Hosting stories of faith deconstruction, crisis, and transition out of the Mormon church. Consider creating your own profile and adding your own story to the growing collection. We’re on a mission to destigmatize doubt and normalize those who leave the church by providing a platform for all of us to tell our own story – if we don’t share it, they will. What you have learned about Mormonism? What broke your shelf? Where are you now and how did you get there? wasmormon.org is the new mormon.org, patterned after the old one where we used to share.
Latest Profile Updates
Telling your story and learning about others’ experiences are both therapeutic and cathartic. Be part of improving the harmful stigma around doubt in LDS culture and your own healing. Check out these latest profiles – they speak for themselves:
Each of us has an important, interesting, and valid story. Participate and share your feelings, beliefs, and experiences with the community. It’s easy: just register, optionally upload an image and write a little about yourself and your journey. There are even prompts to follow. Come back to it later to add more or change it as needed. Share it with those you want to see it and stand proudly with others. Learn more about this site’s mission or browse contributed answers to specific questions.
Have Questions about the Mormon church?
Are you interested to learn first-hand answers to common Mormon questions from those who have lived it? See the list of questions and dive into user-contributed honest answers. Do you want to answer these questions yourself? Create a profile and answer as many questions as you’d like and see them included in the list.
Latest Spotlights
- Brooklyn Was a Mormon, an Ex-Mormon Profile Spotlight
Brooklyn’s Mormon story is one of awakening, self-discovery, and courage. Growing up in a small ward in St. Louis and later navigating the tightly knit Mormon culture at BYU and beyond, she experienced the deeply ingrained …Continue reading “Brooklyn Was a Mormon, an Ex-Mormon Profile Spotlight”
- Searjasub Was a Mormon, an Ex-Mormon Profile SpotlightBorn into the Mormon Church, Searjasub followed the expected path: baptized at eight, active in seminary, ordained to both levels of the priesthood, and even served a mission in Peru. He and his wife were sealed …
Continue reading “Searjasub Was a Mormon, an Ex-Mormon Profile Spotlight”
- David Was a Mormon, an Ex-Mormon Profile SpotlightFor decades, David’s life was deeply intertwined with the church, even to the point of serving as a bishop—a significant position of spiritual and administrative leadership. However, 12 years ago, his life took a courageous turn …
Continue reading “David Was a Mormon, an Ex-Mormon Profile Spotlight”
- Spencer Was a Mormon, an Ex-Mormon Profile SpotlightSpencer grew up immersed in the Mormon faith, surrounded by the teachings and traditions that defined his childhood. Born into an intensely religious family in Michigan, he was the quintessential believer—faithful, devoted, and utterly convinced of …
Continue reading “Spencer Was a Mormon, an Ex-Mormon Profile Spotlight”
- Wyolds Was a Mormon, an Ex-Mormon Profile SpotlightWyolds’ story of questioning the Mormon church began with a deep love for her faith, growing up in Orem, Utah. Her connection to the church felt woven into her identity, guiding her beliefs and hopes. She …
Continue reading “Wyolds Was a Mormon, an Ex-Mormon Profile Spotlight”
- Tom Was a Mormon, an Ex-Mormon Profile SpotlightTom’s journey out of the LDS Church is shaped by a lifetime of devotion and careful reflection. Raised as a descendent of early Mormon pioneers, he grew up deeply rooted in the faith, participating in every …
Continue reading “Tom Was a Mormon, an Ex-Mormon Profile Spotlight”
Latest Blog Posts
- Plato’s Allegory of the CavePlato’s Allegory of the Cave serves as a timeless metaphor for the journey from ignorance to knowledge and truth. It parallels the experience of leaving Mormonism in profound ways. Just as the freed prisoner emerges into …
- Better Dead Clean, Than Alive UncleanBruce R. McConkie’s statement in Mormon Doctrine—”Loss of virtue is too great a price to pay even for the preservation of one’s life—better dead clean, than alive unclean”—is deeply problematic and reflects harmful ideologies surrounding purity …
- Church Mischaracterized Since 1830: Fact or FictionReporter: In 2003 the church denounced the book Under the Banner of Heaven by John Krakauer, calling Krakauer a storyteller who cuts corners to make the story sound good. Now Krakauer’s book has been adapted for …
Continue reading “Church Mischaracterized Since 1830: Fact or Fiction”
- Mark Twain on MormonsMark Twain, born Samuel Langhorne Clemens (1835–1910), was a prominent American writer, humorist, and social critic best known for The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Twain lived during a transformative period in …
- Tithing vs Feeding ChildrenThe history of tithing shows that it has grown over time to require more of church members. It has grown to be required for a temple recommend, and reinterpreted to mean ten percent of your income. …
- Gender in Terrestrial & Telestial Kingdoms or The TK SmoothieJoseph Fielding Smith taught in his definitive Doctrines of Salvation that only celestial resurrected individuals will be able to procreate. He clarifies that individuals in the Telestial Kingdom would lack male or female genitalia, contrasting with …
Continue reading “Gender in Terrestrial & Telestial Kingdoms or The TK Smoothie”
- On Evil Speaking of the Lord’s AnointedEvil speaking of the Lord’s anointed is a phrase used in the Mormon Church to discourage criticism of church leaders. The term implies that speaking negatively about church leaders—considered “anointed” or chosen by God—is a form …
- The Drawn Flaming Sword of Polygamy – Spiritual Abuse and ManipulationJoseph Smith secretly practiced polyandry and polygamy, or what the church later called plural marriage. The church freely admits this today (when forced) whereas previously it was all denied as anti-mormon lies. A strange hill to …
Continue reading “The Drawn Flaming Sword of Polygamy – Spiritual Abuse and Manipulation”
![“The [Book of Mormon] is a curiosity to me. It is such a pretentious affair and yet so slow, so sleepy, such an insipid mess of inspiration. It is chloroform in print.” - Mark Twain, Roughing It, 1872 | wasmormon.org](https://i0.wp.com/wasmormon.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Mark-Twain-Book-of-Mormon-chloroform-in-print.jpg?fit=300%2C300&ssl=1)
The Personal Mormon Faith Crisis Report
- Personal Mormon Faith Crisis Report – Introduction and Overview
The Personal Faith Crisis Report was presented to Elder Uchtdorf in 2013 by Elder Jensen so leaders could better understand what is happening and take appropriate measures to address members leaving the church as a result of a faith crisis. The gospel topic essays were part of the response to this study by the church. - Personal Mormon Faith Crisis Report – Research SummaryThis report studies a faith crisis in detail along with an actual research survey of members who have left the church due to faith crisis and these respondents’ demographics such as age, gender, education level, household income, and church callings held as well as the primary reasons why the member left.
