"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.

"From the Hardcover edition.

Reviews

Listeners who enjoyed Beck's Expecting Adam may appreciate revisiting the author's family as they move back to Provo, UT, following the birth of their second child, born with Down syndrome. Looking for the support the Mormon community typically extends to a disabled child, Beck faces further struggles as she deals with repressed childhood memories of sexual abuse that cause her to question family relationships and the structure of Mormonism. She uses her academic training to dissect the beliefs of the Mormon Church and finds that the Latter-day Saints version of history does not hold up to scrutiny. At the same time, Beck chronicles a spiritual awakening that comes to take the place of Mormonism in her life. While the sections on Mormon history and religious practice are well written and fascinating, the parts of the book that deal with Beck's newly found spirituality are often vague, amorphous, and self-serving. Bernadette Dunne's narration, while generally fine, at times seems a bit too perky for the subject matter. Recommended for libraries with a following for Beck's earlier books.-Karen Traynor, Sullivan Free Lib., Chittenango, NY Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

"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"

"Few have such fascinating tales--or the literary chops and emotional range with which to tell them--as Martha Beck. . . . That Beck can write so eloquently about [her break from the church] without bitterness is a gift worth its weight in gold plates." --Ralph Frammolino, "Los Angeles Times"

"Trying to get your truth out against a wall of resistance? Looking for a spiritual bonus in the struggle? Your struggle is Beck's, and" Leaving the Saints" tells it consolingly well." --"Detroit News and Free Press"