Heather Gay > Quotes

“You must do me this honor: promise me you will survive, that you will never give up, no matter what happens, no matter how hopeless, promise me now, and never let go of that promise. I’ll never let go, girls. I’ll never let go.”
― Heather Gay, Bad Mormon: A Memoir

“anyone, to check me. No one said, “You really shouldn’t marry anyone without seeing how they act in all four seasons.”
― Heather Gay, Bad Mormon: A Memoir

“In the temple, men make covenants that bestow them with “dominion over all the earth and the inhabitants therein,” and women make covenants to obey them. I was taught to say “no” to a lot of things outside of our faith. But inside the faith, I was taught only to bow my head and say “yes.”
― Heather Gay, Bad Mormon: A Memoir

“I like to think I had a good nine or ten years of absolute, egocentric, ignorant bliss. Everything in my life confirmed my identity, my faith, and my future. Until it didn’t.”
― Heather Gay, Bad Mormon: A Memoir

“I had forgotten sex, Starbucks, two-piece swimsuits. All so that I could be considered righteous enough to enter the temple. It was the castle on a cloud. Once the fairy tale was a reality, they could have me do just about anything,”
― Heather Gay, Bad Mormon: A Memoir

“I was jealous that he was able to have a family at his leisure at what felt like my expense.”
― Heather Gay, Bad Mormon: A Memoir

“And it came to pass that he said unto them: Behold, here are the waters of Mormon (for thus were they called) and now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light; Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life— Now I say unto you, if this be the desire of your hearts, what have you against being baptized in the name of the Lord, as a witness before him that ye have entered into a covenant with him, that ye will serve him and keep his commandments, that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you? And now when the people had heard these words, they clapped their hands for joy, and exclaimed: This is the desire of our hearts. After”
― Heather Gay, Bad Mormon: A Memoir

“A good book plus a good treat equaled a good life.”
― Heather Gay, Good Time Girl

“I found that concept to be unbelievably romantic and noble and safe. I thought being cherished and protected was better than being respected and heard. But when I actually had to live this way, the reality of being just a helpmeet was much different in practice than it was in theory.”
― Heather Gay, Bad Mormon: A Memoir

“Don’t let God down with a frown.”
― Heather Gay, Bad Mormon: A Memoir

“My mother entrusted me with a green bean casserole, and I immediately committed the recipe to memory. Two cans of green beans, one can of cream of mushroom soup, a splash of Worcestershire, a pinch of salt, a dash of pepper, a frozen bag of Ore-Ida Tater Tots. Mix wet ingredients in a bowl (bowl and spoon already on the counter) and pour into a nine-by-twelve casserole dish (also already on the counter). Cover with Tater Tots (still in the freezer). Preheat the oven to 350 degrees, bake until the Tots are golden brown, then remove using the oven mitts and trivet (again, already on the counter).”
― Heather Gay, Bad Mormon: A Memoir

“Two cans of green beans, one can of cream of mushroom soup, a splash of Worcestershire, a pinch of salt, a dash of pepper, a frozen bag of Ore-Ida Tater Tots. Mix wet ingredients in a bowl (bowl and spoon already on the counter) and pour into a nine-by-twelve casserole dish (also already on the counter). Cover with Tater Tots (still in the freezer). Preheat the oven to 350 degrees, bake until the Tots are golden brown, then remove using the oven mitts and trivet (again, already on the counter).”
― Heather Gay, Bad Mormon: A Memoir

“Sounded sus, but sure.”
― Heather Gay, Bad Mormon: A Memoir

“I was beginning to learn the gendered rules for behavior. My parents did not want a steely-eyed warrior for a daughter- they wanted someone obedient and kind. She didn't have to be a quivering sack of hysteria, but she should at least crack at FBI-interrogator levels. I would have to do better. I would try to be softer.”
― Heather Gay, Bad Mormon: A Memoir