Steven’s story is one of resilience, self-discovery, and finally—freedom. Raised between worlds, with a non-religious mother who distrusted the church and grandparents deeply embedded in it, Steven was surrounded by conflicting messages about Mormonism from a young age. His early life was marked by both devotion to the church and personal trauma, making his eventual faith journey deeply layered.
Steven sincerely tried to build a righteous life as a priesthood holder, husband, and father. He devoted himself to the gospel, even amid a difficult and ultimately harmful marriage. After a divorce, he faced judgment and exclusion from the church community, who failed to offer compassion when he needed it most. This painful treatment planted seeds of doubt. Steven began noticing cracks in the narrative—being denied a temple recommend over child support, being told his children were no longer sealed to him, and receiving no clear doctrinal reasons why. Still, he tried to hold on. It wasn’t until he and his new wife began comparing their own growing discomfort with the church’s teachings that he allowed himself to question more openly. When he dove into the church’s history, doctrine, and leadership, the truth became clear—and devastating.
Letting go of the lies he’d been taught all his life, Steven now feels freer and happier than ever before. The contrast between the constant pressure of church life and the peace he’s found since leaving is striking. His family now heals together, supporting each other with humor, honesty, and the freedom to grow on their own terms—no longer under the shadow of religious expectation.
Hi, I’m Steven. I grew up in a mixed faith family. My biological mother was not religious, and actually hated the church for protecting the offender, rather than the victims. Which blows my mind because of the abuse I received at her hands. My grandparents were very active in the church and took me weekly. I’m told by family that my grandmother and great grandmother translated the Book of Mormon from English to Romanian. My grandmother translated at every conference for the people in Romania. So early on, the church was big in my life. I’m no longer Mormon.
When I was 15 I left the church to be rebellious. I really was the most well behaved rebellious kid out there. At 18, I started to come back. I felt at the time it was what I was missing. When I turned 19 I decided to skip the mission, and continue to learn from the church. Soon after I met my now ex-wife. I dedicated my life to being a good Priesthood holder, Husband and Father. I worked my tail off to be a great example to my kids in the church. After 11 years in a very unhealthy marriage, I decided to divorce my ex. Over the next 5 years, I tried to be as faithful in the church, as I could. But that’s when things changed for me.
When I went through my divorce. My ex blasted me to the ward. Despite the many times I had been around them, they did not have enough respect to speak to me. I moved, and over the next two years I worked on being a good member while being told repeatedly how I failed to keep my family “together forever”.
Looking back, the 1st crack on my shelf was how I was denied my temple recommend because of child support (I owed, because I thought my ex and I would work on our marriage, and get back together. She was deceiving me, and waiting for ORS to have proof against me for Family Law). So while I was paying it back, I was not aloud to receive my recommend, until it was paid off. The crack grew more when I was told that my kids would no longer be sealed to me, because of the divorce. Although neither the bishop, or stake president could give me a reason why, or why not. I was sour about that. But decided that I didn’t believe it, and God would work out the rest.
I remarried, and we started off strong in the church. But certain things just weren’t adding up for both of us. She decided to leave, and I wanted to. But I decided I would try to stay for our kids. The problem was everything I read, studied, or heard within the church started to feel like a lie. I deep down knew how I felt was true. I started to look into the history, the stories, and research documents on the church, about the church, and the men running it. It shattered my shelf.
I went from feeling like a weekly disappointment at church, and daily waste of God son, to being the happiest I’ve ever been after leaving and letting go of the lies I’ve been fed all my life. Since I left, I’ve learned so much about that organization. So many things make me sick. While many other things make me extremely angry.
I’m a lot happier than I ever thought was possible. My life and mental health are experiencing new joys all the time. Now I know true happiness. I’m currently working on getting my records removed. It has been slow working with a really busy life. But it is something I want done for closure.
I don’t believe the Book of Mormon is true. Not only has history proven that things never happened. But Joseph Smith looked into a Hat of Stones to read gold plates that he had to fight people off from stealing from him. He also had to run home with them. Joseph Smith had a bad limp and would not have been able to run with gold plates, away from people. Joseph Smith was a sick con-man.
When I was in the organization. I felt like I was forcing myself to accept something I didn’t want to believe in. I would push myself to study, pray, pay a full tithe, fast, attend every meeting, ect. Now my family and I have inside jokes about the trauma we all received. While we continue to work on ourselves without a religion hovering over us. It can be hard at times, because we have so many friends and family members still in the church.
Steven
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