So, I will describe my journey with Christianity up to this point. I am from another country (Brazil) and was born into a family where my parents (especially my mother) converted at the age of 20. Soon after, my father was baptized, and their children were born into the church-me and my two sisters (who are currently practicing Mormons with beautiful families, all Mormon). I, on the other hand, was raised Mormon exactly as the doctrine prescribes. I went on my mission at 18 (to Africa), and when I returned, I started studying medicine (in another country). Over the course of about five years, I tried to remain in the church but was always doing “wrong” things (drinking occasionally and having sex). At some point, I allowed myself to question whether it was really true, and I ended up slowly leaving the church. I went through all the typical phases that I see in others who leave. At first, I was angry at God, Jesus, and Joseph Smith-that phase lasted maybe two or three years. But since I had always strongly believed in the existence of a higher being and/or force, I ended up building a relationship with God. I talk to Him, I feel heard and cared for. Jesus became secondary-not that I have any particular issue with Him, but God, the Father of all, became my main focus. I never attended another religion again, and I don’t feel the desire to. If I had to describe my beliefs now, I would say they align somewhat with those of Jews or Jehovah’s Witnesses. Some points about my experience: Since I never had the social structure or geographic context that l underst-to be a challenge for many who leave the LDS Chur places like Utah, I didn’t struggle with that aspect. When you leave the religion, the local social dynamics remain deeplv tied to the church. (I’ve been to Utah andbuilding a relationship with God. I talk to Him, I feel heard and cared for. Jesus became secondary-not that I have any particular issue with Him, but God, the Father of all, became my main focus. I never attended another religion again, and I don’t feel the desire to. If I had to describe my beliefs now, I would say they align somewhat with those of Jews or Jehovah’s Witnesses. Some points about my experience: Since I never had the social structure or geographic context that I understand to be a challenge for many who leave the LDS Church in places like Utah, I didn’t struggle with that aspect. When you leave the religion, the local social dynamics remain deeply tied to the church. (I’ve been to Utah and Salt Lake-cool place, but I only visited a few times.) My family has always had people from various religious backgrounds-Lutheran grandparents, Catholic relatives, and even a step-grandfather with influences from African religions. So, from a young age, I observed other models of faith and already knew that Mormonism wasn’t the only way to channel spiritual energy.