Leaving Religion: a Guide

Feeling the powerlessness in watching her world unravel, Joy realizes she has a choice. She ultimately regains her power by trusting herself.

In my latest episode Joy shares her experience of raising her family within the mormon church only to start having experiences that felt off. That felt incongruent. As Joy started to question these incongruencies, her world felt like it started to crumble. Most of her faith crises happened while her second son was serving his mission. Joy shares how open she was with him and how they still, to this day, have very open and honest conversations as she has left and her son has chosen to stay in. 

Have you felt the darkness of the choices you are making come in and leave you feeling alone? Do you wonder if you are being tempted by Satan? You are not alone! Joy shares that starting with trusting yourself is one of the biggest pieces that she found helpful for her.

Having challenges with her Stake president, Joy felt powerless until she recognized that she had a choice. You will want to hear this part of her story.

Come join me as Joy shares her powerful story.

Links:

 Joy recommends the book, The book of longings by Sue Monk Kidd. You can find the book here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0143111396/ref=cm_sw_r_oth_api_glt_fabc_Q3DEBR4AP4YG43MF7T60

Registration now open for my retreat! Go to www.amandajoyloveland.com/unbind to snag your spot.

Grab my book! Love & The Space in Between: https://www.amazon.com/Love-Spaces-Between-self-discovery-relationships/dp/B09MG18YYT/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2BC2IB6EUMMG6&keywords=amanda+joy+loveland&qid=1641357703&sprefix=amanda+joy+lovel%2Caps%2C443&sr=8-1

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I like you, just the way you are.

My guest today is one of great wisdom and resources and I was thrilled to sit down with Jon Ogden!

After going through his own faith crises, his main one on his mission in Ventura California, Jon co-founded a company called Uplift Kids. Uplift kids is a beautiful landing place for those who are still wanting something after religion. Through their online library and lesson approach they offer resources through many different religions and through science as well.  "We integrate the best of modern science and ancient wisdom."

Jon asks the beautiful question, are you honest in your pursuit of truth, beauty & goodness? This is a question that he posed in his book that he wrote called, When Mormon's Doubt.

LINKS:
Head over to https://upliftkids.org to get your membership started today! Use coupon code, "holidays" for $10 off your membership. This code is only good until Sunday night so snag your membership today!

Follow Uplift kids on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/upliftkids/

Grab Jon's book, When Mormon's Doubt! https://www.amazon.com/When-Mormons-Doubt-Relationships-Quality-ebook/dp/B01D7T93CQ

For Jon's Medium writings, check him out on his webpage at: https://jonogden.medium.com

Last but not least, you can grab my book at: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09MG18YYT

And head over to my website to take my relationship quiz and get access to my mini course: https://www.amandajoyloveland.com/quiz

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Today I sat down with my 19 year old son! I knew I wanted to have him on the podcast as having a perspective from a teenager offers some interesting insights.

Lucas shares his story of having a divorced household where one parent had left Mormonism and the other was still very much Mormon.

At the age of 10 years old his parents went through a divorce and his mom also left Mormonism. Lucas shares his journey navigating the waters of two households, divorced parents and religion. He offers some valuable insight that will be of value to all of you parents that are worried as to how to navigate leaving religion with your children.

I am excited to share this interview with you all!

Grab my new book, Love & The Spaces in Between here:https://www.amazon.com/Love-Spaces-Between-self-discovery-relationships/dp/B09MG18YYT/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=love+%26+the+spaces+in+between+amanda+loveland&qid=1639365166&sr=8-1

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Today's episode is another raw and powerful episode. Talk about living under extreme patriarchy! My interview today was both challenging and profound to listen to.

Camilla had a childhood that was unique to many others. At a young age, her parents got divorced and her and her siblings were told that later they would be told why they were getting a divorce.,

Fast forward a few years later, after her mom has gotten remarried and she's told by her new cousins that they cannot hang out with her because of who her dad is. Camilla, at age 11, then learns from her cousins that her dad was a pedophile. You can imagine how difficult that was for her to hear.

Sharing her story through continual challenges with her dad, with why she chose out of Mormonism. This is another episode you will want to make sure you listen to.

Are you feeling the call to share your story? Send me a message!

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This interview was truly a unique pleasure of mine and I was honored to facilitate this conversation. Not only will you enjoy listening to this interview because of his beautiful accent, being from South Africa, but his story is captivating and fascinating.

Nigel shares about his childhood, experiencing his parents getting divorced and being raised by his mother that had very little financial support. Not long before his parents divorce they had joined the LDS church. Throughout Nigels life the LDS church had weved in and out. In his late teens, Nigel had experiences that felt like a logical conversion. Certain scriptures made sense to Nigel.

Serving in the military for two years, then serving and LDS mission, Nigel was a man who was determined to create a stable and solid life.

There were several events in his life where things spoken at General Conference, speaking negatively about the LGTBQ+ community, or more truths of the doctrine that were understood by Nigel that eventually created a knowing inside that this wasn't right.

It took some time for Nigel to come clean about how he was feeling and the hardest person to tell was his beautiful wife, Beverly. While she is still choosing to stay in the LDS faith Nigel has chosen out and they are supportive of each other. Although it did take some time to work through their emotions.

This is another beautiful story that you will want to listen to.



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Sharing her experiences of growing up in Alabama, going to college at Auburn University, enjoying her youth and eventually getting pregnant. Being a Mormon girl and now getting pregnant was not a part of her plans.

Kate shares vulnerably her story through sexuality, pregnancy, marriage, divorce and her struggles through all of it.

