LDS Faith Transition Resources

Last Updated on March 12, 2022 by Jason Harris

For the Top 10 LDS Faith Transition Resources, click HERE. In addition, many more resources are listed below (not comprehensive).

For LGBT Resources, click HERE.

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The sharing of links and other resources on this site does NOT constitute agreement with or endorsement of the source(s) shared. A broad range of sometimes vastly differing opinions and resources (or potential resources) are offered. Nor is anything posted on this site to be construed as advice, counsel or therapy of any kind. Check back for continual updates to this page!

WORLD-VIEW RECONSTRUCTION

Articles

Believing

Nuanced

Disbelieving

Secular

Other

Blogs

Believing

Nuanced

  • Keith Giles Blog A Progressive Christianity Blog hosted on Patheos
  • LDS Church is True Author is a faithful non-orthodox Latter-day Saint. He is intellectually honest about the facts and discusses these on his Blog while trying to frame these in a metaphorical paradigm. Based on his lived experience, he still believes the LDS Church is true, the “Body of Christ” and still supports local and general leaders.

Disbelieving

Secular

  • The Mormon Therapist, Natasha Helfer Parker, LCMFT, CST, CSTS can be reached at natashaparker.org and runs an online practice, Symmetry Solutions, which focuses on helping families and individuals with faith concerns, sexuality and mental health.
  • Unpacking Ambiguity, “Thoughts on Faith, Spirituality, Religion, Scriptures, and Relationships” This is Anthony Miller’s blog. He went through his own painful faith transition from the LDS Church after reading the LDS essays and also learning his son was gay. He is very open about all of this publicly. Is very compassionate and thoughtful.

Other

  • PostMormonMentalHealth.com Run by Claudine Gallacher, a certified Life Coach. Some excellent articles in dealing with an LDS faith transition leaving the LDS faith.

Books

Believing

  • The Case for Christ  by Lee Strobel. Strobel was an investigative journalist before becoming a full-time Christian Apologist. He outlines his journey from Atheism to Christianity and why he came to believe after examining the evidence.
  • The Coddling of the American Mind: How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas are Setting up a Generation for Failure by Jonathan Haidt and Greg Lukianoff. “three Great Untruths: … feelings are always right; … avoid pain and discomfort; … look for faults in others and not themselves (us vs. them) are harming kids by teaching them the opposite of ancient wisdom and the opposite of modern psychological findings on grit, growth, and antifragility.  
  • God and the Gay Christian by Matthew Vines, a gay evangelical Christian. Vines explores paradigms regarding homosexuality anciently vs. today. He discusses scientific evidence about homosexuality and emotional health issues that arise with companionship vs. isolation. Vines squarely addresses Biblical verses discussing this matter. Review by Vines HERE
  • Jesus and the Eyewitnesses Richard Bauckham, a very well respected scholar, takes a minority position the New Testament Gospels are not based on expanding oral traditions, but rather are accounts written very close to eye-witness testimony. He presents evidence for this in this lengthy work.
  • The Language of God  by Francis Collins, head of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and former head of the Human Genome Project. A very well respected scientist, Collins outlines reasons he believes in God. Collins believes in organic evolution and does not believe in a “God of the Gaps” scenario.
  • LDS Scriptures Free online: The Book of Mormon, D&C, Pearl of Great Price and Bible. Essential to the LDS construction and deconstruction phases of faith development. Some may choose to continue to use these during the reconstruction phase of faith development as well, viewing them through a different paradigm, but still seeing Divinity in them.
  • Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis, late Oxford Scholar and famed Atheist turned Christian Apologist. Lewis explores the values, virtues and essence of Christianity. He takes a generous view towards non-believers and truth seekers of all stripes. Lewis argues the moral dimension present in humanity is proof of Divinity.  Available for Free HERE 
  • Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning, a former Franciscan Monk who emphasizes what he believes is the essence of Christianity: love, grace and acceptance. Manning believes efforts to earn salvation are impossibly misguided.
  • Restoring Jesus  by Grant Palmer, former CES director (later left the LDS Church).  Palmer offers a picture of Jesus of grace and compassion that can be built upon for those who no longer believe the foundational truth claims of the LDS Church. 
  • Rough Stone Rolling  by Richard Bushman, a very well respected LDS Historian.  A biography of Joseph Smith, presented in as honest a manner as possible while continuing to use a lens of LDS faith. Rough Stone Rolling is a source for many of the LDS Gospel Topics Essays. A lengthy book with a VAST wealth of information in the footnotes.

