Why I Left The Mormon Church

The man literally internally fought with everything he's known all his life for his kid. His child is very very lucky.

I've never heard someone leave a religion because they wanted to offer a good education for their child. This is impressive. I bet you guys are amazing parents

This man explains so well the feelings I have felt for most of my life. It took the loss of my son to realize that this is how I felt. I thank you for vocalizing the feelings I was going through.

I've never been religious but this made me so emotional for some reason. It's lovely to see people living their own truth, despite the pain that comes with it. wish nothing but the best for you and your family <3

As someone who grew up in an agnostic/atheist household, stories like this fascinate me. It's just so foreign to everything I've experienced.

I was once a Jehovah's Witness. I am so much happier after leaving. "When one man practice something illogical he is crazy, but when practiced by a large group it's a religion."

I've never felt so heard/seen/understood about my experience in the church as I did watching this video. You are so well spoken and our experiences are so similar in so many ways. Your son is incredibly lucky, and it was raising my own son around the age of 2 that started my path out as well. Thank you for all the work before and the work required to make such a great video.

Johnny❤ such a huge fan of your videos, but I was so surprised to learn this. Thank you so much for giving us true vulnerability, that takes courage!!! I admire and look up to you immensely

I was kicked out of my house when I was 18 because I wouldn’t go on my mission. Lived out of car for months while I was going to college and playing football. Having parents that understand that their children might develop different beliefs is something I wish everyone going through issues with the church can experience. Unfortunately I didn’t.

This video really hits home! I recently left the Mormon Church myself, and it's been the biggest mental, emotional, social, and whatever you want, roller coaster in my life! The church tried to manipulate me as a Social Media Influencer, and when I didn't give in, they tried to excommunicate me, but it was the truth claims and negative social impacts that I couldn't look past. Thanks for sharing your story with the world. Messages like this are important to people in the church and people looking into it. From one RM now YouTuber to another, 加油！(It means keep it up in Chinese :D)

I'm also formerly Mormon. I started to really question things when my grandparents passed away. They had never expressed interest in wanting to join the church but they were respectful of their kid's choices of living that lifestyle and religion. Shortly after the funerals, I remembered seeing their baptism for the dead. It was really strange to me that it happened so soon. Something about it just didn't sit right with me. Even at my grandma's funeral it seemed like there was this weird air of people not wanting to get up and say anything. From my perspective it was like I was seeing people just go through the motions because it was expected to happen.

I'm still a Mormon. I appreciated this video and totally understand where you're coming from. I have friends that went through or are going through the same thing and I considered it also. I would love any suggestions on how to show love and support to friends and family that leave. I respect and sympathize with their decision and am not going to try to convince them to come back, but I do want them to know I'm still there for them and love them and they don't have to worry about me being judgemental or annoying.

Johnny: "I love my kids, I love film, I love travel..." Also Johnny: "i LoVe MoSs"

It speaks volumes about their marriage, that they didn't break up over this, but re-united with a common mindset.

Wow. It's surreal to realize how much I can relate to. You went from being a You Tube personality who makes fascinating videos to a person not so different from me. I too walked the streets of a foreign nation for 2 years preaching the Mormon gospel and learning culture and language on an island in the South Pacific. After my mission I met my wife and was married in the temple. But then 9/11 happened and being a Marine reservist I found myself deployed to Iraq where I realized that there were entire nations of people who were extremely devoted to their faith, that would be forsaken by God according to my understanding. I simply couldn't reconcile the nature of God any longer. From then I attended church and held callings for the sake of my wife and children, not wanting to disrupt the family dynamics but eventually my wife came to a similar conclusion on her own and once it was clear we were united in our thoughts leaving became much easier. I lost 90 percent of my friends in the process but I still have my family.

Johnny I do have great respect for you and your videos that are on YouTub. Everyone needs to find them selfs and live their life’s journey. Please be Blessed and in joy your life.

“Malísimo, wey!” You just became much cooler among your audience of Mexican descent.

As an ex-Mormon my story is identical. Watching this felt like I was reliving my life before leaving the church.

Hi Johnny, I walked on the beach today and listened to your story. It brought tears when you describe what you love about the world. Good for you. Peace

Thank you for this video. I had a very similar experience. You explained my feelings and process on leaving. The resentment, the shame, the processing. I am over 10 years out and still working on it. What triggered me was the depression it created in me because it was not my authentic self. I lost friends, family, etc, but it was all worth it.