Ex-Mormon describes discovering the Church 'is not what it claims to be'
August 26, 2026 at 12:05 PM MT · via YouTube / Mormon Stories Podcast · Summarized by Mormon News from original reporting
Coy Johnston discusses his faith crisis in a Mormon Stories Podcast video published August 25, describing how serious religious study led him to conclude the LDS Church "is not what it claims to be." The video, with 13,619 views in 31 hours and 90 comments, explores Johnston's experience being labeled sinful or demonic for doubting while he was seeking honest answers to doctrinal questions.
Johnston's account reflects a pattern described in faith-transition research: many who leave were deeply committed believers whose questioning grew from taking the religion's truth claims seriously, rather than from sin or wanting an easier path.
More coverage of this story
- YouTube / Nemo the Mormon →August 23, 2026 at 1:00 PM MT
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