Nuanced

  • Authoring the Old Testament: Genesis- Deuteronomy, David Bokovoy, PhD Geared towards an LDS audience. Historical Criticism of Genesis- Deuteronomy as well as the Book of Moses, Abraham and Book of Mormon.
  • The Bible Tells Me So by Peter Enns. Peter takes an honest look at the Bible and biblical scholarship, and discusses how it can be a source for good and Divinity in our lives, even though many literal and textual issues do not hold up to an in-depth examination of the evidence.
  • Bridges, Ministering to Those Who Question by David B. Ostler, a faithful Latter-day Saint and former mission president. Ostler discusses the importance of listening to understand, hold space for and practice empathy for loved ones who may have left the LDS Faith or are struggling with its truth claims. How to better “mourn with those who mourn.”
  • The Evolution of God by Robert Wright. Wright discusses how concepts of God have evolved over time. He both cites evidence challenging the literal narratives many have while at the same time, acknowledging there appears to be a general direction of increasing moral goodness through time. Perhaps itself a mark of Divinity.
  • Falling Upward: A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life by Richard Rohr. Rohr is a highly respected Franciscan Friar in the Catholic Church. His book on faith progression draws heavily upon the work of Carl Jung and James Fowler. Oftentimes what seems to others like a “fall” later in life is actually a step of progress upward.
  • Finding God in the Waves by Mike McHargue, host of “Science Mike” and “The Liturgists Podcast.” McHargue discusses his journey from Evangelical Christianity, to Atheism, to a more metaphorical and progressive Christian paradigm as he examined scientific and scriptural evidence.
  • The Heart of Christianity by Marcus Borg. Borg is a well-respected progressive New Testament Christian Scholar. He discusses the importance of embracing Christianity with a metaphorical paradigm. One he argues takes us much closer to the heart of what Christianity is really about than a strictly literal paradigm can do.
  • The Hero with a Thousand Faces  by Joseph Campbell. Campbell spent his life studying the many religious traditions of the world. He argues there is one great mono-myth at the heart of all of them: A hero leaving home on a journey, with gifts and guidance to overcome all odds and return home in a glorified state, now a blessing to his fellow man.
  • Producing Ancient Scripture: Joseph Smith’s Translation Projects in the Development of Mormon Christianity “Authors approach Smith’s sacred texts historically, textually, linguistically, and literarily to offer a multidisciplinary view. Scrupulous examination… opens new avenues for understanding the foundations of Mormonism… and transmission of sacred texts.”
  • The Power of Myth  based off of fireside chats by Joseph Campbell. Campbell spent his life studying the world’s religious traditions. He argues one great mono-myth is at the heart of all of them: A hero leaving home on a journey, with gifts and guidance to overcome all odds and return home in a glorified state, now a blessing to his fellow man.
  • The Power of Now by Eckharte Tolle, a guide to daily spirituality. Emphasizes the importance and beauty of living and being in the present, where reality and Divinity reside.
  • The Spirituality of Imperfection by Ernest Kurtz. Discusses the importance of admitting our imperfections to embrace our humanity and access abilities beyond our own. The vast success of Alcoholics Anonymous is explored as a model of this.

Disbelieving

  • The Case Against the Case for Christ by Robert Price, PhD. Price’s take on Lee Strobel’s “The Case for Christ.” Price is a famous and well-respected New Testament scholar who holds a minority scholarly position in that he is agnostic as to if there was a historical Jesus at all.
  • Fantasyland by Kurt Andersen. Per Andersen, more than any other developed nation, the USA is the land of fiction treated as reality. He discusses benefits and drawbacks of this. A benefit being creativity and innovation. A drawback being ignoring facts or evidence if it doesn’t fit into a desired paradigm or world-view.

