What I Wish I Had Known When Investigating The Church As A Teenager

It’s a common question in all ExMormon spaces: “how can I stop my child from joining the Mormon church?” These parents may not be ExMormons, but they belong in our community, and I feel a personal obligation to help those who are teenagers investigating the church — like I once was. In this episode, I discuss my own personal story, how Mormon missionaries court teenagers, and my best advice for navigating this difficult time. In this episode, I speak to both the teenagers and the parents who are concerned for them. I strongly suggest parents listen to the episode first before deciding if it is appropriate to share. Please understand sharing things like this often just feeds the seed planted by the church that they are a persecuted faith and adversity means they are on the right path. I also discuss how joining the church stunted my development and what I suggest for helping your child remember who they are NOW if they do join the church so they can become themselves again when they deconstruct.