Moving back to Utah was an interesting experience for Kate at a young age as she ended up working as the VP of the Orem Utah institute for the church worldwide. Sitting at the table with some 'high up' people in the mormon church Kate saw more the business side of religion. She witnessed the members being a lot more intellectual than using prayer and heart.

Shortly into her 11 year marriage Kate felt alone, then had a difficult time getting pregnant and having several miscarriages.

After being told to bridle her tongue by her bishop through the end of her marriage, Kate knew she was done with religion and her marriage.

Sharing her tools that she has learned, especially with womb health, is beautiful. You will want to listen to this beautiful story!

Connect with Kate! Find her on IG @katestrongworld or on her website www.mystrongworld.com

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Do you feel like you are treading water?  When we leave religion we often start feeling so many levels of confusion mixed with emotions and grief around old beliefs that are dying.

On today's episode I dive into a few topics like why it's difficult to trust your intuition and practices you can do to help strengthen it. Also talking about your relationship with God & Jesus and allowing things to die so that something new can be grown.

Are you curious with what you now get to bring in as new spiritual tools or beliefs?

The Gaia episode mentioned is called: The Power of the Heart

Make sure you are subscribed to my email list! Head over to my website at:

www.amandajoyloveland.com

If you feel the call to share your story, email me at: [email protected]

Are you looking for some guidance with navigating your spiritual transition? Currently I have a few spaces open for one on one client work. Email me at [email protected]

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Michelle vulnerably shares stories from her youth about her father stepping out of the church, her mom still staying in and taking her and her siblings, feelings of confusion with her Dad leaving and after getting pregnant as a teenager having her ward rally around her.

Sharing her journey of spiritual evolution, which included reading the CES letters and moving through some anger, Michelle has found peace within herself and a love for those who choose to stay in. In order to find her peace she did some deep diving into the mormon to try and make some sense out of what she had read in the CES letters.  This included talking with both a man who was over the seminary program and someone that was doing an ex mormon podcast. 

Michelle also shares about her daughter Brielle's accident that put her in a coma for some time. During this time Michelle found comfort in reading A Course in Miracles and a phrase that kept running through her head, "Nothing real can be threatened. Nothing unreal exist. Here lies the hand of God."

Continue following Michelle in her journey and follow her on IG @michellemoney and also follow her newest adventure @foreall   
www.foreall.com

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Sharee shares about her struggles in having the courage to share her story of Mormonism, trusting God and her previous marriage where drug addiction was a massive problem. 

Sharing about her naivety that all you need to do is to go to church and it will all be okay, God will take care of everything.

One day walking into her kitchen there was a needle, a ball of heroin and a spoon. She instantly called the police who said they couldn’t do anything as he wasn’t active using and was caught. Sharee had four young children at home and this was very difficult to hear as she wanted to protect her children. 

Sharee shares how she lost herself for awhile. Everyone’s needs were above her own, the trauma of being in an unhealthy relationship and moving through life. She was exhausted.

Sharing, “It's almost like I see an image of a young woman that's just got her head down, that she's doing the things that she's told do and never really looked up to see what had happened. I didn't. And that's a very accurate articulate image, because that's exactly how I felt like when all of this came to the forefront. I came up, it was almost like I came up for a gasp of air, like I'd been swimming. I came up, I looked around, I didn't recognize the surroundings. And I was like, so probably some cognitive dissonance happening.”

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As a mormon, Wendy was a superstar in her LDS culture. As she says, it fed her ego. So when she felt to leave, she collapsed. It was a slow burn coming out. Having a thriving  practice  while she was mormon she was very much trusted until she left. When she left her practice went with is.

Deconstructing and deprogramming is part of Wendy's world. It is what she now helps so many others do, especially with their faith transitions.

Wendy shares that having grace and compassion with yourself as you move through your transition is one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself.

In her business now, she so beautifully assists others in their transitions using the dragonfly as a symbol to guide others in leaving. You will want to hear more about this!

Connect with Wendi!

http://www.wendijensen.com

Email: [email protected]

FB group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2389666891074742/?ref=share

TikTok @empowered.exodus

Her books:

Peculiar Transition:
https://www.amazon.com/Peculiar-Transition-Healing-Trauma-Mormon-ebook/dp/B07DKW7TMM/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=a%20peculiar%20transition&qid=1606773467&sr=8-1&fbclid=IwAR3r3tOoPvMz12Mu-SyurzJRluwrkt9tWWQwyDkK7iKjFFbfTE3lHxgpS30


The Healing Questions Guide:

https://www.amazon.com/Healing-Questions-Guide-Relevant-Activate/dp/151182574X/ref=sxts_sxwds-bia-wc-p13n1_0?cv_ct_cx=the%20healing%20questions%20guide&dchild=1&keywords=the%20healing%20questions%20guide&pd_rd_i=151182574X&pd_rd_r=174766ff-1b04-4919-b2fe-1fc82580fe0e&pd_rd_w=2YLkb&pd_rd_wg=lfO6m&pf_rd_p=1835a2a9-7ed8-48dc-ad07-fcd7527bd2bc&pf_rd_r=6ZFTRC7VH70EK9KV286E&psc=1&qid=1606773500&sr=1-1-80ba0e26-a1cd-4e7b-87a0-a2ffae3a273c&fbclid=IwAR3jp-3_JXkXwUKW1d23PZT7G9CARFmN15meY-JwnzS8rid3WNShPCLUrRk

As always, connect with me on my website!

https://www.amandajoyloveland.com/

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