Podcast Summary

Podcast: The Journal.
Episode: ‘Exmo’ Influencers Are Taking On Mormonism
Date: October 21, 2025
Hosts: Jessica Mendoza & Ryan Knutson
Main Guest: Georgia Wells (WSJ tech reporter)
Featured Story: Alyssa Grenfell (Ex Mormon content creator)

Overview:

This episode explores the rise of "Exmo" (Ex Mormon) influencers who are leveraging social media platforms to share personal stories and critiques of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS). The episode dissects why these former believers are resonating with millions, how the LDS Church is responding, and the broader implications for religious identity and retention in the social media era.

Key Discussion Points

1. Alyssa Grenfell’s Story: From Devout Mormon to Exmo Influencer

• Background:
  • Alyssa Grenfell, raised Mormon, baptized at age 8, attended BYU, served as a missionary, and married in a Mormon temple (00:10–00:48).
    • “So many memories of my childhood are in church, something called Activity Days Mutual.” — Alyssa Grenfell (00:30)
    • “I participated in an ultra secret ceremony that takes place in a Mormon temple called the Endowment.” — Alyssa Grenfell (00:48)
• Questioning Faith:
  • In 2016, began doubting, then left and shared her journey online, now with over a million followers (01:07–01:33).
    • “Maybe I can just keep believing. Maybe there’s something I’ll still find.” — Alyssa Grenfell (01:07)
    • “And then after all my doubting, I finally left.” — Alyssa Grenfell (01:18)
• Exmo Ecosystem:
  • Alyssa is part of a larger Ex Mormon community online, making content about leaving the church (01:33).
  • “And as a growing wave of ex Mormon influencers critique the church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is fighting back with its own social media content.” — Narrator/Host (01:40)

2. The Exmo Content Wave & Why It Resonates

• Discovery by Journalists:
  • Georgia Wells, a WSJ tech reporter, stumbled upon Exmo TikTok, leading her down a “rabbit hole of ex Mormon land.” (03:30)
• Content Focus:
  • Critiques often center on gender roles, secretive rituals, polygamy, and the church’s vast wealth (04:08–05:00).
    • “Here’s a list of what Mormon men can do in the church that women can absolutely not do.” — Alyssa Grenfell (04:31)
    • “Polygamy, which included marrying girls as young as 14 and marrying the wives of other men in secret.” — Alyssa Grenfell (04:45)
    • “The Mormon Church is one of the wealthiest churches on the planet.” — Alyssa Grenfell (04:55)
• Shock Value & Catharsis:
  • Alyssa sometimes wears sacred temple clothing in videos—a move considered sacrilegious by active Mormons but is, for some Exmos, cathartic (05:03–05:50).
    • “On the one hand, there’s this kind of disturbed feeling … but on the other, many of them have described it as cathartic.” — Georgia Wells (05:28)

3. Historical & Cultural Context

• Origins & Distinctives of Mormonism:
  • Brief LDS history and unique American origins (06:06–06:19).
  • Emphasis on missionary work, family roles, and persecution history (06:19–07:02).
  • Recurring pop culture attention: "The Book of Mormon" musical, Mitt Romney’s 2012 presidential run (07:08–07:19).

4. Social Media: A Critical Inflection Point

• TikTok/Instagram Impact:
  • Platforms’ algorithms serve Exmo content to users who weren’t explicitly seeking it, amplifying its reach (08:28–09:07).
    • “It was really hard for him to dismiss some of the issues about the church when his feeds were just serving him video after video after video about them.” — Georgia Wells (08:53)
• Why Mormonism Feels Vulnerable:
  • Documented controversial history and conservative doctrines; these details are now instantly shareable and dissected online (09:22–10:15).

