Ex-Mormons

{{Short description|Disaffiliate of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints}} {{see also|List of former or dissident Mormons}}

'''Ex-Mormons''' or '''post-Mormons''' are disaffiliates of Mormonism. Ex-Mormons—sometimes referred to as '''exmo''' or '''postmo'''<ref>{{citation |url= http://www.exmormon.org/bbabrev.html |title=Abbreviations: FOR NEWBIES - Guide to abbreviations used on exmormon.org board |website=Recovery from Mormonism |author= Deconstructor |date=September 2010 }}</ref>—may neither believe in nor affiliate with the LDS Church. In contrast, Jack Mormons may believe but do not affiliate; and cultural Mormons may or may not affiliate but do not believe in certain doctrines or practices of the LDS Church. The distinction is important to a large segment of ex-Mormons, many of whom consider their decision to leave as morally compelling and socially risky. According to 2014 Pew data, around 1/3 of adults raised LDS no longer adhere to the faith (up from around 10% in the 1970s and 1980s) and in 2008 only 25% of LDS young adults were actively involved.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Golden|first1=Hallie|title=Why It's Not Easy Becoming an Ex-Mormon|url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/why-its-not-easy-becoming-an-ex-mormon|access-date=9 June 2017|work=The Daily Beast}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Hatch|first1=Heidi|title=Millennial Mormons leaving faith at higher rate than previous generations|url=http://kutv.com/news/local/millennial-mormons-leaving-faith-more-than-previous-generations-are-more-republican|access-date=9 June 2017|work=KUTV|agency=Sinclair Broadcast Group|date=13 April 2016}}</ref> Two surveys taken across the state of Utah between 1980 and 1981, showed that for every five converts into Mormonism, there were two converts out.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Bahr |first=Howard M. |last2=Albrecht |first2=Stan L. |date=June 1989 |title=Strangers Once More: Patterns of Disaffiliation from Mormonism |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/1387058 |journal=Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion |volume=28 |issue=2 |pages=180 |doi=10.2307/1387058 |issn=0021-8294|url-access=subscription }}</ref> Many ex-Mormons experience troubles with family members who still follow Mormon teachings.<ref name="Lobdell 2001-12-01">{{citation |first= William |last= Lobdell |newspaper= Los Angeles Times |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20011201123951/http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-120101mormons.story |archive-date= 2001-12-01 |url= http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-120101mormons.story |title= Losing Faith and Lots More |url-status= dead |date= December 1, 2001 }}</ref> Aggregations of ex-Mormons may comprise a social movement.

==Reasons for leaving== {{see also|Criticism of the Latter Day Saint movement}}

The foremost reasons are disbelief both in Joseph Smith as a prophet<ref>{{citation |url= https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1989/04/a-warning-from-kirtland?lang=eng |author-link= Milton V. Backman Jr. |first= Milton V. Jr. |last= Backman |title= A Warning from Kirtland |journal= Ensign |date=April 1989 |page= 26 }}</ref><ref>{{Citation |last= Roberts |first= B.H. |author-link= B. H. Roberts |title= History of the Church |volume= 1 |year= 1902 |publisher= Deseret News |location= Salt Lake City |page= 115 |title-link= History of the Church (Joseph Smith) }}</ref> and in the Book of Mormon as a religious and historical document.<ref name="Lobdell 2001-12-01"/><ref name="misterpoll">{{cite web |url=http://www.misterpoll.com/polls/16415/results |url-status=dead |title=Exmormon Survey |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080316073935/http://www.misterpoll.com/polls/16415/results |archive-date=March 16, 2008 |publisher=Mister Poll Enterprises |author=((MPC3934849484)) }}</ref> Reasons for this disbelief include perceived issues with anthropological, linguistic, archaeological, and genetic evidence against the Book of Mormon in the New World. In addition to rejecting the Book of Mormon for such reasons, the Book of Abraham and other Mormon religious texts are rejected on similar grounds.<ref>{{citation |url=http://www.irr.org/mit/book-of-mormon-page.html |title=Book of Mormon Page |website=Mormons in Transition |publisher=Institute for Religious Research |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110903005426/http://www.irr.org/mit/book-of-mormon-page.html |archive-date=September 3, 2011}}{{specify|date=September 2011}}</ref><ref>{{citation |first= Charles M. |last= Larson |title= By His Own Hand Upon Papyrus |isbn= 0-9620963-2-6 |oclc= 26140322 |year= 1992 |location= Grand Rapids, Michigan |publisher= Institute for Religious Research |page= {{Page needed|date=September 2011}} }}</ref> A study of 3,000 people who were formerly affiliated with the LDS Church recorded that 74 percent of respondents cited a disbelief in church doctrine or theology as major reason for leaving the church, but only 4 percent of respondents cited conflict with other church members as a large factor in their decision to leave. Also, just 4 percent claimed that a significant reason for apostasy was dissatisfaction with the rules of conduct professed by the LDS Church.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.whymormonsquestion.org/survey-results/|title = Understanding Mormon Disbelief Survey – March 2012 Results and Analysis|website = Why Mormons Question|language = en-US|type = PDF |access-date = 2016-03-16}}</ref> This corroborates the assertion that many Mormons are satisfied with the communal aspect and attributes of LDS Church life.<ref>{{Cite book|title = Mormon Crisis: Anatomy of a Failing Religion|last = Beverley|first = James|publisher = Castle Quay Books|year = 2013|edition = Kindle|pages = Kindle Locations 76–77}}</ref> A 2023 survey of over 1,000 former church members in the Mormon corridor found the following top three reported reasons for disaffiliation: 1. History related to Joseph Smith; 2. The Book of Mormon; and 3. Race issues in the church.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Riess |first1=Jana |author-link=Jana Riess|date=8 March 2024 |title=Who is leaving the LDS Church? Eight key survey findings |newspaper=The Salt Lake Tribune|location=Salt Lake City, Utah |url=https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2024/03/08/jana-riess-who-is-leaving-lds/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240309020640/https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2024/03/08/jana-riess-who-is-leaving-lds/ |archive-date=9 March 2024|agency=Religion News Service|via=Internet Archive|url-access=limited}}</ref>

