Mormon Boy: A Memoir

by Warren Driggs

“I saw some parents at Liberty Park who were chasing their kids around. The dad was smoking a cigarette and I had such overwhelming pity for those poor kids because I assumed their dad must have been a terrible person, and it only stood to reason that he was an awful father who didn’t love his children. I was able to quickly deduce all this because he was smoking. I watched him push his kids on the swing, wondering when he might push them too far, something only a wicked person would do.”

Mormon Boy is an unforgettable peek into the world of a young Warren Driggs—his wonderful family, his loving parents, nine siblings, and a supportive, tight-knit community. What could possibly be wrong with that?

This honest, heartwarming, and at times hilarious coming-of-age-and-out-of-religion memoir will leave you laughing, smiling, and cringing until the last page.

Genres: Memoir, Religion, Nonfiction

280 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 14, 2019

About the author

Warren Driggs developed a passion for writing after his semi-retirement from practicing law. He splits his time between southern Utah where he runs and hikes in the red rocks, and Salt Lake City where he works as a part-time attorney. He is married with four extraordinary children. His interests are wide ranging, and he has written novels about the right to die with dignity, and an historical fiction on the life of Joseph Smith. Drawing on his trial lawyer background, he has also written a legal courtroom thriller and a murder mystery which he hopes to publish soon.

Reviews

[David Cook · Rating 3 out of 5]

I saw a review of this book somewhere and decided to pick it up. In the very beginning, I could predict where this was going. Mr. Driggs describes being at a cocktail party in Manhattan during Mitt Romney’s run for President. The weirdness of Romney’s religion comes up and you can sense Driggs wanting to distance himself from those weird Mormons. I am close to the same age as Mr. Driggs and could relate to many of the experiences he describes from his youth. Many of which are portrayed in a way to highlight the weirdness factor. Like Driggs, I am a lawyer. I practice in NY. I have seen more than a few like Mr. Driggs at cocktail parties who have LDS roots and, in some ways, have” escaped from behind the Zion Curtin” and moved to the big city. Some find great joy in belittling their roots. Others just move on.

Although, we grew up at the same time in roughly the same culture (me in Ogden and Driggs in SLC) my church experience was very different. My Dad was a convert my Mom the granddaughter of an Apostle and father an alcoholic who walked out on his wife and 2 young kids when my mom was 5. My parents never sugar-coated anything. Sunday dinners were an interrogation where we were asked what we had learned that day, usually followed by my Dad correcting the false doctrine and folklore that we had been exposed to from cultural Mormonism.

Mr. Driggs dwells so much on the weird stuff that in my family was just laughed at. “I hear my Dad saying, “Don’t listen to Bro. ________, the John Birch Society has eaten his brain.” Nothing was off-limits. I was involved in many of the same shenanigans of youth as Driggs (we probably attended the same rock concerts at the Salt Palace) and I enjoyed the retelling of middle-class Utah in the ’60s and 70’s. But he cannot help himself in trying to connect the oddities of culture to LDS Doctrine. I found it particularly odd that Driggs felt the need to declare that he had been an assistant to his mission president and his prowess in missionary success. Again, our experiences could not have been more different.

It wasn’t until the end that I felt some connection to Driggs. I have many friends of all stripes in and out of the LDS Church, some devout, others less so and even others actively anti-Mormon. Those differences have never prevented us from having a genuine friendship. I was particularly touched at the end where he talks about his siblings and that the differences in belief does not get in the way of family love and loyalty. That is the way it should be and I commend Mr. Driggs and his family. I suspect that Mr. Driggs and I could have a very enjoyable friendship if the opportunity were ever presented. We’ve walked a similar path that diverged. So be it.

[Barred Owl Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I saw some parents at Liberty Park who were chasing their kids around. The dad was smoking a cigarette and I had such overwhelming pity for those poor kids because I assumed their dad must have been a terrible person, and it only stood to reason that he was an awful father who didn’t love his children. I was able to quickly deduce all this because he wassmoking. I watched him push his kids on the swing, wondering when he might push them too far, something only a wicked person would do.”MORMON BOY is an unforgettable peek into the world of a young Warren Driggs—his wonderful family, his loving parents, nine siblings, and a supportive, tight-knit community. What could possibly be wrong with that?This honest, heartwarming, and at times hilarious coming-of-age-and-out-of-religion memoir will leave you laughing, smiling, and cringing until the last page.

