Reality television star Layla Taylor has opened up about her complex relationship with the Mormon church and how it continues to impact her family life through her children. The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives cast member revealed that while she has personally left the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, her ex-husband still takes their two sons to Sunday services.
Leaving the Faith Behind
During an exclusive interview with The Independent, Taylor discussed her journey from converting to Mormonism as a teenager to ultimately leaving the religion. She explained that her initial conversion came during a difficult period in her life when she was seeking community and family structure.
"I converted to the church when I was very young and very naive," Taylor confessed. "My reason for converting was just this wanting for a community and the wanting for a family dynamic that I lacked growing up."
The reality star pinpointed several reasons for her departure from the religion, including what she described as the church's history of racism. This included policies that barred Black men from obtaining the priesthood and prevented Black men and women from participating in temple ordinances.
Taylor emphasised that there were many aspects of Mormonism she no longer "aligns with," noting that converts often only learn about the positive aspects initially. "I feel like when you are converting to a religion, you know the good parts, you obviously don't know the otherwise negative parts," she explained.
Co-Parenting Across Religious Differences
Despite her personal separation from the Mormon church, Taylor maintains a respectful co-parenting relationship with her ex-husband, Clayton Wessel. Their two sons, Oliver "Ollie" Clay and Maxwell Dean, continue attending church with their father on Sundays.
Taylor revealed that Wessel is aware the boys don't attend church when they're with her, and surprisingly, this difference hasn't created conflict between them. The arrangement appears to be working smoothly as they navigate their divergent religious paths while raising their children together.
"I'm just trying to teach my kids that they have agency to choose, that if they want to be a part of the Mormon religion, they can do that," Taylor stated. "But I'm also going to encourage them to research other religions and try out other things and just do what feels right for them."
Finding Balance and Gratitude
Despite her criticisms of the church, Taylor expressed gratitude for the role Mormonism played in her life during challenging times. She acknowledged that her religious journey ultimately led her to where she is today, including meeting her ex-husband and having their children.
"It got me through a really dark time in my life where I was fighting for my life every day to stay alive," Taylor reflected. "It gave me a lot of hope and purpose, and I'm still grateful for it in that sense."
Taylor actively engages with her sons when they return from church services, listening carefully as they share what they've learned about Jesus. She approaches these conversations with sensitivity, recognising their young age and impressionable nature.
"I would never want to tell them that they're wrong for feeling that way, because they are so little and they're so impressionable," she said. "And that's how I was at one point, and I learned with time, and I want to give them that same grace as well."
The third season of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives is currently available for streaming on Disney+ and Hulu, with a reunion special scheduled to premiere on December 4. Taylor's journey continues to unfold both on-screen and in her personal life as she balances her past religious affiliations with her current beliefs and family dynamics.
