• Leaving the Saints

  • How I Lost the Mormons and Found My Faith
  • By: Martha Beck
  • Narrated by: Bernadette Dunne
  • Length: 12 hrs and 44 mins
  • 4.1 out of 5 stars (533 ratings)

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Leaving the Saints  By  cover art

Leaving the Saints

By: Martha Beck
Narrated by: Bernadette Dunne
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Publisher's summary

Leaving the Saints is an unforgettable memoir about one woman's spiritual quest and journey toward faith. As "Mormon royalty" within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Martha Beck was raised in a home frequented by the Church's high elders, - known as the apostles - and her existence was framed by their strict code of conduct. Wearing her sacred garments, she married in a secret temple ceremony - but only after two Mormon leaders ascertained that her "past contained no flirtation with serious sins, such as committing murder or drinking coffee". She went to church faithfully with the other brothers and sisters of her ward. When her son was born with Down syndrome, she and her husband left their graduate programs at Harvard to return to Provo, Utah, where they knew the supportive Mormon community would embrace them.

However, soon after Martha began teaching at Brigham Young University, she began to see firsthand the Church's ruthlessness as it silenced dissidents and masked truths that contradicted its published beliefs. Most troubling of all, she was forced to face her history of sexual abuse by one of the Church's most prominent authorities. This book chronicles her difficult decision to sever her relationship with the faith that had cradled her for so long and to confront and forgive the person who betrayed her so deeply.

This beautifully written, inspiring memoir explores the powerful yearning toward faith. It offers a rare glimpse inside one of the world's most secretive religions while telling a profoundly moving story of personal courage, survival, and the transformative power of spirituality.

©2005 Martha Beck (P)2005 Books on Tape, Inc.

Critic reviews

"The book is full of Beck's laugh-out-loud hyperbolic wit and exquisitely written insights." (Publishers Weekly)

“Martha Beck’s riveting memoir teaches us more about love, spirituality, trauma, truth telling, and hope than all the self-help books combined. It is one of the bravest, most achingly honest books I’ve read in years. Leaving the Saints is a priceless gift.” (Harriet Lerner, Ph.D., author of The Dance of Anger)

“A courageous, touching, and beautifully written spiritual journey of the heart. I applaud Martha’s candidness and perseverance in her steadfast pursuit of the power of love.” (Judith Orloff, M.D., author of Positive Energy and Dr. Judith Orloff’s Guide to Intuitive Healing)

What listeners say about Leaving the Saints

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Breathtaking and poignant

This audio book is a treasure and I am not even remotely surprised that the reviews are so polarized, for all the obvious reasons. I am recommending this book to everyone I know.

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

An expose...

but not always believable--she definitely comes with an axe to grind.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars

Very Average

The authur appears to be so self involved that she neglects the readers basic reason for buying the book, which is to better understand life with the Mormons.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

very brave, indeed...

...to tell this compelling story. I hope that this book will inspire countless people to free themselves of pain and shame by recounting their own truths - no mater how forcefully they have been strong-armed and shamed into silence. The only way out is through - Martha Beck really charges straight on through.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

I'm from Mormon Country. This book explains a lot!

Areas with high LDS populations heavily influence the culture, even for those who are not church members. The witty, fearless, direct style of this book brings a lot of clarity to things I have always suspected based on personal experiences, but have never been able to ponder at length. I praise the author's willingness to step into the light, regardless of consequences. Very inspiring read despite a tough, very sad subject.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Great book

I don't normally get into this type of book, I prefer fiction, but this was exceptional. It was so good I will be seeking out other books by this author. Highly recommended.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

This book helped me to heal from leaving the LDS .

I really loved this book. it has helped me tremendously to recover from my grief of leaving the LDS Church.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

A little meh.

A lot of this story was about the author’s spiritual journey, love, forgiveness, peace and self-control. She seems to be the “perfect” person, stifling anger, judgment and bittnerness. I found myself both in awe and disbelief at the same time. She was almost TOO perfect a person. After a while all that got old. I enjoy biographical works like this and “Beyond Belief” by Jenna Miscavige Hill was a better read.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent

She dares what many others could not.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Compelling

This is an extremely well-written and narrated book that I feel is balanced in terms of the positive attributes of the Mormon Church but also some of its internal problems as they particularly relate to the author. Her personal story is compelling and it was interesting to hear about her searching and strength as she faced the "skeleton in the closet", despite its ramifications. Her style is engaging and I felt that she would be someone I would like to know as a friend.

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3 people found this helpful