[Janet Marshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

An exceptional read for everyone Mormon or not ! Warren Driggs weaves his own personal story beautifully leaving me in awe of not just his writing but his kind review of his lost ‘tribe’ & religion.
Note* if you are by chance of the LDS faith please please with all my heart PLEASE read this book. You will be so glad that you did.

[Russell Sanders · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have not laughed as hard in a long, long time while reading as I did with Warren Driggs’s Mormon Boy: A Memoir. Until his late twenties, Driggs was a dedicated, devout Mormon, having grown up in a Mormon family with his nine siblings. He dutifully went to services, tithed whatever money he made, confessed his sins, and did his two-year missionary stint, steadfastly awaiting his stint in Heaven as a God. But after marrying and having some kids, Driggs grew more and more skeptical of Mormon teachings. This book is his account of his childhood years until, basically, his leaving the church. The book is chockful of Mormon lore in addition to this tales of his time as a mischievous boy. The way he describes Mormon beliefs and traditions is hilarious, and yet, he makes it clear that he has no contempt for his siblings who remain devout Mormons or anyone else who still believes the Mormon theology. His description of his parents is loving and respectful. But he has a way with words that makes the reader laugh out loud. One account of his missionary years left me choking with laughter. He and his missionary partner come upon a large house with an older woman and ten younger women. The younger women are very friendly to the young men. They go back daily to try to win their souls until finally the guys come to a realization after about a week. And yes, what you’re thinking is right. My only quibble with the book is that it does have a few misspellings and comma errors, but those don’t distract from the enjoyment of Driggs and his adventures.

[Peacejanz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was given to me through a Goodreads drawing in return for an honest review. Honestly, I would give it a 6 if I could. I usually skip memoirs but this one caught me because the author identifies as Mormon and I know so little about the religion and I though a memoir would give me more info, or maybe more honest info, than a blurb on Wikipedia. First of all, the book is easy reading. Driggs tells many of his "sins," or when he gets in trouble but, more enjoyable and more educational, was when he expressed his doubts about the church. He recounts a visit with his mother, a Mormon who believes it ALL, after he had left the church. What a moment! I am the daughter of a Southern Baptist minister and I left that church because it was racist, sexist and homophobic. I recall many memories of discussions with my father, each of us making points and the other not buying it. Anyone who wants to learn more about the Mormon church from one who has been there will enjoy this book. Anyone who wants to see personal growth acknowledged will enjoy this book. Driggs was still committed to the church when he finished high school so he went on his two year mission. It was only later he really questioned the church in depth. I loved the book and I recommend it to all - a memoir, fun reading, development of a young man into an adult - and who became a lawyer after all.

[Diana Beckham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read! Warren had me laughing the whole time while sipping my coffee in Southern Utah. I was one of the judged while growing up in Utah, so it was nice to see a glimpse into the thought processes of the jury. I recommend this book to both Mormons and non-members. I would even recommend it to my staunch Mormon mother, so I think Warren's parents would approve of the manner in which he describes his personal journey to uncovering his own beliefs. What parent wouldn't be proud of raising an intelligent free-thinking productive citizen? They must be sipping coffee looking down nodding their heads. Well done.

I only gave 4 stars because I was left wanting the rest of the story! How does someone span the gulf of 1.5 GPA to law school? What were your sibling's reactions when they found out about your departure from the church? What has been your family experience since leaving the flock? So many more questions.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read a couple of books about people in the Mormon Church -- tragic stories about young girls trapped into early marriages who eventually escape the church and are able to start new lives. Some of these books include side-stories about young boys who are pushed from their homes and are forced to make it in the world alone. When I started reading this book, I expected just such a story.

But -- and happily so -- I couldn't have been more wrong. This book about Warren Driggs' life as a young boy and young man in a devoutly Mormon family was funny and heartwarming and thoroughly entertaining. This is the best "feel good" book that I've read in a long while.

