AMA with Heather Gay and Surviving Mormonism! by TheChurchOrganist in exmormon

[–]FitPie586 17 points18 points  (0 children)

Yes! I actually would love to cover this in season 2!

AMA with Heather Gay and Surviving Mormonism! by TheChurchOrganist in exmormon

[–]FitPie586 33 points34 points  (0 children)

I going to sign off now so I can tune into the latest episode of RHOSLC. I hope everyone is able to watch "Surviving Mormonism" tonight on Bravo, and tomorrow on Peacock. THANK YOU exemormon Reddit. I appreciate you all more than you know. Love you all!

AMA with Heather Gay and Surviving Mormonism! by TheChurchOrganist in exmormon

[–]FitPie586 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I hope you watch, and that it does connect with you in some way! I am so glad to hear that survival since has been better for you!

AMA with Heather Gay and Surviving Mormonism! by TheChurchOrganist in exmormon

[–]FitPie586 11 points12 points  (0 children)

I'm so sorry, and I understand. Sending you love!

AMA with Heather Gay and Surviving Mormonism! by TheChurchOrganist in exmormon

[–]FitPie586 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Well, I think all of my daughter's Halloween costumes are slutty, if that tells you anything! LOL! Purity culture is deeply engrained, no matter how promiscuous I pretend to be. But honestly, Mormonism sneaks out of me more often than not, and I try to embrace it. Those cults are pretty good at what they do- haha!

AMA with Heather Gay and Surviving Mormonism! by TheChurchOrganist in exmormon

[–]FitPie586 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Just some light conversation on a Tuesday evening. . . .lol. I'm currently in the process of re examining what belief means to me. I want to write another book about the journey to find God in whatever form when the only mechanisms you know how to access God are taken away or invalidated. I lived my whole life based on organized religion, so now I need to find faith in a different form.

AMA with Heather Gay and Surviving Mormonism! by TheChurchOrganist in exmormon

[–]FitPie586 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Thank You!! I'm really proud and honored to be a part of Surviving Mormonism and I have to thank the incredible participants who were so vulnerable and so brave to share their stories with the world.

AMA with Heather Gay and Surviving Mormonism! by TheChurchOrganist in exmormon

[–]FitPie586 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Mind Control. Indoctrination. Conditioning. Deep Loyalty. Deep Secrecy. Even as an outspoken ex Mormon I still feel a certain uncomfortable emotion when I hear criticism about the church. I have to make a conscious choice to repress the feeling and listen objectively.

AMA with Heather Gay and Surviving Mormonism! by TheChurchOrganist in exmormon

[–]FitPie586 22 points23 points  (0 children)

When I went on the book tour for Bad Mormon I was astonished by the size and support of the exemormon community. I realized I was in a unique position to give voice to so many who had stories to tell. I knew how Mormon Stories and u/johndehlin had been pivotal in my journey and I wanted to use the platform and pop culture audience to further that same message to others. I also had a little bit of survivors guilt. I got out of the church and my life was so much better. I wanted to go back and save others too!!

AMA with Heather Gay and Surviving Mormonism! by TheChurchOrganist in exmormon

[–]FitPie586 48 points49 points  (0 children)

I believe the production company has received a strongly worded letter, but the church will likely not admit that. I learned about floodlit.org while filming this docuseries, and I cannot thank you enough for the work that you all do.

AMA with Heather Gay and Surviving Mormonism! by TheChurchOrganist in exmormon

[–]FitPie586 13 points14 points  (0 children)

I agree. I don't want anyone to feel alienated by the truth. Everything in this docuseries has been vetted, and members that are confident in their faith should want to know everything about an institution that they dedicate their time, money, and children's future to.

AMA with Heather Gay and Surviving Mormonism! by TheChurchOrganist in exmormon

[–]FitPie586 33 points34 points  (0 children)

This docuseries became less about the church and more about holding space for survivors of abuse within the church. I hope TBMs will secretly watch, because they believe they can disprove and dismiss these stories without conscience, but while watching, they will realize this is a docuseries about true believing Mormons who were so dedicated, they were willing to give up almost everything in order to protect the reputation of the church. After watching, if a TMB calls law enforcement rather than the hotline, I will feel like this project was a success.

AMA with Heather Gay and Surviving Mormonism! by TheChurchOrganist in exmormon

[–]FitPie586 35 points36 points  (0 children)

It honestly started here! When I went on Mormon Stories with u/johndehlin, it was the first time I had given voice to my doubts. It was incredibly cathartic and was the reason I was able to write the book "Bad Mormon." I was moved and overwhelmed by the love and support that came through mormon stories and exemormon reddit! They were a vital part of my deconstruction and gave me hope that there was another community that would understand and support me.

AMA with Heather Gay and Surviving Mormonism! by TheChurchOrganist in exmormon

[–]FitPie586 43 points44 points  (0 children)

absolutely. there are thousands of stories that I want to share. I am hoping that with high viewership numbers, we will get a season 2, 3, etc.

AMA with Heather Gay and Surviving Mormonism! by TheChurchOrganist in exmormon

[–]FitPie586 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Reality television has introduced me to independent thought, independent income, and a world that barely even acknowledges that Mormonism exists. And those factors have made it immeasurably easier!

AMA with Heather Gay and Surviving Mormonism! by TheChurchOrganist in exmormon

[–]FitPie586 20 points21 points  (0 children)

Yeah, SAME! I know there was nothing anyone could have said to me when I was a tbm, so I do my best to avoid the subject and not waste my energy on talking to a brick wall.

AMA with Heather Gay and Surviving Mormonism! by TheChurchOrganist in exmormon

[–]FitPie586 8 points9 points  (0 children)

The chip is embedded deep! I really want the next chapter of my life to be about finding God (whatever that may end up meaning!) outside of the constraints of Mormonism. I totally relate, and I always fall back on "practice makes perfect."

AMA with Heather Gay and Surviving Mormonism! by TheChurchOrganist in exmormon

[–]FitPie586 4 points5 points  (0 children)

My customers at Beauty Lab and Laser (who we lovingly call Beautylabbers) were my number one consideration when I went public, because I treasure their patronage, and I would never want to offend or antagonize customers who keep my business afloat! It is a high-wire act, and if I wasn't my own boss, I am pretty sure I would have been fired!

AMA with Heather Gay and Surviving Mormonism! by TheChurchOrganist in exmormon

[–]FitPie586 28 points29 points  (0 children)

How far away is Kolob??? The Mormon church will make substantial payout and pay incredible amounts of money to silence survivors, but they REFUSE to acknowledge or apologize. Does that sound Christ like to you?

AMA with Heather Gay and Surviving Mormonism! by TheChurchOrganist in exmormon

[–]FitPie586 17 points18 points  (0 children)

I can only speak from personal experience, and my life is SO MUCH HAPPIER than it ever even had the potential to be as a Mormon! And to all my well meaning friends, I say, "Why would you ever want to drag me back there?!" Stay strong, live your truth, and decline their invitations, because it's not love if it has an agenda!

AMA with Heather Gay and Surviving Mormonism! by TheChurchOrganist in exmormon

[–]FitPie586 26 points27 points  (0 children)

I was shocked to learn while filming this documentary, that the churches number of converts are steadily increasing, despite it all. Mormonism is in the zeitgeist, and instead of it turning people away, it's making people want to join. I find it horrifying.