In this powerful and deeply personal interview, Jared and Camille share their intertwined experiences within the Mormon Church, from their early faith and leadership roles to their eventual departure.
Jared’s story begins with his upbringing in a devoted LDS family, his basketball career, and his mission in Chile under leaders like Jeffrey Holland and Brad Wilcox. He opens up about confronting fraudulent baptisms, an unexpected interview with Apostle Richard G. Scott, and the pressures of meeting high expectations. His service as a Mormon bishop during the COVID-19 pandemic exposed him to the immense demands of church leadership, from counseling struggling couples to handling financial aid with limited resources. The weight of these responsibilities, coupled with mental health struggles, led him to question long-held beliefs.
Camille’s journey unfolds through her struggles with modesty teachings, faith, and mental health. As a teenager, she was shamed for her clothing choices and internalized the message that her role was to make others comfortable. She later navigated the expectations placed on her as a bishop’s wife while dealing with postpartum depression and Hashimoto’s disease. Her faith crisis deepened as she witnessed the Church’s treatment of LGBTQ+ youth and the lack of support for struggling members.
Together, Jared and Camille faced mounting pressures as their family’s entire social structure revolved around the Church. Camille eventually stopped attending, feeling emotionally drained, while Jared wrestled with his responsibilities as a Mormon bishop. The breaking point came when he suffered a severe mental health crisis, ultimately leading to his release in December 2022.
Their departure from the Church was met with silence—no one asked why they left, and they felt invisible in their community. Moving to Draper, they found healing outside of the Mormon Church, reconnecting with each other and redefining their beliefs. They discuss the pain of leaving, the loss of friendships, and the struggles of stepping away from an institution that shaped their identities.
Now, they focus on love, honesty, and living in the present. This interview explores the cost of faith, the resilience of personal growth, and the evolving nature of relationships beyond the walls of organized religion.
Join us as Jared and Camille share their story of transformation, offering insight, hope, and understanding to those on similar paths.
One Response
I loved this interview. I’m going to be 78 years old next month and left the church officially 40 plus years ago. I actually left intellectually in my teens in the 60s, didn’t go on a mission ( went into the Air Force for 4 years), became active in the 70s due to girl friend while I was going to college active and active in student wards. I’m commenting because I heard the work “authentic” several times and so related as to why I left Mormonism. Didn’t relate to a religion or philosophy that restricted authentic expression and through obedience to religious doctrine forced to became a Mormon cookie cutter personality. Rebelled from that, didn’t respect the “authority” of white old men in Salt Lake speaking for Jesus or God. Thanks for sharing your story. If you ever decide to form a “group” on supporting authenticity I would love to participate.