Unveiling Grace

1. Mormonism Presented an Alluring Path Focused on Family and Works

With Joshua’s birth, we were well on the way to building our forever family.

Seeking belonging and purpose. The author and her husband, Michael, initially found Mormonism appealing due to its emphasis on family, community, and a sense of purpose in the "latter days." As nominal Christians with little biblical knowledge, they were drawn in by the missionaries' sincerity, the promise of eternal families sealed in the temple, and the idea of providing bodies for pre-existent spirits. The close-knit ward community and opportunities for service ("callings") quickly integrated them into the faith.

Embracing the Mormon life. They rapidly became active members, adopting the culture and striving to live righteously according to Mormon teachings. This included:

• Attending church services and meetings for hours each week.
• Accepting and diligently fulfilling church callings (e.g., ward clerk, Relief Society president).
• Preparing for and attending the temple for personal ordinances and work for the dead.
• Raising their children within the faith, encouraging mission service and temple worthiness.

Belief in blessings through works. A core tenet they embraced was that keeping God's commandments and obeying church leaders would result in blessings, both temporal and spiritual. Their ability to have children after multiple miscarriages, their move to Utah ("Zion"), and the author's job at Brigham Young University (BYU) were seen as confirmations of their righteous path and God's favor within the Mormon system.

2. Early Cracks Appeared in the Facade of Mormon Bliss

Mormonism bred in us an antenna for persecution.

Ignoring initial red flags. Despite the apparent bliss, early experiences hinted at underlying issues. The discovery that black people could not hold the Mormon priesthood was a significant concern, though they were told it was God's will and put it "on the shelf." The legalism displayed by a church member preventing Michael from taking the sacrament because he wasn't a member and the author wore pants also went unheeded.

Questioning church demands. The demanding nature of church callings, particularly for the author as a mother of young children, led to questioning whether the church's expectations aligned with family needs. The prophet's counsel for women to stay home from work conflicted with the author's personal revelation and desire to work, creating internal conflict and external opposition from some church members.

Disturbing spiritual encounters. Experiences like the author's suffocation incident and a demonic encounter targeting their son Micah were interpreted through a Mormon lens, leading them to rely on Mormon priesthood authority for protection rather than questioning the spiritual environment they were in. These events, while frightening, were seen as opposition to the "true church" rather than warnings about the faith itself.

3. A Son's Mission Experience Became a Turning Point

“It’s over.” It was Micah’s solemn voice. He was still on his mission in Florida.

Micah's exemplary Mormon youth. Their son Micah was deeply committed to the Mormon faith, eagerly anticipating his mission and striving to be a perfect missionary. His dedication was a source of pride for the family, reinforcing their belief in the goodness of their religion.

Unexpected challenges and changes. Micah's mission was marked by health issues (collapsed lung, Rocky Mountain spotted fever) and natural disasters (hurricanes), leading to a reassignment stateside. More significantly, his emails home began to reflect a changing faith language, focusing increasingly on Jesus Christ in a way that felt unfamiliar within typical Mormon discourse.

The pivotal testimony. The turning point came when Micah, expected to bear a standard Mormon testimony, instead testified solely of Jesus Christ, stating, "Jesus is all you need." This act, coupled with his expressed doubts about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon, led to his early, though officially "honorable," release from his mission and marked the beginning of the family's profound spiritual upheaval.

4. Reading the New Testament Unveiled a Different Jesus and Gospel

“Just read the New Testament,” he’d said.

Seeking answers after upheaval. Micah's early return and changing beliefs, coupled with the harsh treatment he received from church leaders, spurred the author and Michael to seek understanding. Micah's simple challenge to "just read the New Testament" became their guide.

Discovering contradictions. As they read the Bible, particularly the New International Version, they began to notice blatant contradictions between biblical teachings and Mormon doctrine. Key areas of conflict included:

• The nature of God (omnipresent Spirit vs. physical, localized beings).
• The path to salvation (grace through faith vs. grace after all you can do).
• The role of trials (for growth vs. punishment for sin).
• The finality of the law and prophets (ended with John vs. continued through modern prophets).

A personal relationship with Jesus. The Jesus they encountered in the Bible was different from the Mormon Jesus. This biblical Jesus was personal, loving, and accessible, not a distant figure who required intermediaries. This discovery fueled their desire to know him more intimately, leading to a growing appetite for God's Word and a sense of being personally drawn by God.

5. Discovering Truth Required Facing Painful Contradictions and Deception

The truth was that the viper teeth of racism easily penetrated the vulnerable skin of church members.

Unearthing disturbing history and doctrine. As they delved deeper, they uncovered troubling aspects of Mormon history and doctrine that had been previously unknown or rationalized away. These included:

• The historical practice and scriptural justification of polygamy (D&C 132).
• The racist doctrine of the "curse of Cain" (black skin as a mark of unrighteousness) found in Mormon scripture and taught by early prophets.
• The historical denial of priesthood and temple access to black people until 1978.
• Joseph Smith's "translation" of Egyptian papyri, which modern Egyptologists found to be common funeral texts, not the Book of Abraham.

