A Little Bit Culty Cults to Consciousness: Shelise Ann Sola on Post-Mormon Podcast Life (Part 1)
Jan 5, 2026
Shelise Ann Sola, a former Latter-day Saint and creative force behind the Cults to Consciousness podcast, dives deep into her journey of deconstruction from Mormonism. Growing up in a strict LDS environment, she faced intense pressures from modesty culture and purity messaging that left lasting impacts on her identity. Shelise shares her revelations about temple rituals and the psychological control exerted by the church. Now, she channels her experiences into humor and storytelling, helping others navigate their own paths away from high-control religions.
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Psychological Control Over Overt Force
- Mormonism in small-town Utah exerts subtle psychological control through self-policing and fear of losing community.
- That control creates toxic perfectionism and anxiety about worthiness that shapes identity from childhood.
First Exposure To Temple Garb
- Shelise attended a sealing and wore a special white dress and garments as a young teen and felt ashamed and confused by the ritual attire.
- She remembers adults watching her reaction, sensing the ceremony's secrecy and awkwardness for children.
Temples Borrow Freemason Symbolism
- LDS temple rituals borrow heavily from Freemasonry, including symbolic garments and ritual actions.
- Those borrowed elements create ritual secrecy that can feel bizarre or manipulative to insiders and outsiders alike.