Individuals leave Mormonism for a variety of reasons, although "single reason disaffiliates are rare among former Mormons."<ref name=Albrecht2>{{cite journal | last1 = Albrecht | first1 = S.L. | last2 = Bahr | first2 = H.M. | year = 1989 | title = Strangers Once More: Patterns of Disaffiliation from Mormonism | journal = Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion | volume = 28| issue = 2 | pages = 180–200 | doi = 10.2307/1387058 | jstor = 1387058 }}</ref> Research shows that 43 percent of ex-Mormon left due to unmet spiritual needs.<ref name="Albrecht1" /> Other reasons for leaving may include a belief that they are in a cult, logical or intellectual appraisal, belief changes or differences, spiritual conversion to another faith, life crises, and poor or hurtful responsiveness by Mormon leaders or congregations.<ref name=Reynolds>{{citation |last= Reynolds |first= Leslie |orig-year= 1996 |year= 1998 |title= Mormons in Transition |edition= Second |location= Grand Rapids, Michigan |publisher= Baker Books |isbn= 978-0-8010-5811-0 |oclc= 38199795 |page= {{page needed|date=September 2011}} }}</ref> Of former Mormons surveyed, 58 percent switched to other faiths or practices.<ref name="Albrecht1" />

A common pattern among those who leave the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has been identified as the "Perpetual Cycle of Disaffection", described in the 2013 ''LDS Personal Faith Crisis Report''. The cycle begins when a member encounters troubling historical or doctrinal information—often through personal study or online sources—that contradicts official church narratives. This discovery triggers cognitive dissonance, emotional distress, and a deep yearning to reconcile newly found facts with prior beliefs. As individuals seek answers, they may experience a lack of support or even ostracism from their faith community, leading to increased feelings of isolation and betrayal. The cycle often continues as members move from doubt to private study, to disengagement, and full disaffiliation. The report emphasized that these crises of faith are rarely driven by a desire to sin, but rather by a commitment to truth, integrity, and spiritual authenticity.<ref>{{cite web |title=Greg Prince, John Dehlin, and Travis Stratford: LDS Personal Faith Crisis Report. Foundation for Religious Diplomacy, 2013 |url=https://archive.org/details/FaithCrisisReportR24B/page/n27/mode/1up}}</ref>

Those who adopt humanist or feminist perspectives may view certain Mormon doctrines (including past teachings on the spiritual status of black people, polygamy, and the role of women in society) as racist or sexist.<ref name=Hanks>{{citation |first= Maxine |last= Hanks |author-link= Maxine Hanks |url= http://signaturebookslibrary.org/?p=840 |title= Women and Authority: Re-emerging Mormon Feminism |date= 1992 |isbn= 1-56085-014-0 |oclc= 25509094 |location= Salt Lake City, Utah |publisher= Signature Books }}</ref>

A minority of ex-Mormons cite their personal incompatibility with Mormon beliefs or culture.{{Citation needed|date=July 2014}} A 2003 Princeton Review publication quoted a student at church-owned Brigham Young University as stating, "the nonconformist will find a dull social life with difficulty finding someone that will be their friend, regardless of who they are or what they believe."<ref>{{cite book|title=The Best Western Colleges|date=2003|publisher=The Princeton Review|isbn=0-375-76338-4|page=33}}</ref> Liberal views and political attitudes that challenge this conformity, and occasionally sexual orientation, are cited as reasons for leaving Mormonism.<ref>{{citation |url=http://www.mormoncurtain.com/topic_homosexuality.html |title=TOPICS: LGBT - AND MORMONISM - SECTION 1 |work=The Mormon Curtain |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080403023825/http://www.mormoncurtain.com/topic_homosexuality.html |archive-date=2008-04-03}}</ref>{{Unreliable source?|date=September 2011}}

