Alyssa Grenfell
Alyssa Grenfell is an American author, YouTuber, and former member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). She is best known for her memoir How to Leave the Mormon Church: An Exmormon's Guide to Rebuilding After Religion (2023), which explores her personal journey of leaving the LDS Church and provides guidance for others undergoing similar experiences.[1]
Background
[edit]Alyssa Grenfell was born into a devout Mormon family in Utah.[2] She attended Brigham Young University (BYU)[3], where she adhered to the church's strict social and religious guidelines. At 23[4], she married in an LDS temple, fulfilling many traditional expectations set by the church.[5] Grenfell’s departure from the LDS Church began in her mid-20s. Key motivations included disillusionment with the church’s teachings on gender roles[6], marriage, and personal autonomy.[7] Her personal revelations, coupled with historical and cultural critiques of the church, deepened her conviction to leave.[8] After moving to New York City in 2017, Grenfell publicly shared her journey of faith deconstruction on social media platforms such as YouTube and TikTok.[9] She now documents her time as a Mormon on social media[10], delving into the rules she had to follow and what her day-to-day life looked like. [11]
Writing Career
[edit]Grenfell authored How to Leave the Mormon Church: An Exmormon's Guide to Rebuilding After Religion (2023).[1] The book combines memoir-style storytelling with practical advice for navigating life after leaving a high-demand religious community. It also addresses challenges such as redefining relationships, finding a new spiritual identity, and confronting religious trauma.[12]
Personal Life
[edit]Grenfell currently lives in Austin, Texas, with her husband and two children.[12]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Grenfell, Alyssa; Dehlin, John (2023-01-07). How to Leave the Mormon Church: An Exmormon's Guide to Rebuilding After Religion. Alyssa Grenfell. ISBN 979-8-9893105-0-0.
- ^ Karruli, Kelsi (2024-08-13). "Former Mormon shares how she was trained to be the 'perfect trad wife'". Mail Online. Retrieved 2024-12-20.
- ^ Laing, Sarah (2024-12-02). "Utah Hair is Ultra-Long, Smoothly Curled and Lighting up FYPs. Let's Take a Closer Look". The Kit. Retrieved 2024-12-20.
- ^ "Ex-mormon explains why members of her former church look so similar". LADbible. 2024-04-19. Retrieved 2024-12-20.
- ^ Porter, Christie (2024-10-10). "Exmormon Author, Alyssa Grenfell Discusses her New Book: How to Leave The Mormon Church". Salt Lake Magazine. Retrieved 2024-12-20.
- ^ "MSN". www.msn.com. Retrieved 2024-12-20.
- ^ Mitchell, Alex (2024-04-15). "Ex-Mormon reveals why members of her former church look alike". Retrieved 2024-12-20.
- ^ "MSN". www.msn.com. Retrieved 2024-12-20.
- ^ "Ex-Mormon Explains Why It's So Easy To Spot A Member Of The Church Based On Looks". Bored Panda. 2024-04-16. Retrieved 2024-12-20.
- ^ Lieber, Chavie (2024-10-17). "Everyone's Talking About Utah Hair". WSJ. Retrieved 2024-12-20.
- ^ "Ex-Mormon reveals what 'soft swinging' actually is as new show exposes surprising reality of the religion". Tyla. 2024-09-18. Retrieved 2024-12-20.
- ^ a b "I was born in the Mormon church — premarital sex was as bad as murder". Metro. 2024-05-11. Retrieved 2024-12-20.