Watch the video above and talk about it with a friend or mentor.

It's hard to lay down the story that framed our self-understanding as Latter-day Saints in favor of a better, truer one.

We all see ourselves as part of a larger story that shapes our sense of identity and purpose. Dr. James Wakefield shares the challenge of losing our old story as former Latter-day Saints in order to embrace our true story – and thus our true identity – in Jesus Christ.

[Related: God’s Great Story – Bible vs. LDS]

In your new story, there is no pre-existence.

In the biblical narrative, only God has a pre-existence. God has always existed. Eleven passages in the Bible talk about what happened before the creation of this world. God existed then, but human beings did not.

In your old story, it’s all about you.

In the LDS narrative, when you come into the world, it’s all about you. It’s about what you can do and how worthy you can become. It’s about proving yourself. But if the story is about you, then who is in charge? You are. You are fully responsibile to work out your salvation. It’s a difficult thing. That story is ultimately self-centered.

It’s hard to lose your story.

When you lose the narrative that has always framed your understanding of reality, you no longer know who you are. Your purpose and destiny become clouded and murky. You can feel very lost in the process.

[Related: Gaining a New Identity After Mormonism]

[Related: Mormonism as a Cultural Identity]

The good news is that there is a different story! Watch for the remaining videos in this series to learn more.

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Key Points:

  • In your new story, there is no pre-existence.
  • In your old story, it’s all about you.
  • It’s hard to lose your story.

See Also: Identity

Talk About It
  1. How would you summarize the overarching narrative that shaped your identity as a Latter-day Saint?
  2. How do you feel about losing the pre-existence? Explain.
  3. Would you say that your former narrative was ultimately about you? Why or why not?
  4. What did you find most difficult about giving up your former story?
  5. What are you still grappling with?

This is part of the 2018 Faith After Mormonism Conference series.