Consider how you can use the Faith After Mormonism site in your church, as you disciple former Latter-day Saints toward a mature faith in Jesus and a relationship with your church.

Individual mentoring.

The topics on this site are ideal for an individual mentoring relationship. The mentor does not have to be a former Mormon, as long as they are growing in maturity in their relationship with Jesus and have demonstrated sensitivity to people who are in a faith process. Mentors can choose topics at random or based on interests, but we recommend using one the tracks outlined below, because these will cover issues that transitioning Latter-day Saints typically face. Both parties in the relationship watch the video and read the print article in advance, then come together to talk about what they have learned, using the discussion questions provided.

To train people to mentor former Mormons, see the Mentoring Former Mormons series. The Faith After Mormonism team can also train your people with the skills and attitudes to be successful mentors for former Latter-day Saints. If interested in learning more, contact us.

Groups.

These tracks also work very well in a small group or support group setting. Everyone views the video and reads the article before the meeting, and the group leader uses the questions provided to generate group discussion.

Track 1: Your Faith Journey After Mormonism

  1. Handling Difficult Emotions. A journey to a healthy new faith means learning to deal with emotions like loss, anger, and fear.
  2. Regaining Trust After Mormonism. How to regain trust in God that was broken when the truth about Mormonism was discovered.
  3. How Your Family Will Respond to Your Faith Transition. Responding wisely to the volatile reactions of family members as they are challenged by a person’s decision to leave the LDS Church.
  4. Setting Boundaries from Family Pressure. How to keep family from getting between someone leaving Mormonism and their relationship with God.
  5. How to Know You’re Right with God. By trusging in Jesus as the sole remedy for our sin.
  6. Gaining A New Identity After Mormonism. When a person leaves Mormonism, much of their identity is stripped away. How to build a new identity based on a relationship with God.
  7. How to Live as a Christian. In response to God’s grace, Christians intentionally live to honor God.
  8. Navigating New Freedom After Mormonism. No longer subject to all the commandments of Mormonism, former LDS must learn to use their new freedom wisely.
  9. Connect to a New Community. To keep growing through a faith transition, former LDS need to connect with people who can provide encouragement and support.
  10. How to Fulfill Your Purpose on Earth. Life on earth is not about us, but about joining God in his mission in this world.

Track 2: Fresh Start. Deals with biblical worldview foundations.

  1. The Historical Reliability of the Bible. When examined carefully, the Bible proves to be a document worthy of our trust.
  2. Creation, Temptation, and the Fall. What it means that humans are made in God’s image, yet are fallen and sinful.
  3. God’s Plan of Salvation. God acted to provide a way – through the work of Jesus Christ – to overcome our sin and give us eternal life.
  4. The Deity and Humanity of Christ. What the biblical account reveals about the unique identity of Jesus.
  5. The Work of Jesus – His Life and Ministry. Jesus’ purpose in coming to this earth was to die for the sins of humanity that separate us from our Creator.
  6. The Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus. The Christian gospel rests on these two key event. Here’s why those events are pivotal.
  7. The Holy Spirit and the Church of Jesus Christ. God has given the Holy Spirit to everyone who receives the message of Jesus’ saving work on the cross. One important act of the Spirit aws to establish Christ’s church.
  8. The Temple, Priesthood, and Authority. Contrary to LDS claims, explore what the Bible actually says about priesthood.
  9. The Plan of Eternal Progression. Exaltation – the attaining of godhood – lies at the heart of the LDS motivation for worthy living. What does the Bible say?
  10. Salvation or Judgement; Heaven or Hell. God is at work through Jesus Christ to bring sinners into relationship with him. Our response to God’s work shapes how we live our lives, and determines what happens to us when this life is over.