- Personal Mormon Faith Crisis Report – Faith Crisis StagesThe report defines the stages of such a faith crisis from a true believing member, through a catalyst and traumatization, and then either through a traumatized disbeliever and ex-mormon or a nuanced believer and then secular participant.
- Personal Mormon Faith Crisis Report – Perpetual Cycle of DisaffectionThe report also analyses a perpetual cycle of disaffiliated members, where a member finds troubling information and through the age of information and the internet confirms the troubling issue as true and feels betrayed by the church for not being honest, and ends up venting to a family member and causing the cycle to restart for them.
- Personal Mormon Faith Crisis Report – Faith Crisis ProfilesThis faith crisis report next lists many anonymous faith crisis profiles each detailing the exit story of the member (along with precious statistics and demographics the church cares deeply about such as household income). Not to be confused with the actual faith crisis profiles shared on wasmormon.org.
- Personal Mormon Faith Crisis Report – Summary & Potential Next StepsThe report concludes with suggestions the mormon church can take to mitigate the further loss of members due to a faith crisis. This report shows that the church leaders are well aware of the fact that members are leaving and why they are leaving and shows us insight into how the church thinks it can plug this membership leak.
Featured Posts
- The Drawn Flaming Sword of Polygamy – Spiritual Abuse and ManipulationJoseph Smith secretly practiced polyandry and polygamy, or what the church later called plural marriage. The church freely admits this today (when forced) whereas previously it was all denied as anti-mormon lies. A strange hill to …
Continue reading “The Drawn Flaming Sword of Polygamy – Spiritual Abuse and Manipulation”
- Mormons Expected to Stand Forever – Despite QuestionsChurch leader Lawrence E. Corbridge, an LDS Seventy, gave a BYU Devotional that addresses how to properly deal with questions. Corbridge explains that he’s read all the anti-Mormon literature out there, but was successfully able to …
Continue reading “Mormons Expected to Stand Forever – Despite Questions”
- Joseph Smith’s Rock in Hat Translation of the Book of MormonTraditionally, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon or LDS Church) depicts Joseph Smith translating the Book of Mormon in a manner that implies a reverent, direct reading of ancient golden plates. Today, church …
Continue reading “Joseph Smith’s Rock in Hat Translation of the Book of Mormon”
- What is Cognitive Dissonance?Cognitive dissonance occurs when a person experiences discomfort due to holding conflicting beliefs, attitudes, or behaviors. To reduce this discomfort, individuals often try to reconcile these inconsistencies, either by changing their beliefs, justifying their actions, or …
- The BITE Model to Cults from Dr Steven HassanSteven Hassan Dr. Steven Hassan is a prominent mental health professional, author, and advocate known for his expertise in cults and undue influence. Having experienced firsthand the effects of mind control and manipulation as a former …
Continue reading “The BITE Model to Cults from Dr Steven Hassan”
- Elevation and Other Elevated EmotionsMany people who have left the church report still feeling the “spirit” just as they did when they were active members. This feeling is linked to a phenomenon called “Elevation Emotion,” which is well-researched and associated …
- Confirmation BiasConfirmation bias refers to the cognitive tendency of individuals to interpret or seek out information in a way that confirms their preexisting beliefs or hypotheses. When someone experiences confirmation bias, they are more likely to notice, …
- Moroni’s Promise – A Lesson in Confirmation Bias and Elevated EmotionsIn the Book of Mormon, Moroni offers a promise often cited by members of the LDS Church to confirm its truthfulness. This promise is foundational for many Mormons, providing a personal spiritual confirmation of the church’s …
Continue reading “Moroni’s Promise – A Lesson in Confirmation Bias and Elevated Emotions”
- The Wives of Lorenzo SnowLorenzo Snow Lorenzo Snow was born April 3, 1814, in Ohio. He joined the church in June of 1836 at 22 years of age. In 1837, he was called on a mission, and while serving he …
- Mormon Bishop Resigns at Pulpit in Mississippi Sacrament MeetingA Mormon Bishop in a Mississippi Ward resigned from his calling during a message he delivered in sacrament meeting in front of his ward. He asked to be released from his calling and wanted his ward …
Continue reading “Mormon Bishop Resigns at Pulpit in Mississippi Sacrament Meeting”
