Book Review: Behind the Mask of Mormonism
Year: 1992
Genre: Nonfiction-Religious debate--Mormonism
Behind the Mask of Mormonism is a dull, dry and academic work that tends to repeat itself in several areas of the book,-- more on that later. So what is it about? Simply, the title gives it away: it is about the hidden secrets exposing Mormonism as a false religion—and rightfully so! Mormonism isn’t a religion, it’s a masonic cult. This book goes over in that detail greatly all throughout the book.
I came to this book thinking it was one of those behind-the-scenes written in first hand with other studies interspersed inside, instead I got something that focused on Mormonism from an academic standpoint. That by itself isn’t as bad, but there’s a time and place for everything, including academic style works versus works meant for the public.
The first pages start off with the practices of Mormonism and how they compare to day, and how they have changed throughout the centuries. However, the authors do not try to be creative with what is essentially a dully written book to begin with. I admire the authors for exposing Mormonism, I don’t like their writing style of the book. As the book progresses, we see more and more Mormon practices, theology and history just not aligning with the real history that goes around it. I’m not going into full details, but I’ll name a few: polygamy being the main issue that changed three times, with the last one being remitted by the Mormon President in 1890; the admittance of blacks to Mormon “Clergy” in 1978 which changed its original theology!
Now, onto the repeat offenders, of which there are many and I won’t list them all: There are times where the same style of chapter (namely on Mormon christology, Mormon “mariology” and mormon eschatology) that appear three or four times all throughout the book, each with their own contexts and with supporting contexts. At times, as I have read throughout the book, I’ll come across reading about Joseph Smith’s Life more than five times per chapter or every other chapter, which then draws into that area of constant repetition that goes nowhere. That was one of multiple reasons on why it took me 4 years to read the entire book. (In case you are curious, the other reasons are: the dull academic writing, the constant renovation work I was doing, and constant burnout)
There’s more in detail, but I’m not going to list them all since that will take too much time, if you are a Mormon and you are doubting your faith, I recommend this Book as a good indicator to understand your faith and hopefully bring you back into the realm of Jesus Christ and the Holy Orthodox Church.
I’m gonna give it 2 reviews:
Non-Mormons: 2/10 (it’s a really, really dull book)
Mormons who are questioning their faith: 7/10