5 comments about The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ (Official Edition).

1. Reading this book with an open heart and open mind will change your life. It really is another testament of Jesus Christ!



2. I was raised in a Protestant home with only the Bible as scripture. I first became acquainted with the Book of Mormon as a young adult. For the past 36 years, I have read this "new" book of scripture many times, and I have tried to put its messages into practice. The result? I was married and my wife and I raised three daughters with both the Bible and the Book of Mormon as guides, with wonderful results.
   
   The Book of Mormon strengthened our faith in the truthfulness of Bible sriptures. It helped my wife and I to teach principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ with power and effectiveness. This book has helped my family to be more at peace by giving us a spirit that allowed us to get along better with each other.
   
   The Book of Mormon is full of references to the Savior Jesus Christ. It proves the Bible to be inspired, for prophets of the Western Hemisphere had long ago foretold the coming of the Messiah, of His birth in the Old World.
   
   The Book of Mormon not only supports the truth in the Bible: It mentions things not as well covered in the Bible, such as infant baptism and the nature of universal resurrection. It confirms the Bible's proclamation of eternal reward for following Jesus Christ and of the eternal negative consequences of rejecting Jesus Christ.
   
   Read the book with sincerity and prayer and feel of its truthfulness for yourself.



3. Life changing and thought provoking. Because of what it claims to be, an ancient record translated by Joseph Smith intended as a companion to the Bible we have today, this book should be read by every person before a decision is made about its truthfulness. With all the controversy surrounding it, it is impossible to form a true opinion without first hand knowledge of its contents. Truly another testimony of Jesus the Christ.



4. Is this book true? Is it the word of God?
   
   Four years ago, I was suffering from two powerful addictions. I tried and tried to quit these behaviors, but I always returned to them.
   
   I picked up the Book of Mormon on the advice of a friend, and I read two or three verses from it. That's all I did. My addictions were taken from me!
   
   This book has caused a revolutionary change in my life, and I have never looked back. I have had peace in my heart and joy in my life since that day four years ago. The Book of Mormon is the most powerful book on the face of the earth.
   
   If the Book of Mormon is true, then Jesus is the Christ. He completed His divine mission on earth when he died that we might live. If the Book of Mormon is true, then Joseph Smith was a prophet of God who helped to restore the original Church of Jesus Christ to the earth.
   
   Is this book true? Is it the word of God?
   
   I am here to say that it is.



5. This is a beautiful book that I have read many times. It is the work of god and I recomend it to anyone who wants to learn more about god and his dealings to other of his children. Since the bible takes place primarily in jerusalem this book takes place in central and south america. The book of mormon explains how god teaches his children all over the world not just in one area.

5 comments about Between Husband & Wife: Gospel Perspectives on Marital Intimacy.

1. I agree with many of the other reviewers about this book. It's not something newlywed couples should read, and certainly not married couples experiencing intimacy problems.
   
   The tone of the book is very offensive and even anti-sex at times. It gives you a complex about sex and possibly crossing some "line" which the author refuses to actually draw. Sex is treated as a selfish thing, and being selfish is a sin. The book is especially degrading of women and their needs. For example, it talks about orgasm with a kind of disdain, something "unecessary" that you shouldn't bother aiming for. It has a kind of "oh, that's overrated" attitude towards orgasm and the female's pleasure in general. If she doesn't experience it at all or with any frequency, i.e. not satisfied, eh, that's ok, no big deal. And same for the guy. Satisfaction doesn't "just" come from orgasm.
   
   The book will ultimately cause you problems. I can't see it helping anybody with much of anything. It makes you feel selfish about doing anything and will bind you down with worries and make you feel guilty for trying to find solutions to problems that exist or ones that might come up.



2. I'm engaged and some of the anatomy type explanations were very helpful, that's where the good parts of the book end. As a man reading this book I felt like every stereotype in society about men being sex-animals with no feeling or regard for anyone was pointed out-and agreed with. If my sex drive is higher that's my problem, and I need to fix myself. If our sexual relationship isn't going right it's always the man's fault. On the flip side, my fiance almost cried as she read the book, feeling that being happy with our sex life and finding satisfaction can't ever happen. While I haven't been married yet, I believe this is a false belief, that a wonderful sex life can be achieved. A relationship where each partner is unselfish and aware and sensitive to the needs of their partner. This book did a poor job of giving anyone who's never experienced a sexual relationship, hope of that ever being a unifying, positive experience for both people.



3. I am LDS and my bishop gave me this book before my marriage. I found the book to be an easy way to approach this serious subject before marriage with someone else who was may be shy to discuss intimate things openly. I specifically liked the section about the purpose of the honeymoon.
   
   I think the people who complain that the book labels oral sex as unnatural and against LDS doctrine, are the LDS members who are guilty of it and don't want to admit that their behavior is against church teachings.



4. Notwithstanding the severe hatred that some of my fellow readers seem to harbor for this book, in truth it can be a very helpful and educational for those of us entering marriage that are "naive" to matters of sex. Before I get too far into it, I personally know Dr. Brinley and have taken a class at BYU entitled "Marriage Prep" which was fantastic. I do, however, fear that the stance of the book taken on certain topics was not completely accurate. However, I also never felt that topics such as female orgasms were portrayed as negatively as some would have you believe. In fact, during his class he was quite clear that satisfying your wife was just as important as your own pleasure. Unfortunately, the subject of "unnatural" sex (specifically oral sex) is not discussed clearly, and I do believe the implied views are inaccurate because I've yet to hear clear guidance on the subject from actual Church leaders (at least not from this century). In fact, from what I've understood, the church specifically avoids answering these questions because, as the book says, it's between Husbands and Wives.
   