5. Core Criticisms in Exmo Content

• Content Themes:
  • Early polygamy, the so-called “death oath,” lack of archaeological evidence, problematic racial teachings, strict sexual morality (09:43–10:35).
    • “I was taught that any sexual sin … were second only to unaliving someone.” — Alyssa Grenfell (10:35)

6. The Church’s Response: Fighting for the Narrative

• Membership Trends:
  • LDS membership in the U.S. is declining (12:10–12:22).
    • “In 2012, roughly 1.8% of Americans identified with Mormonism. Now it's close to half that.” — Georgia Wells (12:10)
• Leadership Concerns:
  • Church leaders see an uptick in young people leaving and attribute part of this to the scale and visibility of Exmo influencer content (13:17–13:54).
• Social Media Counter-Strategy:
  • The church is producing its own short-form social media content, including posts by senior leaders and rank-and-file members (13:59–14:32).
    • “It used to be that missionaries weren't particularly encouraged to be on social media, and now they are.” — Georgia Wells (14:49)

7. Apologists and Pro-Church Content Creators

• Rise of Pro-Church Content:
  • Both the LDS Church and its members, including missionaries, are now active across social platforms (14:43–15:09).
  • Featured: David Snell, a podcaster who counters Exmo narratives by addressing controversies with a faithful perspective (15:34–16:18).
    • “If the only place you're getting information about the faith is from people who left, chances are you're probably not seeing a lot of reasons people choose to join and stay in the church.” — Georgia Wells (16:09)

8. The Emotional Cost and Community of Leaving

• Loss, Fear, and Connection:
  • Exmo creators help people feel less isolated during a profoundly difficult decision; leaving can mean believing you'll never reunite with family in the afterlife (16:30–17:21).
    • “I deeply hope that every single person who's currently a Mormon is able to walk out and experience the things that I have experienced and felt after leaving the church.” — Alyssa Grenfell (16:30)
    • “I can't think of anything more powerful… because that's forever, that's eternal, that's beyond this one moment.” — Georgia Wells (17:21)
  • Exmo content shows a possible new community and future for those doubting their faith.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “I found myself deep into this rabbit hole of ex Mormon land.” — Georgia Wells (03:30)
• “A Mormon temple is one of the most secretive places on the earth.” — Alyssa Grenfell (04:16)
• “It's a move that practicing Mormons consider very sacrilegious.” — Georgia Wells, on Alyssa wearing temple clothing on camera (05:28)
• “Their [social media] algorithms push videos into the feeds of people who weren't necessarily seeking this content.” — Georgia Wells (08:28)
• “Ex Mormons describe the process of leaving the church as one of the most intense things in their lives.” — Georgia Wells (16:46)
• “It's also encouraged its tens of thousands of missionaries to post Pro Church Content…” — Georgia Wells (14:32)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Alyssa Grenfell’s upbringing & faith journey: 00:05–01:25
• Rise of Exmo content & Georgia Wells’ exploration: 03:24–04:03
• Key criticisms in Exmo content: 04:08–05:50, 09:43–10:35
• Mormon history & broader cultural context: 05:50–07:27
• Social media’s role in amplifying Exmo narratives: 08:28–09:07
• Church’s response & creation of pro-LDS media: 13:54–15:09
• Personal stories, leaving the church & emotional dynamics: 16:18–17:21

Tone and Language

The episode combines direct, personal testimony (Alyssa Grenfell), journalistic objectivity and curiosity (Georgia Wells), and a conversational host style (Jessica Mendoza), maintaining an empathetic, factual, and at times candid tone throughout.

Summary Takeaways

• Social media has turbocharged both criticism of and defenses for the LDS Church, making stories of faith and doubt more public than ever.
• Exmo influencers provide validation and support for those questioning or leaving their Mormon faith, at times provoking strong reactions within and outside the faith community.
• The LDS Church is adapting its communication strategy, encouraging digital evangelism to counterbalance explosive Exmo narratives.
• Leaving the faith is emotionally fraught, often carrying social and spiritual costs, but online community is helping to soften the landing for many.
• The battle for the Mormon narrative is intensifying, with both sides harnessing the viral power of modern connectivity.