The women of “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” from left to right: Jessi Ngatikaura, Taylor Frankie Paul, Jennifer Affleck, Demi Angemann, Whitney Leavitt, Mikayla Matthews, Mayci Neeley and Layla Taylor. Photo courtesy of The Daily Beast.

ABBY KIDWELL | STAFF REPORTER | arkidwell@butler.edu 

The word “Mormon” conjures images of spectacular temples against beautiful Utah mountains, expansive family units and clean-cut appearances. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) is a tight-knit faith that prioritizes obedience — especially from its female members — which is why a reality television show about their experiences is an exciting prospect. “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” has taken the internet by storm and broken Hulu streaming records by exposing the underbelly of modern Mormon womanhood — catfights, breast augmentations and more. 

As with any good reality show, “The Secret Lives” blossomed from sordid seeds. What started as a group of Mormon moms posting lifestyle content ended in a sex scandal that shocked online communities. 

In May 2022, Taylor Frankie Paul, the self-proclaimed face of “MomTok”, broke the internet when she announced her divorce from her husband. Paul revealed they were separating because she had crossed boundaries during a soft swinging party with other prominent MomTok couples. Chaos ensued, battle lines were drawn and MomTok’s image was changed forever. “The Secret Lives” covers the wreckage left in the wake. 

The fascination with the happenings of these eight women revolves around their membership in the Mormon Church. Alcohol consumption and premarital sex feature prominently in “The Secret Lives”, and Mormons frequently face social consequences when transgressions such as those are brought to light. 

“The Secret Lives” rips the one-size-fits-all Mormon ideal to shreds by juxtaposing two different images of Mormonism in the 21st century. LDS women are supposed to be the perfect pictures of quiet domesticity. Conversely, in “The Secret Lives”, the eight subjects express their personalities unapologetically instead of stifling themselves to conform to gender expectations. 

This change of pace is a breath of fresh air for many.

Madelyne Lowe, a sophomore dance performance and kinesiology double major, appreciated that the show displayed a different side of the Mormon coin by challenging the notion that women of faith are dull. 

“[The women] could have their faith, but they also [could] have their crazier side,” Lowe said. “Women do have the power, and they can do whatever they want.”

First-year criminology and psychology major Gretchen Crist echoed the same sentiment. She specifically enjoyed that “The Secret Lives” confronted the stereotype that Mormon women are meant to serve God by serving their home and family. 

“Women are more than just there for their husbands, especially in the Mormon Church,” Crist said. “They’re breaking [the] social norms of Mormonism.” 

Reception seems to be split between Mormon and non-Mormon audiences. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints released a statement expressing their discomfort at what they consider a “gross misrepresentation” of their faith. 

“We understand the fascination some in the media have with the Church, but regret that portrayals often rely on sensationalism and inaccuracies that do not fairly and fully reflect the lives of our Church members or the sacred beliefs that they hold dear,” the church website said. 

Non-Mormon viewers have also questioned whether or not the show damages or elevates the position of women within a larger cultural context. 

Sophomore applied business technology major Grace Friedberg thought that the show promoted a narrow-minded view of female relationships. 

“It depicts the women in the show as being really catty, just one-dimensional characters, and talking badly about each other and breaking each other down,” Friedberg said. “It doesn’t really show women empowering women.” 

Friedberg also questioned the motivations behind “The Secret Lives”. While some laud the show for providing a rare glimpse into the lives of imperfect Mormon women as they navigate their position in LDS society, others criticize it as an obvious play for cash and clout. 

“I think they’ve sold a lot of their values for money in the show,” Friedberg said. 

The eight women in “The Secret Lives” are all on unique faith journeys, which impacts what LDS doctrines they do and do not adhere to. Existing as a woman of the Mormon faith is undoubtedly a challenging role — being raised to model oneself off an impossible standard only makes the fall that much more treacherous. Boundaries certainly needed to be broken within the Church, especially regarding taboo topics like addiction and teenage pregnancy, but the question becomes whether the cast and crew were inspired by honor or self-interest. 

Regardless of whether the content is exploitative or empowering, “The Secret Lives” has solidified itself as a standout in the genre.  

“The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” can be streamed on Hulu.