‘Secret Lives of Mormon Wives’ Star Is…Leaving the Mormon Church?
A new beginning.
Taylor Frankie Paul, known to many from The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, recently shared that she’s “detaching” from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, the community she grew up in. This announcement came on April 5, the same day as Easter, marking a significant shift in her personal journey. It’s a big step for anyone, especially someone whose public persona has been so tied to her faith.
According to E News, Paul, who is 31, took to Instagram Stories to explain her decision, using a bandaged heart emoji to convey the sentiment. She expressed that she was “born and raised Mormon (Ids) and I’ll always have love and respect towards it.” She even mentioned that she plans to “continue to go with my family at times,” which shows she’s not cutting ties completely, but rather redefining her relationship with the institution.
The popular TV star clarified her spiritual beliefs, stating, “I strongly believe in Christ, God, the bible, the divine. I believe we are loved whether we are praying in church building or from a bathroom floor at home.” Paul also mentioned that she’s “experienced grace and love from amazing people that aren’t sure what they believe if at all and that’s okay too.” For her, it seems like “there is more out there to learn,” and she shared this update as a “release.”
Taylor seems to be leaning into sources of peace and comfort during a tumultuous time
Paul’s Easter celebrations, shown in subsequent Instagram stories, included coloring an egg and bunny-filled banner, alongside music that’s been a source of comfort for her. She specifically highlighted Buffalo Traffic Jam’s song Hanging on Hope, noting it’s been “on replay lately.” This period of spiritual exploration comes as Paul navigates an incredibly rocky phase in her personal life.
In recent weeks, she’s been caught up in a police investigation concerning an alleged domestic dispute with her ex-boyfriend, Dakota Mortensen. The Draper City Police Department confirmed on March 16 that there was an open “domestic assault investigation” involving both Paul and Mortensen, with “allegations made in both directions.” They had made contact with the involved parties on February 24 and 25, but further details weren’t released due to the ongoing nature of the investigation.
Adding to the complexity, her season of The Bachelorette was canceled after a video of a physical altercation between her and Dakota from 2023 became public. ABC confirmed on March 19 that they would not be moving forward with season 22, stating their focus was “on supporting the family.”
Amidst these challenges, Paul has been relying heavily on her faith. On April 5, the same day she announced her detachment from the church, she shared an Instagram post reflecting on what she described as “the last 40 days felt like hell on earth.” She detailed praying for strength during panic attacks, feeling her body breaking down from distress, and receiving “undeniable signs” that “I am with you,” which she plans to share more about later.
Her post included a montage of pictures, some showing her visibly upset, others depicting her reading Bible passages and reflecting on her faith through texts with loved ones. Paul continued in her caption, “I’ve prayed since I was young and never strayed away because I believe he wants us to ask for help especially during our lowest points.” “However, instead of just asking I switched over to thanking him at the end of each day no matter how low I felt.”
The public scrutiny surrounding her relationship with Dakota Mortensen has been intense
A source close to the situation shared that “Taylor owns her mistakes, all she wants to do is protect her son, Ever, from stories in the press or anything negative about his father and wants him to think well of his father.” Following ABC’s decision, Paul’s representative released a statement on March 19. They confirmed that “Taylor is very grateful for ABC’s support as she prioritizes her family’s safety and security.”
The statement further detailed a difficult history, indicating that “After years of silently suffering extensive mental and physical abuse as well as threats of retaliation, Taylor is finally gaining the strength to face her accuser and taking steps to ensure that she and her children are protected from any further harm.”
The representative also emphasized a broader message, stating, “There are too many women who are suffering in silence as they survive aggressive, jealous ex-partners who refuse to let them move on with their lives.” Her rep concluded by confirming that Paul was “currently exploring all of her options, seeking support, and preparing to own and share her story.”
Amidst this very public and personal upheaval, Paul has received a lot of support. Her Mormon Wives costar, Jessi Draper, sent a heartfelt message, writing, “I love you, you’re the strongest person I know.”
(featured image: Hulu)
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