‘Exmo’ Influencers Are Taking On Mormonism

“Exmo”影响者正挑战摩门教

The Journal.

2025-10-22

19 分钟
PDF

单集简介 ...

Once among the world's fastest-growing religions, Mormonism is facing a 21st-century reckoning, driven by social media. Across Tiktok and Instagram an army of #exmo creators take on controversial aspects of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ history. WSJ’s Georgia Wells reports on the growing online #exmo community and how the church is pushing back. Jessica Mendoza hosts.  Further Listening: - Why Utah Is Regulating Mom Influencers - The Mormon Church's $100 Billion Secret Fund Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
更多

单集文稿 ...

  • Hi, my name is Alyssa Grenfell and I am an ex-Mormon content creator.

  • That's 32-year-old Alyssa Grenfell on YouTube.

  • Alyssa was raised as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

  • I was convinced that there was nowhere as good as the Mormon Church.

  • And she talks a lot on social media about her life growing up Mormon.

  • She was baptized at eight.

  • So many memories of my childhood are in church, something called activity days, mutual.

  • She went to Brigham Young University, which is affiliated with the church.

  • And just like lots of the girls at BYU at the time,

  • I decided it was the right thing for me to serve a mission.

  • In a 23, Alyssa got married in a Mormon ceremony.

  • I participated in an ultra-secret ceremony that takes place in a Mormon temple called the Endowment.

  • In other words, Alyssa was a true believer.

  • She loved her religion and her community.

  • But then in 2016, Alyssa started questioning her face.

  • I've spent so much time in this church.

  • Maybe I can just keep believing.

  • Maybe there's something I'll still find.

  • And she began sharing her story online.

  • And then after all my doubting, I finally left.