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Janis Hutchinson is an award-winning Christian author and a former member of the LDS Church for thirty-five years during which time she married in the temple, served two stake missions, and held many positions. She also wrote magazine articles for the church’s official magazine, The Improvement Era, excerpts of which were used in their radio commercials on the family.
Later, she secretly joined the underground movement of Mormon Fundamentalism. When she was discovered sneaking away to a Christian church, she was ordered to repent of her sin and renounce the Christian Jesus. She refused and was held prisoner in a small room for nine months where she nearly died. During her captivity, God audibly spoke to her, enabling her daring escape. She converted to Christ with a firm testimony that he saves and delivers all those who put their trust in him. Her personal story can be read by clicking here.
After requesting her excommunication from the LDS Church, she graduated Summa Cum Laude with a B.Th and M.A. in Theology and taught at both the college and church levels. A frequent guest on Christian TV, radio talk shows, and nationwide conferences, she also served 12 years with the Institute of Religious Research in their worldwide Mormon Mentoring Program, counseling and mentoring Mormons and ex-Mormons.
Her books for the Christian market resulted in being awarded Writer of the Year by the American Christian Writers Association; winner in a five-continent LITT-World Literary Competition, and also recipient of the CLC Book Excellence in Christian Nonfiction. Her books on Mormonism and cults became compulsory reading at Samford University Divinity School, U.S. Christian colleges, and the New Zealand Jubilee Training Center.
Because the transition into a Christian church proved difficult for not only ex-Mormons but also members from other cults—and no Christian books at that time described their emotional repercussions—she wrote her first book, Out of the Cults and Into the Church: Understanding and encouraging ex-cultists. She soon gained a reputation as an expert on cult recovery and the problems former cult members face when converting to traditional churches.
Her next book, The Mormon Missionaries: An inside look at their real message and methods, goes behind the appearances to examine its unorthodox theological and political beliefs, its agenda for America, and its carefully planned strategies to win converts by exposing its evangelizing manual for missionaries, "Preach My Gospel."
Recognizing the value and influence of personal testimonies, she wrote The Joshua Project: Three overlooked biblical strategies for parents and grandparents to strengthen their family’s faith, giving step-by-step instructions on how to empower parents and grandparents to effectively pass along their legacy of faith through story-telling, giving examples of her own and others' personal faith stories.
She also wrote a historical suspense thriller, Unfinished Justice, set in Utah and inspired by a true crime event in which she played a part in the outcome.
Widowed twice, she has raised three children alone. Credentialed with her church, she teaches a Bible class, speaks locally, and resides in Everett, Washington.
Questions or comments? janishutchinson@comcast.net
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