Mormonism: Safe and Happy or Sad and Fearful?
What Happens When You Need Help? That’s Right, Nothing.
The above is not a picture of Joseph Smith’s death mask for those familiar with Mormonism. It is instead a sad, blank, tired, and damaged face. It’s full of tiny holes that eventually lead to bigger holes and cracks. The cracks grow until such a time when you break—experiencing a constant silent barrage of letdowns by an organization that will always lay any damage control blame right at your feet. As a Prophet-led church, they can never be wrong, yet they are constantly. As members and church employees, you are secondary to the image of the Mormon church.
Although I could write Tolstoy size books relating to how Mormon processes produce people in much the same way the Ford car factory may. Ford auto company has an idea of what they want to create, which is what they do. If there is a problem with its processes or the workers, the Ford image is of uttermost importance. Likewise, the Mormon church and its multiple work companies think the same. Appearance is paramount, no matter what. The culture is so ingrained that no matter your concern and the legal issues it may bring, the case will always be covered up or the victim blamed to fully ensure the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saint's clean-cut image.
For example, I loved my job working for the LDS church in the Welfare Department. Under the care of the Presiding Bishop of the church, I saw my job as initially described by Elder David Bednar; “Your employment in the Church is not a calling, but it is more than a job.” I saw my job helping and serving others much less fortunate than myself. I worked and paid for eight hours a day, but I felt the extra few hours I worked on top were the “more than job” part. I loved it and achieved a lot of good. However, due to the changes in laws relating to overtime pay, etc., the eight hours a day began to be strictly enforced. I was happy to work hours over for free for those who needed help, but no more. The church was so concerned about any potential lawsuit regarding earnings over forty hours my job changed dramatically. Not just in the free extra hours but also in our status change. No longer salary but hourly pay to avoid blemishing their image. No matter that the staff suddenly felt insecure and no longer valued. After all, everyone knows no one works for the Mormon church for the pay. Most worked because it was more than a job. Then it wasn’t. Although staff numbers are no doubt secret, like everything in the Mormon church, I know from personal experience that many people left church employment to work elsewhere after these changes.
Later I encountered the covering up a problem related to a complaint of harassment and abuse experienced in the workplace. I filed a complaint in the correct order with a direct supervisor. My supervisor was someone who had worked from the bottom up and therefore understood the job very well. As supervisors go, I’d say one of the very best. However, when reported to the manager at the next level, the complaint stopped dead in its tracks. According to law, any objection relating to abuse must be forwarded to a superior, and investigations must be carried out. It didn’t happen. Instead, my manager suggested that I was not working the same hours the abuser worked; therefore, it would be impossible for abuse to occur. However, we did overlapping shifts, and his view did not make sense initially. However, as both parties, the abuser and the manager were in the same church ward (or area) and were friends, there was no more to say. My manager did not take my complaint seriously, the abuse continued, and my mental health deteriorated. So much so that I encountered massive anxiety attacks while driving to work and had to pull off the freeway. Finally, I experienced depression, a severe lack of sleep, and self-esteem issues due to my mistrust of both staff and the church. Although I soon after had to retire prematurely due to a physical disability, there is no doubt that my mental health also suffered. However, the church insurance agents would not allow any causes that included mental health as a secondary cause.
One would assume that a church or a church workplace should be a happy and safe place. However, for many, this is not so. It is a place that can be sad and fearful. There are many reasons that the Mormon church is bleeding badly with dramatic losses in membership, and just one reason is that it eventually becomes an unsafe place for many to be. (See https://stevearrowsmith.medium.com/the-mormon-church-is-bleeding-badly-ea4017a20e55 )
Oprah Winfrey suggested that when someone is in the line of fire, it makes sense to move out of the way. Perhaps it would be better to leave the building entirely. I am just saying!
© Stephen G. Arrowsmith 2022
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