get into such a habit of putting things on the shelf though, that we become comfortable with putting everything on it. If there were one or two complex issues to understand it would be one thing, but there are so many unanswerable questions that the shelf issues bog us down and can’t be answered because there is no real way of reconciling them properly (at least in a faith-promoting way). The simple fact that we even have this shelf analogy in Mormon culture to deal with our own many cultural and doctrinal issues is unhealthy.
Imagine a world where people believe the Earth is flat simply because they choose to ignore the evidence of a globe. Aldous Huxley’s quote, “Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored,” applies perfectly to the realm of religious beliefs, particularly those of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Just because someone chooses to hold a particular faith, doesn’t mean historical facts, scientific discoveries, or even contradictory religious texts disappear.
For example, some religions hold specific beliefs about the creation of the universe. However, scientific evidence through astronomy and physics paints a different picture. Ignoring this scientific data doesn’t make it any less true. Similarly, some religious texts may contradict each other on historical accounts or theological concepts. Choosing to believe one text over another based solely on faith doesn’t erase the existence of the other text or the questions it raises.
This doesn’t mean religious faith is inherently incompatible with facts. Many people find a way to reconcile their beliefs with the world around them. However, ignoring contradictory evidence can lead to a distorted understanding of reality. Huxley’s quote reminds us that a sincere pursuit of truth, even if it challenges our existing beliefs, is essential.
Huxley’s quote serves as a reminder that a healthy approach to faith may involve grappling with these complexities. Open and honest dialogue about historical and textual issues can be crucial. Faith that can withstand scrutiny and adapt to new information may ultimately be stronger and more meaningful.
Here’s how some religions might address doubts by emphasizing faith over facts:
- Reframing Doubt as a Test: Doubts can be painted as a natural part of the spiritual journey. The religion might suggest that questioning and wrestling with faith ultimately strengthens one’s belief. Overcoming doubt through unwavering faith becomes a testament to the strength of one’s convictions.
- Focus on Personal Experience: The religion might emphasize the importance of personal spiritual experiences as the ultimate source of truth. Emotions, feelings of connection to the divine, and answered prayers become paramount, taking precedence over historical records or scientific inquiry.
- Appealing to the Mystery of Faith: The religion might suggest that some aspects of faith are inherently unknowable and require a leap of faith. Facts and logic may have their place, but true understanding comes through faith, a connection that transcends the limitations of the rational mind.
- Dangers of Worldly Knowledge: The world, with its emphasis on reason and logic, might be presented as a source of doubt and temptation. Facts gleaned from secular sources could be seen as inherently unreliable or even misleading when compared to the deeper truths revealed through faith.
- Community and Support: The religious community can be a powerful tool for reinforcing faith. Surrounding oneself with believers who share similar experiences and interpretations can bolster confidence and create a sense of belonging. Doubt can be seen as a risk of isolation, pushing individuals back towards the certainty offered by the faith community.
It’s important to note that not all religions prioritize faith over facts in this way. Many traditions embrace open inquiry and critical thinking within the framework of their belief system. However, the emphasis on faith as the primary path to truth can be a powerful tool for addressing doubts and maintaining a strong religious identity.
Enter Latter-day Saints’ Elder Paul V. Johnson of the Seventy during the Seminaries and Institutes broadcast on August 7, 2012, to explain the LDS perspective on dealing with questions of faith…
Because of doubt—and the world today—individuals must protect themselves in order to stay strong.
“The real protection for us and our students is in having the powerful spiritual knowledge that comes from proper seeking and learning and from past spiritual experiences,” he said.
Elder Johnson spoke of some of the tools available to instructors—scriptures, living prophets, the guiding influence of the Holy Ghost, teachers, Church programs, and strong students—that help in the important task of helping students dispel doubt.
“One way to help students is to help them realize that different types of knowledge are acquired using different methods,” he said. “We love the truth. As Latter-day Saints we seek for truth, and accept it when we find it.”
In the scientific world the scientific method is used to learn truth and advance knowledge, he said.
“Learning spiritual things, however, requires a different approach than learning scientific things,” he said. “The scientific method and intellect are very helpful, but they alone will never bring spiritual knowledge. Learning spiritual things involves the intellect, but that is not enough. We learn spiritual things only by the Spirit.”
