Keystone of Mormonism
Because of the recent mentions of SCO and Utah on this site, Google inserted an ad for the book The Keystone of Mormonism, “an account of the author's struggle to overcome Mormon indoctrination.”
A couple of chapters are available on the web site and they make interesting reading: both a very personal story, and also a study of techniques of psychological control:
I was taught as a small child that the most important thing for any person to do in this life was to gain a "testimony" of Mormonism and then remain faithful to it forever. The worst sin that a person could commit wasn't lying, stealing, adultery, or even killing. It was apostasy! Other sins could be repented of and forgiven. The Doctrine And Covenants, clearly teaches that there will be no forgiveness in this life nor in the next for a man who receives the Melchizedek (higher) priesthood and then changes his mind and turns against Mormonism.1 Apparently, conversion to Mormonism is supposed to be a one-way street.
My parents did, in fact, belong to the Church. It owned them, and they owned me. I trusted completely in the wisdom and honesty of my parents. It never occurred to me that they could be wrong or even partly wrong or misled. I was quite sure that any negative feelings or thoughts that I might have about the Church were only because I was young, immature, ignorant, weak, or perhaps even tempted by the Devil.
posted Tue 30 Sep 2003 in /issues/religion | link
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