Why I'm Leaving the Mormon Church

I grew up — from birth until the age of 17 — in a faithful, if somewhat liberal Mormon household. My family was traditionally LDS (Latter Day Saints) enough that I attended church each Sunday and deeply believed in church doctrine and scripture, but progressive enough that we were the only family I knew who was allowed to watch The Simpsons. And being Mormon was awesome! I loved going to church, church camps, youth conferences, and religious seminary classes; my absolute favorite memories from growing up are of walking across the Wyoming wilderness wearing a dress and bonnet I had sewn myself, and pulling a handcart, on our "Pioneer Treks." It was comforting to be part of a community devoted to taking care of one another, reassuring to be taught rules to follow in order to live a happy life, and empowering to have what I thought were unwavering answers to the world's hardest questions.