Secular

  • The Assertiveness Guide for Women  by Julie de Azevedo Hanks, PhD, LCSW. Dr. Hanks is a respected active Latter-day Saint therapist who discusses the importance of attachment styles, differentiation and holding space for ourselves and others as a foundation for claiming one’s autonomy and health and connecting with others.
  • Being Wrong by Kathyrn Schulz. Fascinating and in-depth book on human nature and the need we all tend to have to be right, and the fact that we mostly live our lives being “wrong” to varying degrees. We can’t really know when we ARE wrong, only when we WERE wrong.
  • The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk M.D. Van der Kolk is an extremely well respected psychiatrist and discusses the way our bodies respond to emotionally traumatic events. He discussed the importance of emotional attunement to ourselves and others and various treatment modalities for recovering from emotional trauma.
  • Boundaries in Marriage by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend. Struggling with healthy boundaries, to include in marriage, is a very common issue in high demand religious cultures. Cloud and Townsend share the importance of healthy boundaries, how to establish them, and a Biblical basis for the health care principles they share.
  • Braving the Wilderness by Brené Brown, PhD, LMSW. Brown writes of the importance of vulnerability and belonging. That true belonging is not just “conforming.” It is accepting all of ourselves. Doing such can be paradoxically lonely, yet uniting. Belonging everywhere and nowhere simultaneously.
  • Created for Connection by Sue Johnson EdD. Faith transitions can be difficult for any marriage. Emotionally focused therapy has good data in helping strengthen marriages. Johnson discusses this, and how to implement some of these principles in one’s own marriage.
  • Combating Cult Mind Control by Steven Hassan, “America’s Leading Cult Expert” (former Moodie Cult Member). The #1 Best-Selling Guide to Protection, Rescue, and Recovery from Destructive Cults.
  • Emotional Intimacy by Robert Augustus Masters PhD. It is common in high-demand religious groups for many emotions to be suppressed, ignored or harshly judged. This can lead to poor mental health outcomes. Masters discusses techniques to improve mindfulness and the relationship with one’s own emotions and those of others.
  • Feeling Good the New Mood Therapy by David D. Burns, MD. Official websites here: Feeling Good. Book is about identifying and adjusting cognitive distortions of reality (common in high-demand religious groups) to be more in-line with actual reality.  There is very good data doing so results in more peace, happiness and much better mental health.
  • The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown, PhD, LMSW. Every gift has its shadow, and every shadow its gift. Such is the case with imperfection. One of imperfection’s gifts Brown discusses is the possibility of vulnerability, a crucial foundation for compassion, empathy and emotional connection with self and others.
  • God: A Human History by Reza Aslan, a Muslim turned Evangelical Christian turned Muslim. A man of faith himself, Aslan describes how God has been portrayed in different societies and cultures over time. He believes “…all religions are nothing more than a language made up of symbols and metaphors to help an individual explain faith.”
  • Guns Germs and Steel  by Jared Diamond. Pulitzer prize winner. Diamond hypothesizes how farm-based societies came to dominate others over time, and the role environmental factors played in this progression.
  • The Happiness Hypothesis by well respected social psychologist Jonathan Haidt, PhD. Haidt shares research on various moral foundations that contribute to happiness. Of note, he explores the dimension of the “Divine” in different cultures and societies within the emotions of elevation and awe, these being on the opposite end of disgust.
  • Headspace: Meditation and Mindfulness by Andy Puddicombe, a former Buddhist Monk. There is a large volume of scientific evidence supporting the benefits of mindfulness and meditation. Puddicombe discusses the basics of how to implement and reap the benefits of this with as little as five minutes a day.
  • Healing From Hidden Abuse by Shannon Thomas, LCSW. Hidden emotional abuse is common from narcissistic partners or narcissistic institutions. Thomas discusses how to recognize and heal from this.
  • Hold Me Tight by Sue Johnson. Faith transitions can be difficult for any marriage. Emotionally focused therapy has good data in helping strengthen marriages. Johnson discusses this, and how to implement some of these principles in one’s own marriage.
  • How Jesus Became God by Bart Ehrman, former Evangelical Christian turned Agnostic. Ehrman argues the understanding of Jesus as God evolved over time as expanding oral traditions were later recorded as the New Testament Gospels. A well respected scholar, he believes Jesus, Paul and others were actual historical characters.
