Alyssa Grenfell


Alyssa Diane Grenfell Carpenter, known as Alyssa Grenfell, is an American author, YouTuber, and former member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 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.

Background

Alyssa Grenfell was raised in a family of LDS Church members and attended Brigham Young University, where she adhered to the church's social and religious guidelines. At 23, she was married in one of the church's temples, filling traditional expectations of her upbringing. Grenfell has claimed to be a descendant of Sanford Porter, one of the first two hundred Mormon converts, who founded the town of Porterville, Utah.
Grenfell's departure from the LDS Church began in her mid-20s. Key motivations included disillusionment with the church’s teachings on gender roles, marriage, and personal autonomy. Her personal revelations, coupled with historical and cultural critiques of the church, deepened her conviction to leave.
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. She now documents her time as a Mormon on social media, delving into the rules she had to follow and what her day-to-day life looked like.

Career

Her book, How to Leave the Mormon Church: An Exmormon's Guide to Rebuilding After Religion, explores her personal journey of leaving the LDS Church and provides guidance for others undergoing similar experiences. 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.

Personal life

Grenfell currently lives in Austin, Texas, with her husband and two children.