Joseph Smith’s claims about the discovery of the gold plates and the translation of the Book of Mormon are at the core of the founding narrative of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. According to Smith, in 1827, he found (or was led by an angel to) gold plates buried near his home …
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Exmodad shares a powerful story of transformation from a devoted Mormon to someone who found freedom in truth. His journey began in Italy, where he joined the Church as a young boy, along with his family. For years, he was a firm believer, deeply committed to the teachings and standards of the Mormon faith. However, …
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The Three Book of Mormon witnesses offer a fascinating and contradictory window into the authenticity of Joseph Smith’s claims about the gold plates. The accounts of the witnesses—both official and unofficial—regarding whether they saw the plates with their natural eyes or spiritual eyes are highly contentious and have been subject to much debate. The church …
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Paul’s story is one of commitment, reflection, and transformation. He was deeply rooted in his Mormon heritage and devoted himself wholeheartedly to the faith. He served a mission, earned advanced degrees during 16 years at BYU, and held significant church callings such as Young Men’s President and Elder’s Quorum President. Paul married a fellow returned …
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There are many reasons someone might decide to quit the Mormon Church, often stemming from a deep desire for authenticity, integrity, and personal freedom. For some, the decision arises after discovering inconsistencies in the church’s foundational narratives, such as the lack of evidence for the Book of Mormon or the troubling aspects of Joseph Smith’s …
Mark Naugle, an immigration attorney from Orem, UT, is the creator of QuitMormon.com, a free service that helps members resign from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His involvement in this effort was not initially planned but was influenced by his own personal experience. When Naugle was 15, his family, after conducting their …
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A stake in Utah offers a course in ‘How to avoid a Faith Crisis’. It looks like this is a series of lessons and though the handout formatting is so horrible some are hard to read, it looks like the topics each include a scripture reference and are as follows: Faith Crisis Avoidance Course Examination …
Doug’s story is one of questioning, integrity, and the courage to seek truth despite the cost. Born into a devout Mormon family, Doug grappled with doubts from a young age, his sharp mind clashing with doctrines and practices that defied logic or evidence. His search for answers, including a memorable exchange with the Smithsonian Institution …
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Andy’s life mirrored the ideal Mormon path: raised in the church, served a mission, attended BYU, married in the temple, and served faithfully in the church for decades. He remained a committed member, navigating questions and doubts while striving to stay true to his faith. But his journey took a profound turn after the unexpected …
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Cameron’s life was steeped in the culture and expectations of Mormonism, growing up in a loving yet disciplined home in Orem, Utah, with milestones like baptism, priesthood ordination, and temple marriage shaping his path. These events were celebrated as pillars of faith and family life, and he embraced them wholeheartedly. However, as he began to …
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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 patterns of self-criticism that the Church often encourages. These patterns, cloaked in the guise of humility and self-improvement, led …
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Plato’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 the light, grappling with the shock of a broader reality, those who leave the church often confront unsettling truths …
Born 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 in the temple and held various leadership positions within the Church. For years, he faithfully adhered to the teachings …
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For 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 when he disclosed to his wife and children that he is gay. This revelation set David on a path …
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Spencer 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 the church’s truth. For him, the church was perfect, unchangeable, and divinely guided. He couldn’t imagine leaving. But life …
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In the year 2000, Deseret Book, the church-owned publishing company, published a joint-written book from two BYU professors, Joseph Fielding McConkie, a BYU Professor of Ancient Scripture, and Craig J. Ostler, a BYU Professor of Church History and Doctrine. The book is titled Revelations of the Restoration, A Commentary on the Doctrine and Covenants and …
Wyolds’ 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 embraced its teachings wholeheartedly, wanting to remain “pure and delightsome” as taught in her community. But then came a …
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Church 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 put all his questions on the shelf because he was able to convince himself that his questions don’t matter …
