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The Choice to Leave Abuse
God strongly condemns any form of abuse.
In recent years, the struggles of Latter-day Saints in abusive relationships have made national headlines. The media attention has highlighted a deeply unfortunate many Latter-day Saints fear that by choosing to leave an abusive relationship, they are at risk of breaking their covenants with God. Mental health professionals and law enforcement officers who work with Latter-day Saint populations attest to the number of people who continue to be hurt, humiliated, and even killed because they believe it is their religious obligation to endure abuse to the end.
This damaging misperception, and the traditions that have helped create and maintain it, must be corrected. With a direct and straightforward discussion of the doctrines and teachings about abuse, this book not only provides clear guidance for bishops and other local leaders on how to respond to abuse, but it will also help you discover God's true feelings about abuse and the love He has for all who suffer.
Learn to identify the signs of abuse in your own relationships and in others.
Overcome roadblocks that may be hindering escape from an abusive situation.
Follow the path of healing in mind, body, and spirit.
The gospel of Jesus Christ offers tremendous hope, healing, and redemption for those who suffer mistreatment, neglect, and abuse of all kinds. The deliverance offered is not only spiritual and post-mortal, it is temporal, applying to here and now. This message needs to work its way into our collective conscience and become an integral part of our culture.
In recent years, the struggles of Latter-day Saints in abusive relationships have made national headlines. The media attention has highlighted a deeply unfortunate many Latter-day Saints fear that by choosing to leave an abusive relationship, they are at risk of breaking their covenants with God. Mental health professionals and law enforcement officers who work with Latter-day Saint populations attest to the number of people who continue to be hurt, humiliated, and even killed because they believe it is their religious obligation to endure abuse to the end.
This damaging misperception, and the traditions that have helped create and maintain it, must be corrected. With a direct and straightforward discussion of the doctrines and teachings about abuse, this book not only provides clear guidance for bishops and other local leaders on how to respond to abuse, but it will also help you discover God's true feelings about abuse and the love He has for all who suffer.
Learn to identify the signs of abuse in your own relationships and in others.
Overcome roadblocks that may be hindering escape from an abusive situation.
Follow the path of healing in mind, body, and spirit.
The gospel of Jesus Christ offers tremendous hope, healing, and redemption for those who suffer mistreatment, neglect, and abuse of all kinds. The deliverance offered is not only spiritual and post-mortal, it is temporal, applying to here and now. This message needs to work its way into our collective conscience and become an integral part of our culture.
307 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 8, 2022
13 people are currently reading
25 people want to read
About the author
Ryan Anderson
50 books5 followersthere are several authors with this name.
^ 1 space = default/various
^^ 2 spaces = PhD (also writing under Ryan J. Anderson)
^^^ 3 spaces: author of the Detective Hank Jordan books
^ 1 space = default/various
^^ 2 spaces = PhD (also writing under Ryan J. Anderson)
^^^ 3 spaces: author of the Detective Hank Jordan books
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 12, 2024
This book has been enlightening and peace-giving as it has helped me better understand how the doctrines of the gospel apply to me as a woman who was married to an abusive man who appeared to be an "upstanding" member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (he was branch president, bishop, and stake high councilor to name a few of his "prominent" callings).
I stayed in my abusive marriage for 20 years in large part because I believed the gospel required me to: I wanted to be forgiving, humble, and long-suffering. I wanted to honor my covenants. I wanted to be merciful. My husband certainly twisted these doctrines and used them against me in manipulative ways that made me continue to feel some unease even after I left him. My logical brain knew I was justified in leaving him, but something deep down still felt an uneasiness that maybe he was right.
The doctrines of Christ are explained in this book in a way that has wiped away that uneasiness and replaced it with complete peace that only someone who misunderstands (or even deliberately twists) the doctrines of the gospel could ever think I should have stayed married to my husband.
I'm grateful for the understanding I now have. I wish every member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints would read this book so that as a whole, members of the Church would no longer misunderstand how the teaching of Jesus Christ apply to abusive relationships.
I stayed in my abusive marriage for 20 years in large part because I believed the gospel required me to: I wanted to be forgiving, humble, and long-suffering. I wanted to honor my covenants. I wanted to be merciful. My husband certainly twisted these doctrines and used them against me in manipulative ways that made me continue to feel some unease even after I left him. My logical brain knew I was justified in leaving him, but something deep down still felt an uneasiness that maybe he was right.
The doctrines of Christ are explained in this book in a way that has wiped away that uneasiness and replaced it with complete peace that only someone who misunderstands (or even deliberately twists) the doctrines of the gospel could ever think I should have stayed married to my husband.
I'm grateful for the understanding I now have. I wish every member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints would read this book so that as a whole, members of the Church would no longer misunderstand how the teaching of Jesus Christ apply to abusive relationships.
April 27, 2023
If you're a bishop or relief society president, youth leadership or if you ever might be in the future, please please read this. If you're hurting, lost ot confused by abuse from a loved one . . . Read this and hold its truth in your heart.
April 18, 2025
Great for LDS people who are in abusive relationships who are trying to make a choice about whether to leave an unhealthy marriage or not . Great insights for ecclesiastical leaders and families of victims and survivors as well. A must read.
May 14, 2023
Written from an LDS perspective. Very well researched and informative.
July 27, 2024
I strongly believe that every one should read this book.
July 30, 2025
THIS BOOK SHOULD BE A REQUIRED READING FOR ALL LDS BISHOPS, STAKE PRESIDENTS, AND OTHER CHURCH LEADERS.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews