Thank you for sharing. Growing up in the 90s, I can say that over all my experience was ok. Sure things could have been better, but I recognize that people were trying. My reasons for leaving are nuanced.

Whether this Lemmy instance success or not, I hope it can be a place of understanding, conversation and deconstruction instead of memes or selfies. If it becomes that, so be it, especially if it helps someone.

r/exmormon helped me a lot, but there was another site, postmormon.org that I miss: those people were leaving when it was hard and shameful to do so. I left with the likes of John Larsen (Mormon Expression podcast) and I long for the honest, heart wrenching, nuanced and conflicted discussion. Regardless, I know the times have changed and that the needs of those in their faith transitions are necessarily different.

So I guess, as the benevolent overlord of this Lemmy community, I hope we can be the better, more honest, more uncomfortable, more whatever community of exMormonism.