  • Me Myself and Us  by Dr. Brian R. Little. Explores the very well validated five dimensions of personality: Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion/Introversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism. Explores how these and other aspects of personality can be shaped and changed over time. Author’s website HERE
  • No Nonsense Buddhism by Noah Rasheta, Buddhist teacher and layminister, host of the very popular Secular Buddhism podcast. Rasheta argues Secular Buddhism can make a person a better Christian, Muslim, Humanist, or better with whatever their world-view may be. Very concise and helpful view into mindfulness and Secular Buddhism.
  • Nonviolent Communication by Marshall Rosenberg. Ghandi was an inspiration behind Rosenberg’s model. This is not so much a book about not screaming at or abusing others, as it is a book about changing and shaping underlying assumptions and approach in a way that fully respects everyone’s humanity and autonomy.
  • The Reality Slap, Finding Peace and Fulfillment When Life Hurts by Russ Harris, medical practitioner and psychotherapist. He wrote this after discovering Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) as a means to better embrace his son’s autism. Sometimes reality just is what it is. Mindfulness is at the heart of ACT and has good data supporting its efficacy.
  • The Righteous Mind by Jonathan Haidt, PhD. Discusses five dimensions of morality present in humanity: Harm/care. Fairness/reciprocity. Ingroup/loyalty. Authority/respect. Purity/sanctity. Differing weights to these five dimensions or morality results in differing religious and political views.
  • Running on Empty: Overcome Your Childhood Emotional Neglect by Jonice Webb, PhD. Not having had one’s many emotions validated and accepted by parents, culture or institutions can be profoundly damaging in a variety of ways. This damage is usually unseen by both the perpetrator and the victim. Webb discusses how to identify and heal from this.
  • Running on Empty No More: Transform Your Relationships with Your Partner, Your Parents & Your Children  by Jonice Webb, PhD. Not having one’s many emotions validated during development can be profoundly damaging to individuals and relationships. This damage is often hidden. Webb discusses how to identify and heal from this.
  • Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari. Discusses the history of humanity from evolutionary origins to the present day. Of note, discusses the need of commonly believed “fictions” to bind groups of people larger than 150 together. Fictions such as national identies, fiat currency, national values, and many religious beliefs.
  • The Seven Basic Plots by Christopher Booker who explores similar concepts to Joseph Campbell’s work. Lengthy book. The first 1/3 discusses seven basic plots nearly all stories fit within. Overcoming the Monster, Rags to Riches, The Quest, Voyage and Return Home, Comedy, Tragedy, and Rebirth. The last 2/3 explores the psychology of these plots.
  • The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work by John M. Gottman. Based on solid research: Nurturing Fondness and Admiration, Turning Towards Each Other, Accepting Influence, Solving Solvable Problems, Overcoming Gridlock, Creating Shared Meaning. Impact of Criticism, Defensiveness, Stonewalling and Criticism discussed.
  • A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson. Great and engaging overview of the universe, galaxy, various scientific disciplines and discoveries and key historical events.
  • The Six Pillars of Self-Esteem by Dr. Nathaniel Branden, the “father” of the Self-Esteem movement. He discusses the practices of Living Consciously, Self-Acceptance, Self-Responsibility, Self-Assertiveness, Living Purposefully and Personal Integrity. “To trust one’s mind and to know that one is worthy of happiness is the essence of self-esteem.”
  • The Story Telling Animal  by Jonathan Gottschall. Discusses the importance of narratives and story telling in the socialization, thinking and bonding of humanity and how this has evolved over time.
  • Wired for Love by Stan Tatkin. Faith transitions can be difficult for any marriage. Tatkin discusses how understanding the attachment styles of oneself and one’s partner can help strengthen relationships.
  • You are the One You’ve Been Waiting For. Richard C. Schwartz, PhD. A book on Internal Family Systems Theory… We all have many parts or personalities of ourselves inside. We normally “fuse” these different personalities into a unified whole. Healing often requires healing and addressing individual parts that have been hurt within ourselves in the past.
  • Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth by Reza Azlan, a Muslim converted to Evangelical Christianity converted back to Islam. Azlan argues Jesus was a zealous apocalyptic preacher crucified for raising insurrection against the state, later Deified by his followers with tales of resurrection, etc.

