Do You Recognise Cult Behaviors In Mormonism?

Characteristics Associated With Cults

Mormon Apostle Elder Russell M. Ballard, during the October 2016 General Conference, asked, "If any one of you is faltering in your faith, I ask you the same question that Peter asked: "To whom shall [you] go?" If you choose to become inactive or to leave the restored Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where will you go? What will you do?"

Of course, the answers are many and often humorous. Starbucks is the most frequently suggested. Or down the pub with my grandfather. Or even to watch a soccer game on a Sunday. Or maybe to another faith of your choice. Or perhaps no religious organization at all. Maybe you could use your valuable time to reeducate yourself or even use your life experience to benefit others less fortunate in some way.

Below are other cult behaviors described by Janja Lalich and Michael D. Langone from Take Back Your Life: Recovering from Cults and Abusive Relationships (Bay Tree Publishing, 2006). They also illustrate the worrying signs, even dangerous signs, of expectations and behaviors of cult organizations such as The Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints or the Mormons, as in the above quote and picture. Be careful. It's a deep hole to fall into and extremely difficult to get back out of.

Photo by il vano on Unsplash

1. Questioning, doubt, and dissent are discouraged or even punished. Absolutely.
2. Mind-altering practices (such as meditation, chanting, speaking in tongues, denunciation sessions, or debilitating work routines) are used in excess and serve to suppress doubts about the group and its leader(s). Temple Rites.
3. The leadership dictates, sometimes in great detail, how members should think, act, and feel (e.g., members must get permission to date, change jobs, or marry — or leaders prescribe what to wear, where to live, whether to have children, how to discipline children, and so forth). Absolutely.
4. The group is elitist, claiming a special, exalted status for itself, its leader(s), and its members (e.g., the leader is considered the Messiah, a special being, an avatar — or the group and/or the leader is on a special mission to save humanity). Absolutely and therefore, you are unique. And because you are special, you must give more and always obey.
5. The group has a polarized, us-versus-them mentality, which may cause conflict with the wider society. Absolutely.
6. The leader is not accountable to any authorities (unlike, for example, teachers, military commanders, ministers, priests, monks, and rabbis of mainstream religious denominations). Absolutely.
7. The group teaches or implies that its supposedly exalted ends justify whatever means it deems necessary. This may result in members participating in behaviors or activities they would have considered reprehensible or unethical before joining the group (e.g., lying to family or friends or collecting money for bogus charities). Absolutely. Why else would you be told what underwear to wear or have to learn secret handshakes to get into heaven?
8. The leadership induces feelings of shame and/or guilt in order to influence and control members. Often this is done through peer pressure and subtle forms of persuasion. Absolutely.
9. Subservience to the leader or group requires members to cut ties with family and friends and radically alter their personal goals and activities before joining the group. Absolutely.
10. The group is preoccupied with bringing in new members. Absolutely.
11. The group is preoccupied with making money. Absolutely. Even stockpiling billions for a "rainy day."
12. Members are expected to devote inordinate amounts of time to the group and group-related activities. Absolutely. The vast majority of your time. The further you progress, the less time you have free.
13. Members are encouraged or required to live and/or socialize only with other group members. Absolutely. Absolutely. And Absolutely.
14. The most loyal members (the "true believers") feel there can be no life outside the context of the group. They believe there is no other way to be and often fear reprisals to themselves or others if they leave — or even consider leaving — the group. Absolutely for sure.

© Stephen G. Arrowsmith 2022

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