What happens when a Mormon woman questions her faith—but doesn’t walk away entirely? In this week’s interview, Olivia Calvert shares her journey of embracing doubts and shifts in belief. Choosing to live Mormonism in her own way, Olivia’s path leads her to what she calls “casual discipleship.” While we have explored stories like this before from men in the church, it is rare for an LDS woman to open up about her faith in this way.
Topics include:
-Purity culture
-Faith crises
-Church history
-Choosing to stay Mormon—on your own terms.
If you’ve ever felt like you don’t quite fit the Mormon mold, this story might be exactly what you need to hear. Join us as we talk about the many ways people are navigating Mormonism today.
One Response
Mormon on my own terms episode 2049:
John, what did you think of this episode at completion?
I am a frequent listener, as I have been on my own deconstruction journey over the past several years. I have much I could say, and can save that for the future if interested, but I’d love to know your thoughts after the interview. I started listening and thought.. this one isn’t for me… but had nothing else I was wanting to listen to, so I gave in. Oddly, I felt repelled in this interview often. I felt irritated with Olivia’s “on the fence” mentality towards a religion that is all or nothing. I felt she was almost opposite of members who are strict in keeping standards in youth, then leave the church and become overly sexual or alcoholics because they had no exposure so their development was immature.
The “opposite” comes in the history of Olivia being lax in how she followed the church standards, then went on a mission and decided to try “all in” when she is actually not, all in. I feel it is a misinterpretation of what the church demands. It’s pay to play, wear the garments, magnify and blindly trust… if not, you failed. Does she not know the foundations of these “doctrines” and their applications? She said she has listened to a lot of your podcasts. I kept thinking…just wait until your nursery daughter becomes a teen.. then the “negotiables” become nonnegotiable.
Perhaps she hasn’t felt the betrayal because the church is allowing standards to change in a way that was unacceptable to me growing up. I feel it makes the sacrifices I made as a teen, insignificant… or the years I spent as a child newlywed, wearing garments and giving money we didn’t have to the church, not necessary… and so much more.
Anyways, I’d just love to hear your thoughts. I’m a Houstonian, 38yo mama, raising 3 kids.. I’m one of those stories where I am out, but so intrigued by history and people’s stories, that I continue to find strength listening to your podcast.. especially as I navigate a marriage with a Utah boy that I hope will care enough about our marriage (well me) to learn what I have learned. He still has walls and I don’t know how much more I can take, but I’ll do anything for my kids.
Thanks for what you do! Also, Margie, thank you for asking the questions you did in this podcast. From the tone of Olivia, it sounded like the tougher questions needed to come from you rather than John.