https://www.simplypsychology.org/milgram.html

Some of you may have heard of the Milgram Experiment. The short version is that volunteers were taken into a lab, where they were told by a man in a white coat to shock a person in the other room. The electric shocks grew more and more intense, but the people were told to carry on.

Over 60% of people were willing to torture when they were told to do by someone in authority.

Fortunately, the "victim" was an actor. Unfortunately, it proved that most people will commit atrocities if they have permission.

History proves this - National Socialism, Marxism-Leninism, Witch Hunts, the Middle Ages... The key here is authority. We're told to be scared of serial killers. Authority killed more people than lone wolf renegades. Wars, rumors of wars and purges...

People like to say they wouldn't do these things, but most have never been in this position. In the Milgram Experiment, people obeyed because a scientist in uniform told them to.

The church is, or was, obsessed with authority. It is even led by so called "General Authorities".

If you think this is an exaggeration, look at the Danites.

Their authorities wear uniforms too. Their suits are a different xolor.

In addition to the authority issue, another issue is that of critical thinking. Most church members don't know how to think for themselves. So if they can't think for themselves and they are in the habit of doing what they are told to do by someone in authority, that's a dangerous combination.

There are those who question the validity of the Milgram Experiment.

https://www.psypost.org/2019/11/unpublished-data-from-stanley-milgrams-experiments-casts-doubts-on-his-claims-about-obedience-54921

My view on this and its relevance to LDS, Inc. is that many individuals "self-select" out of the church, but those that remain members "enjoy" the elements of control it offers; to "Godwinize" this one a bit, I recall Adolf Eichmann who spoke of obedience as "being the perfect excuse not to think."

The church is highly authoritarian, to the point of suppressing liberal and libertarian thought and becoming a far right echo chamber. I would expect the number to be higher than 60% with TBMs.

The Milgram experiment was successfully replicated many times including experiments by groups other than Milgram’s.

But you don’t need a weatherman to tell which way the wind blows. The non-LDS in Missouri and around Nauvoo knew an existential threat when they saw it. Joseph Smith wielded incredible power while at the same time demonstrating a manic propensity to abuse it.