   In conclusion, don't let the extreme negatism pursuade you against reading this book if you really need help understanding yourself and the opposite sex. It was an excellent aid for me and my wife and I believe it encourages sex between couples much more than some critics would have you believe. Do remember, however, that this is NOT doctrine, and these are only the educated opinions of "professionals."



5. Does little more than admit that a husband and wife should have sex. Still very conservative. Not much helpful information.

5 comments about How to Date Your Wife.

1. I am 50 years old and never thought much about dating my husband. I do now. My husband is always trying out new ideas from the book. We are having the best time of our married life. This book will make a tremendous difference in your marriage. I sent a copy of the book to my mother (over 70 years old, sorry mom) and she said it instantly made a difference in her husband. He made the bed the first day after starting to read the book.



2. After a few years of marriage I had run out of ideas to try and make things fresh and exciting between me and my wife. I got this book and WOW ... there are hundreds of ideas to keep me going for a long time. I am even combining some ideas and that works great too. I also learned much more about my wife than she had never revealed. When I asked her about some of the things that other wives had spoken of in this book she admitted that some of those things had been on her mind for a while but she didn't know how to talk to me about them without hurting my feelings or making me angry. Thank you Mr. Cronin for helping me. If you are a husband, get this and skim through it. Don't tell your wife you have it and try some of the ideas and see what she says about the new you. If you are a wife. get this for your husband or have someone else give it to him as a gift. Hopefully he will open it and make both of you happier.



3. I can't say enough about this book. The ideas are varied and many. The thoughts of the wives are along the same lines as mine. The author has done a fantastic job of bringing all this together in one place. Every married couple should have a copy of this book and read it. My marriage is better because of this book.



4. This guy knows what he is writing about! The book is non-judgmental, direct, easy to understand, simple to apply, and can have wonderful results. Basically, Mr. Conin tells husbands - who want to enrich their marriages - that women really want attention, affection, and consideration. He then proceeds to tell them, in a straightforward way, how to painlessly meet those needs - to the great benefit of the relationship and both individuals within it. Each chapter is introduced with a pertinent quotation by a well known writer, philosopher, etc. This adds a very nice touch. (I assume that kudos for this bit should go to the editor.)
   
   I would say that there are a couple of minor areas of weakness that DO NOT mitigate the praise cited above. First, this is not a great work of literature; I would describe the format and language as serviceable and accessible. Next, many/most of the suggestions for things to do on a "date" include travel. If travel is not a pleasurable activity for you, you will need to extrapolate the concepts to more applicable pastimes. Finally, limited finances and childcare needs are often brushed aside here. If these areas are issues for you, you will need to translate the ideas into pursuits that accommodate your situation.
   
   Highly recommended for couples who want to strengthen a marriage that is already on, at least, reasonably stable ground.



5. Comlete American 'how to idolise to the point of stalking' your wife. Perhaps that's the way they do things over the pond but over here - if you were to live as the book suggests - you'd a) push your wife into thinking you are a weirdo, b) probably lose all your friends through stalking your wife every waken hour & c) not get any further with your failing marriage because it would turn you into something you're so clearly not.

5 comments about The Book of Mormon Made Easier, Part II (New Cover) (Gospel Studies).

1. This endorsement can apply to all of his "gospel series" books. I believe I'm his biggest fan. I just can't say enough about the effect these books have had on me personally, or at least the way they have changed how I approach a study of the scriptures.
   
   Also, don't be fooled by the "Made Easier" part of the title. They may exclude all you scholars from even considering this book, but it shouldn't. People of all levels can get a lot out of this, and it's not meant to be a beginner's text.



2. My daughter recommended the 3 volumes of the Book of Mormon Made Easier. I have found them to be very good and insightful in understand the Book of Mormon. I have read the Book of Mormon many times, but reading it with these volumes has greatly increased my knowledge and desire to read the scriptures.



3. I really like how the author makes it easy to understand the Book of Mormon.



4. David Ridges does an excellent job of adding insights to BofM passages. These insights broaden the readers understanding of the subject material. The book is used by a study group who expressed to me how insightful the author's comments are in bringing a deeper understanding of the written record.



5. This series of books is very helpful in your daily study of the Book of Mormon. It explains a lot of the symbolism and makes the Book of Mormon easier to understand.

5 comments about The Book of Mormon Made Easier, Part III (New Cover).

1. I have the first three parts to this series and I love them! I always had a hard time understanding the scriptures but now I can finally understand Isaiah in 2nd Nephi and discuss what I have read with others.



2. I love this book! I don't get to participate in adult conversations while at church so this is a great way for me to still get input right in my home anytime I want.I love this book.Convenient and well written!The Book of Mormon Made Easier: Part 1 ( New Cover) (Gospel Studies Series, 4)



3. If you are a Mormon, I want you to know that I respect your open-mindedness in reading this review. I also want you to know that I like Mormons, and even love a few, some of whom I consider to be the finest people who ever walked in shoe leather, as my grandmother used to say.
   
   Note: Your helpful votes are appreciated. Thanks, and please check my reviews of books by Hugh Nibley and John Sorenson, as well as my review of "Echoes and Evidence for the Book of Mormon." And other liars for the Lord.
   
