What happens on the show?
The series follows the aftermath of the soft swinging drama. Several months after Paul’s public admission, she attempts to reconnect with the #MomTok group, which was severely fractured after the scandal. Notably, everyone on the show other than Paul explicitly denies any soft swinging on their part.
With Paul dethroned, some of the women – mainly Whitney Leavitt and Demi Engemann – begin to compete for control. The group also struggles to remain united amid shifts in their own faith. Some, dubbed the “Saints”, remain adamantly Mormon (members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints), meaning they wear special garments, regularly attend church, and don’t consume alcohol, tea or coffee. Others, dubbed the “Sinners”, are becoming more progressive by openly chatting about sex, imbibing alcohol and pushing against patriarchal norms within their households.
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But soft swinging is far from the only drama. There’s an arrest following instances of domestic violence, fights between spouses, debates over vibrators, and an ousting from the group.
The popularity of Mormon media
Part of the reason #MomTok has managed to remain within the cultural zeitgeist since 2022 is its specificity. While most TikTok scandals are universal – for example, anyone from anywhere could rip their ex apart online – #MomTok is rooted firmly in both Utah and the Mormon faith. The women’s content, as well as Secret Lives, offers not only drama but a glimpse into a world that people outside Utah and the LDS church may be unaware of. This includes missions, baby blessings, garments, and various taboos like drinking alcohol or speaking openly about sex.
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The ins and outs of Mormonism have fascinated audiences long before #MomTok. HBO’s Big Love (2006), which follows a fundamentalist Mormon family in Salt Lake City, earned nine Emmy nominations over its five seasons. And Netflix’s true-crime documentary Murder Among the Mormons (2021), which chronicles the 1985 bombing homicides in Salt Lake City, was generally praised, receiving an 89 per cent score on Rotten Tomatoes. Elsewhere, one of the most popular series in the reality TV Bravo universe is The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, which follows multiple practicing Mormons as well as several former Mormons.
It’s arguably the faith-based plotlines that differentiate these shows from other true-crime and reality shows. Secret Lives, and the #MomTok content before it, isn’t simply about feuding mothers. It’s about both the affirmation and subversion of their faith, and the ever-evolving “ways to be Mormon”. Considering the millions of views both the TikToks and episodes continue to attract, this clearly resonates with audiences, Mormon or not.
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