Taylor Frankie Paul Says She’s Detaching From the Mormon Church

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Taylor Frankie Paul’s Mormon life is going to look a little different. 

A star of the show Secret Lives of Mormon Wives recently discussed her evolving faith and explained her decision to leave the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, the religious community where she was raised.

Taylor shared on Instagram that while she grew up Mormon and will always respect her upbringing, she’s choosing to step away from the religion. She still believes in Christ, God, and the teachings of the Bible, and feels that faith isn’t limited to a specific place – people can connect with the divine anywhere, even in private moments at home.

I’ve also been shown kindness and love by wonderful people who aren’t even sure if they believe in anything, and that’s perfectly fine. My main point is that there’s always more to discover, and I’m writing all of this to help me process my thoughts and feelings.

The 31-year-old shared how she was celebrating Easter, including coloring an egg and bunny picture. She also mentioned the music she’s been enjoying, specifically the song “Hanging on Hope” by Buffalo Traffic Jam, which she said has been ‘on replay lately’.

Even though she’s no longer involved with the church, Taylor—a mother to two children with her ex-husband, Tate Paul, and a young child with her ex-boyfriend, Dakota Mortensen—has been finding strength in her faith during a difficult time. Recently, the police investigated a disagreement between her and Dakota, and her season of The Bachelorette was canceled after a video surfaced showing a physical fight between them that happened in 2023.

Taylor described the past 40 days as incredibly difficult, especially while navigating a custody battle over her 2-year-old child. In an April 5th Instagram post, she explained that she experienced panic attacks and felt her health declining due to the stress. She found strength through her faith, feeling supported by what she described as clear signs of encouragement, which she plans to share later.

I noticed Taylor shared a really personal post recently. It wasn’t just one photo, but a collection – a montage, if you will. It included a vulnerable shot of her crying, but also a lot of images showing her finding comfort and strength in her faith. She shared pictures of herself reading the Bible and having meaningful conversations about faith with the people she loves. It felt very raw and authentic, a peek into how she’s navigating life and finding support through her beliefs.

She explained that she’s always prayed, finding comfort in the belief that it’s okay to ask for help, particularly when things are difficult. But recently, she decided to focus on gratitude instead, making a habit of thanking God each day, even when she was feeling down.

I was so touched by all the support Taylor received, but one message really stood out. Jessi Draper, who worked with Taylor on Mormon Wives, sent a beautiful note saying, ‘I love you, you’re the strongest person I know.’ It was such a sweet and encouraging thing to say.

To learn more about Taylor’s life in the public eye recently, and the complexities of her connection with Dakota, keep reading.

Taylor Frankie Paul, who gained popularity on TikTok as #MomTok, was arrested in Utah on February 17, 2023, following an altercation with her boyfriend, Dakota Mortensen. According to court documents obtained by ABC 4 Utah, she allegedly threw metal chairs and a wooden playset at him while one of her children was present. She shares these children with her ex-husband, Tate Paul.

As a lifestyle expert, I’m often asked about navigating difficult situations, and unfortunately, sometimes those involve legal troubles. Recently, court documents revealed that Taylor is facing some serious charges. These include a felony count of aggravated assault, two felony counts related to domestic violence witnessed by a child resulting in injury, a misdemeanor charge of child abuse, and a misdemeanor for criminal mischief. This is a complex situation, and I always encourage anyone facing similar challenges to seek legal counsel and prioritize the safety and well-being of everyone involved, especially children.

According to court documents, the responding Herriman police officer stated that Dakota told him he had been arguing with his girlfriend. Dakota said that during the argument, he tried to leave, but his girlfriend, Taylor, started hitting him.

In August 2023, Taylor admitted guilt to a serious assault charge, a third-degree felony, as shown in court records obtained by the Salt Lake Tribune. Four other charges against Taylor were dropped and cannot be filed again.

For three years, the charges against her were put on hold. If Taylor followed the conditions of her agreement, the case would then be filed as a minor offense, according to court records.

As part of her agreement, Taylor was required to undergo assessments for both substance abuse and domestic violence, and complete any treatment recommended for her over three years. She also had to avoid breaking any major laws during that time.

Taylor and Dakota welcomed their son a week ahead of schedule. On April 4, 2024, Taylor shared a photo from the hospital on Instagram, expressing their joy and writing, “These past two weeks with him have been wonderful. We all love him so much, and we’re grateful he’s brought our families together.”

Taylor told TopMob News that the fight with Dakota was definitely their lowest point.

She explained that he supported her because he understood what was really happening, even the things that were kept private. She described it as a terrible night, one she deeply regretted. Dakota, having gone through similar struggles himself, truly understood what she was going through and offered to help, saying, ‘I want to help you out of this.’

As for the confrontation itself, she later said the incident had been building up. 

She revealed on the Viall Files podcast in September 2024 that she’d experienced an ectopic pregnancy a few months earlier, followed by a chemical pregnancy. While hesitant to attribute it solely to hormonal imbalances, she acknowledged they likely played a role, saying she felt ‘pretty off.’

Taylor explained that she felt confused and upset by what happened, and admitted to drinking as a result. She said Dakota picked her up, but was upset to find out she’d been drinking.

I recall being angry and throwing objects, and I didn’t even recognize my daughters who were on the couch. We had babysitters present, and I believe the girls were upstairs asleep. Apparently, someone – Dakota, I think – tried to tell me my five-year-old was there too, but I was so out of it that I didn’t care and just threw another chair.