   
   
   Here then, are the cold hard facts:
   
   Joseph Smith demonstrated his ability to write Book of Mormon scripture by composing the scripture-sounding "Preface" (now dropped) as well as the two testimonies (originally at the end of the book). Note the following:
   
   PART OF THE PREFACE TO THE BOOK OF MORMON COMPOSED BY JOSEPH SMITH
   
   As many false reports have been circulated respecting the following work, and also many unlawful measures taken by evil designing persons to destroy me, and also the work....notwithstanding my utmost exertions to recover it again....Satan had put I into their hearts to tempt the Lord their God, by altering the words, that they did read contrary from that which I translated and caused to be written; and if I should bring forth the same words again, or, in other words, if I should translate the same over again, they would publish that which they had stolen, and Satan would stir up the hearts of this generation, that they might not receive this work....Wherefore, to be obedient unto the commandments of God, I have, through his grace and mercy, accomplished that which he hath commanded
   
   SLIGHT CHANGES TO SHOW THAT JOSEPH SMITH COULD COMPOSE BOOK OF MORMON SCRIPTURE:
   
   As many false reports had been circulated in the land, many unlawful measures were taken against Nephi by the evil designing Lamanite king. But notwithstanding Nephi's utmost exertions, Satan had put it into their hearts to tempt the Lord their God, by altering Nephi's words, that they did read contrary from that which he caused to be written as testimony on gold plates. And it came to pass, that Nephi said, If I should bring forth the same words again, or, in other words, if I should write the same over again, they would publish that which they had stolen, and Satan would stir up the hearts of Lamanites, that they might not receive this work. Wherefore, to be obedient unto the commandments of God, I, Nephi have, through his grace and mercy, accomplished that which he hath commanded.
   
   The preface also shows the back-tracking style found throughout the Book of Mormon.
   
   Note the following examples:
   
   l. "I have charity for the Jew--I say Jew, because I mean...."
   2. "And now if Christ had not come into the world, speaking of things to come as though...." (Supposedly written in 148 BC-before Christ)
   3. "...so long as there should be a band of Christians remain to possess the land--For thus all the true believers of Christ...." (Supposedly written in 73 BC)
   4. "And behold in the end of this book...Behold I do not mean the end of the book of Helaman, but I mean...."
   5. "...it must needs be expedient that Christ-for in the last night an angel spake unto me that this should be his name...." (Written in the sixth century BC)
   6. "...and if I should bring forth the same words again, or, in other words, if I should translate the same over...."
   7. "...that my name should be had for good and evil among all nations, kindreds, and tongues, or that it should be both good and evil spoken of among all people."
   
   NOTE: Number "6" (above) was written by Joseph Smith in his 1830 preface of the Book of Mormon, a preface now deleted, and number "7" was also written by Joseph Smith as he later described his visit with an angel.
   
   Also, remember that Joseph Smith didn't know when to quit talking. His prayer for the dedication of the Kirkland Temple, according to the guides, was a couple hours long. Thus, again he demonstrated his ability to spin scripture as fast as his scribe could write it down.
   
   Published in 1830, the original Book of Mormon bears all the marks of a novel written by a relatively uneducated man. Some 4000 changes have been made in grammar (also deleting the overuse of "and it came to pass").
   
   Also, some significant errors corrected (King Benjamin was dead at one point and it was changed to Mosiah). In addition, it contains errors that are found in the King James Bible at the time.
   
   Taking the popular folklore of the lost white race of "Mound Builders" and that the Indians were descended from the Jews, Joseph Smith had all the makings of a novel set in his lap. He was not a scholar, but he used a few books as references--notably "View of the Hebrews," published in Poultney, Vermont, where his chief scribe and third cousin, Oliver Cowdery, came of age.
   
   The project took about a year. At the age of twenty-two-and-half, Joseph Smith dictated 116 pages over a two month period. When these pages were lost or stolen, he waited some nine months (with some composition in between) before starting again. Then after three months, he completed his novel at age twenty-three-and-a-half.
   
   At the time, Joseph Smith was not a teenager or "farm boy" as many Mormon writers say, deliberately confusing Joseph's teenage visions with his dictating of the Book of Mormon. He was a married man of 22-23 when he began his novel.
   
   Note, also, that Joseph Smith didn't have to "write" a single word. He had various scribes do that as he "translated" from behind a curtain by looking at a magic stone placed in a hat.
   
   For a fascinating look at the problems of the Book of Mormon, read "American Apocrypha," a collection of essays by former Mormons. American Apocrypha: Essays on the Book of Mormons (Essays on Mormonism Series)
   
   The following is from an essay by Professor Edwin Firmage, who tells a compelling story of how he came to abandon his belief that the Book of Mormon is an ancient document. The other essays in this book are also fascinating. Highly recommended for anyone interested in the Book of Mormon.
   
   Professor Edwin Firmage, Jr. writes:
   
   "Nearly twenty years ago, as a first year-graduate student at the University of California, Berkeley, my ambition was to become another Hugh Nibley, whose writings I loved since I was twelve...."
   
   "Still a neophyte, but armed with German and a little Arabic, Greek, and Hebrew, and intent on acquiring the requisite apologetic tools, I cameo Berkeley to study ancient Near Eastern languages, particularly Egyptian, the language of mysteries par excellence.
   
   "Not long after my arrival, I was asked to teach the Book of Mormon in the Gospel Doctrine class in my Berkeley ward. I welcomed the opportunity, as it would give me a chance to delve deeper into the book. By any standard, my wife and I were faithful Mormons who attended church, visited the temple, and prayed together. I expected my study of the Book of Mormon to result in an increase of faith as it had done on my mission. But within six months, I no longer believed the Book of Mormon to be an ancient text.
   
   "To this day, I am not sure how it happened, although I can isolate several issues that played a role in my change of mind....I have often thought that what happened to me in Berkeley was fundamentally a conversion, or, if you like, an anti-conversion. The process had all the inscrutable suddenness that characterized some of the conversions I had witnessed as missionary. Like a conversion to faith, the effect of my change of mind propagated with amazing speed. Almost overnight my whole outlook on life was different."
   
   "The remaining pages of this essay will present a few of what, for me in 1984, were discoveries of some importance. These do not by any means constitute a comprehensive explanation of the Book of Mormon. Nor are they offered as proof of my thesis that the book is modern, but as examples of how the assumption that is modern resolves otherwise significant difficulties."
   