Other

  • The Alchemist  by Paulo Coelho. Fictional account in the ancient Middle-East about the spiritual quest of pursuing one’s dreams.
  • The Book of Separation by Tova Mirvis. Mirvis shares her journey out of Orthodox Judaism. Her journey has numerous parallels to the experiences of those who leave other high-demand religions, to include the LDS Faith.
  • Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover. Westover was raised in an active LDS family. She shares her experiences with home schooling, abuse and apocalyptic thinking in her family and later leaving this to gain a higher education. Highly critically acclaimed book on the endurance of the human spirit.
  • Hillbilly Elegy by J. D. Vance. What is it like to grow up in an extremely poor white, conservative family? Vance vulnerably shares a view into an unfamiliar world too most. In the process expanding compassion and understanding.
  • Letting Go: The Pathway of Surrender, by David R. Hawkins, MD, PhD, Squarely five stars on Amazon with over 1500 reviews. “Letting Go” describes a simple and effective means by which to let go of the obstacles to Enlightenment and become free of negativity.” Dr. Hawkins has a cult-like following. The introduction to his book essentially says his method is the only one a person ever needs to know (and everything else won’t work that well). Most of the time, I have learned to run from any authority or source making these times of claims. There is a great deal of pseudo-science in this book. In addition, “negative” emotions are described as a “lower” energy level than “positive” emotions. Many psychologists would absolutely disagree with this as all emotions are important to validate and acknowledge, and many beautiful complex emotional experiences are made up of portions of “postive” AND “negative” emotions. Still, he does talk about mindulfness/meditation practices that involve observing emotions (to include “negative” emotions) and then letting them pass. Many psychologists DO teach these types of mindulfness techniques as a way to embrace a more abundant life. Some people DO report this book being very helpful in their own life.
  • Loving What Is  by Byron Katie, a very popular unlicensed author and speaker. She trains how to identify possible psychological projections and turn them around to accept responsibility and embrace the present. Potentially useful approach but taken to an extreme, also potentially very damaging, particularly for abuse victims.
  • Recovering Agency: Lifting the Veil of Mormon Mind Control  by Luna Lindsey. Mind control bypasses mental defenses by: Establishing beliefs to suppress critical thinking. Controlling the flow of information. Creating emotional dependency and trust in the group while instilling emotions such as fear and guilt to prevent members from leaving.
  • Unfollow:  A Memoir of loving and Leaving the Westboro Baptist Church by Megan Phelps-Roper, a prior member of the Westboro Baptist Church. Phelps-Roper describes her journey learning to see viewpoints beyond what she had been brought up with and the pain, surprise, compassion, shunning and growth that accompanied this.

Movies/TV Series

Believing

Nuanced

Disbelieving

Secular

Other

Music/Songs

  • Believing
  • Nuanced Believing
  • Disbelieving
  • Secular
  • Other

Podcasts/Talks

Believing

Nuanced

  • 1,2,3 CRASH: How to Navigate Inevitable Change: Benay Lappe, A progressive Lesbian Jewish Rabbi talks of her journey out of her childhood faith, into Buddhism, and later to a more progressive form of Christianity. When we encounter information that causes cognitive dissonance and crashes our former paradigm, we can ignore it, adjust our paradigms, or completely reject our paradigms. She discusses all three.
  • Christ of Faith, The Mythical Jesus, Taking the Christ of Faith Seriously, Bill Reel
  • David Bokovoy: Applying Higher Criticism to Mormon Scripture
  • Faith Matters Podcast (formerly “Mormon Matters”) Believing with nuanced views.
  • The Faith Transition Podcast
  • Higher Love Jessica Jackley and Reza Aslan. She is from an Evangelical Christian Background, he is Muslim though was Evangelical Christian for a time. Excellent TED talk. They talk about the importance of respect and acceptance of different spiritual languages for teaching the same or similar values, especially in a mixed faith marriage setting.
  • Mormon Stories host John Dehlin. Hundreds of Mormons share their faith struggles. How they have frequently overcome familial and cultural challenges while embracing uncomfortable but true LDS history and standing for what they believe in. Frequently leans more to disbelieving views.
  • A Thoughtful Faith Hosted by Dr Gina Colvin… “… highlights the journey from institutional toxicity to reconstruction and spiritual freedom… Gina is New Zealand Māori who grew up a Mormon. She currently worships locally with the Anglican Church and internationally with Community of Christ.”
  • Top 25 Most Popular/Important Mormon Stories Episodes

Disbelieving

Secular

Other

Support Groups/Personnel (In-Person)

Believing

Nuanced

Disbelieving

Secular

  • Natasha Helfer Parker, LCMFT, CST, CSTS, Certified Sex Therapist. “Helping you Achieve Relational, Sexual and Spiritual Health.” In person and online consultations.
  • Sara Hughes Zabawa, LMSW, CDWF, RYT. Solutions. Offers online streaming counseling services in regards to a faith transition.
  • THRIVE Beyond Mormonism find Healing, Community and Joy
  • Tiffany Roe School, MA, CMHC. Navigating LDS Faith-Based Transition. Has Two Hour video Course in conjunction with Sara Hughes Zabawa (see above). Also has a counseling service.
  • WOCA Worldwide (Women of a Certain Age). “A largely secular, post-religious, Feminist, LGBTQIA-friendly, community-building and healing space for women 40+. If you are still in the middle of a religious transition, this may not be the space for you.” Both online and in-person support.

Other

Support Groups/Personnel (Online)

Believing

Nuanced

Disbelieving

  • Mormon Enlightenment: Group of those who have most left or are leaving the LDS Church. Tries to maintain a relatively positive climate.