“Even when we follow this pattern we don’t control the timing of getting answers. Sometimes answers come quickly, and sometimes we must place questions on the shelf for a time and rely on our faith that has developed from the answers we do know,” he said.
In recent years, a significant trend has emerged within the Church of Latter-day Saints, one that reflects the profound impact of historical inquiry on individual faith journeys. As members delve deeper into the annals of their religion’s past, some find themselves at a crossroads where the narratives they uncover diverge from the teachings propagated by their leadership. This dissonance has prompted a growing number of individuals to make the courageous decision to depart from the fold, their departure fueled not by a lack of devotion but by an unwavering commitment to truth, authenticity, and intellectual integrity. The stories of these departing members illuminate the complexities inherent in navigating faith, history, and institutional doctrine, inviting us to contemplate the evolving nature of religious belief in the face of newfound knowledge.
Here are some of those stories…
Recovery from Mormonism (RfM) discussion forum.
My inner sense of God didn’t fit the Mormon God. When I allowed myself to finally admit what I really believed, it was that it was just another (man-made) church full of nice people. I was then free to leave after decades of turmoil.
The source of the turmoil? Trying to reconcile my deep inner notion of a loving God with then current Mormon racial exclusions and punitive gender teachings. (Why would a loving God reward faithful female followers with being part of an eternal harem? What kind of heaven is this?) If I wouldn’t do this to my female children, what kind of god would?
I felt that Jesus wouldn’t teach any of this. The loving God I imagined in my innermost being didn’t line up with the Mormon god, so in the moment this became so clear to me, I was free to go. I had to leave in order to grow spiritually.
The only thing left for those who want to stay Mormon against all odds is to cling to “faith” and faith is just wanting something to be true for one’s own selfish purposes.
But I left before the Information Age, before I knew all that. I left four decades ago after reading SWK’s Miracle of Forgiveness and I knew immediately it was nothing but controlling manipulative poison. I realized in an instant if this was the supposed prophet, then the church was a lie. I had the most wonderful feeling envelop me. I felt like I was light as air. The weight was gone. I felt true joy for the first time ever. I was free from the control, the indoctrination.
I was raised in the most Mormon family in the county with Dad being the bishop and stake patriarch. I did the mission and BYU and seminary and the whole enchilada. I was at BYU when I realized the church was a lie. No one was more surprised than I was. I didn’t see it coming. But there is was. Undeniable.
All the years of beating myself up, of hating myself for being gay were gone. You can’t even imagine the feeling.
I studied my way out of the Mormon church.Historically–my ancestors were neighbors of Joseph Smith, and among the very first Mormons. I read several of their diaries–in their own handwriting–and found out some of the truth behind the Mormons’ false history.
–Book of Abraham was actually a funeral document, which JS mis-translated.
–Book of Mormon obviously poorly written, plagiarized from the King James Bible, and not inspired at all. There are errors in the book. Native Indians are not descended from Jews. DNA evidence proves this, scientifically. No horses were in America in BOM times. Steel swords were not manufactured at that time. There has never been any archeological evidence of the great battles described in the BOM. Names and places were borrowed.
–The Three Degrees of Glory is borrowed from Swedenberg’s writings. I had a conversation with President Stephen L Richards, First Counselor to David O. McKay, and he didn’t believe in the 3 kingdoms. He said, “No one has died and gone to Heaven, and returned to tell about it. No one knows–not Joseph Smith–not anyone.”
–Polygamy was never God’s way. There was never a shortage of males, never a need to take care of “extra” women. Joseph Smith married Helen Marr Kimball, who was 14 years old. He married other men’s wives!
I was a teacher in the Relief Society. While studying for my lessons, I found out that the Mormon church is a hoax. I prayed about it, and was impressed that Joseph Smith and the other polygamous prophets we were studying had no “authority” from God. This began my search for the Truth.
I left Mormonism to follow Christ. I (try to) live an exemplary Christian life. My children are Christians, too, and good people. We were glad to let go of the old Mormon prejudices. I’m a working mother–and happy to have my rights.