   Further, there is no archaeological evidence for the claims of the Book of Mormon. Read the following:
   
   Robert J. Sharer is Professor of Anthropology and Curator of the American Section of the University Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology at the University of Pennsylvania. His fascinating and heavy book analyzes the Maya from every angle. Although Sharer does not mention the Book of Mormon, he does give a devastating answer to those who would link Meso-American civilization with the ancient Hebrews, placing such theories squarely in the 19th century.
   
   Sharer writes: "After more than a century of gathering and analyzing archaeological evidence, we have discovered nothing to support the idea of intervention by people from the Old World." "This is not to say that accidental contacts between the Old and New World peoples could not have occurred before the age of European exploration" (p. 6).
   
   "On the basis of the available evidence, then, the courses of cultural development in the New and Old Worlds seem clearly independent of each other and devoid of significant contact until 1492" (intro., p. 7).
   
   The ancient Maya civilization, Sharer continues, "are to be `explained' not as a product of transplanted Old World civilization, but as the result of the processes that underlie the growth of any culture, including those that develop the kind of complexity we call civilization."
   
   "The idea, which either explicitly or implicitly asserts that the peoples of the New World were incapable of shaping their own destiny or developing sophisticated cultures independently of Old World influence, is still popular in quarters." "But this is but one more popular myth devoid of fact, for the evidence points unmistakably toward the evolution of civilization in the New World independently of developments in the Old World."
   
   Lastly, every Mormon should read Robert Silverberg's book, "The Mound Builders: The Archaeology of a Myth." This book provides the context for the novel called the "Book of Mormon.
   
   MOUND BUILDERS OF ANCIENT AMERICA: The Archaeology of a Myth
   
   Another great book is Robert Wauchope's 150-page "Lost Tribes and Sunken Continents: Myth and Method in the Study of the American Indians."
   
   Lost Tribes and Sunken Continents Myth Method in the



4. "RC"'s diatribe against The Book of Mormon is a great example of why Christianity is losing members. He's so wrapped up in his version of doctrine, he forgets the entire purpose of religion, worship, or just being faithful.
   
   I am not a Christian - I am currently searching. And during my search, I have spoken to possibly hundreds of people who walk in many faiths. Latter-Day Saints are the most genuine Christians I have ever met, simply because they live their faith, quietly, every day. They are deeply spiritual people who are openly friendly and welcoming to those of any faith. I am more inclined to study the religious texts of those who live a good and gentle life - those who actually take the words of Jesus to heart.
   
   There seem to be many "Mormon bashers" - supposed Christians who feel it is their duty to spend their lives on Earth arguing against and ridiculing others instead of actually studying the words of their Savior and walking in His path. It is these people who make Christianity look bad to non-Christians. I wonder if RC ever feels any presence of Spirit at all. Maybe he's too busy bashing others to really notice.
   
   So - back on track. David J. Ridges has definitely made studying all of the scriptures easier. I especially like his BoM series as well as The Book of Isaiah. You don't have to be a religious scholar to receive the benefits of this book. Think of it as another teacher who can point out parts of scripture you've never seen before.



5. I like all the commentary within each chapter. It's like being in a institute class

5 comments about Secret Ceremonies.

1. The author makes an interesting story, even a page turner, but her autobiographical account can hardly be taken as truths of the Mormon church. As unfortunate as her story is, it is not a "peek" into the Mormon church or even a typical mormon family. Having lived around Mormons most of my life, I can say this is a gross exageration of a unique circumstance and based on hearsays and past clouded recollections of a religion she no longer (at the time of writing) adhered to or even believed in. I, too, could write a jaded and hateful view of a past religion in my life, full of every negative person and account blown into almost false proportions. but, that is never an uplifting nor "Christlike" way to focus time or energy. As with any religion, don't listen (or read) the hateful comments of "ex-members". Find out truths for yourself through proper channels and only then can one make an enlightened decisions concerning religion. This is not one!!



2. I finished this book quickly - it was a page-turner for me. I found the descriptions of Mormon ritual, garments, and thought very interesting. I live just outside "Zion" (as they call their territory), and there are many Mormons here - I live adjacent to two Mormon families. I've found copies of The Book Of Mormon INSIDE my garage (stamped property of their library), and have often wondered just what their lives are like, especially the women. The book also clarifies the reasons for the Mormon attitude and way of dealing with "the rest of us".
   
   After reading the book, however, I found that I identified with much of it more because of the time-frame than because of religion. The attitudes Ms. Laake talked about extended way beyond the LDS Church. The idea that the man's the boss in HIS house, that women are "less" and are to be controlled, and that the sex act itself is the biggest sin of all (for women) were prevelent then, and still are in some ways. Those of us who grew up in those days will find a lot of the incidents in this book familiar, Mormon or not.
   
   I've known many Mormons, and this book explains much that I had questions about, but never got answers to. I was unaware that Ms. Laake had passed away - that makes me sad - but I hope she came to terms with all of her troubles and found some happiness and peace.



3. This was a very well written book. It gave me an insight I had never hoped to find. I was grateful to have found this book. My step brother joined the Mormon religion so he could marry his high school girlfriend. The day he married, my step mother stood on the steps of the Temple fuming b/c NONE of his family was allowed inside during the Mormon ceremony. As Catholics we were not privy to their secrets and esoteric hoo-ha. I knew why were standing out there on the steps. I had read Deborah Laake's book. I wasn't sorry that I wasn't inside. I wouldn't want to stand there watching my brother pretend to disembowel himself. It's sick. Early on he started talking about having his own planet in the Celestial Kingdom or some such nonsense. He turned into a snotty jackass with delusions of grandeur. It was all very frightening. I think Deborah Laake was incredibly brave to try and find a life beyond being just another sheep. Her book really spoke of her existential struggle. I think if her church had been the loving community it professes to be, she'd have been able to ask questions and find some peace. She was a gifted writer. I found her story humorous at times and painfully tragic at others. I'm just devastated to learn that she committed suicide. The church turned against her for asking questions. She was excommunicated...kicked her out of her life. The self serving smug attitude of the church is the most un Christian behavior I have ever witnessed. It's a cult by definition. I Hope that Deborah Laake found her peace.



4. I was sad to read that Deborah Laake died a few years after she wrote this and wondered if the thought of dying of cancer provoked her to suicide or if it was disappointment in the direction her life took and maybe a sense of the looming condemnation from "the church", a term I use loosely. Anyway, it IS a page-turner, a bit too explicit for my taste in some parts, and pretty revealing concerning the Temple ceremonies. For someone wanting a Mormon woman's point of view, this one is priceless.



5. "The mind is a dark genius - it can rationalize anything."
   -- Denis Waitley
   
   The book "Secret Ceremonies" makes for a fascinating case study - and not just the one that the author was aiming for.
   
   Ms. Laake didn't know that her mental illness would return or that she was developing breast cancer and that she would eventually take her own life (February 6, 2000) when she was putting the finishing touches on this book back in the early 1990's. No, it's not in the book but that's how her story ends. But to fully understand the end one must rewind the tape and view the beginning and middle of the story - and that's where this one gets really interesting because there's a "take away" for everyone in this book.
   
   To this listener (I listened to the audiobook) the overarching, recurring theme in Ms. Laake's story is denial. This is hardly surprising since in order to survive in a cult one must remain in a constant state of denial.
   
   Specifically, one must deny your core values, beliefs, feelings and perception in favor of the new reality provided by the binding system. The psychological term for this is "snapping". The refusal (or reluctance) to "snap" will not enable you to fully participate in, let alone succeed in the group. Based on the mountain of testimonies from ex-Mormons it's clear that this "double bind snap" is the order of the day in the LDS Church. (For a full dissertation on this read "The Pattern of The Double-Bind in Mormonism" by Marion Stricker)
   
   Never-the-less, it's fascinating to see how denial was so internalized that it dominated Ms. Laake's thinking long after she was out of the church. As Terry Greene Sterling, a former colleague at the Phoenix Times put it, "Laake liked to think of herself as a brutally honest journalist, and she was, except when she wrote about herself." she goes on to explain, " . . . shortly after her suicide, I realized she had blamed Mormonism and the men in her life for her mental illness, for the terrible dark spells that followed the giddy manic highs." And there lays the platinum "take away" of this intriguing book - how Deborah Laake systematically denies any responsibility for her behavior and the damaged life that resulted from it.
   
   For example, Terry Greene Sterling goes on to document how, "She wept that Mormon leaders would not allow her to eulogize her mother during an upcoming church funeral, wouldn't even let her sit in the front of the church with the family. Of course, she should have expected such a reaction after ripping into the Mormon church in 'Secret Ceremonies,' but she couldn't recognize the ugly logic . . . "
   
   Another example is how she was so expert at choosing romantic pursuits that were dysfunctional to point of being destructive. The data provided in the book would indicate that she had a pattern of impulsively first romanticizing and later villanizing the men in her life. Her courtships are counted here in months as are her marriages and affairs. Yet Ms. Laake never seems to consider the possibility that she didn't let enough time elapse to really get to know her love interests before she made serious, life impacting physical and romantic commitments to them. It never seems to occur to her that she was only positively emotionally invested in the relationship until a major commitment -- such as marriage or living together -- was made.
   
   In other words, she never got to know the "real" person behind the "dream lover" before she gave herself up. Then as soon as the real person emerged suddenly, other new, idealized relationships seemed far more interesting. (If the discerning reader is wondering if Ms. Laake was exhibiting the classic symptoms of a romance addict you're not alone)
   
   In a similar vein, Ms. Laake employs a mocking tone toward the Mormon/LDS Church but there's no indication in the book that she any pursued other, more mainstream belief systems or philosophies. She never attempted to figure out why the LDS Church is defined as a "cult" rather than a "denomination" or "sect". Frankly, I didn't sense any real spiritual hunger in Ms. Laake, just a general disdain for authority figures in general, male authority figures in particular under girded by an emotive attention seeking personality.
   
   This is reflected in how the devout (both genders) and the leaders in the book (overwhelmingly male) come off as naive idiots that she is somehow smarter and superior to despite her lack of practical and theological education as well as her limited life experience relative to theirs. This is classic narcissistic, ego-driven grandiosity that this reviewer found trying -- it's amusing when it's coming from an ignorant, inexperienced adolescent but grating coming from a 40-something adult.
   
   As if to put a spotlight on this type of "baby with the bath water" thinking, in her summation Ms. Laake rejects any form of systematic theology labeling it "God as defined by controllers" as if only HER experience and understanding of God is legitimate and she is immune from controlling, manipulative behavior due to her "victim" role - which ironically is the historic "career path" for emerging cult leaders. (see Walter Martin's classic "The Kingdom of the Cults" for a full exposition)
   
   So in the end the big, troubling question that this book raises isn't, "Is the Mormon/LDS Church a wacky, controlling, potentially dangerous cult?" there are any number of fine books that have answered that in detail to the affirmative.
   
   Rather the better question is, "Was Deborah Laake's mental illness a result of being traumatized by the Mormon/LDS Church or by other factors?" This, I believe, is the better question because it elevates this intriguing and riveting book past it's banal particulars to far more valuable universal questions. As another reviewer (in this case an Ex-Mormon man) put it so well,
   
   "I think any Mormon who grew up in the church (especially females) can relate in some way to her story. Most of us haven't ended up in mental institutions, due in part, because of the pressures the church and our LDS families place on us, but it isn't too difficult to see how that could possibly happen. . . . Non-members, as well as former or current LDS members, should find this book to be a very interesting autobiography. "
   
   Or as Elizabeth Browning said so well, "Always learn from experience - preferably someone else's" To me, this book is a marvelous example of where an unexamined, unenlightened, self-absorbed life will lead you. The Mormon/LDS Church in that light simply becomes a minor character in this great and wonderful play called, "Life".
   
