LOS ANGELES (AP) — Until quite recently, the prevailing image to outsiders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has been male missionaries wearing white shirts and name tags, evoked by the hit Broadway show 'The Book of Mormon.' But another unofficial face of the male-led church has emerged in American pop culture: digitally savvy, female influencers, often seen sporting athleisure, a giant soda in hand — and varying degrees of adherence to church teachings.
These influencers have found an enthusiastic audience across the country, curious about their faith and families. Some explain the tenets of the church, but others bring attention to the rules they often break — drinking alcohol, engaging in premarital sex, and in one high-profile instance, a 'soft-swinging' scandal that gave rise to the Hulu reality series, 'The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.'
ABC aimed to capitalize on that interest by casting 'Mormon Wives' star Taylor Frankie Paul in 'The Bachelorette,' but had to cancel the already filmed season after a video of a domestic violence incident surfaced.
These viral moments and 'Mormon Wives' project a version of the faith that appears more progressive and lenient than church leadership might endorse. Nancy Ross, an associate professor at Utah Tech University, noted that 'the internet really challenged the church’s ability to maintain its own narratives about itself.'
The church has distanced itself from 'Mormon Wives,' issuing a statement highlighting that media portrayals often resort to stereotypes that can have real-life consequences for believers. Camille N. Johnson, the president of the church’s Relief Society organization, emphasized the importance of seeking trusted sources of information concerning church teachings in light of recent media portrayals.
While some influencers like Lauren Yarro passionately share their faith, others express concern about the representation in shows like 'Mormon Wives.' Critics like Mimi Bascom argue that, although the portrayal could be a net positive, it risks trivializing deeply held beliefs.
The cultural landscape surrounding Latter-day Saints continues to evolve as influencers challenge traditional perceptions and reshape narratives, revealing the complexity and diversity within the church community.
These influencers have found an enthusiastic audience across the country, curious about their faith and families. Some explain the tenets of the church, but others bring attention to the rules they often break — drinking alcohol, engaging in premarital sex, and in one high-profile instance, a 'soft-swinging' scandal that gave rise to the Hulu reality series, 'The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.'
ABC aimed to capitalize on that interest by casting 'Mormon Wives' star Taylor Frankie Paul in 'The Bachelorette,' but had to cancel the already filmed season after a video of a domestic violence incident surfaced.
These viral moments and 'Mormon Wives' project a version of the faith that appears more progressive and lenient than church leadership might endorse. Nancy Ross, an associate professor at Utah Tech University, noted that 'the internet really challenged the church’s ability to maintain its own narratives about itself.'
The church has distanced itself from 'Mormon Wives,' issuing a statement highlighting that media portrayals often resort to stereotypes that can have real-life consequences for believers. Camille N. Johnson, the president of the church’s Relief Society organization, emphasized the importance of seeking trusted sources of information concerning church teachings in light of recent media portrayals.
While some influencers like Lauren Yarro passionately share their faith, others express concern about the representation in shows like 'Mormon Wives.' Critics like Mimi Bascom argue that, although the portrayal could be a net positive, it risks trivializing deeply held beliefs.
The cultural landscape surrounding Latter-day Saints continues to evolve as influencers challenge traditional perceptions and reshape narratives, revealing the complexity and diversity within the church community.
