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

Many people leaving Mormonism reject all religion. But there are good reasons to reconsider a relationship with God in a new way.

There are many reasons why former Mormons might want to reject every expression of religious faith. But faith can be an option. There are reasons to consider pursuing a relationship with God – only on different terms than before.

Video Highlights:

  • Betrayal and trust issues. Former LDS often feel lied to by a religious institution, which makes it hard to think of trusting a church again. But finding a new faith is not about putting your trust in a religion or church again. It’s about learning to trust in God himself, as he has made himself known through the Bible. You can have a relationship with God independent of one particular religion.
  • Other problems with God. Some people lost trust in Mormonism at the same time that they are angry or unsettled with God about personal issues. For ex-Mormons, it’s hard to think of God in terms outside of the LDS Church, because that has been their only exposure to God. But what you know or think of God may be very limited because of that context. Be willing to search for God on his own terms and give God a shot apart from the terms defined by institutional religion.
  • Religious burn-out. Some people leaving Mormonism are just tired of the busyness and perfectionism. Most religions, including Mormonism, require people to do a long list of things to achieve God’s favor. People are hesitant to try church again because they don’t want to subjected to those same impossible expectations. But the message of traditional Christianity is not about what we do for God, but what he has done for us.

Your trust in religion or a religious institution may have let you down. Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater. Give faith another chance by transferring your trust from a church to a loving, caring God. Your relationship with God doesn’t have to be mediated through some hierarchical religious institution. But a community of Christians can help you experience a growing relationship with God.

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Key Points:

  • Betrayal and Trust Issues
  • Other Problems with God
  • Religious Burn-out

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Talk About It
  1. Watch the video together or invite someone to summarize the topic.
  2. What is your initial reaction to this video? Do you disagree with any of it? What jumped out at you?
  3. What reasons have you heard why people who leave Mormonism opt for atheism instead?
  4. Have you found it hard to trust churches or church leaders since you left Mormonism? Explain.
  5. How have you done in transferring your trust from church to God?
  6. What have you discovered about God that goes beyond how Mormonism described him?
  7. How does the doctrine of grace relieve the problem of religious burn-out?
  8. Write a personal action step based on this conversation.

This is part of the Regaining Trust After Mormonism series.