   Like I said at the beginning, there's a "take away" for everyone in this fine book and I highly recommend it!
   
   Books that expand on the issues raised in this book and review:
   ================================================================
   The Pattern of The Double-Bind in Mormonism
   
   Twisted Scriptures: A Path to Freedom from Abusive Churches
   
   Take Back Your Life: Recovering from Cults and Abusive Relationships
   
   Boundaries
   
   Emotional Blackmail: When the People in Your Life Use Fear, Obligation, and Guilt to Manipulate You
   
   Games People Play: The Basic Handbook of Transactional Analysis.
   
   Keeping the Faith: Guidance for Christian Women Facing Abuse
   
   Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse, The, repack: Recognizing and Escaping Spiritual Manipulation and False Spiritual Authority Within the Church
   
   Healing Spiritual Abuse: How to Break Free from Bad Church Experiences
   
   Toxic Churches: Restoration from Spiritual Abuse

5 comments about The Mormon Conspiracy.

1. For anyone trying to decide whether or not they should try becoming a Mormon this is a good read for comparison to the Book of Mormon. Having lived among them for more than 20 years, I was still amazed at the amount of information the "regular folks" don't know and are willing to accept as fact.



2. Not worth reading. Like all conspiracy theorist they try to establish fear in the deluded and paranoid for a buck. Truth is never a factor unless it would make more money. Just another of 1000's on the heap that could not make it as tabloid journalism. I give it 2 thumbs down.



3. I am in nursing school, last semester, and unfortuently have not had time to even start reading this book. It looked good when I ordered it and then I got busy and could not read it when it came in. I score it a 3 only because I have to give it something to rate it. In actuality it could be much better or worse. Someone else read it and tell me if it is any good.



4. This is a book that ALL active Mormons, inactive Mormons and non-Mormons need to read. In other words, EVERYONE should read "The Mormon Conspiracy"! If nothing else, the revealing truth behind where the tithing money goes, after it's paid by the church membership,is shocking.
   I recommend this book highly!!!



5. I am a bishop in the Mormon Church. I'm mortified that our secret conspiracy has been revealed! All these years of just pretending to follow Jesus and serve my fellowman are now out the window! Curse this gentile!! I thought our secret symbols on the dollar bill, our hidden network of interconnecting underground tunnels under Washington, and our disguised stockpiles of guns and ammunition (cloaked with the invisible shield from Emporer Palpatine) were well hidden! Dang! Flip! NOW what evil steps should we launch before they discover our secret microchips we've been quietly implanting in peoples brains via nasal sprays?! I will have to fire up my intergalactic transponder, so the Illuminati can be warned that our plot has been discovered. The Romney humanoid shall have to be reprogrammed. Dang it! I hate it when all our hard one-world-order machinations are uncovered, especially by a basically first time author who has no research skills whatsoever. Who would have thought a guy who has never been a Mormon, doesn't know anything about the Mormons, obviously has never even met many Mormons, could discover our evil plot by sheer brilliant deduction! Ah well! Word to the wise--for all you gentiles out there who want to survive the coming Mormon "purge"--remember to tie a scarlet ribbon around your door knob and paint some lambs blood on your door sill. We shall spare your lives, but you men shall serve as food and you women as breeding sows. The brain chips shall keep you mollified and complacent enough, so you have nothing to fear, really. We know where you are. Don't try to hide. Assmiliation, per plan 49 froum Outer Space, is God's will!
   
   Bishop Anonymous (but you may call me "O Ravenous One")

5 comments about The Mormon Way of Doing Business: How Eight Western Boys Reached the Top of Corporate America.

1. So far, this book has been an easy read that is inspiring to anyone in business.
   Not just business but helps you find that balance of work and home life.



2. This is an absolutely awesome book. I could hardly put it down. It is amazing to read all the things the men in this book accomplished with a focus, most of all, on their family. If you have a busy schedule and wonder how to meet the demands of work, home, and church life, this is an excellent book to read. The greatest part of it all is that it reminds you that family is the most important thing.



3. No matter what the religion. This was a great read and much can be learned from it.



4. This book is a must read for anyone trying to maintain a healthy balance between home, work, school, and involvement in the community.



5. This is an excellent book about combining Mormon values and career but
   the main thing I got out of it is that these guys sacrafice "me" time in order to work excessive hours for the church while also spending time with their very large families and having demanding careers. Why not have two kids instead of six or seven and spend a little time relaxing and take up a hobby?. The section justifying tithing is amusing what a con job. I suspect it was Joseph Smith that coined the phrase "there is a sucker born every minute". But these people have chosen to live this way and it is not for me to say it is right or wrong. And the LDS church does occupy a permenant and growing place in my heart even though I am not a Mormon. I have noticed that since this books publication two of the main characters have been removed by their companies board of directors. It just might be that it really is impossible to do it all forever.

5 comments about Mormonism For Dummies.

1. As a non-Mormon (with no intention of converting) who used to live in La Jolla, California, I became curious about Mormonism after passing the La Jolla Temple everyday on my way to work. The fact that I was forbidden to go inside made it that much more intriguing. I have had Mormon colleagues, Mormon friends-of-friends, but never anyone to actually tell me what Mormonism is all about and why I should be interested. I bought this book with a little fear and trepidation (what if it makes me want to convert???). My fear was completely unfounded. "Mormonism for Dummies" gives a relatively unbiased view of Mormonism in a pleasant, often funny text. I now have more compassion for Mormons (although I still do not want to convert) and a more thorough understanding of what they believe. I highly recommend this book for Christians. I am buying a copy of it for my brother for Christmas.



