The tumult of a faith deconstruction, especially in the Mormon faith, has been termed as a crisis, it’s often referred to as a faith crisis. There are podcasts focused on this, even books written about it. BYU did a study on the social media impact on a faith crisis which defines how the church views a faith crisis. The say a faith crisis is “a state of intense emotional distress resulting from the discovery of “uncorrelated” Church history facts that do not align with the traditional LDS narrative. This distress—and ensuing analysis of LDS truth claims—often results in members losing literal belief in the LDS truth claims.”
A state of intense emotional distress resulting from the discovery of “uncorrelated” Church history facts that do not align with the traditional LDS narrative. This distress—and ensuing analysis of LDS truth claims—often results in members losing literal belief in the LDS truth claims.
We feel during this experience (which totally feels like a crisis) that we are suffering. However, this may not be accurate. We can reframe it (as part of the work of this deconstruction) as more accurately a truth crisis on the part of the church. The church is suffering from our diverted attention, devotion, and love. We are not at fault, even though we feel like we’re in crisis, it is the natural feeling when forced to reframe our complete worldview. Our feelings of suffering are not because we are incorrect or being punished (at least not by any God). It is separating ourselves from the clutches of such a highly demanding community. We feel the pains and must make adjustments to nearly every facet of our lives, but the crisis is on the other side of this relationship.
The church is facing a crisis; they have not told the truth about church history and have focused more on financial investments than on cultural or social investments. They preach milk before meat while simultaneously telling members what they are allowed to research and how openly they are allowed to question. There is no meat; it’s the Emperor’s New Clothes. The church is at fault for not being truthful in its own truth claims. The First Vision has been set up as the pillar, and the Book of Mormon set up as the keystone of the whole religion, but upon investigation, neither of these foundational truth claims withstand more than a cursory investigation. The church’s lessons about these (and nearly all truth claims) are more about being faith-promoting propaganda than a true representation of honest history.
Though many of use who have deconstructed now consider the “faith crisis” to be a gift or blessing, others (especially those who have not yet experienced it) see it as a crisis. Let’s work to reframe this Mormon Faith Crisis business as more of a gift and less a crisis. Part of that is calling it the Mormon Truth Crisis, but also terms such as transition, development, stages of faith, deconstruction, etc. This is one thing Mormon Stories host, John Dehlin and his wife, Margi, and friend Natasha Parker have promoted too. They teamed up to start a podcast series called The Gift of the Mormon Faith Crisis in December of 2018.
Experiencing a Mormon faith crisis can be highly disruptive to individual, familial, and social well-being. Unfortunately, many individuals, marriages, and families can be negatively impacted by this process. In addition, many progressive and post-Mormons struggle to rebuild a life of joy, meaning, purpose, fulfillment, and community after a faith crisis. They feel stuck. Overwhelmed. Paralyzed. Or even, permanently scarred.
The Good News?
A Mormon Faith Crisis can actually be one of the greatest gifts of your lifetime – helping to:
The Gift of the Mormon Faith Crisis Website, About
- Improve your overall mental and physical health.
- Strengthen/deepen your family relationships.
- Improve your marriage or your relationship with a significant other.
- Find more meaningful and fulfilling friendships and community.
- Improve your parenting effectiveness (for current and/or future children).
- Develop a more authentic connection with yourself and your life.
https://www.mormonfaithcrisis.com/about/
This mirrors a greater movement in the spiritual and self-help thought. In fact in 2013, blogger turned author, Glennon Doyle published her first book called Carry On Warrior, in which she contributes to looking at a crisis as a gift too.
You cannot see clearly. You are very, very confused right now. You think that this is the worst day of your life, but you are wrong. This is the best day of your life, friend. Things, right now, are very, very good. Better than they have ever been in your entire life. Your angels are dancing. Because you have been offered freedom from the prison of secrets. You have been offered the gift of crisis.
Kathleen Norris reminded me last night that the Greek root of the word crisis is “to sift.” As in to shake out the excesses and leave only what’s important. That’s what crises do. They shake things up until we are forced to decide and hold onto what matters most. And what matters most right now is that you are sober. You owe the world nothing else. And so you will not worry about whether the real you will be brave or smart or funny or beautiful or responsible enough.
Carry On Warrior, Thoughts on Life Unarmed: To My Friend, on Her First Sober Morning, by Glennon Doyle
https://www.amazon.com/Carry-Warrior-Power-Embracing-Beautiful/dp/1451698224?tag=circubstu-20
What have been some of the silver linings of a faith crisis in your experience? Have you successfully reframed your experience as more a crisis the church is facing rather than yourself? The LDS Church’s truth crisis, more accurately describes what is happening. What advice would you give others just starting to experience this crisis? Are you glad you are now, or would you rather go back to who you were before the crisis? Has the experience been an extreme step in personal development? Please share your faith crisis story and consider contributing it to the growing collection at wasmormon.org.
More reading: