Posted by:
Nightingale
(
)
Date: March 01, 2024 01:59PM
Mannaz Wrote:
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> 1. The Mormon church did not allow me to attend my
> sons marriage ceremony because I was no longer a
> practicing Mormon.
This comment puzzled me at first but then I realized that, of course, it's because you couldn't go into the temple as an inactive Mormon. If outsiders hear details like this they are understandably appalled because it's very cruel. Mormon leaders could do a hybrid type ceremony - first in a location where all family members and friends are welcome - then, if they must, finish it off to their satisfaction by having a temple portion for the couple and any active mos they would like to invite.
That would be understandable, and palatable, rather than keeping close family (especially parents) standing outside while their loved ones are wed, an occasion which is a huge big deal in most families, it goes without saying.
> We forget just how far out
> there this practice is, plus it is an overt
> institutionalized form of public shaming.
Good points.
> 2. In my case, it seemed appropriate to add more
> on context so I showed them the whole name sign
> and penalty, complete with my demonstrating the
> death oaths. Now the whole cult like aspect now
> became more apparent.
Good move. It's definitely creepy. This alone could give a lot more insight into the inner Mormon workings for those outside who have never heard of it and just can't imagine it. And those who think it's all Donny and Marie, when for most members it's not.
> This helped my therapist help me, and I hope some
> others.
I'm glad that was helpful. And by extension, it will help any other exmos this therapist may have as clients in the future.
> I think it was appropriate for the therapist to
> ask, just not appropriate to share anything to do
> with another patient.
Yes. I agree absolutely. There is a way to do it so that all caution is still maintained and no unwanted repercussions result. Likely this therapist may have realized that afterwards and will be careful from now on. Hopefully he runs a practice where clients don't run into each other in the waiting room. What if you recognized the couple he was talking about? Likely a slim chance, but not impossible. It may seem like a small point but in reality the principle of absolute confidentiality is a major big deal, for obvious reasons.
As for the therapist learning more about Mormonism, thereby being able to better help his Mormon clients, I'm all for that.
Even as a "convert" I didn't know, beforehand or even completely after joining, about how Mormonism is all-consuming, about all the hoops a member family has to continually jump through, the financial pressures, the dark history of the church's beginnings and early leaders, the time commitments, the judgements, the pressures and the absolutely stultifyingly boring repetitious and banal eternal meetings and the utter weirdness of their holy temple that put that old song chorus on an eternal loop in my brain: "is that all there is?".
Because it's certainly a lot of sound and fury over .... what exactly?
Also, the degree of control they want to exercise over people is out of order. That is something outsiders would definitely not know and info that would also be very useful to the therapist in trying to assist his clients with their issues. In fact, if the therapist doesn't have some insight into the Mormon world s/he may very well be ill-equipped to help clients because a major piece of clarification would be missing. The Mormon aspect is like a third participant in a marriage, influencing and affecting both partners with often negative effects on the marriage. It could be as basic as one partner wanting to be more active than the other. There is going to be an obvious disconnect there. Etc.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/01/2024 02:06PM by Nightingale.