2. We recently were relocated through my husbands employer to Salt Lake City. And I'd known a few mormons. However, I was warned it was "different" down there in Utah. SO I got this book to help me understand a bit. Glad I did. For basic information, this book seems to be very informative. It doesn't have everything (how can it?) The glossary of terms was great. Whenever we'd hear something, we'd immediately look it up. They have a section in there about how a typical Sunday service is held - information which was of no use to us. There is a lot of the history of the religon.
   
   If you're moving to SLC, this is an indispensible tool.



3. I am not Mormon but I wanted to learn as much as I could about the LDS faith in as short a period of time as possilbe. I read the book in two days and found the information I was looking for. It is an excellent introduction to a truly great faith. The lifestyle is too restrictive for me but I can see the benefit and reasoning behind it. My only real complaints about LDS beliefs is the churchs positon on breeding and tithing 10%. Over population is a serious problem and it does not help the environment for people to have seven, eight or nine children even if they can afford it. But I really like the LDS emphasis on family and family values. I support Mitt Romney as President and will gladly argue with anyone that his faith is not a reason to vote against him. This book has given me some useful knowlege to use in support of that cause.



4. There are other good reviews here that discuss why this book is so good. I will only add what they didn't cover.
   
   My favorite part of the book was when the authors covered cultural and sociological issues, such as retention and attendance rate. For example, did you know that Mormon attendance on Sundays in the USA/Canada is only about 50%? I was really surprised by that. For some reason I thought it would be a little bit higher. (In the USA/Canada, weekly attendance is about 83 to 87 percent for English Jehovah's Witness congregations. The attendance is higher for foreign language congregations in those countries. Jehovah's Witnesses are frequently mistaken for Mormons and vice versa.) The book, "Leaving the Fold", written by a Mormon, sheds some light on the situation.
   
   They joked about Mormon parents buying their kids cars so that the young men would become missionaries, but that the Mormon church is now stricter about getting "worthy" candidates for missionary service. Although I knew that young single women can also become missionaries, I didn't know that some retired Mormon couples also serve as missionaries.
   
   My interest in the Mormon religion stems from the fact that I've been mistaken as one. I'm actually one of Jehovah's Witnesses now and I would never become Mormon. I simply disagree with their theological beliefs and teachings about the Bible.
   
   For example, the authors admit that Joseph Smith made corrections to the King James Version of the Bible and gave some examples where this occurs. They explained that their version of the KJV Bible is the only accepted one by the Mormon church authorities but that they didn't know why the LDS honchos don't accept modern day translations that are based on modern day discoveries of older parchments and scrolls. I'm referring in particular to the Dead Sea Scrolls. All the authors say is that the modern day Bible translations are not acceptable to the LDS church honchos. To my ears, this sounds like a convenient way for the Mormons to keep saying "we believe the Bible only as far as it's been accurately translated." For example, many mainstream Christians, while acknowledging the beautiful language of the archaic English used in the KJV Bible, prefer using a modern English Bible that is based on older and more accurate scrolls/parchments. That's why they printed the New King James Version of the Bible.
   
   The old KJV Bible was printed in the year 1611 CE. Since then, many more ancient Bible scrolls/parchments have been discovered that correct the flaws in this version of the Bible. It will be interesting to see if other ancient parchments will come to light in the near future.
   
   At any rate, this book is excellent for anyone who wants a reasonably comprehensive view of the biggest Mormon sect from a devout Mormon point of view.



5. I read this book in just three days. It is a very easy read but is very obviously written by Mormons. It is very faith-promoting. The author addresses absolutely none of the controversial aspects of Mormonism. I'm sure the PR department of the Mormon church was very pleased with this book, but it is not fair for someone who really wants to know the whole truth about the Mormon faith. If you want a fair accurate book that gives the full picture but is neither faith-promoting nor anti-Mormon, try Mormon America.

4 comments about People of Paradox: A History of Mormon Culture.

1. The thesis of the book is that the four primary paradoxes with which Latter-day Saints encounter the world have influenced the cultural and artistic history of the religion. I found it interesting from the historical aspect but purchased the book mainly to understand the paradoxes that Givens describes. (Don't worry - they are not deal breakers!) This book should be in the collection of everyone who has an interest in the development of art and culture in Mormonism.



2. The print is so small in this book I simply put it away without reading. Will try to locate my magnifying glass and maybe I can make some sense of it.



3. I found this to be a very valuable book. Terryl Givens taught me aspects of LDS history that I did not know or simply hadn't dawned on me. As a small example, in talking about building the Nauvoo temple, he mentions the extremely small population that took on the building of the Kirtland Temple. "Instead of the 100 or so members who populated the Ohio town when that temple was announced in 1832, Nauvoo in 1841 was the center of a burgeoning Illinois Mormon population in excess of some 12,000." - pg 109. Every time I think about such a small band of people taking on the building of the Kirtland Temple I get dizzy. And when I consider the amazing growth of the church in only a few years amid all the difficulties they also endured I am still amazed even though I have known the story since my childhood.
   
   However, this isn't another telling of the history of the church. Givens examines the culture of the church and the various strains within that culture that had their roots in the revelations received by Joseph Smith, the strains of culture brought in by the various groups of immigrant converts, the impact of the various migrations due to persecution, the temporary isolation in the West, and the growing pains of becoming a global church in modernity.
   
   This is an ambitious book that accomplishes the author's aims amazingly well. Givens admits that he has left out material on popular culture and folk expressions that deserve treatment. He also recognizes that some of the Western cultural distinctions of high culture and serious art will have less meaning to an increasing membership outside that cultural heritage.
   