In recent years,{{when|date=March 2024}} the LDS Church has become more politically active, particularly with regard to legislation barring civil marriage for same-sex couples. Official church involvement in the California Proposition 8 campaign was highly controversial, causing some Mormons to stop attending church.<ref>{{citation |url= http://www.abc4.com/content/news/top%20stories/story/Some-LDS-members-leaving-church-over-same-sex/JAb7zCDnBEW-LV6MHW26HQ.cspx |title= Some LDS members leaving church over same-sex marriage controversy |date= 2008-11-10 |first= Chris |last= Vanocur |publisher= KTVX |location= Salt Lake City }}</ref>

==Post-disaffiliation issues==

After their decision to leave Mormonism and the LDS Church, ex-Mormons typically go through an adjustment period as they re-orient their lives religiously, socially, and psychologically.

===Religious=== An online poll of ex-Mormons found that a majority of ex-Mormons do not self-identify as a member of another faith tradition, choosing to describe themselves as agnostic, atheist or simply ex-Mormon. Some can also become apatheist. A Pew Research report corroborated this, finding in 2015 that 36% of those born Mormon left the religion, with 21% of born Mormons (58% of ex-Mormons) now unaffiliated, 6% evangelical Protestant, and 9% converting to other Protestant, Catholic, or a non-Christian faith.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.pewforum.org/2015/05/12/chapter-2-religious-switching-and-intermarriage/ |title = Religious Switching: Change in America's Religion Landscape|date = 2015-05-12}}</ref> Others either retained belief in God but not in organized religion or became adherents of other faiths.<ref name="misterpoll" /> Among ex-Mormons with no current religious preference, 36 percent continued the practice of prayer often or daily.<ref name="Albrecht1">{{cite journal | last1 = Albrecht | first1 = S.L. | last2 = Bahr | first2 = H.M. | year = 1983 | title = Patterns of Religious Disaffiliation: A Study of Lifelong Mormons, Mormon Converts & Former Mormons | journal = Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion | volume = 22| issue = 4 | pages = 366–379 | doi = 10.2307/1385774 | jstor = 1385774 }}</ref>

Ex-Mormon attitudes toward Mormons and Mormonism vary widely. Some ex-Mormons actively proselytize against Mormonism, while some provide only support to others leaving the religion. Other ex-Mormons prefer to avoid the subject entirely, while still others may try to encourage healthy dialogue between adherents of their new faiths and active Mormons. Attitudes of ex-Mormons also differ regarding their church membership. Some formally resign by mailing resignation letters to request the removal of their church membership records, which the LDS Church refers to as "name removal", while others simply stop attending church services.{{citation needed|date=May 2025}}

===Social=== Ex-Mormons who publicly leave Mormonism often face social stigmatization. Although many leave to be true to themselves or to a new belief structure, they leave at a cost;<ref name=Albrecht2 /> many leave feeling ostracized and pressured and miss out on major family events such as temple weddings. Family members of some may express only disappointment and sorrow and try to reach out in understanding to their new belief system or lack thereof. Some stay under threat of divorce from spouses who still believe. Still, many ex-Mormons have given up spouses, children, and the ability to enter Mormon temples to witness important life events of family members. Ex-Mormons in geographic locations away from major enclaves of Mormon culture such as Utah may experience less stigmatization, however.<ref name="Lobdell 2001-12-01" />

