Ashes to Ashes, Cult to Cult

I have perused two excellent resources on polygamy, the Mormon Curtain, an Ex-Mormon site, and the book God’s Brothel, but when I was in Salt Lake City, very few people knew much about it. The Mormons won’t talk about it, and the non-Mormons could only share anecdotes, such as, “The women wear old-fashioned clothes, sound old-fashioned, and tie their long hair back,” and, “The plural wives only leave the house for groceries, and then buy staples such as flour or milk. They do all their own cooking.”

However, a lady at the SLC Information Center ripped out a map and pointed out the cities and towns where polygamy is still commonly practised. “Even if you go there, it’s unlikely that you’ll see anything,” she explained. “The polygamists are very private, and very protective. Watch Lifting the Veil on Polygamy,” she suggested. “Most of that’s pretty accurate.” And so I did.

The first hour of the video features a compelling series of impassioned interviews with former fundamentalist Mormons. It is completely absorbing to hear of their plight; their experiences of arranged marriages, teenage weddings, numerous pregnancies, abandonment, ostracism, ongoing physical and mental abuse, and the curious doctrine and irrational beliefs of the Latter Day Saints.

Lifting the Veil on Polygamy is a well-researched, insightful documentary.

That is…

…until it becomes an indoctrination video in itself…

During the last twenty minutes of the presentation, I knew that something was up. Suddenly, we hear the twinkling piano music of pathos, and the teary-eyed speakers speak of their conversion from fundamental mormonism to orthodox christianity. The information ends, and the proselytizing begins.

There were religious epiphanies aplenty, they “literally” heard the voice of god, and new ‘friends’ recruited them showed them the way. Homage to the book of mormon became homage to the bible. Reverence for Joseph Smith became reverence for Jesus. Swinging for exaltation became salvation for sinning.

The video’s covert religious message isn’t so surprising when one learns that the video was created by Living Hope Ministries. This ministry performs an important service, providing materials and producing videos that inform the public about the abuses and misinformation that occurs within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Yet, the ministry also “shares bible truths” so that ”Latter Day Saints may come to a saving knowledge of the biblical Jesus Christ.” The ministry is just another competing faith seeking converts in mormon-soaked Utah.

As earnest as they are, this still seems predatorial…

As for the interviewees, they are intelligent and articulate people. They are admirable, and extremely strong. Under manipulative and oppressive circumstances they managed to employ critical thinking to overcome their socialization. These are true skeptics…

…but they aren’t skeptical enough.

 They have forsaken one cult for another. They have swapped heroin for methadone…

World religions are often half-way houses for people recovering from cults. Christianity seems a comforting, loving yet somehow familiar alternative to the firmer mind control of Scientology, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and Mormonism.

The interviewees eyes turned red and wet as they expressed their relief at escaping polygamy. Tears welled up in my eyes too. All I could think was - you didn’t need another religion to catch your fall. All you needed was your own mind.

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