Secular

  • Mormon Stories Podcast Community: Mostly consists of nuanced Mormons and ex-Mormons.
  • WOCA Worldwide (Women of a Certain Age). “A largely secular, post-religious, Feminist, LGBTQIA-friendly, community-building and healing space for women 40+. If you are still in the middle of a religious transition, this may not be the space for you.” Both online and in-person support.

Other

Websites

Believing

Nuanced

Disbelieving

Secular

Other

YouTube Clips or Channels

Believing

Nuanced

Disbelieving

  • Commanded to love, performing false emotions for tyrants, Theramin Trees. Outlines emotionally coercive dynamics frequently manifest in narcissistic families and high-demand organizations to include high-demand religions. Discusses emotional abuse. Discusses how to recover. There is a strong anti-religious bias in this clip.

Secular

Other

WORLD-VIEW DECONSTRUCTION

Articles

Believing

  • Can We Trust the Prophecies of Joseph Smith? (Evangelical perspective)
  • Church History Topics official LDS page with a brief discussion of many controversial Church History Topics such as the Counsel of 50, the Danites, Kinderhook plates, Masonry, etc. As of Dec 2019, this page and many of the topics on it are very difficult to find using the internal search engine of the LDS site. As with the LDS Gospel Topics Essays, researching these topics further can leave one with the sense that the LDS Church is being less than forthcoming in many of their explanations.
  • Hope for Parents of Wayward Children (official LDS page)
  • LDS Gospel Topics Essays An official LDS response to difficult and controversial historical, doctrinal and textual issues. What used to be commonly believed as “anti-Mormon lies” are acknowledged as true in many of these essays.

Nuanced

Disbelieving

Secular

Other

Blogs

Believing

Nuanced

  • LDS Church is True Author is a faithful non-orthodox Latter-day Saint. He is intellectually honest about the facts and discusses these on his Blog while trying to frame these in a metaphorical paradigm. Based on his lived experience, he still believes the LDS Church is true, the “Body of Christ” and still supports local and general leaders.

Disbelieving

Secular

  • Unpacking Ambiguity, “Thoughts on Faith, Spirituality, Religion, Scriptures, and Relationships” This is Anthony Miller’s blog. He went through his own painful faith transition from the LDS Church after reading the LDS essays and also learning his son was gay. He is very open about all of this publicly. Is very compassionate and thoughtful.

Other

Books

Believing

  • Early Mormonism and the Magic World View by D. Michael Quinn, an exommunicated former BYU professor who still believes the LDS Church is true. Meticulously researched and documented. Quinn outlines vast bodies of evidence for the magic Joseph Smith was involved in.   
  • God and the Gay Christian by Matthew Vines, a gay evangelical Christian. Vines explores paradigms regarding homosexuality anciently vs. today. He discusses scientific evidence about homosexuality and emotional health issues that arise with companionship vs. isolation. Vines squarely addresses Biblical verses discussing this matter. Review by Vines HERE
  • History of the Church  Official LDS Narrative of its history.
  • In Sacred Loneliness  by Todd Compton. Compton is a faithful LDS historian.  His book about Joseph Smith’s wives is academically rigorous, honest, and incredibly disturbing to many.
  • LDS Scriptures Free online: The Book of Mormon, D&C, Pearl of Great Price and Bible. Essential to the LDS construction and deconstruction phases of faith development. Some may choose to continue to use these during the reconstruction phase of faith development as well, viewing them through a different paradigm, but still seeing Divinity in them.
  • Mormon Enigma  by Linda Newell and Valeen Avery. A controversial ground breaking biography of Emma Smith written by two active women of the LDS Church.  Journal entries, etc. from the wives of Joseph Smith.  It both won awards from BYU for its historical accuracy and was black-listed (for a time) by upper leadership of the LDS Church.
  • Rough Stone Rolling  by Richard Bushman, a very well respected LDS Historian.  A biography of Joseph Smith, presented in as honest a manner as possible while continuing to use a lens of LDS faith. Rough Stone Rolling is a source for many of the LDS Gospel Topics Essays. A lengthy book with a VAST wealth of information in the footnotes.