===Psychological=== Many ex-Mormons go through a psychological process as they leave Mormonism. Former Mormon Bob McCue described his disaffiliation as recovery from cognitive dissonance.<ref>{{cite news|author=Hedly, David|title=Leaving the fold|work=Calgary Herald|date=May 30, 2004}}</ref> Reynolds reports that leaving involves a period of intense self-doubt and depression as disaffiliates confront feelings of betrayal and loneliness, followed by self-discovery, belief exploration, spiritual guidance and connection as they leave Mormonism.<ref name=Reynolds/> He argues that leaving may provide a renewed sense of self, confidence and peace.<ref name=Reynolds/> One ex-Mormon compared his disaffiliation experience to leaving a cult,<ref>{{citation |url= http://www.exmormon.org/mission.htm |title=My Mission |first= Eric |last= Kettunen |website=Recovery from Mormonism}}</ref>{{primary source inline|date=August 2023}} while others called it close to overcoming mind control<ref>{{citation |url= http://www.exmormon.org/thought.htm |title=Thought reform and conformity within Mormonism |first= Eric |last= Kettunen |website=Recovery from Mormonism}}</ref> or adjusting to life outside of religious fundamentalism.<ref>{{citation |first= Marion |last= Stricker |year= 2000 |title= The Pattern of The Double-Bind in Mormonism |url= http://www.universal-publishers.com/book.php?method=ISBN&book=1581127391 |publisher= Universal Publishers |isbn= 978-1-58112-739-3 |oclc= 46728224}}{{page needed|date=September 2011}}</ref> Still others compare their symptoms to divorce from marriage.<ref>{{citation |last=Winell |first=Marlene |title=Leaving the Fold: A Guide for Former Fundamentalists and Others Leaving their Religion |location=Oakland, California |publisher=New Harbinger Publications |year=1993 |isbn=978-1-879237-51-3 |oclc=30314020 |url=http://www.marlenewinell.net/page/leaving-fold-guide-former |access-date=2011-09-26 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120904083554/http://www.marlenewinell.net/page/leaving-fold-guide-former |archive-date=2012-09-04 |url-status=dead }}{{page needed|date=September 2011}}{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Ex-Mormons may also have to cope with the pain of ostracism by Mormon employers, friends, spouses, and family members.<ref>[http://www.exmormon.org/mormon/mormon108.htm What did leaving cost you?] (collection of forum posts), exmormon.org{{Unreliable source?|date=September 2011}}</ref>

==Ex-Mormon organizations== Many formerly LDS individuals seek community and discussion about their former beliefs in online and in-person groups. Some of these international groups include the ex-Mormon page on Reddit (with over 300,000 subscribers) as well as various group listings on the Mormon Spectrum website. Localized groups include the SLC Postmos meetup and Facebook group (with over 2,000 members) and Utah Valley Postmos meetup and Facebook group (over 900 members).<ref>{{cite news|last1=Miet|first1=Hannah|title=When the Saints Go Marching Out|url=http://www.newsweek.com/2014/01/31/when-saints-go-marching-out-245158.html|access-date=9 June 2017|work=Newsweek Magazine|agency=Newsweek Media Group|date=30 January 2014}}</ref> The ex-Mormon subreddit gained publicity with its involvement leaking LDS documents.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Brown|first1=Jennings|last2=Cuen|first2=Leigh|title=Dark Net: How Reddit Is Dismantling The Mormon Church|url=http://www.vocativ.com/295150/dark-net-mormon/|access-date=9 June 2017|agency=Vocativ|date=10 March 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Wenzke|first1=Marissa|title=How the ex-Mormon community has found a home on Reddit|url=http://mashable.com/2016/09/26/former-mormons-reddit/#smDuQ5YKHaqB|access-date=9 June 2017|work=Mashable}}</ref>

==Demographics== {{further|Demographics of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints#Activity rates and disaffiliation}} According to a ''BYU Studies'' article, as of 2014, about one-third of those with a Latter-day Saint background have left the Church. Of those who leave the Church, about 58% switch to no religion or unaffiliated; 18% switch to evangelical Protestant groups; 8% went to Mainline Protestant denominations; 10% went to generic Christianity; and 6% went to "other".<ref>[https://byustudies.byu.edu/article/who-is-leaving-the-church-demographic-predictors-of-exlatter-day-saint-status-in-the-pew-religious-landscape-survey/ Who Is Leaving the Church? Demographic Predictors of Ex–Latter-day Saint Status in the Pew Religious Landscape Survey]</ref><ref>[https://blog.supplysideliberal.com/post/2019/5/12/who-leaves-mormonism Who Leaves Mormonism?]</ref>{{Better source needed|reason=Biased|date=September 2023}} The Community of Christ appeals to some disaffiliates from the LDS Church given their related but distinctive histories.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Fletcher Stack |first1=Peggy |last2=Noyce |first2=David |title=‘Mormon Land’: How the Community of Christ differs from its larger sister LDS sect |url=https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2021/11/03/mormon-land-how-community/ |access-date=19 January 2025 |work=The Salt Lake Tribune |date=3 November 2021}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

==Further reading== *{{citation |url= http://www.sltrib.com/search/ci_2890645 |title= Keeping members a challenge for LDS church |newspaper= Salt Lake Tribune |first= Peggy Fletcher |last= Stack |author-link= Peggy Fletcher Stack |date= 26 July 2005 }}

==External links== *[http://exmormonfoundation.org/ The Exmormon Foundation] - an organization dedicated to supporting those in transition from Mormonism *[https://www.exmormon.org/ Recovery from Mormonism] - the most prominent ex-Mormon community on the web *[http://www.utlm.org/ Utah Lighthouse Ministry] - Founded by ex-Mormons Jerald and Sandra Tanner

Category:Disengagement from religion Category:Former Latter Day Saints Category:Latter Day Saint terms Mormon, Ex