We did lose most of our Mormon “friends,” but we moved on, and are happy and successful. Mormonism depressed me.
Reddit, r/exmormon: Why did you leave?
I started reading and researching about the church when my wife told me she was having trouble believing what we’ve been taught our entire lives. Both of us are life long members with Mormon pioneer ancestors. I wanted substance, “read the BoM, pray, pay your tithing and have faith” is an adolescent answer and wasn’t enough. The more I researched the more I found out that church history has been changed, white washed, kept hidden for decades, and the members manipulated. We’ve been told to have faith and don’t read the “anti” material. In reality, the “anti” material is church history. Then add the church’s issue with racism, sexism, patriarchy bullshit, and it’s treatment of lgtbq- the list goes on.
What started out as earnest study to help my wife overcome her concerns lead me straight to the exit. What I’ve been taught my whole life by the church is absolute lies and bullshit. I feel so much more at peace since leaving. I have a much more positive outlook on life and look for the good in the world around us. I no longer feel discouraged like I often did after church meetings. Feeling like no matter what I did or how I lived my life, no matter how much I read the BoM, pray, and pay I would never be good enough. That feeling is gone now. My wife has mentioned many times how happier I am.
Reddit, r/exmormon: #1 Reason for Leaving the Mormon Church:
It never worked. All those promises about finding the truth, feeling a burning bosom, finding peace and happiness? Never got any of those. Church was never a good experience for me. It took me years to understand the “burning bosom” experience I always had was just a form of anxiety. I felt the exact same feelings at other times, like trying new things, taking tests, reading challenging books, etc. The anxiety was coming from not being certain of what was going on in my head.
I never felt happy at church. I rarely saw anyone at church that was actually happy. I saw a lot of feigned smiles. Repeated statements that always seemed like they were trying to convince themselves more than uttering something they actually believed. Tearful confessions of how blessed they were to have so many challenges in their life (mostly rooted in sacrificing time and energy for the church).
Premier Christian Media, UK – Why I left the Mormon Church to follow Jesus:
As a Mormon, I believed the Bible was missing precious truths revealed in our own faith, but I wanted to look at it for myself to decide. As soon as I read it, I recognised obvious doctrinal conflicts, and I reasoned: ‘If they teach different terms of salvation, they can’t be the same Jesus.’
The Bible clearly teaches that salvation is a free gift. One crosses from death to life instantly upon believing in the one who paid for my sins on the cross. There was no waiting until the end of my life to see if I had done enough. No Mormon temple works – whose signs, tokens and handshakes are actually Masonic – are required for eternal life.
Mormons often sound the same as Christians, but since barely one religious word actually means the same between the faiths, always ask a Mormon, ‘What do you mean by that?’
Mormons say they believe in Jesus. Some have even encountered him. Only Jesus can judge the heart, but given that LDS teachings contradict Bible teachings, one has to ask which Jesus?
Although it came at a cost, my whole family and I ended up leaving Mormonism in order to follow the real saviour.
Flunking Sainthood…
Religion News Service: One in 4 US Mormons has thought about leaving the LDS Church.
PRRI’s findings showed Latter-day Saints were some of the most religious — but often uncertain — believers.
Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints rank the highest of all Americans in religiosity, worship attendance and other measures, according to the Public Religion Research Institute’s latest report about religion in American life. Yet the results are mixed, with Mormons’ responses to the survey showing a weakening of religiosity in some other areas.
The survey had at least two indications of what might be seen as a flagging sense of devotion.
The first was that Mormons ranked only in the middle of the pack in the percentage who ranked religion as the “most important” thing in their lives. Just 27% of U.S. Latter-day Saints chose that option, trailing white evangelical Protestants (42%), Black Protestants (38%), “other Christian” groups (37%) and Hispanic Protestants (28%).
The second possible sign of declining fervor was that 24% of American Mormons surveyed answered yes to the question, “Has there ever been a time when you thought about leaving your current religious tradition or denomination?”
So … are you reading this post and you’re ready to go? It may feel like ejecting from a fighter jet at 500 knots, and it will be a little rough for a few minutes, but it WILL get better. Promise. Let us know.
You can do it … just pull the handle.