[Cinjo66 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book on goodreads. It surprised me. It was informative, funny, heart-warming. I have a friend I have had for years that lives in Salt Lake City and the whole family is Mormon. She told me some of the things that was talked about in this book. She stayed away from the church for awhile but as she got older went back. I wonder if there is any church in Warren's life and what he went to college for? I work at a Library so I will pass this along and we will look into getting another of his books. Thank you!

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've always been fascinated with other religions and I really enjoyed reading Warren's version of his childhood as a Mormon. I also enjoyed reading the story ending where he discussed his separation from the church. I feel like Warren is an excellent story teller and this is a great book for anyone who is interested in an honest look at the Mormon church.

[Diana Beckham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kept me laughing

This is a fun read about a man's personal journey of self discovery. He questions his childhood indoctrination to discover his own belief system. I only gave it 4 stars because he left me wondering about how he went from a 1.5 GPA to a lawyer?

[Hilary Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly delightful

[Bethany · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish I could rate this a 3.5. Driggs is an engaging and entertaining author.

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent explanation into the mormon way of life. Wish the book would've covered more of the authors life span rather than just childhood stories.

[Nathan Hoyt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this and recalling the parallels in my growing up as a Mormon boy.

[Devra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly a delightful read; heartwarming, tender & peppered with laugh out loud moments. Pulls back the curtain on some peculiar Mormon doctrine without ridicule. A great read for anyone who is surrounded by (or immersed in) Mormon culture. A story told with humor & kindness, a tale of leaving a faith without malice. Loved this book!

[Anita · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was surprised with this book! I thought it was lighthearted and informative, and I appreciated Warren Driggs's snarky tone. I didn't like how it jumped from event to event; I wish it was more linear and/or cohesive. I also wish he went deeper into his stories, like how did he become a lawyer when he did so poorly in high school? Or how is his life now compared to when he was in the Mormon community? It was a fun story, but it felt surface level and I wanted to learn more.

Thanks Goodreads giveaways and the author for sending me an ARC for my honest review.

[Carolyn Rummel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't know what to expect when I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway but I was pleasantly surprised. Who would have guessed that a book about the Mormon church would have me laughing out loud? In the process, I learned a lot about the Mormon religion (added to what little I learned from seeing The Book of Mormon on Broadway not long ago). What I really loved, though, was the self-deprecating humor and dry wit of the author, Warren Driggs. The book was always interesting and I looked forward to reading it every day on the subway to and from work (that's how I judge how much I love a book). Now I'm going to check out some of Driggs' other books.

[Melissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mormon Boy AKA The Boy Who Was Mormon. Our author grew up Mormon in a large family in Salt Lake City. That's it. That's the whole story. For those unfamiliar with the Mormon faith this a great book to give you the most basic of run downs told in the slightly snarky tone of one who no longer believes. The most interesting thing about this story would have been when the author encountered people and situations that would make him question his whole world and his assumed place in it. But those things don't happen until he is an adult and so we will have to wait for the sequel. Enjoy with your favorite mocktail. Add a shot of vodka if you feel like sinning.

[Robin · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is a sarcastic, snarky telling of events in the author’s life. I found it informative about Mormonism, and humorous but I also had difficulty getting “into” it as I do with other books. One passage I found particularly offensive is which he says of his former elementary school crush, “...I simply hope she’s fat.” For anyone who has ever had a weight issue or eating disorder, this is a hurtful and downright rude statement. Those are serious physical issues which no one should be mocking. Many people have developed psychological “issues” surrounding body weight and body image and I find Warren Driggs to be insensitive and unthinking.

[Nancy Shepherd · Rating 4 out of 5]

I knew so very little about Mormons prior to reading this book. Warren Driggs has an excellent way of telling us about his growing up Mormon. The book is well-written, humorous at times, and an all-around pleasure to read.
I received a signed copy free through Goodreads.

[Csimplot Simplot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book!!!

[Michell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always wondered about Mormonism.
This book explains it all and makes you laugh.
Thank you, Warren!!!

[Kathryn · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF