You are not crazy, something is wrong with the church!
You may be familiar with terms like Active, Less Active, Jack Mormon, and Anti-Mormon in LDS vernacular, but you likely have never heard of the word Numo. So, what on Earth is a Numo?
Before you start thumbing through your scriptures or manuals, Numo is not there. Most people have assumed that when it comes to Mormonism, an individual ultimately settles in as either a "Mormon" or "Anti-Mormon." This assumption has long been the case, but a new category has recently emerged: a Numo.
NO, NOT A MORMON, ANTI-MORMON, INACTIVE OR JACK MORMON
NOT TBM's (True Blue Mormons), NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS SAINTS
NOT ANTI OR EX-MORMON
Across the theological divide are the avid anti-Mormons who are filled primarily by those from other Christian denominations who would never seriously consider Latter-Day Saint teachings and ex-Mormons who were one-time Mormons who turned from the faith, throwing Joseph and the Book of Mormon out along with the church.
NOW WHAT ARE NUMOS
Now, let me introduce you to the new kids on the block, the Numos. A huge difference between Numos and all the other groups is that they are willing to test everything and accept every truth from whoever it comes from. The Numo counterparts erroneously and/or nervously put Numos in the camp of each other’s group even though the Numos are much different and independent.
A popular Numo content creator named Justin Griffin gave an excellent example of how an individual can recognize Numo leanings in themselves at church.
Justin said, "You might believe everything the church teaches you, believe nothing the church teaches, or you believe some of the things, and that category is where I think most people are. Why do I think that? Because when I stand in front of the Elders Quorum and ask questions I would get 26 different answers from 26 different guys about what this doctrine means."
The history behind the term Numo is that it is a label coined off the cuff by Kwaku El (Mormon YouTuber/podcaster) during a Midnight Mormons/Ward Radio episode.
Remnant, as referenced in the title of the Midnight Mormons / Ward Radio installment with Justin Griffin, was the moniker previously attributed to Numos. While the name Remnant is more descriptive and accurate for the faction, there is a reason why the nickname Numo has instead grown in use.
A group with only some similar thoughts to the Numos, led by a former LDS member and self-proclaimed prophet named Denver Snuffer, also uses Remnant. The Remnant Numos are sometimes confused with Denver Snuffer's Remnant followers, so the nickname Numo gained traction by Numos to avoid confusion with Snuffer’s bunch. Another acceptable label attached to the Remnant Numos is the Doctrine of Christ due to the group's emphasis on the Doctrine of Christ, taught in the Book of Mormon and other scriptures.
Numos are different in that they are willing to test everything and accept every truth from whoever it comes from. The Numo counterparts erroneously and/or nervously put Numos in the camp of each other’s group even though the Numos are much different and independent.
A Numo may be in or out of the church. Numos that stay involved in the church typically recognize problems with the church but remain involved for the following reasons. 1) They still get benefit from the church. 2) They desire to help awaken others to the things they have learned about the church 3) They do so for the harmony or overall benefit of their family. 4) They feel prompted by the Lord to stay for now.
Those who leave have almost opposite mirrored reasons why they stop attending. 1) They no longer are benefitted by the church, 2) They feel by not attending they will help others see that the church is amiss and wake up. 3) They stop for the aid to their family in learning truth. 4) They feel prompted by the Lord to separate.
Often an individual will feel the Lord telling them to do the opposite of their own desires, with someone who wants to stay being told to go and vice versa.
HOW NUMOS ARE DIFFERENT
One of the most controversial doctrines in the Mormon faith that members will deal with is the subject of polygamy. Sadly, most avoid the topic altogether. Here lies a surprisingly significant difference between the divisions. Numos are on one side, and the unlikely allies of Mormons and anti-Mormons are on the other when it comes to the question of whether Mormon religion founder Joseph Smith ever practiced polygamy. Numos believe Joseph Smith did not. Numos also see the Book of Mormon calling plural marriage a gross abomination without the wiggle room the LDS church tries to interject into its writing. Please investigate Numos more, divergence over polygamy is just the tip of the iceberg in regarding their departure with the LDS church.
Numerous trivial questions could be asked about Numos, but the two most significant in the grand scheme are whether they are necessary to the Last Days and if God favors them. If you want answers to these inquiries and a look at unedited Mormon history, continue searching this site.
TBMs may behave this way due to any or all of the following reasons: apathy, ignorance, pride, comfort levels, fear, superficial gospel knowledge, or social pressure from family, friends, or work. Actual testimonies of spiritual experiences may cause TBMs to dismiss concerns. The problem is if they do not do as the scriptures mandate, proving all things and holding fast to what is true, they have a huge blind spot and vulnerability to being deceived. The spiritual proof they rely on may only be a witness to the gospel or single gospel truth, not a blank confirmation that the church is accurate or correct on everything. The gospel and church are not one and the same. Remember, people from other Churches also feel that they get confirmation from the Spirit over their church and interpretation of scripture.
A screen shot with Justin Griffin & Kwaku El from Midnight Mormons, Episode the New Mormon Offshoot in Town.
THE NAME NUMO COMES FROM?
The divisions over Mormon theology are more than just the two Mormon or anti-Mormon positions. Another large segment within the LDS population includes those who live in the shadows of the church after distancing them from church activity. According to the church these individuals do not understand its teachings, are doubters, or are individuals who can not resist habits of the World. The nickname given to these members are In-actives or Jack Mormons. Numos are mistakenly grouped in with this subdivision. While the In-actives and Jack Mormons share similar frustrations as Numos, which often cause these groups to leave the church, Numos take a more productive paths in resolving their dissatisfaction. People who stay away are led to believe by the church that they can not make any spiritual progress without attending. Numos understand that this is not a forgone conclusion!
WHAT IS A NUMO?
MORE ABOUT NUMOS
A Numo is a label coined off the cuff by Kwaku El (Mormon YouTuber/podcaster) during a Midnight Mormons/Ward Radio episode while interviewing a popular Numo named Justin Griffin. The nickname name Numo stuck. The name of this episode was "The New Mormon Offshoot in Town, "The Remnant" (feat. J. Griffin, Director, Who Killed Joseph Smith". This video is an excellent introduction to Numos and their beliefs. (View Here)
As the episode's title states, Remnant is a more scriptural descriptive name used for the movement. However, a different group with similar thoughts, led by a former LDS member named Denver Snuffer, also uses the label Remnant. Remnant Numos are sometimes confused with Denver Snuffer's group, which is why the nickname Numo has gained traction.
okay for me I see the church that an oversimplification is you believe
everything the church teaches you believe nothing the church teaches or you believe some of the things that the
church teaches and that sum of category is where I think most people are why do
I think that because when I stand in front of the elders Quorum and ask questions I would get 26 different answers from 26 different guys about
what this Doctrine means so people just have their own here's how I think about
To explain the label Numo or Remnant we need to point out changes that took place over time giving place for a label like Numo / Remnant in Mormonism.
The name of the church in the Book of Mormon was at times called the Church of Christ (Mosiah 18:17, Mosiah 25:18-22) . In 1830 when the church was organized by Joseph Smith it was again called the Church of Christ. Evidence of this can be found in the first scripture and tracks produced follow the church’s establishment in the Book of Commandments ( pic) which would later become the Doctrine & Covenants in 1836.
Numo describes a person with Mormon beliefs who has awakened to the understanding that early Mormon history and teachings often differ significantly from what the modern LDS Church asserts. A Numo, on this discovery, does not throw out the baby with the bathwater, becoming an Anti-Mormon like many others. Instead, the Numo maintain their faith in the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith while distancing themselves from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. For a Numo, this starts a time of soul-searching, study and prayer. The Numo becomes like Lehi, who was shown the wickedness of Jerusalem in his day and told to go into the wilderness by the Lord.
Numos go through a similar wilderness experience, potentially grower closer to God while relying on Him and less on the church.
Numo describes a person awakened to the understanding that early Mormon history and teachings often differ from what the modern LDS Church asserts. Still, unlike the Anti-Mormon, Numos treasure the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith. (cut)
Kwaku El did not specifically define a Numo. Still, others have tried to attach more precise identifiers and give meaning to the name, such as New Understanding (Nu) Mormons or Nuanced Mormons. Despite some efforts, there are no formalities or exacts within the growing Numo community, which also has no formal leader, organization, official doctrines, or rules of being a Numo. This site is not an official Numo site and is solely an attempt to help others get introduced to this awakened community and to aid Numos in their pursuits.
The term Numo, like Mormon, is a nickname. A Mormon is a believer in Christ. The Book of Mormon was compiled by a man named Mormon but is a record of Christ and Christians in Ancient America. A more accurate description of who the Numos are comes from the Book of Isaiah in the Bible, which labels those who successfully go through a Numo-like experience as Remnant.
The Remnant is prophecized to be believers who will be drawn out of churches by the Lord.
Members of the church in 1830 were given the nickname Mormons due to their acceptance and use of the Book of Mormon. Those who did not regard the Book of Mormon as scripture or Joseph Smith as a prophet were known as Anti-Mormons. The name Jack Mormons was given to those while not accepting the Book of Mormon or Joseph Smith but were kind and supportive. Later the use of Jack Mormons itself evolved into being associated with Mormons which did not follow the church’s modern Word of Wisdom teachings.
Numos are not the Remnant that the Lord that will call to go on an exodus to build Zion, but many that are selected to be apart of the exodus Remnant will have been Numos because of their early awakened state where they have had more time to prepare to be worthy and understand the pure gospel that will govern Zion.
Numos have no leader, no official organization and no consensus beliefs. Numos are basically people of the Restoration communities that have become spiritually awakened to teachings that Zion will be built by individuals God chooses and not by churches or men. Numos are a people in the wilderness preparing themselves and being prepared by the Lord to possibly one day be apart of the great End Times Remnant Exodus to build Zion prior to the Lord's Second Coming.
Numos are not associated with the current Remnant Church, Denver Snuffer or other groups but do share some beliefs.
