When I hear that another series is appearing that wants to reveal 'the truth' about our church, I sigh – not because I don't want to admit that things can go wrong, but because I know that such productions almost always give a distorted picture. This time the series is called Surviving Mormonism, a miniseries by Bravo. In the trailer, there is talk of 'allegations of abuse within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints'.
Whether those stories happened exactly that way, I don't really find that important. What bothers me most is that people automatically assume such situations are the norm within our church – when that simply isn't the case.
Let's be honest: in every large organization, and therefore also in our church, there are people who make mistakes or do wrong things. That is inevitable, because we are all human. Whether the events from that series actually happened is not even my biggest concern. What does bother me, however, is the suggestion that this is the normal course of affairs is within our church. That an isolated negative experience or the actions of a 'handful of bad apples' are used to portray an entire group of people in a certain way.
The framework of the series creates the impression that church membership is a struggle, something you have to 'survive'. These kinds of productions, as was also the case with earlier series, mainly highlight the negative aspects of our faith.
The heartwarming counter-movement
What I find much more important, and especially much more beautiful, however, is the general reaction of thousands, even tens of thousands of other members. They have decided to divert attention from the negative framing and started a viral trend in which they often humorously and self-deprecatingly show how they face the challenges, or precisely the beautiful, everyday aspects, of surviving life in the church ‘survive’. They turn the mirror around in the best possible way.
This spontaneous movement, which you find if you search for the term ‘surviving Mormonism’, shows the real experience of our faith. It is a stream of small, beautiful moments that reflect true life in the church.
According to Deseret News it all started small: a reaction here and there, a funny photo, a short video. But within a few hours, it became a flood of messages – a “firehose of memes and testimonies”, as the newspaper described it.
A member from Utah County, Jared Bell, for example, posted a photo from his doorbell camera showing a brother bringing cookies. His caption read:
“‘Surviving as a Mormon’ apparently means my fellow member is at the door with cookies to ask how my family is doing.”
Another member wrote with a wink:
“For me, “surviving as a Mormon” is mostly about trying to impress the girls in my ward while carrying chairs after Sunday service.”
Surviving Mormonism, but it’s just me carrying a bunch of chairs to impress girls at my ward. pic.twitter.com/jVM1bC4gOp
And someone else posted a photo of the annual chili festival in his ward, with the caption:
““Surviving as a Mormon” mainly means trying to eat another spoonful of chili to honor everyone who participated.”
“Surviving Mormonism”, but it’s me trying make room in my stomach to honor every contestant at our ward’s annual chile cook off pic.twitter.com/ZdhmReRLRl
Amidst the humorous posts, many sincere testimonies also appeared. A woman wrote:
“The gospel – and with it the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints – is the greatest force for good in my life.”
On the internet, you can see that thousands of members chose to respond in a lighthearted yet hopeful way: by showing how they “survive” thanks to the positive aspects of their faith.
Why this is so meaningful
What struck me is how clearly these reactions show what faith truly is. It is not something that happens in TV studios or headlines, but in everyday life. In a neighbor ringing the doorbell with cookies. In young people helping each other move. In families praying together. In a young mother taking an old sister home after the service. In a church hall full of volunteers carrying chairs and laughing.
The series Surviving Mormonism suggests that you have to “survive” in our church. But the thousands of reactions under #ThrivingMormonism show just the opposite: that people in this community learn to live. Not perfectly, not without difficulties, but full of meaning.
There is indeed pain and disappointment – no one denies that. But it would be unfair to use those few shadows to obscure the entire light. The true power of our faith lies in those small, gentle gestures that never make it to television, but in which the spirit of Christ is most strongly felt.
#ThrivingMormonism: not surviving but thriving thanks to faith in Christ
This whole event reminds me that faith is not something we have to defend, but something we have to show. Not through big words, but through small deeds. By serving, forgiving, listening, laughing.
So yes, let the world look at Surviving Mormonism. Let them bring their stories.
But I prefer to look at #ThrivingMormonism — at the living reality of thousands of people who are not just surviving, but thriving.
They form the real series: the series of goodness, connection, and faith in action.
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