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Why He Fled the Mormon Church – Ex-Member Speaks Out 🇺🇸

Peter Santenello

1,559,808 views

Many people have left the Mormon church in recent years. Today we meet up with an ex-Mormon who explains to us why this is happening.

This is the last video in our Mormon (LDS) series. Check out our Mormon playlist where I have:
-3 videos about those in the church
~~2 videos about the fundamentalist Mormons (to show the difference between them and the non~~ fundamentalists).
-1 video about someone who's left the Mormon church.

Mormon Playlist: Inside Largest Mormon Community - First Im...

Thanks for joining me on this journey! We have 2 more videos for you to finish off 2023.

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20 Comments

@PeterSantenello Creator 2 years ago (edited) Pinned

This is the last video from the 6-part Mormon series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEyPgwIPkHo6jjSMpNn5YxgxHYmCJcQXX. In this Mormon series we made 3 videos about those in the church and loving it, 1 video about someone who left the church, and 2 videos about Mormon fundamentalism (which is completely different from the mainstream Mormon church).

The goal was to give you a range of perspectives. Like all of my content, it’s about showing you what I come into contact with and I hope you learned something from this series. With that said, I chose 3 stories about those happy with the mainstream Mormon church and 1 story about someone who is against it. I could have done the opposite.

Watch my content, watch other people’s content, enjoy the freedom in forming your own opinion. No one person has all of the answers or the truth.

And to all Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints members, I was trying to reach an audience out of the church to bridge understanding. If I titled these videos by your full name or LDS, no one outside of the church would have watched. Everyone knows Mormon, most people don’t know LDS. I apologize if that was cringe for you.

Thank you so much for all off you who participated in this series!

@TwoTreesVisuals 2 years ago

I was all in. Mission. Married in temple. Ready for a life in the church. But I can vouch for this man’s story. I lost my faith at 38 after being dumbfounded by what history the church left out. It’s been the most painful and rewarding experience of my life losing my faith. Love to this brother for sharing his true story.

@JozefCG 2 years ago

I never would have guessed I would watch multihour series on YT about all kinds of mormons

@KaylynPNW 2 years ago (edited)

I left after 65 devoted years. Words can’t express how terribly hard it was. Some days I jokingly say “leaving the church broke my brain” but it’s kinda true.

@elconfexionario 1 year ago

Applause from Mexico. ex mormon after 25 years! Great job and thank you

@rebekahodell7186 2 years ago

I am 39 and left the LDS church on my 18th birthday. My parents are still very in love and involved with the church. When I was younger they were very judgemental and had a sense of superiority towards others because they have the "whole truth" and feel responsible for sharing it. They were saddened when I left and said the words "where did we go wrong." It is believed that if you grow up with the "truth" and then later deny it, you are worse off than someone who has never even heard of it before. My parents literally grieve myself and my siblings who have left, because we will not be together forever because we don't want to be a part of it. However now years later my parents have truly become the most unconditionally loving people in the planet. They no longer judge us nor push their beliefs on us and rather accept us and love us for who we are even though we are not in the church.

@amypatton6730 2 years ago

IF THERE'S NOTHING TO HIDE, WHY NOT SHARE? that says it all

@sellingpeck 2 years ago

I’m a mainstreamer, but I love how you got the points of view from all the angles. Fundamentalists, Ex Mormon, and mainstream. You, and the folks you interviewed all gave respect to all of the differences etc. you have a gift Peter, people open up to you because you respect them.

@tt5405 11 months ago

I’m a former Mormon, I left bc Jesus Christ didn’t belong to a religion so why does the church think they’re the only “true” church on the earth, the brainwashing is ludicrous. But I look forward with all the biblical events happening in the world right now for ppl in the religion finding out the real truth coming very soon.

@AtypicalM 2 years ago

The best YouTube channel by far. Never a dull interview. Thanks Peter!

@AdriannaFaber 2 years ago

I grew up Mormon and I never fully believed. I always felt as if people were putting on a front all the time, and I sensed that as a kid. Not enough transparency and everything seemed so orchestrated. Never sat well with me. Recently I looked into the church again as I now have five kids of my own and I decided once and for all that it wasn’t the right way to go. That being said, Mormons are some of the nicest, most genuine people I have ever met. Not all of the members are judgmental like some of the stories out there. There are many amazing people within the church. We have friends who are Mormon and don’t judge us. I think that what the church is based on isn’t something I agree with, but so many of the people have pure intentions. I do not regret growing up Mormon, I do think that it helped shape my values. I took what good I could get from it and left the things that weren’t good behind. I definitely have mixed feelings on it but overall it’s not something I’m willing to commit to. I am thankful for what I got out of it and the wonderful people I met along the way.

@DeborahFlorian-gy6lw 2 years ago

What a phenomenal education this series provides. Peter is truly an ambassador for humanity.

@genevieve1963 1 year ago

My parents moved to Kaysville, Utah in 1978 when I was 12 years old. It was the most painful experience to try to fit in at school where it was 99% mormon. Every activity centered around the church. I attended for a while because it was the only way to have any sort of social life. When I didn’t convert, I was completely shut out. It was a dark time in my life.

@lostnfoundhistory 2 years ago

I’m an exmormon and left the church right after getting home from my mission. Seeing the church from the perspective of a missionary in a third world country really opened my eyes to the absurdity of it all. Leaving was really tough and it still affects me to this day. That Mesa, AZ temple is the first temple I ever went into.

@Fix_em_jets 2 years ago

Also, Peter, your interview skills are amazing. It’s easy to just point a camera at someone and say “speak” but to ask tough questions, present counter arguments and keep the interview on track is something the media lacks these days. You and your wife are doing an amazing job. Can’t wait for the next video.

@kwillie47 2 years ago (edited)

Great story Peter... I actually worked with Todd some years ago, didn't realize he was LDS but now it made sense. Glad to see he has some peace and courage to tell his story. Not to mention he introduced you to Joes Farm Grill which is fantastic ❤

@mustwereallydothis 1 year ago

I struggled for years but finally knew that I had to leave when I was called into a meeting and solomnenly told that "God wanted me" to serve in a leadership role in primary. I couldn't even bring myself to discuss the church with my own children at home because I couldn't make myself believe, but somehow, God himself thought I was the best person to oversee the teaching of all the children in our ward??? I tried for a few weeks, but eventually, I just stopped going.
My husband and children eventually followed me.

@amz_inreal_life 2 years ago (edited)

I started having doubts about the lds faith at 16. I kept it to myself until I left my parents' home at 18 for college, and once I entered the adult world, I had more doubts. Prayed about it because that is what I was taught and never received any answers, so I left and have never looked back. Best decision I ever made. My family just told people I was in- active but still supported the church in ways that went on for 20 years. Some years ago, at a family function, I think it was a family reunion at a a testimony meeting by the fire pit and I was asked in a group scenario to share my testimony. When it was my turn, I just came out with it and said I haven't had a testimony since I was a teenager. I personally left and haven't gone back to church since my early 20s. I do not believe. I am not sure what my mother has said, but I don't consider myself lds or Mormon at all. I am about to turn 42 in 2024. My extended family has not treated me differently to my knowledge, and I'm still accepted, but I don't share why because they haven't asked me. I figure if they want to know, they will ask. It's been 6 years since that day, and I feel I'm in a better place with family than I was as a teenager because I just tell it like it is.