Fourth of July, LDS Culture, and Mental Health: Holding Space for Complex Feelings
By Kristy Money, PhD, LP
As the Fourth of July approaches, many of us may be looking forward to time with family, barbecues, fireworks, and community celebrations.
But for others, especially those who grew up in or currently live in the Intermountain West, or who have a background in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), the holiday may bring up more than nostalgia.
For many individuals raised in LDS, Mormon, post-Mormon, or Mormon-adjacent communities, patriotism and faith were often closely intertwined. Memories of waving flags in parades, singing with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, lessons about the divinely inspired Constitution, stories of the Founding Fathers, and celebrations of America’s unique spiritual role may be deeply woven into personal and family history.
For international readers or those who didn’t grow up in LDS communities, these experiences may seem unfamiliar. But in many parts of the American West, religion, culture, and national identity have long intersected in powerful ways.
As therapists working with LDS, post-Mormon, Mormon-ish, and faith-transition populations, it can be helpful to remember that holidays often carry layers of meaning. This year’s celebrations,
coinciding with the United States’ 250th anniversary commemorations and occurring during a particularly polarized cultural moment, may hit different for some clients. For others, they may not. Either experience is completely valid.
Some clients may find themselves grieving lost certainty, questioning long-held beliefs, feeling disconnected from family traditions, or experiencing unexpected waves of nostalgia. Others may feel pride, joy, relief, ambivalence, or all of the above.
As you hold space for clients this holiday season, consider:
Inviting curiosity about what the Fourth of July means personally, rather than assuming its significance.
Exploring family traditions and the emotions attached to them.
Making room for both grief and gratitude to coexist.
Normalizing mixed emotions, especially during faith transitions.
Remembering that identity reconstruction often includes revisiting cultural and national narratives alongside religious ones.
And for therapists with LDS or post-Mormon backgrounds themselves, this may also be a time to check in with your own reactions, memories, and experiences.
Wherever you find yourself this holiday weekend, we wish you gentleness, reflection, and meaningful connection.
Best of luck as you continue holding space for the complexity that so often accompanies this work. And please consider joining us July 30-31 for our 2026 Conference. We’d love to see you there.