Jesus Without Joseph: Following Christ After Leaving Mormonism: A Study Guide

Many people have left the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to pursue the historic, biblical Christian faith. Thus the title of this workbook is a reference to the choice many have made to follow Jesus alone after rejecting the authority of Mormonism and its founder.
Yet the distinctive aspects of Mormon culture and church life make it challenging for former Latter-day Saints to become fully integrated into a traditional Christian church. Like immigrants leaving their homeland to come to a new world, they must negotiate a confusing journey into a new cultural setting. To establish a new identity with a new church body, the ex-Mormon must develop a new worldview, new roots, new stories, new assumptions, new perspectives, new values and new symbols. He or she must adapt to a myriad of perplexing new customs and practices in the life of the local church.
The lessons in this study guide are designed to provide a map for the journey. They should help former Mormons navigate through the differences in culture, as well as through the emotional issues. The goal is to provide a positive trajectory toward a healthy new life as part of a Christian church.
The content is based, in part, on the author's own experiences as an ex-Mormon and as a pastor in Utah for over 30 years. It also draws upon extensive research identifying the factors that most commonly help or hinder former Latter-day Saints from connecting with a new congregation.
The study and interaction facilitated by this workbook will lead many former Latter-day Saints to greater peace and confidence in their faith journey, and to a deeply satisfying relationship not only with Jesus Christ but also with a new faith community.