📱 Exmos, True Blues, and the Forgotten Middle Path

 

📱 Exmos, True Blues, and the Forgotten Middle Path

The Wall Street Journal just ran a piece about a “TikTok war” between ex-Mormon influencers (#exmo) and faithful Latter-day Saints. On one side, you’ve got former members posting videos that go viral, calling out the hard parts of LDS history. On the other, you’ve got believing members—“true blues”—sharing testimony clips, family reels, and hopeful messages about staying strong in the faith.

It makes headlines. It stirs emotion. But is it the whole story?

⚔️ Two Camps, Both Missing Something

• Exmos point to Joseph Smith’s plural wives (as they interpret history), Brigham Young’s polygamy, the priesthood ban, temple oaths, and the Church’s billions. Many who were already questioning say these videos tipped them over the edge.
• True Blues respond with testimonies of Christ, family strength, and the Book of Mormon. They highlight the good the Church does around the world and defend the prophets as guides in a confusing age.

Both sides are passionate. Both sides feel justified. And yet—neither side is telling the whole story.

📖 The Prophecies Already Spoke

The Book of Mormon itself foresaw this very crisis:

“They have all gone out of the way; they have become corrupted. Because of pride, and because of false teachers, and false doctrine, their churches have become corrupted… they deny the power of God, because of the precepts of men.” (2 Nephi 28:11–12)

“They have transfigured the holy word of God… they have built up many churches; nevertheless, they put down the power and miracles of God, and preach up unto themselves their own wisdom.” (2 Nephi 28:5–6, 26)

The Nemenhah Records add the same warning:

“Yea, there shall be many that come among the Gentiles with much zeal, but not according to knowledge. They shall build up churches unto themselves, and take upon them authority which I gave not.” (Tsihohnayah Ahkehkthihm 13)

And yet—they also prophesy hope. That out of all this contention, the Lord will still raise up a small and faithful remnant:

“But behold, there shall arise a small flock, humble followers, who shall hear my voice. These will I gather into my Refuge.” (Mohrhohnahyah 4)

🚪 The Forgotten Middle Path

Here’s the piece the Wall Street Journal left out—and the part neither side on TikTok is really saying.

The LDS Church did fall into apostasy after Joseph’s death. Brigham Young’s polygamy and centralized control were never part of the doctrine of Christ. D&C 124 even warned the Saints they would be “rejected as a church, with their dead” if the Nauvoo Temple was not completed in time. History shows it wasn’t—and the rejection followed.

But here’s the other truth: the Restoration through Joseph Smith was real. The Book of Mormon still stands as a second witness of Christ. The covenant is still alive. The voice of the Savior still calls through His Spirit and His true records.

The danger is this: exmos throw it all away, while true blues cling to an institution that no longer carries the fulness. Both miss the narrow path back to Christ Himself.

🕊️ The Way Forward

The Book of Mormon lays it out clearly:

“This is my doctrine… that whoso repenteth and cometh unto me, the same is my church.” (3 Nephi 11:32–34)

It’s not about membership rolls, algorithms, or TikTok debates. It’s about whether we hear Him.

The Nemenhah Records echo this:

“Follow not the robe, for it shall mislead you. But follow the Voice, for it shall guide you into the presence of the Peacemaker.” (Tsihohnayah Ahkehkthihm 14)

That’s where the middle path lies—not in abandoning the Restoration, not in doubling down on a fallen system, but in walking with Christ, step by step.

💡 My Witness

I honor my true blue friends who are sincere in their devotion. I understand the pain of those who left. But I believe there is something better than either camp is offering: to take the scriptures seriously, to repent, to seek the Second Comforter, and to prepare for Zion.

The TikTok war may rage on. But Zion won’t be built in hashtags. It will be built by those who hear His voice and gather in love.