Here's my deconstruction story friends!  From faithful member of the church of jesus christ of latter-day saints, preparing to become a seminary teacher to completely losing my testimony overnight.  How does that happen?  It felt sudden and disorienting, but as I look back I realize that many issues were mounting in my mind.  Questions about the construct of sin which seemed paradoxical to the teachings of a loving God in heaven. The legalistic approach that the church seemed to be taking which also contrasted with what I'd been taught of a loving Jesus.  The cognitive dissonance during the year before my faith crisis was significant and what's crazy: I wasn't even aware of it!!  Belief is fascinating, isn't it??  What we're willing to do in order to stay safe... to keep that essential worldview intact.  And the way I view this now is that the dissonance I was experiencing was necessary for me to actually see what was inside the box.  There's no way I could have accepted it even one year earlier.  It was too big a threat to my family's safety.  And I wonder how much of my subconscious mind knew that I had support on the other side.  That has made all the difference in the world.  Please tell me in the comments what your faith deconstruction was like.  Was it all at once?  Was it gradual?  Or do you think it was a combination of both?  ------ WELCOME TO FAITH UNRAVELED:  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@faith.unraveled?_t=8kISaVAOq9j&_r=1 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/faith.unraveled?igsh=NGVhN2U2NjQ0Yg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr   Jamie and Elisha invite you to join us on our journey of unraveling the complexities of Mormonism after a lifetime within the church. With a vibrant community of over 70,000 on TikTok, we understand that the challenges of faith deconstruction transcend any single denomination. Across the globe, millions are awakening to new perspectives, questioning norms, and seeking truth in their spiritual paths.   In our series, we delve deep into the awakening process, exploring the impacts of patriarchy, toxic positivity, purity culture, and heteronormativity on our faith experiences. But our exploration doesn't end there. We're committed to reconstruction—rebuilding our faith, beliefs, and sense of self after the unraveling.   A highlight of our series is the opportunity for you to shape our discussions. Submit your burning questions to us on Instagram at Faith Unraveled, and stay tuned as we devote entire episodes to answering them directly.   Join us as we navigate the twists and turns of faith, embracing the complexities and uncertainties while forging our unique spiritual paths. Welcome to Faith Unraveled!