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Stephanie Was a Mormon, an Ex-Mormon Profile Spotlight

September 20, 2024September 11, 2024 Leave a comment on Stephanie Was a Mormon, an Ex-Mormon Profile Spotlight

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Stephanie grew up deeply immersed in the Mormon faith, believing that following the Church’s teachings would lead her to salvation. She dedicated herself to the Church from an early age, participating in youth activities, serving a mission in Colorado, and eventually marrying in the temple. But underneath the commitment, Stephanie carried a secret: since she was seven years old, she knew she wasn’t a boy, even though she had no understanding of what it meant to be transgender.

Stephanie was taught that people like her were sinners, destined for unhappiness, so she kept her true self hidden. However, meeting a joyful trans woman and becoming friends with other LGBTQ+ individuals helped Stephanie realize the importance of living authentically. She eventually came out as transgender. Embracing her true identity, she finally found the joy she had been seeking—a joy the Church had promised but never delivered. Stephanie feels at peace today, free from the constant pressure to conform to Mormon standards. Though life still has its challenges, she no longer feels like a “broken vessel.” In living as her authentic self, Stephanie has discovered a sense of happiness and peace that she had never known within the Church.

"I was born and raised Mormon. My entire life was centered around my faith. I attended church diligently. I was active in young men’s and the boys scouts. I earned every achievement I could. I served a two year mission in Colorado, came home and got married in the temple. I did everything right and felt I was on the path to salvation. I am an avid tabletop RPG player, a historian, and enjoyer of reading. I was a Mormon." - Stephanie's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/steffie7/
"Since I was seven years old, I carried a secret with me. I wasn’t a boy. At least not internally. I didn’t know anything about transgender people, all I knew was I was not a boy. Growing up and hearing how people like me were unhappy sinners, I kept it to myself." - Stephanie's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/steffie7/
"Until I met a trans woman who was truly happy. More happy than anyone I ever met. I made friends with other people who are LGBTQ+ and they helped me see that they were just being their authentic selves. I finally came out as trans." - Stephanie's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/steffie7/
"After trying to balance reality with what I learned in the church, reality won and I haven’t gone back. I could not bear the pain of the severe gender dysphoria I dealt with, but coming out and transitioning has done more for my happiness than the church ever did. I just wanted to follow the decree, Men are that they might have joy. I didn’t feel joy before. I do now." - Stephanie's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/steffie7/
"I’m at peace. The constant depression I felt trying to confirm and be perfect by Mormon standards is gone and I can actually function day to day. I’ve never thought I’d be at peace and happy in life and it’s not perfect, I still have bad days, but I don’t feel like a broken vessel anymore." - Stephanie's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/steffie7/
This is a spotlight on a profile shared at wasmormon.org. These are just the highlights, so please find the full story at https://wasmormon.org/profile/steffie7/. There are stories of Mormon faith journeys contributed by hundreds of users like you. Come check them out and consider sharing your own story at wasmormon.org!
“Since I was seven years old, I carried a secret with me. I wasn’t a boy. At least not internally. I didn’t know anything about transgender people, all I knew was I was not a boy. Growing up and hearing how people like me were unhappy sinners, I kept it to myself. After trying to balance reality with what I learned in the church, reality won and I haven’t gone back. I could not bear the pain of the severe gender dysphoria I dealt with, but coming out and transitioning has done more for my happiness than the church ever did.” – Stephanie

I was born and raised Mormon. My entire life was centered around my faith. I attended church diligently. I was active in young men’s and the boys scouts. I earned every achievement I could. I served a two year mission in Colorado, came home and got married in the temple. I did everything right and felt I was on the path to salvation. I am an avid tabletop RPG player, a historian, and enjoyer of reading. I was a Mormon.

Since I was seven years old, I carried a secret with me. I wasn’t a boy. At least not internally. I didn’t know anything about transgender people, all I knew was I was not a boy. Growing up and hearing how people like me were unhappy sinners, I kept it to myself.

Until I met a trans woman who was truly happy. More happy than anyone I ever met. I made friends with other people who are LGBTQ+ and they helped me see that they were just being their authentic selves. I finally came out as trans.

After trying to balance reality with what I learned in the church, reality won and I haven’t gone back. I could not bear the pain of the severe gender dysphoria I dealt with, but coming out and transitioning has done more for my happiness than the church ever did. I just wanted to follow the decree, Men are that they might have joy. I didn’t feel joy before. I do now.

I’m at peace. The constant depression I felt trying to confirm and be perfect by Mormon standards is gone and I can actually function day to day. I’ve never thought I’d be at peace and happy in life and it’s not perfect, I still have bad days, but I don’t feel like a broken vessel anymore.

Stephanie

This is a spotlight on a profile shared at wasmormon.org. These are just the highlights, so please find the full story at https://wasmormon.org/profile/steffie7/. There are stories of Mormon faith journeys contributed by hundreds of users like you. Come check them out and consider sharing your own story at wasmormon.org!


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This post spotlights a real user's profile, please view the full profile for Stephanie here.

Posted byEvan MullinsSeptember 20, 2024September 11, 2024Posted inSpotlightTags: agender, church, closing testimony, deconstruction, depression, doctrine, doubt, exit story, exit testimony, exmormon, faith, faith deconstruction, faith journey, faith transition, gender roles, happiness, I Was a Mormon, identity, leave the church, lgbq, lgbqt, lgbt, lgbtq, mormon, mormon faith crisis, mormon questions, mormonism, profile spotlight, question, quote, temple, transgender, wasmormon profile, why I leftShelf items LGBTQ issues, shame cultureMormon Spectrum Authentic, LGBTQ+ Ally, Returned Missionary, Temple MarriageQuestions Are you happy?
What are the blessings of your faith transition?
What does the Mormon church teach about LGBT people?
What was transitioning out of Mormonism (or Orthodox Mormonism) like for you? What was most painful about it? What was most healing or joyful about the transition?

Older Post“Put on a little lipstick now and then and look a little charming” M. Russell Ballard’s Devotional"You beautiful girls, don't wander around looking like men. Put on a little lipstick now and then and look a little charming. It's that simple. I don't know why we make this whole process so hard." - LDS Apostle, M. Russell Ballard, YSA Devotional, 2015 | wasmormon.org Newer Post Kathy Was a Mormon, an Ex-Mormon Profile SpotlightGod is not exclusive. That’s another thing that Mormons are confused with, and it makes it really culty. A lot of other religions welcome people, they aren’t exclusive. The Mormon church is one of the most exclusive, churches or cults I have ever experienced. The way that Mormons expect perfection is extremely unhealthy. Most other religions accept the fact that we are all sinners and that we need God in our lives to help us. This is where the Mormon church is so toxic. - Kathy's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/kathyh1976/

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