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

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)

A must read!

This was such an amazing story. It spoke to me and was very healing! Loved it and I admire her courage. Thank you for having a voice for those who haven't found theirs yet!

A Good Story

Would you consider the audio edition of Leaving the Saints to be better than the print version?

I found the narration a bit annoying. I am a part of a bookclub and those that utilized the audiobook also found the narration not reflective of the author's spirit and a tad irritating. If you don't mind overdramatic/bad acting, then you will get through it. If you don't get bothered easily, then you won't even notice.

What did you like best about this story?

I found the author's courageous vulnerability to be the best part of this story.

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

I like that I understood the performance. I did not enjoy the over acting/bad acting.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No, it was not.

Very enjoyable

This audiobook was very informative and provided me with a lot of information about the LDS, but I did not know or that I had heard about, and thought was fiction or rumors. Martha Beck is my new hero. I wish i was able to get to know her in person.

Keep writing Martha

As I read this book I was amazed to see that Martha's experience was almost identical to the experience of a friend of mine. That friend has been convinced that she was a victim of "false memory syndrome". Interesting... I think Martha addressed some of the really wonderful things about the Morman people as well as the not so good. It's so sad that anyone who speaks out against a wrong is for the most part immediately attacked.

Real review by a non-mormon!

I have a sneaking suspicion that the 1 star reviews that are imaginatively titled "review by a non-mormon" are actually written by mormons desperately trying to discredit the author in an attempt to maintain the crumbling facade of their illegitimate religion. This book is a fascinating and spell-binding account of one of the most bizarre cults I've ever encountered: the church of latter day saints. Almost everything about their religion is farcical and at some points I actually laughed out loud! I was fascinated to learn that their founder, Joseph Smith, actually taught that the moon was inhabited by people that dressed like Quakers. There is absolutely no doubt that Joseph Smith was a fraud and his bizarre theories have been disproven time and time again by modern science. He even co-opted some genuine Egyptian documents and pretended to "translate" these as the "Book of Abraham". In modern times it has been shown that the translation was completely fabricated and that the documents were actually the Egyptian Book of the Dead, a relatively common-place document buried with Egyptians in ancient times to provide directions for them in the afterlife.
Despite the fact that the entire religion is built on lies, people actually adhere to this religion and use it to bully, intimidate and control other members. Not only that but sexual abuse is rife in the church and community and the religious tenets are completely disempowering to women (the teachings actually advocate polygamy!).
I found the religion, its leaders, practices and beliefs absolutely shocking.
It is incredibly brave for Martha Beck to write this book. She had to go against the grain of her family, her entire community and her upbringing to find the courage to reveal the truth about this crazy cult. Everyone should listen to this book.
I can only hope that this book helps to dismantle this oppressive religion/cult.

Powerful insight into the Mormon religion

If you could sum up Leaving the Saints in three words, what would they be?

Vulnerable - Powerful - Valuable

What did you like best about this story?

The author shares both her personal story as well as facts about the Mormon religion. She does so in a great way that is insightful and entertaining.
While she is brutally honest about the abuse she experienced in her childhood, she seems to be fair in her depiction of Mormon doctrine and practice.

Very Good Book

As someone who is non-Mormon yet very fascinated by the Mormon/LDS religion, I thoroughly enjoy this book!

Amazing!!

Such a beautifully written book! I couldn’t stop listening to it!! Thank you for helping me through this journey!!

A beautiful and brave book

Martha Beck is so brave and loving and strong. The story of her life validates so many others and brings peace, love and forgiveness to the way things happened in the past and how to live in beauty and hope every day. This book was nourishment to the mind, body and soul.

Highly Recommend

Beautifully written. When I wasn’t on the edge of my seat or audibly saying “Oh my God!” I was right there with Martha reliving her story. I highly recommend this to anyone, especially those who have recently left the church and are looking for new perspectives.