Execute This: Confessions of a Mormon Freak

by Cristi Jenkins

For Jennifer Jensen, growing up in a small Mormon community has not been easy. She doesn’t fit in and she asks the wrong kinds of questions. Worse yet, she gets turned on by her bishop. When the school district hires Linda Peck to coach the girls’ sports teams, Jen immediately bonds with the young Mormon coach. The connection deepens as Peck, an outspoken feminist, gracefully turns the school’s social norms on their head and refuses to cow down to the domineering school administrator, Kertis Jezzman. Believing that Peck is a lesbian and has corrupted her players, Jezzman seizes an opportunity to facilitate the coach’s sudden resignation. Convinced that reform is needed, he crafts a plan to sabotage the girls’ season and to straighten out their values. Little does he realize the effect of Peck’s empowering influence, nor the determination of Jen Jensen to captain her team through Jezzman’s wild and crazy storm.

348 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Cristi Jenkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book takes a fascinating look at life inside of a dysfunctional family within a small, intimate Mormon farming community. It deals with Jennifer Jensen's growing unrest with her religious community's emphasis on conformity at all costs, and with their efforts to justify life to make it fit within their worldview. Feeling uncomfortable with the religion's emphasis on marriage, Jen finds an unexpected role-model when a closet lesbian is hired by the school district. By observing her new coach, Jen begins to understand that perhaps there are other venues open to her in life.

Jen suffers from frequent and inexplicable night terrors. That, and the fact the she finds herself sexually turned on when she is alone with her Mormon bishop leaves Jen thinking that there is something horribly perverse about her. Fearing that the devil is taking over her soul, she shoves it deep inside herself, telling no one; until a Catholic social worker begins to help Jen realize that there may be legitimate, but equally horrendous reasons behind the subconscious manifestations.

The book deals with the Mormon culture's expectation that God will communicate directly with each and every worthy Church member. This practice, at its best, can inspire altruism; but at its worst, opens the door for individuals to justify that their misguided, if not atrocious actions, are sanctioned by God. The story illustrates that oftentimes, the "inspiration" received by members is merely a reflection of their own perceptions, their self-esteem or lack of it.

Finding an authentic voice, Jensen finds the courage to stand up to the authoritarian underpinnings of the community, leading her basketball team to the state championship, and nurturing a budding romance with a female friend. The book is a celebration of life and healing for young Jennifer, as she begins to unravel the cultural ties which have kept her at bay.