Which RHOSLC Stars Still Practice Mormonism?

Utah-based The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City explores religion as much as documents the usual catfights, arguments, and over-the-top looks. Religion plays a central role in the reality TV drama of the popular franchise, which started in 2020.

The audience has watched the reality TV stars open up about growing up Mormon, a lifestyle that doesn't necessarily feel naturally compatible with The Real Housewives franchise, and how the show has become part of their spiritual journey.

Lisa Barlow is the only current main cast member who is a practicing Mormon. However, as a tequila brand owner, her version of the religion is quite different from the conservative one many people think of. “It is really surprising how open they are about Mormonism and how it relates to their lives,” Executive Producer and host Andy Cohen told the LA Times.

Season 5's friend, Britani Bateman, is also Mormon, although it's clear she doesn't stick strictly to the rules. In an episode of the reality show, Angie brings her a bottle of wine, not realizing Britani doesn't drink around her family for religious reasons, as shared by Bravo.

Inside Lisa Barlow's Mormon 2.0 Lifestyle

ScreenRant shared that Lisa Barlow refers to herself as a Mormon 2.0 (a term coined by her husband John Barlow) because she doesn't stick to all the religion's traditional, strict rules. During an episode of The Today Show, Lisa explained how she chose to join the Church Of Latter-Day Saints but still wanted to be "authentic to myself."

Fundamental Rules of Mormonism:

• Honesty, as reported by The BBC.
• No alcohol, tobacco, tea, coffee, or drugs
• No gambling
• Avoid the use of vulgar and crude language
• No sex outside of marriage
• Do not engage in forms of so-called Satan worship

She also admitted she wasn't too concerned with what other people thought about how she chose to live her life. "I’m completely comfortable with it. If someone else is uncomfortable, I can’t really do anything about that. I’m very comfortable with it.”

Lisa grew up in New York but has lived in Utah for over two decades. She grew up Jewish before her family converted to Mormonism. “Being Jewish by heritage, I love the Jewish faith. I’m lucky that that’s a part of me, and I think it’s really important to remember your heritage and where you came from,” Lisa told Meredith, during her Bat Mitzvah in Season 5.

On a November 2020 episode of the Getting Real With the Housewives podcast, Lisa explained how she considers herself to be “Mormon 2.0” since she “doesn’t check off all the boxes.”

When you think about Mormonism, there’s, like, a laundry list of things [you] don’t ever do, which basically makes you perfect, and I am far from that, but so we just found Mormon religion in general is a choice.

The reality star continued, "But for me, I’m like, you know what, I’m still an individual. I’m not like everybody else. So why would we all check off the same boxes? So I’m just doing Mormonism my way.”

What Religions Do Other Real Housewives Of Salt Lake City Practice?

Unlike other Bravo franchises, religion plays a central role in The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City. Many of the Housewives have opened up about their relationship with God, the church, and its practices.

During a 2020 interview with E! News, disgraced former castmate, Jen Shah, explained that religion adds another layer to the show. “We are also adding another layer that I don’t think is really been brought to the forefront in other franchises, not only diversity but diversity within religion as well."

Meredith Marks

• Meredith Marks is Jewish but had previously admitted to The Chicago Tribune she was "not highly religious."

She told the outlet that she is “very proud to be Jewish,” but she’s more interested in the heritage and the history than the religious aspects. Meredith considered Judaism her “race,” and has attended Mary Cosby's sermons out of interest in other religions. On Season 5 of RHOSLC, Meredith had her bat mitzvah ceremony because it was “Something I decided to do as an adult to affirm my faith."

Angie Katsanevas

Angie Katsanevas is proud of her Greek heritage, and that includes her Greek Orthodox Church background. KSL did a piece on Angie and her family and their involvement in the Greek community in Utah.

I am proud of being a Greek girl. I'm very proud of how we were raised. I'm very proud of the strong culture we have behind us.

Mary Cosby

When Bravo audiences met Mary Cosby, she was the First Lady of Faith Temple Pentecostal Church. Her late grandmother, Dr. Rosemary Redmon “Mama” Cosby founded the church congregation Mary led, building it into a multi-millionaire business.

Her church was faced with cult allegations from a range of sources, including ex-churchgoers and Mary's own extended family members. Lisa Barlow's friend and former congregant mortgaged his house for $300,000 and gave the money to Mary's church.

• Although Mary's church appears to no longer be active, she still finds her strength in God.

Here's Why These RHOSLC Stars Left Mormonism

While Lisa Barlow is doing Mormonism her way, three The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City stars have been open about their exit from the Church Of Latter-Day Saints. RHOSLC fans have watched Heather Gay and Whitney Rose's journey as ex-Mormons in different stages of their Mormonism.

Heather Gay

Heather Gay has always been a "Good time girl," who was raised a devout Mormon but never felt fully comfortable with the beliefs. RHOSLC fans have watched her grapple with her religion since appearing in the show's first season.

She grew up in a devout Mormon setting, declaring herself in the show's first episode “I am a purebred, pedigreed, pioneer Mormon.” Heather has been open about the fact that she was heavily influenced by the church's beliefs, which caused her to lose her sense of self.

She has described her religious youth as "performing your reality" and told The Cut that she was going "through the motions." She would "turn off my natural instinct, and follow the plan based on the parameters that the church had given me."

She explained to The LA Times, that while her faith remains important, she can't adhere to many of the strict rules and is critical of the church’s stance on LGBTQ rights and women’s equality.

“I go through that transition pretty publicly [in the series]," she started saying.

While my faith still defines me in so many ways, I don’t practice it anymore.

Heather concluded, "It is an all-encompassing faith. That’s why it’s really traumatic to leave it. I still feel like it runs through every single thought I have.”

Whitney Rose

Whitney Rose explained on the first season of RHOSLC that she tried to quit the Mormon church three times after she cheated on her ex-husband. She confirmed to The Daily Dish that she chose to leave the church, and that she was not ex-communicated.

• Whitney explained that she “comes from a long line of Mormonism,” but her lifestyle and marriage to Justin Rose was not supported by the church.

According to Bravo, in Season 3 of the reality show, Whitney officially left the church, explaining why she required legal assistance. "They make it so hard to leave because if they can keep you, there's a chance that they can reactivate you. Which means, they'll start paying 10% of your income again...I think it's all about money and power and control. They're not trying to save the souls of Zion. They want your 10%."

Although she has left the church, she said on X that she still has "a deep love and admiration for all of my Mormon friends and family."

Bronwyn Newport

Raised Mormon, Bronwyn was excommunicated from the church after getting pregnant at Brigham Young University — a notoriously Mormon university. She has spoken openly on Instagram about her relationship with religion.

"I grew up Mormon and am so blessed to have learned (and try to still live) so many wonderful teachings and qualities the religion espouses," she wrote. "Unfortunately, I have also felt the sting of exclusion, judgement and loneliness as I didn’t always understand, embody or choose/fit into every guideline."

The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City airs on Bravo on Wednesdays at 9/8c and can be streamed on Peacock.