Dana shares her personal journey of growing up in the Mormon church, navigating mental health challenges, and eventually deconstructing her faith. From her Mormon upbringing and mission experience to questioning societal and religious expectations, Dana's story explores themes of self-discovery, the impact of religion on her life, and the search for meaning beyond traditional beliefs. After leaving the church, Dana delves into topics like mental health, fertility, relationships, and motherhood, offering a candid perspective on her path toward healing and personal growth. This channel is a space for open discussion on faith, identity, and life after Mormonism.

Show Notes

YouTube

00:05:00 Dana’s Mormon Story begins

00:23:00 What examples did she see of women in the church?

00:26:29 It was out of the ordinary to see women with careers

00:45:08 She was reported to the Bishop and her parents that she had experimented with cutting

00:55:50 Attended Southern Utah University after HS

01:15:30 Dana’s mission experience service in Atlanta, Georgia

01:25:40 Didn’t love the temple experience - was “underwhelming”

01:33:36 David Archuleta was at the MTC during the same time

01:42:58 Dana knew very soon that she wanted to leave the mission early and she had to fight to go home

01:48:27 Decided to go to BYU

01:57:00 Felt pressure to be married by the time she finished BYU

02:10:17 Dana to tell her parents that they could not be married in the temple and her mother told her “He’s taken everything from you”

02:25:55 Mormon therapist asked her to consider if she would be open to dating a non-Mormon

02:39:20 Dana lists the ways the church failed her - the church makes promises it can’t keep

03:16:03 Began to research severe PMS and PMDD, and learned that she suffered from it

03:22:29 Dana decided to have a baby by herself - very radical in Mormonism

03:44:57 Dana feels that she was a better foster parent as an ex-Mormon

03:49:00 Deconstructing the idea of “motherhood” in Mormonism

04:04:03 Dana focusing on her PhD

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