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Tom’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 aspect from Seminary and a mission to a temple marriage, and later serving in leadership roles within the church. …
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The LDS Philanthropies video addresses how some faithful Latter-day Saint parents can approach passing on family wealth in alignment with their values. The video highlights one couple’s reflections on instilling values in their children, emphasizing that material inheritance if given to children who do not follow LDS teachings, could risk leading them away from the …
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Sandra’s story is a powerful account of resilience amid a culture that, for her, enabled abuse. Growing up in the Mormon Church, Sandra’s experience was shaped by religious structures that were more protective of image than of truth or individual well-being. From a young age, she endured severe physical and emotional abuse from her mother, …
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Landon’s decision to leave the Mormon Church came after years of deeply ingrained expectations, personal struggles, and growing disillusionment. Raised in a devout Mormon family, he did everything the Church asked of him—from being baptized at eight to serving a mission in one of the most dangerous parts of the world. Yet, despite his efforts …
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The members of the Sydney Australia Mortdale Stake received an email informing them the area had been selected for a Pilot Program named Informed Consent. The program announced two objectives: 1) to ensure that converts are fully informed before they commit to baptism, and 2) for all members to have a “short” lesson to make …
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What is the Mormon Prosperity Gospel? The prosperity gospel of Mormonism reflects a mindset that righteous living leads to temporal prosperity or the idea that links material wealth and success directly with divine favor. Though not an official doctrine of the church, elements of this mindset are found in Mormon culture and teachings. It is …
Max’s journey out of the Mormon Church is marked by profound personal discovery and transformation. Growing up in Utah, he did all the typical Mormon things, from becoming an Eagle Scout to receiving a patriarchal blessing and serving a mission. However, in 2017, at the age of 40, his world was turned upside down when …
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Byron Marchant was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) who made history by taking a stand against the church’s racial policies at a pivotal time. In 1977, Marchant openly opposed the LDS Church’s priesthood ban on Black members, a policy that had been in place for over a …
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Corey’s journey from a devout member of the Mormon Church to an individual outside its walls is a powerful example of courage, intellectual honesty, and the pursuit of truth and genuine faith. Raised in southern Idaho within a large Mormon family, Corey was deeply woven into the fabric of the Church. His identity, values, community, …
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A few years ago, Russell M. Nelson revealed how Joseph Smith would translate by using a rock in a hat a few years ago. Suppose, for a moment, that he could know this technique from experience. What if President Russell M. Nelson knew more about the translation process? What if he used the same technique …
Kathy’s journey is a powerful testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the courage it takes to walk away from a faith that has defined so much of one’s life. Raised in the Mormon church, Kathy’s early years were marked by the expectations of religious conformity, deep-rooted shame, and a sense of never …
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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 …
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![Martin was in the office when I [John H. Gilbert, typesetter for most of the Book of Mormon] finished setting up the testimony of the three witnesses, I said to him, “Martin, did you see those plates with your naked eyes?” Martin looked down for an instant, raised his eyes up, and said, “No, I saw them with a spiritual eye.” - Martin Harris, Witness of the Gold Plates | wasmormon.org](https://i0.wp.com/wasmormon.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Martin-Harris-Witness-not-naked-eye-spiritual-eye.jpg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1)
!["David Whitmer maintained [that] the Prophet used an oval-shaped, chocolate-colored seer stone slightly larger than an egg. Thus, everything we have in the Book of Mormon, according to Mr. Whitmer, was translated by placing the chocolate-colored stone in a hat into which Joseph would bury his head so as to close out the light... Such an explanation is, in our judgment, simply fiction created for the purpose of demeaning Joseph Smith and to undermine the validity of the revelations he received" - Joseph Fielding McConkie (BYU Professor of Ancient Scripture) & Craig J. Ostler (BYU Professor, Church History and Doctrine), Revelations of the Restoration. Page 95-96, Deseret Book, 2000 | wasmormon.org](https://i0.wp.com/wasmormon.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Joseph-Fielding-McConkie-Craig-J-Ostler-used-an-oval-shaped-chocolate-colored-seer-stone-slightly-larger-than-an-egg-to-translate-book-of-mormon-by-placing-it-in-a-hat.jpg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1)