Recognizing deceit and control. The discrepancies between what they were taught and what they discovered in scripture and history led to a realization that the church had used deceit. The control exerted by priesthood leaders, exemplified by Josh's excommunication for confessed sins and Micah's treatment, highlighted a system based on human authority and law rather than divine grace and forgiveness. This process of disentanglement was painful but necessary to see the truth.

6. The True God Is Bigger and More Personal Than the Mormon God

“Biggie-size your God!” a Pastor Shaw later told us.

A limited Mormon godhead. The author's previous understanding of God within Mormonism was of separate, physical beings (Heavenly Father, Jesus, Holy Ghost) who were limited in presence and primarily concerned with enforcing laws and ordinances. This view made personal, constant interaction seem unlikely or impossible.

Encountering the biblical God. Reading the Bible revealed a fundamentally different God:

• Omnipresent and omnipotent, capable of being everywhere at once.
• Intimately personal, hearing and answering prayers constantly.
• Sovereign over all things, working for the good of those who love him.
• A God of grace and mercy, whose love is wide, long, high, and deep.

Supernatural confirmation. The author experienced numerous instances she interpreted as the true God's personal communication and intervention, including dreams, inner voices, and seemingly coincidental events. These experiences, tested against the Bible, reinforced her belief in a God far grander and more involved in her life than the one she had known in Mormonism.

7. Leaving Mormonism Meant Giving Up Much, Including Status and Relationships

It seemed a lot to give up.

Loss of identity and community. Leaving the Mormon Church was not merely a change in religious affiliation; it was a loss of a deeply ingrained identity, a lifelong community, and a structured social network. In Utah, where Mormonism permeated every aspect of life, this meant facing potential shunning and judgment.

Professional and financial risks. For the author, leaving meant risking her tenured position at BYU, an institution owned and operated by the church, where ecclesiastical clearance was required. For Michael, it meant potential loss of business clients in Utah and the financial security they had built. They also lost the prospect of subsidized college tuition for their children at BYU.

Strain on family relationships. The decision created tension and distance with family members who remained active Mormons, including Michael's sister and the parents of their children's spouses. The fear of causing pain to loved ones who believed they were losing their eternal family was a significant burden.

8. God's Grace Provided Healing and New Purpose After Extrication

For he wounds, but he also binds up; he injures, but his hands also heal.

Healing broken relationships. Despite the initial pain and distance, God's grace facilitated healing within the immediate family. The perceived rejection from Micah and Alicia, which had been so devastating, ultimately served to drive the author and Michael to seek truth in the Bible, leading to their own conversions and a new, stronger bond based on shared faith in Christ.

Finding a new community. They found fellowship and support in Christian churches and Bible studies, experiencing genuine love and acceptance. This new community became a source of strength and encouragement as they navigated their transition.

New purpose in ministry. Their experiences led to a new calling: sharing the gospel of grace with others, particularly those questioning or leaving Mormonism. The formation of the Adam's Road band and their own ministry became tangible expressions of God's redemptive work in their lives, turning their past pain into a platform for helping others find truth and healing in Jesus Christ.

9. The Bible, Not Mormon Scripture or Leaders, Is the Source of Truth

The Bible was my standard of truth now.

Testing all things against the Word. The process of disentanglement from Mormonism highlighted the critical importance of using the Bible as the ultimate standard for truth. They learned to test all doctrines, spiritual experiences, and claims of authority against the clear teachings of Scripture.

Recognizing false authority. Their experiences with priesthood leaders, particularly the stake president's treatment of Josh and Micah, revealed a system of human authority that sometimes contradicted biblical principles of forgiveness and grace. They realized that relying on men for spiritual guidance, rather than directly on God's Word and the Holy Spirit, had led them astray.

The sufficiency of Scripture. They came to believe that the Bible contains everything necessary for salvation and knowing God. The idea that additional scripture or living prophets were needed to clarify or add to God's Word was seen as a deception that veiled the truth found in the Bible.

10. Mormonism and Biblical Christianity Offer Fundamentally Different Paths

The traditional Christ of whom they [Christians] speak is not the Christ of whom I speak.

Contrasting core doctrines. The author concludes that Mormonism and biblical Christianity are not merely different denominations but fundamentally distinct religions with conflicting core doctrines. Key differences include:

• The nature of God (Trinity vs. separate, exalted men).
• The nature of Jesus (eternal God vs. exalted man, brother of Lucifer).
• Salvation (grace through faith vs. grace after all you can do, plus ordinances).
• Scripture (Bible alone vs. Bible plus Book of Mormon, D&C, Pearl of Great Price).
• Priesthood (fulfilled in Christ vs. necessary for ordinances and authority).
• Temples (fulfilled in Christ vs. necessary for saving ordinances and exaltation).

A false gospel. Mormonism is presented as a system of laws, ordinances, and works that ultimately cannot save, offering a false Christ and a path to self-exaltation rather than humble reliance on God's grace. The "synagogue of Satan" reference from Revelation is used to suggest the spiritual danger of this false system.

Freedom in Christ. In contrast, biblical Christianity offers freedom from the burden of earning salvation through the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross. It emphasizes a personal relationship with God through the Holy Spirit, based on grace received through faith, leading to transformation and a life lived for God's glory, not personal exaltation.

Last updated: June 23, 2025