Alyssa Grenfell
Alyssa Grenfell | |
|---|---|
| Born | Alyssa Diane Grenfell Carpenter[1] October 27, 1992 |
| Years active | 2023–present |
| YouTube information | |
| Channel | |
| Years active | 2023–present |
| Subscribers | 532 thousand |
| Views | 260 million |
| Last updated: November 8, 2025 | |
| Website | mormontruths |
Alyssa Diane Grenfell Carpenter (born October 27, 1992), known as Alyssa Grenfell, is an American author, YouTuber, and former member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). She is best known for her social media content and her memoir How to Leave the Mormon Church: An Exmormon's Guide to Rebuilding After Religion (2023).
Background
Alyssa Grenfell was raised in a family of LDS Church members and attended Brigham Young University (BYU),[2] where she adhered to the church's social and religious guidelines. At 23, she was married in the church's Payson Utah Temple, filling traditional expectations of her upbringing.[3][4] Grenfell has stated she is a descendant of Sanford Porter, one of the first two hundred Mormon converts, who founded the town of Porterville, Utah.[5]
Grenfell's departure from the LDS Church began in her mid-20s. Key motivations included disillusionment with the church’s teachings on gender roles,[6] marriage, and personal autonomy. Her personal revelations, coupled with historical and cultural critiques of the church, deepened her conviction to leave.[7]
After moving to New York City in 2017, Grenfell publicly shared her journey of faith deconstruction on social media platforms such as YouTube and TikTok.[8] She now documents her time as a Mormon on social media,[9] delving into the rules she had to follow and what her day-to-day life looked like.[10]
Career
Her book, How to Leave the Mormon Church: An Exmormon's Guide to Rebuilding After Religion (2023, ISBN 9798989310517), explores her personal journey of leaving the LDS Church and provides guidance for others undergoing similar experiences.[11] It combines memoir-style storytelling with practical advice for navigating life after leaving a high-demand religious community. It also addresses challenges such as redefining relationships, finding a new spiritual identity, and confronting religious trauma.[12]
Personal life
Grenfell currently lives in Austin, Texas, with her husband and two children.[12]
See also
References
- ^ "Carpenter Alyssa Diane Grenfell | GovSalaries".
- ^ Laing, Sarah (2024-12-02). "Utah Hair is Ultra-Long, Smoothly Curled and Lighting up FYPs. Let's Take a Closer Look". The Kit. Retrieved 2024-12-20.
- ^ Wells, Georgia (2025-09-02). "'Exmo' Influencers Mount a TikTok War Against the Mormon Church". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2026-02-19.
- ^ Porter, Christie (2024-10-10). "Exmormon Author, Alyssa Grenfell Discusses her New Book: How to Leave The Mormon Church". Salt Lake Magazine. Retrieved 2024-12-20.
- ^ Grenfell, Alyssa (2025-08-08). How I Told My Family I Wanted to Leave the Mormon Church (Video). Retrieved 2025-09-20 – via YouTube.
- ^ "MSN". www.msn.com. Retrieved 2024-12-20.
- ^ "MSN". www.msn.com. Retrieved 2024-12-20.
- ^ "Ex-Mormon Explains Why It's So Easy To Spot A Member Of The Church Based On Looks". Bored Panda. 2024-04-16. Retrieved 2024-12-20.
- ^ Lieber, Chavie (2024-10-17). "Everyone's Talking About Utah Hair". WSJ. Retrieved 2024-12-20.
- ^ "Ex-Mormon reveals what 'soft swinging' actually is as new show exposes surprising reality of the religion". Tyla. 2024-09-18. Retrieved 2024-12-20.
- ^ Grenfell, Alyssa; Dehlin, John (2023-01-07). How to Leave the Mormon Church: An Exmormon's Guide to Rebuilding After Religion. Alyssa Grenfell. ISBN 979-8-9893105-0-0.
- ^ a b "I was born in the Mormon church — premarital sex was as bad as murder". Metro. 2024-05-11. Retrieved 2024-12-20.