My exit experience is a bit different it seems like from many on this board. I grew up in a very LDS family. My immediate family as well as most of my extended family members are completely active members. My father served on bishopbrics, mom in RS, primary presidency, members of the choir, went to every church activity, etc.I was the same way as a teenager. I went to church every Sunday, every activity, paid my tithing, was in the YW class presidency. I was every leaders favorite child-always volunteering, strong testimony... everything. I did everything expected of me and more. I felt I truly believed in everything the church taught.
And then I got married to a "less active" man at 19, and immediately stopped going to church because he didn't go. We got married in the temple, but only went the one time. It was very easy to stop going to church, and it also felt freeing.
My neighbors convinced me to start going back to church and I did for awhile, but I noticed I didn't feel a part of it anymore.
One of the things that made me uncomfortable is that I am childfree-I never want kids, and that is kind of a big part of the church, right? I never wanted to be a mother while all the other girls around me couldn't wait to have kids. As I looked at my life, I began finding that things I wanted didn't jive with the church.
I finally started college at 26, and that is when I really started to consider leaving the church. I realize that I had a brain and could think for myself while attending college. And as I thought about the church, I realized they don't want you to do such things. I started to form my own opinions (I know, a little late in life), and realized I was pro-choice, and pro gay marriage and gay rights. When Prop 8 came around, the church's involvement pissed me off. I can't understand the concept of "loving them, but not accepting what they do". To me, that is not love. Its not love to not let others experience marriage because you think their love is "unnatural".
I'm not like many here, I don't think the church is a cult. I think it's just a religion like any other religion. I had a pretty good experience at church, I didn't get offended by anyone or any of that kind of thing. Personally I don't feel the need to "let others know about the deception of the church". Some people need religion in their life. Some people truly believe everything, and that's their right. If people are content to be sheep and just believe everything the church tells them, then that's their thing.
Reading a lot of the information about the truth of the church is interesting, but honestly, its not really the reason I'm leaving. I don't really care about the lies and everything, because it seems to me that all religions are like this. Everybody lies in life anyway, its just a human thing to do. The reason I'm leaving is just because it's not for me anymore. I don't want to live by LDS standards and I don't want anyone telling me how to live my life. I want to think for myself.
As I've left the church and thought about my "spiritual experiences", I realize I have had "spiritual experiences" through many different channels, not just religion. I feel "spiritual" when I listen to or attend musical theater. I feel spiritual when I hear an uplifting story about somebody else. I feel spiritual when I exercise, do yoga, meditate. I feel spiritual when I dance. I realize now that "spiritual experiences" are just strong, positive emotions. I had some "spiritual experiences" while mormon, but that doesn't make the church true in my mind.