A number of prominent celebrities have openly shared their experiences growing up in religious Mormon families, where they were taught to abstain from numerous behaviors considered sinful, such as alcohol consumption, tobacco use, drug involvement, and same-sex relationships. Although many of these stars have diverged from their original beliefs as they matured, they still regard their Mormon upbringing as a significant component of their identity and personal development.

Explore the reflections and insights from these stars regarding their Mormon childhood experiences and how it shaped their lives…

Amy Adams was raised in the Mormon church until her parents’ divorce when she was just 11 years old. Reflecting on her childhood, Amy acknowledges that she was too young at the time of their departure to feel a strong spiritual connection to the church, and instead, it felt more like losing a community that had been integral to her upbringing.

“I grew up as a Mormon, and that influenced my values more than my beliefs,” she shared with The Telegraph. “I often feel the weight of a lie, and I’m quite hard on myself. The guilt instilled by my religious upbringing lingers. I believe that you cannot truly misbehave without feeling remorse — at least I can’t… What I still value from those teachings is the ability to bring joy to those around me through positivity and hope.”

Musician Benson Boone was raised within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints but admits that he never truly connected with the faith on a personal level. Reflecting on his formative years, he acknowledges that his experiences did not resonate with those of his peers within the church.

“Growing up, many church members would share their personal revelations, experiences, and feelings,” he confided to Rolling Stone. “I never felt those experiences as vividly as they did, which left me feeling confused and frustrated. I was often too afraid to express my feelings for fear of rejection, as I struggled to accept that I wasn’t experiencing what everyone else seemed to.”

Benson eventually opened up to a friend who shared similar sentiments, leading him to realize that he didn’t want to be confined to a single religious perspective. Today, he embraces a diverse array of beliefs gathered from various religions and philosophies, allowing him to shape his own spiritual journey.

Katherine Heigl was raised in a Mormon family during her childhood in Connecticut. Reflecting on her past, she reveals that her parents converted to the faith while grappling with the profound loss of her older brother, who tragically died in a car accident. Katherine was merely seven years old when her parents embraced the faith, and she cherishes many positive memories associated with the church. Although she no longer identifies with the religion, she has integrated certain values into her adult life, such as her choice to abstain from cohabitation with her husband, Josh Kelley, prior to marriage.

“That [Mormon] structure and discipline were really beneficial for me,” she shared with Good Housekeeping. “I had a childhood that was filled with respect and adherence to my parents’ guidelines.”

When Jewel was born in 1974, her parents were practicing Mormons, and her father, Antz, attended Brigham Young University. After his graduation, the family relocated to Alaska, and Jewel was raised in a devout household until her parents divorced when she was just eight years old. Following her mother’s departure, her father became responsible for raising Jewel and her two brothers, leading to significant changes in their household dynamics. Eventually, when Antz fathered another child out of wedlock, he faced excommunication from the church.

“I grew up in a very traditional Mormon family, but everything shifted when my mother left. My dad began drinking and became physically abusive, which led me to move out [at 15],” she recounted to People. “He was consumed by rage and often yelled at us.”

David Archuleta was raised in Utah as part of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He even paused his music career to embark on a mission trip to Chile. However, as he transitioned into adulthood, David experienced a profound “crisis of faith” while grappling with his sexuality and his role within the church, which led to depression and suicidal thoughts.

“Within the church, they preach that homosexuality is a sin and of the devil. I would think, ‘Oh no, I don’t want to be associated with that evil. So I would pray and fast, trying to be obedient,” he revealed to NBC News. “There were times I thought ending my life would be better than embracing my love for the same sex.”

Shortly after coming out as queer, David began reconciling his identity with the church’s doctrines. Following numerous discussions with church leaders about the faith’s perspectives on the LGBTQ community, he and his mother made the decision to leave the church in 2022.

“Now, I want to show others that I left the church and I am genuinely happy,” David expressed. “Often, in more closed communities, people try to convince you that leaving will lead to unhappiness. But I’m much happier where I am now. This is a better place for me.”

Ryan Gosling was raised in a small Canadian town where his family practiced Mormonism. In the early 2000s, Ryan described himself as “spiritual but non-denominational,” stating that his upbringing as a Mormon brought great pride to his mother and sister. However, as he grew older, Ryan reflected on the changes in his family’s spirituality, indicating they were less devout than before.

“We were raised quite religiously,” he told The Guardian. “My mom acknowledges it, saying, ‘You were raised by a spiritual zealot.’ Although she has changed over the years, at that time, it was deeply intertwined in every aspect of our lives – from our meals to our thought processes.”

Siblings Derek and Julianne Hough, like many other professionals from Dancing With The Stars, were raised in Utah within the Mormon faith. Although Derek and Julianne have since distanced themselves from the church, Julianne fondly recalls her experiences during that time. She reminisces about family nights and the joyful interactions with other children involved in the church community.

“It was what it was; I didn’t know any other way. I loved the social aspect; I was known as a child who would go into church and sit on everyone’s lap, giving hugs at three years old. I was the little greeter,” she shared on the Armchair Expert podcast.

Julianne also mentioned that there were challenges associated with the faith, particularly the relentless pursuit of perfectionism. Women, in particular, were expected to “follow the rules and obey, ensuring that your family is the best and most perfect to serve God and your husband, who is deemed the provider.” Eventually, Julianne chose to leave the faith.

Eliza Dushku grew up in the Mormon church, where notable politician Mitt Romney served as her bishop. As of 2012, she expressed that she no longer considers herself “very Mormon,” primarily due to the faith’s stance on the LGBTQ+ community; however, she remains grateful for her upbringing.

“There will always be a part of me that is Mormon,” she shared with The Salt Lake Tribune.

Panic! at the Disco frontman Brendon Urie was raised in “a very strict religious family” as part of the Mormon faith, but he began rebelling during his teenage years. Looking back, he recalls needing to sit down with his parents at the age of 16 to confess that he had been secretly engaging in partying, using drugs, and visiting strip clubs. While he distanced himself from the church, he recognizes that many foundational values from his Mormon upbringing still influence his music and artistry.

“I still carry many positive values from my upbringing in the Church; there was a sense of community. However, I often felt heavily judged by those who wanted to look down on me for not adhering to their standards,” Brendon shared. “That judgmental atmosphere contrasts sharply with the warmth I experience while touring and engaging with music. Interacting with fans and fellow musicians has become a new form of faith for me, one that is overwhelmingly beautiful and enlightening.”

Imagine Dragons singer Dan Reynolds grew up in a “very conservative” Mormon family. He attended Brigham Young University and even served a mission in Omaha, Nebraska. However, he no longer identifies with the Mormon faith and admits he has “always struggled” with religious beliefs. Looking back, he describes his 20s and early 30s as a time filled with anger towards faith, feeling that he had been deceived.

“There are certainly aspects of the Mormon faith that I believe are harmful, especially to our LGBTQ youth,” he told People. “At times, I felt quite isolated from my family, but I love them dearly and maintain close relationships. I’ve chosen a different path for myself and must love myself enough to follow my truth.”

He continued, “[I] I have witnessed much of the harm that comes from it for me personally, but it also seems to work extremely well for my family, and they are all healthy, happy individuals. As I’ve matured, I no longer harbor anger towards it. If something is beneficial for someone, that is truly wonderful and rare, and I don’t wish to interfere with it.”