John and Ruth Halstead will discuss how John’s decision to leave the LDS Church and Ruth’s decision to stay affected their marriage, their family life, and their children. They will discuss how they are trying to integrate John’s new faith, Paganism, with Ruth’s Mormonism, and how they are choosing to raise their children while also making room for them to find their own spiritual paths. They will draw on the concepts of differentiation and intimacy from family systems theory, which have helped them navigate these sensitive topics. While acknowledging the difficulty of their struggle, John and Ruth intend to give hope to other couples who experience faith changes.

John and Ruth Halstead