Secret Ceremonies: A Mormon Woman's Intimate Diary of Marriage and Beyond
Encyclopedia
Secret Ceremonies: A Mormon Woman's Intimate Diary of Marriage and Beyond is a 1993 autobiographical book written by American journalist
and columnist
Deborah Laake
.
and the various rituals performed in their temples. Laake recounts her studies at the Brigham Young University
, her loveless first marriage at nineteen, her subsequent divorce and the problems she encountered with the Mormon authorities and her relatives due to her practice of masturbation
. She claims these things caused her to be otracised and eventually hospitalised in a mental institution because of the pressures and sexual repression exerted by her church.
In 1994, a second edition of the book was published with additional information.
In terms of sales, the book was a commercial success : it spent 15 weeks on the New York Times best-seller list
. As of May 1994, over 500,000 copies were printed and the book was published in England, Germany and Bulgaria.
However, the book was not appreciated by the LDS Church which excommunicated Laake for views that it considered as unacceptable. Laake also stated that she was called a "liar" and received opposition from Mormon authorities.
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
and columnist
Columnist
A columnist is a journalist who writes for publication in a series, creating an article that usually offers commentary and opinions. Columns appear in newspapers, magazines and other publications, including blogs....
Deborah Laake
Deborah Laake
Deborah Laake was a columnist at the Dallas Morning News in the 1980s and later a staff writer, columnist, editor, and executive at the Phoenix New Times...
.
Description
In this book, Deborah Laake, a former member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, chronicles her experiences with MormonismMormonism
Mormonism is the religion practiced by Mormons, and is the predominant religious tradition of the Latter Day Saint movement. This movement was founded by Joseph Smith, Jr. beginning in the 1820s as a form of Christian primitivism. During the 1830s and 1840s, Mormonism gradually distinguished itself...
and the various rituals performed in their temples. Laake recounts her studies at the Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
, her loveless first marriage at nineteen, her subsequent divorce and the problems she encountered with the Mormon authorities and her relatives due to her practice of masturbation
Masturbation
Masturbation refers to sexual stimulation of a person's own genitals, usually to the point of orgasm. The stimulation can be performed manually, by use of objects or tools, or by some combination of these methods. Masturbation is a common form of autoeroticism...
. She claims these things caused her to be otracised and eventually hospitalised in a mental institution because of the pressures and sexual repression exerted by her church.
In 1994, a second edition of the book was published with additional information.
Critical reception
Secret Ceremonies was generally well-received by critics. Kirkus stated : "A candid, often startling memoir of the author's life as a Mormon wife. (...) By no means objective, then, but, still, an affectingly personal look into the well-guarded citadel of Mormondom."In terms of sales, the book was a commercial success : it spent 15 weeks on the New York Times best-seller list
New York Times Best Seller list
The New York Times Best Seller list is widely considered the preeminent list of best-selling books in the United States. It is published weekly in The New York Times Book Review magazine, which is published in the Sunday edition of The New York Times and as a stand-alone publication...
. As of May 1994, over 500,000 copies were printed and the book was published in England, Germany and Bulgaria.
However, the book was not appreciated by the LDS Church which excommunicated Laake for views that it considered as unacceptable. Laake also stated that she was called a "liar" and received opposition from Mormon authorities.