After sharing my story on faith and religion I figured I would share some of the resources that helped me through my transition. Most of these aren’t any big secret and are things I feel like most people already know about but I figured I would share them anyway.

Instagram

Rosie Card and Dr. Julie Hanks are two women that I follow. Both of them helped me see that there isn’t only one way to be a member of the church. I have also learned that you can have criticisms of the church and the way things are done and still be a member. There is much more to be learned from these ladies. Some have said they lead people to leave the church but they both gave me hope that I could stay.

Sharonsaysso This one might seem a little odd since it is not religious at all but Sharon really helped me to understand that not everything is black or white, right or wrong. She teaches this mainly through politics and history but it was a great lesson for me to apply to religion as well. She also taught me that generally people want the same things, they just go about getting them in different ways which can also be applied to religion.

Books

Restoration (Affiliate link) By Patrick Q. Mason was a breath of fresh air for me. Not only was this the first and only religious book that I looked forward to reading from every day but it also gave me SO much hope that I could stay in the church. This is a short book, less than 100 pages, but I think it is a must-read. The church that he describes in this book is the church that I want to belong to, the one I’m staying to help build.

Navigating Mormon Faith Crisis (affiliate link) by Thomas Wirthlin McConkie is another book that I highly recommend. This book talks about the stages of adult development in the context of religion. I found it really helpful to learn that adults go through stages of development and that it is normal to have your thoughts and feelings on religion, and other things, change as you age. Part 1 of this book is called Groundwork and can be extremely helpful to those experiencing a faith crisis. There was so much good information there.

Thomas McConkie has been an amazing resource for me in general. He has been on several podcasts and has written other books, etc. I have enjoyed everything I have heard from him.

The Law of Love (affiliate link) by Steve Young. Yes, it is that Steve Young and no, it isn’t about football. This book isn’t about faith crisis but is about the transition from transactional relationships with God and others into non-transactional relationships or love. I have been focused on love and that being the main point of life and the gospel for years now so this book was very interesting to me. It is another one that I would suggest everyone read.

Podcasts

The Faith Matters podcast is another great resource. It is hosted by a husband and wife who have both been through their own versions of a faith crisis and have stayed in the church. They have guests who think critically and provide insights in new ways. I have learned a lot from their episodes. My favorite episode so far has been Faith Journey 101. If you start anywhere, start here. This episode was life-changing for me. I know that sounds overly dramatic but it’s true. I’ve listened to it three times already and I’m sure I will listen again at some point.

I hope there is something helpful here. Even if you aren’t going through a faith crisis, any of these resources would help you understand others who are or just gain knowledge. If there is something you especially like or something that has been helpful to you that I missed, let me know.