Kristin walks us through her decade-long Mormon deconstruction — the questions she kept "putting on the shelf," the doctrines no bishop could explain (three degrees of heaven, secret temple garments, parents waiting outside their own children's weddings), and the grief of losing both parents that sent her back to the temple one last time. Then her son came out as gay, and the choice became unavoidable: the church or her child. She chose her child — and discovered that real love never should have asked.
Apostate. Heretic. Backslider. Every high-control religion has a word for the ones who walk away. In this episode of Untamed Grace, Jeromy sits down with Kristin Montgomery, who spent her life inside generations-deep Mormonism — ancestors who crossed the plains with Brigham Young, daily early-morning seminary, three-hour Sundays, church callings, tithing requirements, and temple recommends — and who eventually earned the church's harshest label the only way you can: by walking out with her honesty intact.
Kristin walks us through her decade-long Mormon deconstruction — the questions she kept "putting on the shelf," the doctrines no bishop could explain (three degrees of heaven, secret temple garments, parents waiting outside their own children's weddings), and the grief of losing both parents that sent her back to the temple one last time. Then her son came out as gay, and the choice became unavoidable: the church or her child. She chose her child — and discovered that real love never should have asked.
But here's the twist that gives this conversation its power: Jeromy grew up evangelical and was taught that Mormons were a cult. Kristin grew up Mormon and was taught the same thing about evangelicals. Yet their stories are nearly identical — the fear, the shame, the slow erosion of self-trust, the claim to be the one true church. Together they trace the shared DNA of every high-control religion, whatever name is on the building. Today, Kristin is connected to Mama Dragons, the worldwide support community for mothers of LGBTQ+ children, and has found a bigger, kinder, more inclusive God — one she meets in nature, in meditation, and sometimes in prayers to a Heavenly Mother.
Whether you're an ex-Mormon, an exvangelical, a parent of an LGBTQ+ child, or someone still quietly placing questions on the shelf, this episode is for you. The label they gave you was meant to shame you back into line. It might just be a receipt — proof you paid the full cost of honesty.