The Hulu show The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives premiered in September 2024, and the first episode of its first season showed footage of Taylor’s arrest in 2023.

Taylor publicly announced her breakup with Dakota in May 2025. The news came after the premiere of season two of SLOMW revealed that Dakota had been unfaithful shortly after their son was born. Taylor shared the news on TikTok, stating, “Dakota isn’t mine anymore, wish him the best.”

Life felt pretty perfect – Dakota and I were happily raising our new baby, and honestly, I was starting to picture a future with an engagement ring. Then, everything changed when I discovered he hadn’t been truthful with me the whole time. It was a complete shock, and it really turned our world upside down.

In a season four episode of SLOMW, Dakota confessed to having an affair with a friend, Shinia Powell. During a FaceTime call with Taylor, Dakota admitted, “It was a bad decision, and I probably should have chosen someone else. The fact that it was Shinia was my mistake, because I knew it would cause problems, and that was wrong of me.”

Taylor was unexpectedly chosen as the next Bachelorette for season 22, and she announced the news on the Call Her Daddy podcast in September 2025. This is a change for the show, which typically selects former contestants from The Bachelor to be the Bachelorette.

Taylor saw it as a positive development, sharing in a preview for the new season, “I think this was meant to be part of my next journey.”

Taylor shared that she’s faced criticism, judgment, and rejection, but believes those who get to know her will see she’s a sincere person with good intentions who deserves another opportunity at love.

Just before Taylor started filming season 22 of The Bachelorette, a conversation she had with Dakota aired on season four of SLOMW. During that conversation, Dakota apologized for his relationship with Shinia, admitting it was a mistake and that he’d acted poorly.

He explained that both he and Taylor had caused each other pain, but he still thought they loved each other deeply.

They both acknowledged their relationship was unhealthy, and Taylor believed appearing on The Bachelorette could actually be beneficial, even if they didn’t end up together. She felt it would give them both a chance to step back, break their pattern, and start to heal.

Dakota let Taylor know he still had feelings for her, saying he was glad she was happy and wished her well if she found someone else. He playfully asked her to keep him in mind, saying, “Just save a rose for me, okay?”

As a lifestyle expert, I’m following the news about Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, and it seems production on season five hit a snag earlier this year. Apparently, there was some kind of disagreement between Taylor and Dakota back in February 2026, which temporarily paused filming.

On March 16, a representative from the Draper City Police Department told People magazine that they are investigating reports of domestic assault involving Taylor and Dakota. The police confirmed that both individuals have accused each other. They stated that officers spoke with those involved on February 24th and 25th, but are limited in what they can share because the investigation is still active.

According to a source who spoke with TopMob News, Taylor is taking responsibility for her actions and is primarily focused on shielding her son, Ever, from negative press surrounding his father and ensuring he maintains a positive view of him.

After Taylor and Dakota had a disagreement in 2026, TMZ released video of a physical fight between them that originally happened in 2023.

The video shows Dakota filming a fight while Taylor shouts at him and tries to hit him, even briefly putting him in a headlock.

“Look,” Dakota can be heard saying, “this is called physical abuse.”

As things escalated, he said she mentioned their daughter was there, right before Taylor started throwing metal barstools at him. During the fight, Taylor claimed Dakota pushed her to the ground before he started filming, while Dakota insisted she was the one who initiated the conflict and asked her to think about their 5-year-old child. Taylor was later heard shouting at him to stay away from her daughter.

According to a police report obtained by TopMob News in 2023, the child was struck by a stool.

Following the video’s release, a representative for Taylor told TopMob News that it was part of an effort to damage her reputation. They stated the video selectively presented information and aimed to divert attention from Dakota’s behavior. Dakota, however, dismissed Taylor’s accusations as untrue.

Following the release of footage showing a dispute between Taylor and Dakota in 2023, ABC announced the cancellation of season 22 of The Bachelorette. A Disney Entertainment representative told TopMob News that the decision was made, and their priority is now supporting those affected.

Following ABC’s decision, Taylor broke her silence about the situation. 

Taylor appreciates the support she’s received from ABC as she focuses on keeping her family safe. According to her representative, she’s been secretly dealing with years of serious emotional and physical abuse, and threats against her. Now, she’s finding the courage to confront the person responsible and is taking action to protect herself and her children from future harm.

The statement also highlighted that many women are quietly enduring hardship, struggling to escape controlling and possessive former partners who won’t allow them to rebuild their lives.

Taylor’s team said she is considering her next steps, getting help, and will eventually talk publicly about what happened.

Dakota addressed claims of domestic violence involving him and Taylor, stating in a March 19th interview with TopMob News that the situation, as seen in a video, is very disturbing.

He said he’s become accustomed to false accusations regarding himself and their relationship, and he firmly denies them all.

Dakota said her priority is her son Ever’s well-being and safety, and she hopes Taylor will prioritize that as well.

According to documents obtained by People magazine on March 20th, Dakota was granted temporary custody of Ever after requesting a court order to protect her from Taylor. A hearing is scheduled for April 7th where Taylor will have the opportunity to present her perspective. However, until then, the order prevents either parent from spending time with Ever.

Utah police are investigating a new alleged domestic violence incident from 2024 that Dakota reported in February, according to a West Jordan Police Department spokesperson who spoke with NBC News on March 24. Investigators have contacted Taylor’s lawyer but haven’t yet spoken with Taylor directly. They are hoping she will provide a written statement or agree to an interview to confirm details of Dakota’s account.

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2026-04-06 17:51