The Dark Side of Growing Up a Girl in the Mormon Church

Known for her uncensored TikTok @lifetaketwo, Jennie Gage expresses the dark side of being raised in the Mainstream Mormon church. She was groomed to be a stay at home wife and mother, with so much emphasis placed on virtue and virginity. When she was ass*ulted at 14, she was told to repent and read a book authored by a high LDS authority which said she would be better off dead than without her virtue. When she didn’t succeed, she gave her life even more to the church and when leaders, years later, told her to marry a man/stranger who had also just taken advantage of her, she called off her engagement to the love of her life and complied. Though devout and active members of the church, her parents were not allowed to attend her temple wedding due to extreme poverty making them unable to pay tithing.

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Chapter Marks

00:00:00 Intro
00:03:40 The meaning behind Jennie's TikTok handle "Life Take Two"
00:05:04 It starts with Jennie's parents' involvement with the Mormon Church (mother devout, father a non believer)
00:11:39 Jennie's mother and father's different stances on pre martial s*x
00:13:08 Growing up with Mormon purity culture and object lessons
00:16:37 Thin line between needing to be attractive, and being considered a "sIut"
00:22:29 The Mormon men in her college past not respecting boundaries
00:24:50 14 yr old Jennie's mother reads her diary, and blames her for a boy forces himself on her
00:27:42 Jennie goes to see the bishop, is blamed and reprimanded
00:29:33 As penance, Jennie has to read The Miracle of Forgiveness
00:30:27 TW: Suic*de attempt
00:32:06 An LDS therapist is assigned to Jennie, mom explains the attempt was worse than the r*pe for her salvation
00:35:28 More pun*shment came in the form of public shaming
00:39:04 The No-Kissing pack Jennie made when she went off to college
00:41:13 Jennie dated a lot in college
00:42:37 Jennie felt she had no other choice than being a wife and mother
00:44:35 Jennie's BYU counselor advised she take "Marriage and Dating" class
00:46:21 2 months after college Jennie had her first marriage proposal
00:49:18 Jennie's fiancé went to serve a mission, and she never saw him again
00:53:46 What caused Jennie to break off the engagement
00:55:31 How Jennie felt she was indoctrinated
00:58:38 How a stranger replaced himself as her fiancé, and married her within 6 weeks
01:15:28 Jennie's parents weren't allowed to attend the temple ceremony because they were behind on tithing
01:21:44 What pt 2 to Jennie's story looks like
01:25:03 Linda, listen

Theme Song Produced and Composed by Christian Guevara

**Disclaimer: Thanks for joining us at Cults to Consciousness. This storytelling podcast is meant to be for entertainment purposes only and does not substitute for medical advice. We may discuss triggering topics and we ask that you make your personal mental health a priority. Lastly, the opinions of our guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the host.**

[jaccaj]

Ok. First off, any adult who calls a minor child a "slut" should be the one who is ashamed of themselves!

[nehmchan]

Because of this channel, when 3 missionaries (I live in a suburb in WA) knocked on my door, I asked them if they needed water or snacks. I made sure to tell them if they were out and hungry, to come back and let me know. They looked like babies. Idk how old they are, but they looked so so young. I've also explained to my fiancé about them more than likely being separated from their families. We aren't a religious household, but we are a kind home. Thank you for taking the time and explaining the human behavior behind the experiences we see. It helps remove the confusion/anger from the random people that are forced to interrupt the peace of the day.

[jennifercornman]

The psychological abuse of that church on kids should be a crime

[Daniboo]

I was raised reformed Presbyterian and remember being summoned before the elders and sitting in a room, door closed, with 6 grown MEN. No one should go through that. Especially when "what you did" wasn't even your fault.

[joslyncreager]

The idea of consent is so non-existent in the Mormon Church. I didn't really know what it was until I met my boyfriend. Every step every time he asks if what he is doing is ok. My whole teen and twenties was trying to avoid any situation where I didn't know how to say no. You learn how to say yes to every calling, say yes to whatever your parents tell you, say yes to what your grandparents tell you, and say yes to what all your leaders tell you. You never learn how to say no.

[rjglenn]

We need a "same shit different cult" Shirt 😂

[kayleeestrada]

I have been following Jennie for a few months now. I am so happy to see this collaboration! Break the Silence. Break the Cycle.

[olddeon]

After all the stories about the fundamentalist Mormons, I forgot that the regular mainline Mormon church can also be pretty wild/gross.

[neonsky]

Bishops should feel like dirty old men for asking these young girls to describe their personel sexual experiences. Disgusting!

[marykbergen]

I just wanted to give 14 year old Jennie a big hug watching this!!! How traumatizing!!!!

[jackiemyers]

She turns 50 in 4 days??? Ain't no way. She looks about 30.

[Boxerluver]

For any young girls watching, please know you can SAY NO, if you do not want someone touching you!

[audreyoberg]

I wish I could say I was surprised by the lack of compassion, but I’m not. Just one example, my brother was diagnosed with type one bipolar disorder after a very public manic episode. The people in our small ward practically shunned him because he “must’ve done something awful in order to be possessed by an evil spirit”. This was in 2018. No empathy for his mental health. It made everything so much worse. He’s the most kind and empathetic person I know. I hope my son will grow up to be half the man he is. He’s still in the church and I just wish he could see how wrong that was.

[CrazyDog_Lady]

I wish more people were focusing on her story, and what she said, and not how good she looks for her age… 🙄
This was a very inspirational story. Thank you so much for sharing this.

[cathyhudnall]

I just wanted to reach through the screen and give Jennie the biggest hug as she was telling us about "talking" to the Bishop. I'm so glad you weren't successful and are here to tell us your story. I'm 61 years old and was brought up in the southern Baptist church (a whole story in itself 😳) and had never heard of the Mormon church until my late teens. All I knew about it was it was a different "religion". I've not gone to any church since I was 18 and could make my own decision. The only exception being my mother's funeral 30 years ago. I do like channels such as yours, both of you. I'm curious but not enough to actually go to other churches. I'm sorry for rambling, but I'm just glad the two of you dodged a bullet as well. Love your channels! ❤

[smarie]

Thank you both. Shelise, you are a gifted interviewer. You have a nack for knowing what to say and when to say nothing. You are gifted at helping people open up, making them feel heard and listening with empathy. I’ve learned a lot about the topics featured from your guests, but more about being a supportive listener from watching you.

[jandavis]

My heart goes out to this lovely woman. I'm so glad she is speaking up. ❤

[karenlivesvicariously]

I grew up in a very Mormon town. I had a lot of friends who were LDS. I can’t help but wonder if any of them are truly happy over 40 years later. This channel has been very eye-opening about so many different religious cults. Thanks to those who share their stories, I wish you well.

[BeachLover]

Shelise, just when I think your channel couldn’t get any better, you raise the bar - again! Thank you Jennie for being so vulnerable in sharing your story. I’m excited to hear part two!!

[war]

I follow her on TikTok and she spoke to my soul when she talks about how important it is to be a woman and being employed. I started a new career at 33, for my daughter, to be a provider for her and she kept me going when I was having a lot of doubt and receiving a lot of pushback from my daughters father. So thank you.