Nuanced

Disbelieving

  • The Case Against the Case for Christ by Robert Price, PhD. Price’s take on Lee Strobel’s “The Case for Christ.” Price is a famous and well-respected New Testament scholar who holds a minority scholarly position in that he is agnostic as to if there was a historical Jesus at all.
  • No Man Knows My History  Biography of Joseph Smith by Fawn Brodie (former LDS). Brodie was viciously attacked upon publication of this work decades ago. Despite its biases, LDS historians today acknowledge most of this book is well written and factually accurate. This is a common source citation in historical books by orthodox LDS historians.
  • Saints: The Standard of Truth?  “A full blown annotation of the book to show where the LDS church still refuses to be honest with members about some difficult issues.”

Secular

  • American Apocrypha: Essays on the Book of Mormon Explores numerous bodies of evidence that challenge the narrative that the Book of Mormon is a literal historical record. e.g. Textual issues such as King James translational errors etc. that indicate copying from Bible, the phenomenon of automatic writing in the BofM creation, etc.
  • The Bible Unearthed: Archeology’s New Vision of Ancient Israel and the Origin of Sacred Texts: “In this groundbreaking work that sets apart fact and legend, authors Finkelstein and Silberman use significant archeological discoveries to provide historical information about biblical Israel and its neighbors.”
  • Combating Cult Mind Control by Steven Hassan, “America’s Leading Cult Expert” (former Moodie Cult Member). The #1 Best-Selling Guide to Protection, Rescue, and Recovery from Destructive Cults.
  • Feeling Good the New Mood Therapy by David D. Burns, MD. Official websites here: Feeling Good. Book is about identifying and adjusting cognitive distortions of reality (common in high-demand religious groups) to be more in-line with actual reality.  There is very good data doing so results in more peace, happiness and much better mental health.
  • The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown, PhD, LMSW. Every gift has its shadow, and every shadow its gift. Such is the case with imperfection. One of imperfection’s gifts Brown discusses is the possibility of vulnerability, a crucial foundation for compassion, empathy and emotional connection with self and others.
  • Guns Germs and Steel  by Jared Diamond. Pulitzer prize winning book. Diamond hypothesizes how farm based societies came to dominate other societies over time, and the role the environment these societies evolved in played with this progression.
  • Healing From Hidden Abuse by Shannon Thomas, LCSW. Hidden emotional abuse is common from narcissistic partners or narcissistic institutions. Thomas discusses how to recognize and heal from this.
  • Imagining Lamanites: Native Americans and the Book of Mormon, Thomas Murphy’s Doctoral Dissertation
  • The Joseph Smith Egyptian Papyri: A Complete Edition, Robert K. Ritner, PhD, (very well respected non-LDS Egyptologist). “The first, full translation of the so-called Joseph Smith Egyptian papyri translated into English.”
  • Losing a Lost Tribe: Native Americans, DNA and the Mormon Church  Simon Southerton, Published 2004. The data from this book eventually led to the LDS Church changing the introduction of the Book of Mormon.  The Book of Mormon inhabitants being “amongst” the native American inhabitants rather than their “primary” ancestors. 
  • The Sacred Curse, Simon Southerton, published 2020. Provides “the most accessible and succinct scientific refutation of Mormonism’s Lamanite mythology” (Thomas Murphy).

Other

Movies/TV Series

Believing

Nuanced

Disbelieving

Secular

Other

Music/Songs

Believing

Nuanced

Disbelieving

Secular

Other

Podcasts/Talks

Believing

Nuanced

Disbelieving

Secular

Other

Support Groups/Personnel (In-Person)

Believing

Nuanced

Disbelieving

Secular

  • Natasha Helfer Parker, LCMFT, CST, CSTS, Certified Sex Therapist. “Helping you Achieve Relational, Sexual and Spiritual Health.” In person and online consultations.
  • Sara Hughes Zabawa, LMSW, CDWF, RYT. Symmetry Solutions. Offers online streaming counseling services in regards to a faith transition.
  • THRIVE Beyond Mormonism, find Healing, Community and Joy
  • Tiffany Roe School, MA, CMHC. Navigating LDS Faith-Based Transition. Has Two Hour video Course in conjunction with Sara Hughes Zabawa (see above). Also has a counseling service.

Other

Support Groups/Personnel (Online)

Believing

Nuanced

Marriage on a Tightrope: Support group for Mormon Mixed Faith Marriages. Allan and Kattie Mount, hosts of the Marriage on a Tightrope Podcast help moderate this group.

Mormon Historians: Anyone interested in LDS history can engage if constructive.

Mormon Stories Podcast Community: Mostly consists of nuanced Mormons and ex-Mormons.

Waters of Mormon Support Group: For those wanting to stay engaged in Mormonism. More Nuanced views.

