The Mormon Cult

The Mormon Cult: A Former Missionary Reveals the Secrets of Mormon Mind Control, Jack B. Worthy. Tuscon AZ: See Sharp Press, 2008. e-book, 212 pps., inc. glossary and list of recommended reading/viewing.

     Jack B. Worthy grew up in an L.D.S. [Church of Latter Day Saints, Mormon] household in Nebraska. As a young adult, he went off to missionary school in Utah in order to learn Cantonese. He was assigned to Taiwan. Off he went.

     The Mormon Cult covers much more than the memoirs of a young man serving a mission. The book also gives a brief history of Mormonism and illustrates why Worthy considers L.D.S. to be a cult. [There are newer terms but the word "cult" is one that is understood by a higher percentage of people than the newer terms. "Cult" is also the word that is employed throughout the book]. Worthy relates numerous anecdotes about Mormons and L.D.S. Church leaders. A bishop questions children starting at the age of eight about their state of testimony versus their state of sin. A Mormon testimony-- which children are taught very young by their parents-- involves stating that "I know" that the L.D.S. Church is true and Joseph Smith was a prophet of god. At the age of twelve, bishops begin to interview kids about whether or not they masturbate or engage in other sexual practices which are frowned upon. If a child does not know what the words "masturbation" or "oral sex" mean, the bishop helpfully tells the child this during the course of questioning.

     Worthy explains magic underwear-- the symbols on it were borrowed from the Masons; Joseph Smith was a Mason-- and various prohibitions that Mormons are expected to follow. He talks about meetings, discipline, the patriarchy of the L.D.S. church, how kids are taught that their "positive" feelings around church come from "the Holy Spirit," plural marriages, racism, Heavenly Father residing on a "planet" and a lot of other stuff. I was aware of some of the beliefs because I have a casual acquaintance who is an L.D.S. convert along with her family.

    What struck me was the idea that kids are taught that their uplifting feelings around the L.D.S. religion come from "the Holy Spirit." That some ex-Mormons have to learn that similar feelings can derive from other more ordinary experiences was quite profound.

     Worthy's description of the cycle of guilt was interesting to me. When he was able to convince people to allow him and a fellow missionary to return to talk to them, that was a good thing which meant that his faith was keen enough for "the Holy Spirit" to work through him. When rejections happened [far more often than not], then Jack's lack of faith or character defects [or some un-confessed sin] was implicated. This cycle of guilt was also evident in other places.

     Worthy finally caught on that the door-to-door tracting was more of a sales pitch than any workings of a god or spirit. This bit of awareness started new thinking. Yes he was dis-fellowshipped and subsequently kicked out. Unlike some reviewers, I do not believe that The Mormon Cult was written because of a desire for fame based on sensationalism or due to animosity.

sapphoq reviews says: L.D.S. folks who are not considering whether or not they should remain in the fold will not like this book-- if they dare to read it before leaving negative reviews. The Mormon Cult is a valuable addition to literature which describes the process of how individual people have lost their religion. A pithy writing style sets this particular story above the rest. Highly recommended.

Freedom of Mind by Steven Hassan

Freedom of Mind: (Helping Loved Ones Leave Controlling People, Cults, and Beliefs), Steven Hassan.  Newton, Mass: Freedom of Mind Press, 2012.  approx. 266 pps. inc. extensive footnotes.

N.B.  Steven Hassan has a website at
http://www.freedomofmind.com which is very much worth checking out.


At age 19, Steven Hassan was recruited into the Moonies.  After he got out, he began to help others to exit cults.  He has developed a system which does not involve kidnapping cult members and keeping them locked up in hotel rooms with one or more programmers.  He offers counseling which goes beyond "exit counseling" for former cult members who are endeavoring to live their lives free and apart from their cults.  Steven Hassan is a recognized authority regarding cults and their negative influences on their members and on the non-cult families of their members.  

I really learned a lot from this book.  I have a close friend who is currently heavily involved in a pseudo Hindu cult.  The biggest takeaway for me was to listen respectfully to her telling of her mystical experiences and to gently help her tap into her non-cult self memories when able.  Freedom of Mind taught me how to distinguish movements that rob folks of their free will from those that don't.  [N.B. Many religions are not cults].  Through the website, I was able to identify specifically which group she belongs to.


I myself in younger days narrowly avoided being sucked in by The Children of God a.k.a. The Family a.k.a. The Family International but I did spend a couple of years seesawing between drugs and fundie Jesus.  Several kids in the high school I attended were heavily involved in C.O.G.  One had taken me to a commune in a dark rambling warehouse somewhere in lower Manhattan.  She showed me some Mo letters and talked about flirty fishing.  Flirty fishing was too much for me.  I couldn't see how screwing horny businessmen for fundie Jesus was Biblical [It's not].  And I didn't buy the argument that once a businessman from a foreign country slept with a C.O.G., his soul would automatically become ripe for the picking.  Another classmate killed herself after her family had painted over the Psalm verses she had stenciled on her bedroom walls.  A third one learned Chinese in order to "disappear behind the Iron Curtain" and win souls for fundie Jesus.

In Freedom of Mind, Steven Hassan carefully reviewed the four major types of cults-- a religious cult is just one of the four types-- and the signs that a given group may have some cultish features.  He explained several varied approaches to the loved one who is involved in a cult.  Instead of "deprogramming", Hassan urged his readers to treat their family member or friend with respect and love.  Hassan suggested a series of mini-interventions which are far more casual than those popularized on television to get someone suffering from addictions to agree to go into treatment.  I was able to forgive his frequent mention of his own availability as a professional.  Folks who are worried about a loved one being under the control of a toxic leader need someone to say, "Hey there is help for this and I can help you."

sapphoq reviews says: Freedom of Mind has information and clear illustrations which make this book a valuable addition to the library of anyone who has a loved one in a cult.