Amanda’s Story: Escaping my life of Mormonism

My name is Amanda, I am 35 years old with a wonderful husband and two beautiful children. My story of escaping Mormonism begins, well, since I can remember.

While growing up in the Mormon Church I never felt anything good. Never anything peaceful, nothing spiritual, nothing comforting. Most of all, I never felt the Lord while attending church. I remember my baptism as a tradition that I was supposed to do, simply because I turned 8. It was a ritual that I was expected to go through. During my teenage years I was the Young Women’s President of all my classes, but all the while believing that something was wrong. Something was not right in my life. That thing that was not right was my religion. I was ecstatic when I moved out on my own because I did not have to go to church anymore. I was so relieved. I simply could not go any longer.

I did not go to any church for many years. When our second child was born. My husband and I knew that we needed to get our children baptized. We found a Lutheran church near where we lived and the first Sunday we visited we knew that we had found a new home. My husband and I took a Bible Information Class that, for the first time, taught me about the Bible and what God truly did for us in sending his Son to die for my sins and the sins of the world. The message was so easy and so simple: I am worthy to face my God one day because of the crucified Jesus. That is all there is to it. There are no made up rules or expectations to live by. Simple. Easy. Amazing.

Before I was baptized I wanted to remove my name from the membership roster of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I did so and felt completely ready for my baptism.  I was baptized six years ago at the age of 29 along with my two girls. What comfort, what joy. When I took communion for the first time in my life I felt it! I felt the Lord and his Spirit that I had longed for my entire life. It was amazing! The Lord was so powerful in guiding me to his true Word!. I finally understood what so many people are looking for, yet are afraid to leave their church to find. I feel the Lord’s power and blessings every day of my life and feel such comfort that if he calls me home today, I am ready, even though I am a sinner.

I am one of the lucky ones who found the strength to break free from the shackles of the LDS church. My family does not support my decision and thinks that I have broken up our eternal family. However, they still accept me and I am especially close to my two sisters. I understand that, for some people, to break away may mean losing their family and friends, and maybe even their jobs. I want those people to know that the Lord is more important than all of those things and he will always take care of you. May God give you strength if you are one of them. You will truly be blessed by the power of God that you will feel once you break free.

As I sit here and write this I am in tears for the people who have not experienced the Lord’s truth and his comfort. I am in tears because of the way the Lord wrapped me in his arms, gave me strength and continues to do so every day. I am in tears because of the free gift we have. The gift of eternal life with God in heaven and the fact that we do not have to do anything to receive it. No earthly actions are needed, nor can they earn us heaven. What an amazing gift!

For similar posts on Witness Well:

Brittney’s Story: Her Journey out of Mormonism
The story of Joe: Witnessing a miracle of coming to faith