Leaving Religion: a Guide – Details, episodes & analysis

When you leave religion, and have family and loved ones that are still in, the holidays can be a tough season.

In this episode I share some suggestions for how to navigate family during the holidays so that you can have a beautiful experience.

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Liz comes from a unique background being almost royalty within the polygamist community. Her grandfather was Rulon Allred and he was the prophet of the Apostolic United Brethren (or the AUB) until he was murdered in 1977 by a rivalry group. Later in 2014 until just this year, her father was the prophet of the AUB.

Growing up polygamist she loved it but had experiences to where she was shunned by the neighbors when they would find out that she was part of a polygamist church. The AUB was a break off from the original teachings of the Mormon church and believed that they were keeping the celestial, higher law alive by living polygamy.

If you have watched sister wives, with Christine Brown, they are a part of the AUB and Christine is a relative of Liz's.

At 16 years old, Liz chose to join the mainstream LDS church. She had to wait until she was 18 years old in order to fully join because she came from polygamy. The AUB teachings were so similar to the mainstream Mormon church that often she would have a hard time remembering which was from what religion.

She shares that she was quite happy with both religion and she was following her internal compass. She practiced mainstream Mormonism for years until her sister shared a memory that she had at young age of very inappropriate sexual acts with the leaders of the AUB. With this revelation Liz was forced to sit with the linage of what her sister had experienced and all the men that took advantage of their power. The string that pulled the sweater for her was when her dad became the prophet of the AUB. She saw that there was a line from hr dad to her grandfather, to Brigham Young to Joseph Smith and see there was an abuse of their power.

This is a truly powerful episode and one that you will want to listen to.

Links:

Join my upcoming Life Elevated Mentorship group starting Nov 27th. https://www.amandajoyloveland.com/elevatedmastermind

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This is a unique episode where we dive into some healing work together. While this wasn't planned, it was exactly perfect. Rachael steps into her vulnerability and allowing herself to be fully seen in this episode which is such an inspiration to us all! When we allow ourselves to be seen, we allow for true healing and the ability to fully accept and love ourselves.

Rachael shares a bit about her story through leaving the mormon church and at the end of the episode I found myself wanting to know more of her story! So, we will be sharing another episode next week of her full story in her choice to step out of religion and out of her marriage.

Join us for a beautiful episode. If you would like to be a guest on my show and are wanting to work through a few of your blocks or pieces you are having a difficult time letting go, email me at aj@amandajoyco.com.

Connect with Rachael:

Email: rachaelsbeautyparlor@gmail.com

IG: Rachael.wheeler.376

Join my private facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/leavingreligion

Ready to claim all that you are? Join me at my next retreat experience: https://www.amandajoyloveland.com/inbody

For more tools to assist you in stepping out of religion: https://www.amandajoyloveland.com/leavingreligiontools

Grab my latest book! Leaving religion, a guide to finding your spiritual center after religion: https://www.amazon.com/Leaving-Religion-Those-Leave-Behind/dp/1952566487/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1FUQQ23L4I458&keywords=leaving+religion+%26+those&qid=1655217437&sprefix=leaving+religion+%26+those%2Caps%2C126&sr=8-1

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Kami Mitchell & Shelby Smith and I got to sit down together, via zoom, as they shared their epic and beautiful story of deconstructing from religion, leaving toxic relationships and cultivating their friendship which brought them together in a beautiful way.

On this episode both women share their stories of growing up mormon, getting married, and their journeys through many paths in their lives. They share how they first met and had this epic moment of soul recognition. During this episode they share pieces around how they were taught to believe that they had to earn their worth and that emotions were not safe, unless you were happy. 

A big piece for both of them was finding their inner truth and the quickest way that they found this was through self love. "Once I tasted that godness within, that love within me grew and finding that love allowed for me to start developing the trust back for myself. Instead of giving authority over me, I started coming back to my own truth."

Have you heard of the kinsey scale? It is a truly interesting scale and the research behind it is quite interesting. You can read more about it here: https://kinseyinstitute.org/research/publications/kinsey-scale.php

Kami & Shelby offer the thought that if there is any curiosity within you it may be your soul / heart asking you to experience something different. The universe is always conspiring in our favor.