   Givens presents his material in sixteen chapters divided into three parts. Part 1 establishes the "Foundations and Paradoxes in Mormon Cultural Origins". The four chapters lay out the cultural dichotomies of authority and radical freedom, the idea of searching and certainty, the very practical (banal) aspects of everyday life that are also tied up with Mormon ideas of the sacred, and the sense of being the chosen people versus the effects on our culture from persecution, migration, and isolation.
   
   Part 2 is "The Dancing Puritans" and covers the period from 1830-1890. The six chapters examine the idea among Mormons that the "Glory of God is Intelligence", along with architecture, music, dance, theater, literature, and the visual arts. The author's emphasis is how the seeming conflicts of the Part 1 play themselves out in the circumstances and means of expression by the artists during this period.
   
   Part 3 is "A Moveable Zion - Pioneer Nostalgia and Beyond the American Religion" and covers the years from 1890 to the present. Givens again takes us through the way thinkers fit into and don't fit into Church culture. He also takes us through the realities of church correlation. The topics of architecture, music, dance, theater, literature, and the visual arts are examined regarding their developments. Film is also added to the chapter of theater. Givens also talks about the implications of the majority of the church not only being outside Utah and the Western states, but also outside the United States.
   
   Since I have lived all my life in the church, but here in Michigan, I learned a great deal about the life of the Saints in the West that I did not know and it was all most interesting. However, I have also lived my life deeply involved in music (my undergraduate degree is in music theory and I have studied piano since I was a child), and I found some of Givens' analyses and conclusions a bit exasperating. Some of what he and the some of the artists in the book claim are difficulties with Church culture have more to do with the life of artist everywhere and in all places. On page 337 we read this sentence: "No wonder, as Southey noted despondently, a survey of responses to the Mormon Arts Festival revealed that `more than one-third or all patrons believed that art was basically irrelevant to the church.'' Talk about missing a glass two-thirds full!
   
   My guess is that more than a third of the population at large sees the fine arts as irrelevant to their life in any way. Having been a classical musician all my life, I can't tell you how few people care about this music as anything more than a kind of muzak. For the life of me, I can't understand people who tell me they like to listen to Mozart to relax. How can you be listening to that music with anything but amazement and excitement is beyond me.
   
   Yes, there are cultural aspects to the church that can be exasperating to any of us; even with a full, strong, and burning testimony. However, I found the emphasis on the exasperations of "intellectuals", academics, artists, and so forth to be quite provincial. A plumber or a farmer can be frustrated by aspects of the church as easily as a painter, writer, or a pianist. I grew up in a working class home and worked on an assembly line for a couple of years when I was very young and found that people from any background could find all kinds of things to get worked up over. Some of them were even legitimate and meaningful hurts rather than a frustration that the church won't re-fashion itself into what any given individual thinks it should or could be. I have seen people shaken to the core over the way sugar beets and potatoes were being farmed, commodities were being canned, the way the church facilities were being maintained, and the endless list goes on. The artist's problem is the same the problem everyone else has. The church is about active belief and engagement at that level. The rest, including being a "cultural Mormon", is pretty much incidental.
   
   Not long after I began piano lessons I became a deacon and was soon called to be the pianist for priesthood meeting. Over the decades of playing in various wards and branches around the world I have learned about people and their preference for the familiar and the way "everyone" (meaning their congregation) does things. I can't tell you how many times I have been told "we don't sing that hymn here" and I always respond, "Well, now we do". But this is a people issue, not an LDS issue. It has also happened when I have played for non-LDS congregations and even for non-religious groups.
   
   Being an artist is about making your art. You can't worry about what others think about you. You will likely have to work hard for quite awhile to bring others around to your point of view. You also can't worry about being a `great artist' because you almost certainly are not (I certainly am not). That does not mean that you shouldn't be an artist or make your art. At any level you are helping to build a base for the arts and developing the kind of environment we all need for art to flourish. If all there were in the world was, to use the clichés of this book, Beethoven and Shakespeare, there would have been no audience for them, no artisans to provide their instruments or theaters, no performers, and consequently no Beethoven of Shakespeare. If you are an artist, or lover of the arts, or even if you can only give place in heart to think about the arts, do so and we will all be more greatly blessed.
   
   Another issue is the aspect of creating art specifically for Mormons. That can be a good thing, but it can also be limiting (not because of the subject, but because of the size of the audience). We are only twelve or thirteen million people in a world of billions. My advice is to make and participate in great art and spread it to the world. Some of it can be specifically Mormon, but why not increase your chances for success by creating for a bigger audience. This doesn't mean you have to pander or turn your back on the church or its principles. It does mean you have to be strong and spend time presenting your art and your point of view rather than passively condemning the world for not recognizing your talent.
   
   I recommend this book to everyone interested in Mormon culture, whether you are a member or not. Of course you don't have to agree with the author on anything or everything to learn some new things and get a lot of food for thought. And that is all you can ask of a book. Well, that and larger print. To whomever chose the font size and type for this book: please provide darker and bigger type in the future. My eyes aren't as young as they used to be and I found the act of reading this book more of a chore than it needed to be. I also wish Givens had a website for the book that pointed us to images of the artworks, sound clips, and video so we could experience the arts more fully. The black and white images provided are very helpful, but an additional website would have been that much more helpful.
   
   With a few small quibbles aside, this is a great resource and an important contribution to any of us who care about our culture. I am grateful.
   
   Reviewed by Craig Matteson, Ann Arbor, MI



4. Finally, someone has put together all of the anomalies inherent in the LDS religion and culture. Well, not all. But enough that you get a really good idea of all of the paradoxes that are so frustrating. It was fascinating to see so many of the perplexities spelled out. However, I believe there is somewhere a statement to the effect "there must needs be an opposition in all things"; but who would have thought that it was built-in?