Ep160: Alyssa Grenfell: She Wrote The Book On How To Leave The Mormon Church

On this episode of Mormonish, Rebecca and Landon are joined by author Alyssa Grenfell to discuss her fascinating new book, "How to Leave the Mormon Church: An Exmormon's Guide to Rebuilding After Religion."
In this excellent "field guide" to everything you ever wanted to know but were afraid to ask about leaving the Mormon Church, Alyssa answers the tough questions, the sensitive questions, the humorous questions, and every question in-between as she shares her personal journey of discovery in a way that will help countless others find peace and joy moving forward.
It was a pleasure to speak with Alyssa and we know you'll love what she has to say.
Alyssa's links:
Link to book: amzn.to/3WUqo2q
Instagram: / alyssadgrenfell
KZbin: / @alyssadgrenfell
TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@alyssadgrenfe...
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[@anthonycampbell4534]

I liked the short of Alyssa sneaking a copy of the book into the BYU library.

[@patriciahindman9721]

I am SO, SO grateful for this book!!! Many people will benefit from it. Thank you for living your truth.

[@carollamberti6276]

She’s absolutely adorable and so well spoken. I look forward to her audiobook.

[@DeanneSanchez]

Amen ! Our lives do not have to fit in a box . We are creators of our own lives . 😊

[@FlowerChild65]

Great interview. I love Alyssa's videos :)

[@marysue7165]

It is wonderful there are so many growing resources for those leaving the Mormon faith. I grew up in a very restrictive Pentecostal family. There was really nothing out there to help when I left back in the 80's.

[@bn2593]

I would really love if she made an audio version. My ADHD is so bad I can’t read books. I have to listen to them.

[@nancyevans3590]

I know a lot of active Mormons who developed opioid addiction because their doctor legally prescribed them . This is fine with the church This is much more dangerous than marijuana which the church opposed even medical cannabis. The Mormon church is a horrible place to learn about drugs. Thanks for mentioning this Alicia.

[@BrianWaller-qe7gr]

Fentanyl is very dangerous a even a small dose can be fatal.

[@barryrichins]

Thanks for the nice show!!

[@helenvick522]

Thank you.

[@OEVE_MORMON]

Qué pena que el libro no está en español, gracias por compartir

[@barryrichins]

Alyssa, Girl, you look great in pigtails. You are a handsome lady as well an intelligent one!

[@BrianWaller-qe7gr]

I kind of hard a similar experience. I had a missionary that displayed multiple signs of interest. Counted as much as 9 signs of interest. Everything was aligning to be right. I found her attractive and automatically decided before she showed signs that I was going to pursue her after her mission. She was of Pacific Islander from Hawaii, which I find more attractive and my type, it was my third set of missionaries after I blew off the first two. I never found other women during her mission. I truly thought it was divine intervention. Then reached out to her. And was brutally ghosted. So brutally she didn’t even respond to my happy thanksgiving. Still a year and half later it still bothers me. I’m still single and have completely gave up dating, walked away from the church. If god truly existed it would of worked out is my belief because it seemed like everything was lining up. But it didn’t. Now I’ve completely shifted my life to just living then once my mom passes I’m checking out because I’ll be all alone

[@sleepycalico]

I want to send hugs to you. Not every one has success in love. You are not alone in being single and sad. Please seek mental health counseling. Depression is something that can be treated now. Something like Prozac can make all the difference in balancing out your brain chemistry. With a counselor, you can come up with ways to fill you life with happiness and friendships and adventure. You CAN be happy, and you deserve to be happy.

[@incognito137]

🤦🏼‍♀️

[@billyates3226]

Please don't say "You know".

[@Wren402]

She pours her heart out on an important topic and this is your reaction?

[@billyates3226]

@@Wren402 It's meant as a positive criticism. I enjoy much of Alyssa's content. She his smart and sincere. However, excessive "you know"s ruined Caroline Kennedy's political ambitions. Maybe it's just my pet peeves, but "You know" and "Like" need to be kept to a minimum.

[@mommyofkittens4809]

@@billyates3226you know, you’re being pendantic.

[@TheSaintelias]

Is that to all the members who say that or her? How is it any different?

[@billyates3226]

@@TheSaintelias It just bugs me when anyone does it.

[@DonnaEmbry-ie2sf]

We are all children of God. God cares for each and every one of us. No one is a Mormon first. First, you are a child of God. Whether you believe you are a child of God is your choice. Hopefully the Mormon Church hasn't Created so many scars that you can't believe that you are a child of God.

[@wes2176]

Someone wrote a whole book on it? The people who use that book must need three or four volumes to learn how to turn on their windshield wipers.

[@DonnaEmbry-ie2sf]

The Church is not God. You can leave a church that isn't feeding you without throwing your faith out with the bathwater.

[@DonnaEmbry-ie2sf]

Mormonism has created that mindset--not God.

[@DonnaEmbry-ie2sf]

You have a right to be angry. You've been lied to. There is freedom with the real God. You can have the life you are describing and still believe in God. Mormonism has brainwashed you to believe that God is so complicated. Simply believe that Jesus died for your sins. Get all the tats you want, you're still a child of God who deeply cares about your welbeing.

[@DonnaEmbry-ie2sf]

To not believe in god merely based on a man made mission trip is just crazy. I wouldn't throw my salvation away simply because of a man made mission decision. Exactly, go on your own stupid mission to Italy and hold on to your faith.

[@TheSaintelias]

Do you know how missions are assigned? One can not “go on their own mission”. You’re not a church missionary if you randomly go by yourself. Your comments show a lack of understanding about the Mormon church. It’s ok because it’s a unique culture especially from the outside

[@DonnaEmbry-ie2sf]

@@TheSaintelias to throw your faith away over a mission assignment seems as stupid as you think my comment is.

[@TheSaintelias]

@@DonnaEmbry-ie2sf she did a two year mission then got married in the temple. He mission assignment was just a sign that what we think is “revelation” is just our own feeling. It didn’t make her leave, it just confirmed god wasn’t really there.