A bit more about Kami & Shelby:

Shelby and Kami, partners both in life and in business,  are celebrators of the human experience!  Over the last decade,   they have co-created and held retreats to invite others to get back in touch with their whole selves through movement, breath, sound, touch, music, emotional release, and play.  

These two have done the work inside, and within the last five years,  have answered their heart call, leaving toxic marriages, outgrowing the walls of organized religion, releasing old patterns, rewriting old programs and digging deep to identify the lies they tell themselves, to find truth.
 
They believe in humanity and invite us all to slow down, behold the creators that we are, and BE magnificent, by being all of you. 

Both Shelby and Kami are trained in reiki, BARS, Heart Theta, presenting, energy, healing touch, Tantra, mindset shifts, loving all that arises, emotional clearing/release, movement and flow, shadow work, heart mentoring, play and inner child work.  They are certified cuddlers as well, and 
are published contributing writers in several co-authored books.  

They are thrilled and honored to BE with all those who are choosing into the INbody Retreat!

To follow Kami & Shelby on social media on IG: @yinyang_shelby & @kamsterdance You can also text Shelby at 208-709-0904 OR Kami at 435-229-0513.

Get your spot today at our upcoming INbody Experience! https://www.amandajoyloveland.com/inbody

Grab my latest book on amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Leaving-Religion-Those-Leave-Behind/dp/1952566487/ref=sr_1_1?crid=CU4NMG55H62Y&keywords=leaving+religion+%26+those&qid=1658200798&sprefix=leaving+religion+%26+those%2Ca

Looking for more tools to assist you in deconstructing after religion? https://www.amandajoyloveland.com/leavingreligiontools

Let's stay in touch!

IG: @amanda.joy.loveland
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How many social norms are you accepting in your life because it is what you are told to believe and be? What about my current environment am I accepting because it's a social norm? Marriage is one of those that is entered upon and not fully creating a conscious relationship.

Chip and I have a conversation around relationships and the abuse that happens with men.  

One of the commonalities that I have been noticing in my conversations is that men often lose themselves in their relationships, especially when they are in a traditional religion relationship. As Chip shares, he served a mission and then did the next step of finding a wife and put his wife and his children above his own wants and needs. This is so common. 

Did you know that about 1 in every 6 to 7 men will be a victim to domestic abuse?  

Did you know that:

• The rate of suicide is highest in middle-aged white men.
• In 2020, men died by suicide 3.88x more than women.
• On average, there are 130 suicides per day.
• White males accounted for 69.68% of suicide deaths in 2020

We create our own experiences. Sometimes things happen we cannot control, but how we respond we can control.

The more you can step into the learning in each relationship, with eyes open, it will propel you into more and more of yourself asking to be seen.

Have you been building a life be design or letting life push you around and creating a world that you do not love? We have the ability to build a life by design. Our lives are defined by the stories we tell ourselves and the stories we tell others.

To Chip, the phrase strive satisfied shows the ability to be okay with what is and hope to have dreams and desires.

To follow Chip Hopper, head over to his website: https://www.bookjedi.com

IG: @chiphopper
FB: @chiphoper

Wanting to be apart of my upcoming group mentorship program? Email me aj@amandajoyco.com for more info. Starts July 6th.

Grab my latest book! https://www.amazon.com/Leaving-Religion-Those-Leave-Behind/dp/1952566487/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1FUQQ23L4I458&keywords=leaving+religion+%26+those&qid=1655217437&sprefix=leaving+religion+%26+those%2Caps%2C126&sr=8-1

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Are you feeling like you are in the fire? How can you navigate the fire when you are in it and how can you see the gifts?

When we are leaving religion, or going through any transitions in life, it can feel as if we are being put in the fire. It feels painful, I get it trust me. And, there is beauty in this fire as it's burning away more layers of those places within that are asking to be deconstructed. This assists you in becoming more clear in who you are.

My book, Leaving Religion a Guide, is a powerful tool to assist you in your deconstruction. In this episode I share a bit about how this book came to life, the challenges that I faced while writing and publishing this book and I share one of my most vulnerable chapters around shame.

