The Sunstone Symposium is an annual conference where anyone with an interest in things Mormon—and Mormon-adjacent—can gather to learn, discuss, and connect. It’s a unique space where active Latter-day Saints, fundamentalist Mormons, scholars, and ex-Mormons come together to explore a wide range of ideas in a respectful and curious environment.
This year’s symposium, held in Salt Lake City and concluding on August 2, was especially significant as it marked the 50th anniversary of Sunstone. For five decades, the symposium has provided a platform for difficult conversations, groundbreaking scholarship, and meaningful community building across the diverse spectrum of Mormon experiences.
Sessions and Topics
Dozens of speakers presented on topics that spanned history, theology, psychology, and lived experience. A few of the standout sessions included:
- The John Taylor Revelation and the Birth of Mormon Fundamentalism
- Sexuality in Early Mormonism
- Mixed-Faith Marriage Resilience
- Reconstructing a Spiritual Life Post-Mormonism
- Why We Stay LDS
- Converting to Fundamentalist Mormonism
- Rethinking the Book of Abraham
- Conversations on LDS Race Theology
- Clinical Strategies for Reconstruction After Mormon Faith Crisis
- Worshipping Heavenly Mother
- Finding Love and Community Among Exclusion: A Queer Retrospective
- How Fear-Based Religion Wounds the Psyche
- Divining Rods and Seer Stones
These presentations highlighted just how broad the spectrum of Mormon studies and experiences has become—ranging from rigorous historical deep-dives to vulnerable explorations of personal faith journeys.
Sponsored by wasmormon.org
Thanks to the generosity of donors who wanted to see wasmormon.org represented, this year marked the first time that wasmormon was an official Sunstone sponsor. A booth was set up in the vendor area, complete with wasmormon swag, informational materials, and a looping promo video about the site’s mission.
Representatives Douglas Hendricks (@doug) and Francis Nelson Henderson (@francisnh12) welcomed visitors to the booth, answering questions about the site and encouraging attendees to share their own stories.
The wasmormon materials were designed to spark both curiosity and connection:
- Flyers featuring snippets from real profile stories on one side and a grid of faces representing contributors on the other.
- Nametag-style stickers where attendees could write their name or profile link—playfully styled like the classic “Hello, I was a Mormon!” tags.
- Pass-along cards, echoing missionary tools of the LDS church, but this time repurposed to spread awareness of the wasmormon project and invite people to share their journeys.
Community Reactions
The response to wasmormon was overwhelmingly positive. Many attendees laughed out loud at the clever inversion of the LDS Church’s mormon.org campaign, while others expressed gratitude for the site’s profiles. Several individuals shared that during their own faith crisis, finding stories on wasmormon.org had helped them feel less alone.
For some, the booth provided a solution they had been searching for: a way to tell their own Mormon exit story without needing to commit to a podcast or YouTube channel. They were excited to learn how simple it is to publish a written story on wasmormon.org.
Notable Visitors
A number of well-known authors, scholars, and social media influencers stopped by the wasmormon table. Two especially notable visitors included:
- Sandra Tanner, co-founder of Utah Lighthouse Ministry and author of some of the first widely available books exposing controversial aspects of Mormon history and doctrine. Her pioneering work has influenced generations of questioning and transitioning Latter-day Saints.
- Alyssa Grenfell, a prominent ex-Mormon social media voice, with nearly half a million YouTube subscribers and strong followings across other platforms. Her videos and posts resonate with a broad audience navigating life after Mormonism.
Their visits underscored the significance of wasmormon’s mission in the broader community of faith transition resources.
Looking Ahead
The 2025 Sunstone Symposium highlighted the ongoing need for open conversation, honest exploration, and supportive community in the world of Mormon studies and post-Mormon life. For wasmormon, being present at this milestone 50th anniversary was both an honor and an opportunity to connect with people who share the mission of telling our stories.
The site exists to preserve and share the lived experiences of those who once identified as Mormon, ensuring that these voices are heard and remembered. If Sunstone is about conversation, wasmormon is about speaking up—and together, we continue to expand the space for authenticity, healing, and connection.
More reading:
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9qpjADvtG4
- https://sunstone.org/
- https://www.utlm.org/
- https://www.mormontruths.com/
- https://www.youtube.com/@alyssadgrenfell
This post is by Doug.
Hi, I'm Doug
I'm a physicist, engineer, educator, nature worshiper, father, grandfather, and I was a Mormon.
