Secret Ceremonies

A Mormon Woman's Intimate Diary of Marriage and Beyond

By: Deborah Laake

Narrated by: Meredith MacRae

A pioneer in the Mormon exposé, Deborah Laake recounts her strict Mormon upbringing and two disastrous Mormon marriages that left her a pariah in the church. Laake chronicles her life from innocence to full initiation. Married at 19, she describes the voodoo-like rituals and behaviors revealed to her on her wedding day—and the male dominance, strange teachings, and "divine" revelations characteristic of her religion.

A Mormon Woman's Intimate Diary of Marriage and Beyond is an insider's look behind the facade and a story of courage and bravery at a time when no one dared speak out against the church.

©1999 Deborah Laake (P)1999 Phoenix Books, Inc.

Critic reviews

"A candid, often startling memoir of the author's life as a Mormon wife....an affectingly personal look into the well-guarded citadel of Mormondom." (Kirkus Reviews)

Not what I expected.

this is more a sad life story than the story of the "secret Ceremonies".

Unique exit story

Very well written bio from someone escaping an oppressive society/religion. Because this woman's experience happened largely before the LDS (Mormon) church updated many of its more extreme viewpoints and doctrines, it's gives a unique perspective and explanation of the more sexist and patriarchal generation that the current generation of liberal leaning Mormons and non Mormons are battling today.

Nonacceptance of dogma

Beautiful, authentic experience of a woman questioning her circumstances. Inspiration for everyone questioning an authority in their lives.

Short and Entertaining

The first part of the book covers the authors life dealing with her Mormon beliefs. That part was interesting and insightful into the Mormon beliefs and religion. As the book continues I realized that the author, although likeable, is really troubled beyond her religion. It was an entertaining listen in a soap opera way, but not the sort of book that I would generally read.

Blame

I wish the narrator had made an effort to pronounce words correctly. Additionally, it appears the author wishes to blame the LDS Church for her own family disfunction. Seriously a father buying condoms and giving washing instructions? I would guess the church was not the contributing factor to her emotional struggles.