Track 3: Emotional and Relationship Foundations

  1. Be Patient with Your Journey from Mormonism. You’ve come a long way and God will see you through.
  2. The Six Stages of Grief in a Faith Transition. A faith transition can feel a lot like going through the stages of grief – but there is hope at the end of the road.
  3. Dealing with Anger After Mormonism. Anger is a normal feeling, but if not surrendered to the Holy Spirit, it can have destructive effects in our lives.
  4. Overcoming Fear and Regret After Mormonism. God can be trusted with the kinds of fears and regrets people leaving Mormonism typically face.
  5. Gaining Assurance After Mormonism. In place of fear and guilt, you can know with assurance that you are accepted by God.
  6. How Your Extended Family will Respond to Your Faith Transition. You family members usually care about you and want the best. even though they may feel unsupportive or may not understand your transition.
  7. Telling Others When You Leave Mormonism. As you leave the LDS Church, a time comes when you need to tell others. That may not be as hard as it seems.
  8. Learning Tact in Talking to Mormons. Our attitude toward Mormonism and Mormons needs to model grace and love.
  9. Feeling Shunned After Leaving Mormonism. Even though you may experience rejection and alientation, God promises new and better relationships for those who follow him.
  10. Dealing with Toxic People. When people oppose your decision to leave Mormonism in demeaning, controlling, or manipulative ways, you must set firm boundaries.

Track 4: Your Life in Jesus

  1. Righteousness. Becoming right with God doesn’t come from our good works, but ultimately comes from Christ.
  2. Understanding a Relationship with God After Mormonism. You can know God intimately, not mediated through some church authority but simply through Jesus Christ.
  3. Grace Is Enough. Former Mormons often find it difficult to fully grasp the biblical concept of grace.
  4. Is Grace the Easy Way Out? Objections to our focus on grace reflect misconceptions.
  5. Obedience to God After Mormonism. The biblical motivation for obedience, and the approach, is very different from Mormonism.
  6. The Concept of Life – LDS vs. Christian. “Eternal life” is not just something in the future, but a present experience in relationship with Jesus.
  7. How to Deal with Your Sin. Because of God’s grace, we can be honest about our sin and receive help and encouragement to overcome it.
  8. The Word of Wisdom After Mormonism. Without the strict prohibitions of the Word of Wisdom, how do we make good lifestyle decisions as followers of Christ?
  9. Learning to Pray After Mormonism. Prayer is not a formal ritual, but a spontaneous, intimate conversation with the God who loves you.
  10. What About Baptism After Mormonism? Baptism doesn’t contribute to salvation, but it is important as a declaration of belonging to Jesus.

Track 5: Thinking Through Biblical Truths

  1. The Gospel Vs. Religion. The crucial difference between a human-centered versus a God-centered approach to religious thinking.
  2. The Old and New Covenants. Understand the differences between the biblical covenants in order to understand the work of Jesus and how to be right with God.
  3. Why I Trust the Bible After Mormonism. Evidence confirms that the Bible is fully reliable and make a real difference for those who read and apply it.
  4. Rediscovering the Nature of God. One of the most fundamental new ideas former Mormons must grapple with is the nature of God.
  5. Jesus: Older Brother or Eternal God? Both Latter-day Saints and traditional Christians agree on much about Jesus’ earthly life, but diverge significantly about Jesus’ pre-earth identity.
  6. The Atonement: The Garden or the Cross? When Jesus suffered in Gethsemane, it did not atone for our sin. That happened entirely on the cross.
  7. Understanding Grace and Faith After Mormonism. Many key Bible passages take on new meaning as a person transtions out of Mormonism – including Ephesians 2:8-9.
  8. Eve’s Sin – What Really Happened? Eve’s choice in Eden was a catastrophe that ruined the human race, apart from the saving plan God set in motion through Jesus Christ.
  9. Priesthood and Authority. The authority for Christians and churches to act for God doesn’t come from some priesthood hierarchy, but from the Bible.
  10. Who Is God? God as Trinity. The Trinity is confusing, but it’s also very important. The Trinity brings us to the mystery of an infinite God.

Two more resources you can use to mentor former Latter-day Saints include:

Jesus Without Joseph is a Bible study guide that provides a handbook for following Christ after leaving Mormonism.

Faith Reimagined is a complete support group curriculum to help former Mormons transition into a thriving relationship with Jesus.