Come join my group mentorship program geared to assist any of you that are moving through transitions in life right now. The group starts July 6th and is packed with freebies, weekly calls, daily accountability and massive support and tools. This course will fill up quickly so snag your spot today. And, if you join my gift I want to give you an autographed copy of my book for free! Email me aj@amandajoyco.com to secure your spot.

To get my book, head over to amazon! https://www.amazon.com/Leaving-Religion-Those-Leave-Behind/dp/1952566487/ref=sr_1_1?crid=15D40RVX90IO8&keywords=leaving+religion+%26+those&qid=1654713416&sprefix=leaving+religion+%26+those%2Caps%2C142&sr=8-1

Grab my meditation bundle: https://www.amandajoyloveland.com/offers/kFjGjqQc/checkout

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Terina had an unique experience leaving the church. Going from devout Mormon to reading the Gospel Topic Essay's and two weeks later crying in her bishops office knowing she was  being done.

Join me as I have a beautiful conversation with Terina, who is a life coach, as she shares some valuable tools that assisted her in her transition out of Mormonism.



Grab my latest book, Leaving Religion a Guide!
https://www.amazon.com/Leaving-Religion-Those-Leave-Behind/dp/1952566487/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1VJZLYGIDGFTI&keywords=leaving+religion+%26+those&qid=1654055556&sprefix=leaving+religion+%26+those%2Caps%2C180&sr=8-1

To follow Terina:

http://www.terinamaldonado.com

https://www.instagram.com/terina_maldonado/

https://www.facebook.com/HealEmpowerEducate

 https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTdt726Xv/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/terina-maldonado-49129b201/

Grab her book, Fear to Freedom: Stories of Triumph After Leaving a High Control Religion https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B08D89DNTY/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_3YH4KKX14D5WDRBMJAQ1

Let's stay in touch!

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Where are we not allowing those in our circles to be seen and heard, especially with our men? 

Where are you not allowing yourself to own all parts of yourself and recognize the wholeness of all that you are?

It is time for us to pick up crosses, to burn them, to stop the suffering and to embody and be seen for all that we are. 

Let's stay in touch!

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Join me and Keira Poulsen as we talk about the books that have been burned. There have been so many women in our history that have written sacred books that were burned and or destroyed. Often these women were also killed, burned with their books, as a heretic for speaking truth.

How amazing and fortunate are we that we live in a time where we get to speak our truth, we get to write sacred books and publish them without fear of death!

Are you feeling the call to write your sacred book? If so, join us next week for our writers retreat and step through the gateway to this stunning writers experience.

It's time to for your message to reach the world.

Join us: https://www.amandajoyloveland.com/writersretreat

To learn more about Keira Poulsen, connect with her here:

https://www.keirapoulsen.com/
IG: @keirapoulsen
FB: @keirapoulsen

To listen to my previous episode with Keira,  check out episode #27
https://open.spotify.com/episode/5fP1lDecf5wWYDeLuMwR5H?si=lk__205jSJGqljHy0ZotBg

Let's stay in touch!

IG: @amanda.joy.loveland
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My guest, Hugh Vail, has spent thousands of hours combing through scriptural texts and finding the true meaning in the translations of the scriptures. For example, the word perfect  is not translated correctly. Perfect actually means whole. So it's about our wholeness as we are all whole. Sin has a truer meaning of missing the mark.

Is it possible by having a different perspective on some of the ancient stories it can help you to have more peace?

Is it possible that religion is a necessary first step in learning about spirituality and ancient wisdom?

Hugh shares some of his formula that has taken him years to create around how to move through and let go of your story.  Are you still holding onto your wounded story?

Our conversation dives deep into scriptural truths, ceremonies, the endowment and more. We talk through ancient stories and ancient wisdom that you will want to dive into with us!

To follow Hugh and to learn more about what he does head to his website.

LINKS:

https://www.mustangmedicineevents.com

IG: @mustang_medicine_

To grab your ticket for our upcoming event head to: https://www.amandajoyloveland.com/leanin

Let's stay in touch!

IG: @amanda.joy.loveland
FB Amanda Joy Loveland
www.amandajoyloveland.com
YouTube: Amanda Joy Loveland