Elizabeth Smart‘s story captivated the world in 2002 when, at just 14 years old, she was abducted from her Salt Lake City home and held captive for nine grueling months. Raised in a devout family belonging to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, commonly known as the Mormon or LDS Church, her kidnapping and eventual rescue highlighted not only a tale of survival but also the role her faith played in her recovery. Today, more than two decades later, Smart has become an advocate for victims of abduction and abuse, authoring books and speaking publicly about her experiences.
Questions about her religious affiliation persist, especially given her candid reflections on how trauma reshaped her worldview. In recent interviews, Smart has expressed a nuanced relationship with the LDS Church, appreciating its foundational teachings while emphasizing personal autonomy in her beliefs. While she has not publicly announced any departure from the faith, her journey reflects a thoughtful evolution rather than outright rejection.
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Roots in the LDS Faith
From a young age, Elizabeth Smart was immersed in the principles of the LDS Church, which emphasized family, community, and moral purity. Her family attended services regularly, and these values were central to her upbringing in Utah, a state where the church holds significant cultural influence. Following her rescue in 2003, Smart credited her faith with helping her cope during captivity, often drawing strength from prayers and hymns she had learned as a child. She returned to her community and resumed her education, eventually attending Brigham Young University, an institution affiliated with the LDS Church.
Elizabeth Smart Talks New Netflix Doc That Details Her Abduction pic.twitter.com/VZfSRzEGSD
— Layla Hollywood (@Laylahollywood) January 21, 2026
In 2009, Smart embarked on a missionary service in Paris for the church, a common rite of passage for young Mormons committed to spreading their faith. This decision, made years after her ordeal, demonstrated her continued alignment with LDS practices. Three years later, in 2012, she married Matthew Gilmour in an LDS temple in Hawaii, a ceremony reserved for members in good standing who hold a temple recommend, signifying adherence to church standards. These milestones underline her active participation in the faith during her early adulthood.
Reevaluating Beliefs After Trauma
The horrors Smart endured, including repeated s**ual assaults, prompted her to question certain aspects of her religious education, particularly teachings on chastity that she felt compounded her sense of shame. In a 2024 Netflix documentary revisiting her case, she opened up about this internal conflict, noting how her experiences led her to forge her own path. “I have a lot of appreciation for many of the things that it taught me growing up,” she said of the Mormon Church, but added, “as an adult now, until I feel like I know for myself, I don’t believe anything anyone sells me anymore.”
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Despite these reflections, there is no indication that Smart has formally left the LDS Church. She continues to live in Utah with her husband and three children, maintaining ties to the community where she was raised. When her father, Ed Smart, came out as gay in 2019 and subsequently left the church, Elizabeth expressed unwavering support for both parents without signaling any shift in her own affiliation. Her advocacy work focuses on empowering survivors, often drawing from her resilient spirit shaped by faith, though she advocates for broader discussions on topics like consent and recovery that challenge traditional narratives.
In essence, Elizabeth Smart appears to remain connected to her Mormon roots, albeit with a more independent and critical lens honed by adversity. Her story illustrates how personal trauma can transform faith from a rigid structure into a flexible foundation for growth.
