@cultexpert: Is Mormonism an authoritarian cult? I came to understand Mormonism as an authoritarian cult in the late 1990s. Most of what I heard in the 1970s and 80s was theological criticism, which is not my focus. My perspective shifted when I was invited on Dr. Phil to help two 15-year-olds who had run away from the FLDS. I spent days working with them, helping them understand brainwashing and mind control, and that experience led to further work with Utah and Arizona's Attorneys General and training law enforcement that contributed to efforts to shut down FLDS, resulting in Warren Jeffs being apprehended and imprisoned. I visited FLDS communities, spoke with former members, and was then invited by the Ex-Mormon Foundation to teach my BITE Model of Authoritarian Control to over 250 ex-LDS individuals, many from multi-generational families. As I taught, I saw most people were literally nodding "yes", recognizing the patterns of influence and control. That was a turning point for me in understanding the broader system. Since then, I’ve worked with people leaving Mormonism, including teaching a workshop with John Dehlin, and adding an ex-Mormon perspective into the updated Combating Cult Mind Control. It’s also important to say, yes, this includes modern expressions and communities too, like the “MomTok” Mormon group featured in The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. The dynamics of influence and control can show up in different ways, even when they look more contemporary or social media-driven. One of the most interesting developments has been the impact of the internet, which has even led the organization to shift away from the name “Mormon” as more former members began speaking out. It’s a journey, but understanding these patterns of influence, especially for those born and raised in high-control groups, is critical. Head to the link in my bio to learn how to identify mind control and whether you or someone you care about may be in a controlling group.

Steven Hassan, PhD

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Sunday 19 April 2026 20:13:08 GMT