Transitioning form one church to another is no easy feat. Especially when diverging from a consuming and binding religion such as Mormonism. My parents alike were raised in the tight grip of the church, left with little room to think for themselves or make their own choices. In adulthood, they gained the opportunity to develop a mature perspective on the life style; In consequence, a drastic change followed. After months of discussion, familial disapproval and personal conflict, they concluded that their children were not going to experience adolescence under the same pressure they did. I was seven years old when my family left the Mormon church with the intention to attend an alternative; However, friction formed between extended family and …show more content…
Ever Sunday night teenagers swarmed the church for a program that was just as much a social event as it was a bible study. It became the thing to do, so as a freshman in high school still searching for my place, I was inclined to take part. For the first year or so I felt no religious pressure. I simply enjoyed meeting new people, laughing with my friends, and smiling at the boy a few pews over. To my dismay, the fad began to pass and The Lakes lost some of its charm. The gospel became more prominent as the crowd dwindled in numbers, leaving only the dedicated students. My closest friends fell into this category and I continued to join them out of habit. I never put much thought or concern into the teachings every week, but when my equally as uninterested peers no longer were there to hide behind, I was pushed far out of my comfort zone. The students dominating the youth group were raised in strong Christian households and were comfortable with their faith. I didn’t share the same familiarity and certainty in the environment we were immersed in; To combat my unease, I subconsciously became very defensive. Resentment grew out of discomfort, creating an unjustifiable dislike for all members of the youth group. Ironically, I internally mocked The Lakes, a program I voluntarily attended for over two years. My attendance spread thinner and thinner as my disapproval grew stronger and stronger. Christianity had