Disbelieving

Mormon Enlightenment: Group of those who have most left or are leaving the LDS Church. Tries to maintain a relatively positive climate.

Secular

Other

Mormon Mixed Faith Marriages: For supporting Mixed faith LDS marriages, friendly to both active Latter-day Saints and former Latter-day Saints. Minimal discussion about doctrinal issues. More about supporting differentiation, boundaries, etc. Will merge with Marriage on a Tightrope Groups Jan1, 2020.

Thoughtful Transitions Support Group: For those seeking a healthy transition away from orthodox Mormonism.

Woke Mormons: Broad range of participants.

Why I Left App (See a Map of where others left the LDS Church and a short explanation of why. You are not alone, and the common Church stereotypes are not correct).

Websites

Believing

  • Book of Abraham Project A private site that seeks to reconcile and defend the Book of Abraham from the Pearl of Great Price. It also has many other useful links to include Journals, Diaries, Biographies, Autobiographies and Letters of early Latter-day Saints.
  • Church History Topics official LDS page with a brief discussion of many controversial Church History Topics such as the Counsel of 50, the Danites, Kinderhook plates, Masonry, etc. As of Dec 2019, this page and many of the topics on it are very difficult to find using the internal search engine of the LDS site. As with the LDS Gospel Topics Essays, researching these topics further can leave one with the sense that the LDS Church is being less than forthcoming in many of their explanations.
  • The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Official website of the LDS Church.
  • Fair Mormon: Faithful Answers An apologetic website for the LDS Church. MANY authors. Not an official LDS website, but supported unofficially by many LDS General Authorities. In general, FAIR has an orthodox perspective.
  • Jeff Lindsay Site A prominent amateur orthodox LDS apologist. His writings on the Book of Mormon in particular are frequently cited in online forums and chats.
  • Neal A. Maxwell Institute A site of articles, etc. from LDS scholars researching LDS scriptures. F.A.R.M.S. (Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies) was absorbed by the Maxwell Institute.
  • LDS Gospel Topics Essays An official LDS response to difficult and controversial historical, doctrinal and textual issues. What used to be commonly believed as “anti-Mormon lies” are acknowledged as true in many of these essays.
  • Top 90 Mormon Blogs and Websites List of LDS related blogs, orthodox, nuanced and post-Mormon. “The best Mormon blogs from thousands of blogs on the web ranked by traffic, social media followers, domain authority & freshness.” https://blog.feedspot.com/mormon_blogs/

Nuanced

  • Mormon Primer by Bill Reel, Orthodox, Critical and Nuanced perspectives.
  • Mormon Stories host John Dehlin. Hundreds of Mormons share their faith struggles. How they have frequently overcome familial and cultural challenges while embracing uncomfortable but true LDS history and standing for what they believe in.
  • Why Mormons Question: Website by John Dehlin with many resources and research to better understand why Mormons question. (Doesn’t fit the typical stereotypes taught in orthodox LDS classrooms.)

Disbelieving

Secular

Other

YouTube Clips or Channels

Believing

Nuanced

Disbelieving

Secular

Other

INITIAL WORLD-VIEW CONSTRUCTION

Articles

Believing

Nuanced

Disbelieving

Secular

Other

Blogs

Believing

Nuanced

Disbelieving

Secular

Other

Books

Believing

Nuanced

Disbelieving

Secular

Other

Movies/TV Series

Believing

Nuanced

Disbelieving

Secular

Other

Music/Songs

Believing

Nuanced

Disbelieving

Secular

Other

Podcasts/Talks

Believing

Nuanced

Disbelieving

Secular

Other

Support Groups/Personnel (In-Person)

Believing

Nuanced

Disbelieving

Secular

Other

Support Groups/Personnel (Online)

Believing

Nuanced

Disbelieving

Secular

Other

Websites

Believing

Nuanced

  • Mormon Spectrum Excellent resource page for websites, blogs and support groups, regardless of where one is on the LDS faith spectrum.
  • Neal A. Maxwell Institute A site of articles, etc. from LDS scholars researching LDS scriptures.  F.A.R.M.S. (Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies) was absorbed by the Maxwell Institute.  

Disbelieving

  • Post Mormon Life: A website packed with resources for those transitioning out of the LDS faith. “For Those Experiencing a Faith Transition: You May be Feeling Pain. You May Be Feeling Confused. You May Be Feeling Lost. Please Know this… You Are Not Alone.” https://postmormonlife.com/

Secular

Other

YouTube Clips or Channels

Believing

Nuanced

Disbelieving

Secular

Other