Is it possible to stay active in the LDS Church in 2021 after….
….learning all of the problematic history…
….becoming an ally for LGBTQ Mormons…
…becoming a feminist…
…becoming an “intellectual Mormon”…
and after losing one’s orthodox faith?
More importantly, why would anyone WANT to?
In Part 1 of my two-part interview with dear friend and faith transitions coach Jana Spangler, Jana told us the story of her Mormon faith journey, which includes:
– Battling with perfectionism as an LDS teen and young adult.
– Feeling broken and inadequate as a single Mormon woman attending the University Utah, struggling to meet the church’s standards of “worthiness.”
– Being threatened with an LDS Disciplinary Council be a well-meaning Mormon bishop, and how that actually HELPED turn Jana’s life around at the time.
– Finding and marrying Rob – who “checked all the Mormon boxes” at the time.
– Batting with infertility.
– Experiencing self-doubt and depression as a Mormon Mom.
– How Jana’s passion for self-improvement and retreats/workshops led to a Mormon faith crisis.
– Jana’s shifting views of Christ’s atonement, which include absolute, unconditional love.
– Jana’s courage to share her testimony struggles with her Holladay, Utah ward and stake.
– How untraditional Mormon podcast hosts, authors, and organizations (such as Bill Reel, Gina Colvin, Dan Wotherspoon, John Dehlin, Thomas Wirthlin McConkie, Sunstone, etc.), along with a supportive husband and understanding church leaders, helped Jana find a way to stay ACTIVE in the LDS Church.
– What factors led Jana to decide to stay active in the LDS Church…for now.
In Part 2, Jana provides a more detailed framework for how others can find a way to remain active in the LDS Church if they so desire, inspired by the works of Richard Rohr and James Fowler (among others).
Part 1:
Part 2:
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Part 1 Timecodes:
00:03:49 – Jana’s Mormon story begins
00:07:17 – Struggle with “perfectionism” and social skills
00:11:07 – Patriarchal blessing, and how it influenced her
00:16:14 – Growing up with religious pressure
00:19:28 – Moroni 10:4 Challenge
00:22:27 – Attends University of Utah
00:26:58 – Dating and chastity in college
00:29:53 – Bishop Interviews & the “Dual Utility” of Religion
00:41:23 – Disciplinary council experience
00:51:33 – Takes temple endowments
00:56:36 – Moves into Huntington Beach ward, where she meets her husband
01:08:40 – Struggle with fertility & feelings of guilt
01:12:57 – Not well suited to be a stay at home mom
01:16:47 – Struggles in marriage and efforts to fix it
01:19:46 – Attempts to keep her nephew from leaving the church
01:30:03 – Questions beliefs when she feel that Mormonism does not have all the best answers
1:43:58 – Discovered Mormon Education podcasts and communities
1:47:05 – Daughter’s eye injury & difference in support for outward vs. inward pain
1:57:48 – “Plesantville” Analogy
2:08:08 – Attended Sunstone for the first time
2:09:12 – “Falling Upward” by Richard Rohr
2:11:25 – “See everything through a lease of Love”
2:25:06 – Eyes opened to social problems in the church
2:30:26 – How Outside sources (such as podcasts and conferences) gave her a place to feel confidant in her own spiritual journey & why she Advocates for a space like that within the church
2:38:20 – LDS church protecting the 99 over the 1
2:56:07 – Closing questions & remarks
Part 2 Timecodes:
00:04:40 – Why should you give religion another chance after a faith crisis?
00:08:21 – Spirituality vs. Religiosity
00:22:45 – How doubt can support belief
00:28:39 – Continually Seeking Truth in Mormonism
00:31:07 – Book of Abraham, & Book of Mormon
00:41:12 – Jana’s perspective on “scripture”
00:45:09 – Joseph Smith & Polygamy
00:48:47 – “One True Church” claim
00:53:13 – Temple Ordinances & Baptisms for the dead
00:55:37 – Modern Day Prophets
01:01:52 – How is Jana practicing Mormonism?
01:04:01 – Richard Rohr, “Living on the Edge Inside,” & “First Half of Life”
01:17:10 – Jesus Christ & The Atonement
01:28:36 – Hurt & anger in and out of Mormonism
01:33:58 – Why Mormonism over other options for religion/spirituality?
01:42:37 – Privilege of being about to still find a place in the LDS church
01:48:43 – Jana’s Firesides
01:51:21 – “Country Club Mormonism” Analogy
02:05:43 – Recognizing both the good and bad in Mormonism
02:14:54 – Closing questions & remarks
Comments 2
The charity people extend to Joseph Smith is incredible to me. Dies Jana extend the same charity to other religious leaders that weren’t part of the cute she was raised in? Is she as charitable to Warren Jeff’s as Joseph Smith?
Apologists like Jana also frequently attribute unhealthy beliefs like prophet workshop to “We.” Who is she talking about? Who is the “We” that established lds culture? Who is the “We” that maintains church culture? Does she blame North Korean citizens for the state of the North Korean dictatorship?
What is ” … the divine” you referenced multiple times? What doesn’t help lead to a divine and thus wouldn’t be considered scripture? Is Dyanetics scripture?
I have a hard time concluding that your admittance that you maintain your oppinion of the book of mormon inpart because of lack of research as “willful ignorance”.
How is temple work different from netflix bingging?
In a few months my daughter will be baptized whether she wants to or not because she had been told she is fallen and requires remission from sins. She is a wonderful girl. I reject this idea.
Jana, You are a beautiful soul. I enjoyed resonating with your story. I personally bookmarked E1 1:50 – Your child’s eye injury is where I am right now. Superbowl Sunday my wife and I walked around the block – no kids just us. I slipped and sighed at seeing cars at her best friends house and our back neighbor. She jumped in with “what do you care – you hate football.” In 5 years we have been to their house 3x – they have been to dinner at ours 1/2x a year. I eventually expressed lack of friends even before faith shift. Rattled off a number of things I did to invite. Then faith crisis and it got colder. She tried to shoehorn a few things but I basically rebutted with – when do they reach out to me? Then two weeks ago I broke my ankle and surgery and wow – tons of ward out pouring to me/us. Mind you she is primary president so our family name is well known in the ward. She looks at me at one point and says – see look how many friends you have. So I smile and say yup. But like you stated at 1:50-ish in your first episode – where these ‘friends’ when I was in the dark night of my soul. Where was the training to help me and they understand the anger phase and help me not burn bridges or them not take things personally. So while you were telling of getting up at F+T meeting I thought – oh I should do that …. when I can walk again …. then you finish that segment with No No I absolutely don’t recommend doing that. Probably smart. Anyway, I hope someday to become a client with my wife. Thank you for your story. This will become a frequent listen – like Anthony Miller and Donna Showalter that I have listened to a few times each.