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)

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.

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.

wonderful!!

loved this ! Told with so much reverence and love i think.. Martha never disappoints. And this book reached me in so many places. So good

Humorous and enjoyable story.

I appreciate the authors humor and honesty of her journey through horrific trauma and spiritual abuse, the pain and difficulty of leaving religion and finding true spirituality.

Excellent

She dares what many others could not.

Told with love and compassion

Told with love and understanding. It helped me get one step closer to finding the courage to leave… xoxo thank you Martha Beck

Loved it!

I loved the way the story is narrated. The author makes sure she does not sound biased by telling you both sides of the story and by reasoning and understanding what takes a person or a community to x or y act. I love the idea of telling a few secrets from the church to us outsiders. I believe this religion is too old fashion by hiding secrets about rituals, censuring, threatening, and by stubbornly not accepting facts found by scientists.

I could not believe that in America, there are those who live a life similar to the Muslim community in the Middle East.

Kudos and thank you to the author!

An expose...

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

Pronunciation of names

This book is spectacular, and the narrator did a great job. The only thing I would change is to make sure narrators pronounce proper names within specific religions properly.
It makes a Mormon’s eye twitch to hear “Nephite” pronounced with a short “e” in the first syllable.
Otherwise, just a fantastic book!

Brave Story

amazing story and very brave to tell such a life tail. it definitely can't be easy. It is unbelievable anyone would join this religion or stand there and not question what is going on.