From time to time, I have the opportunity to review books that exist in the indefinable ether between "faith-promoting" and anti-Mormon literature. Books on either extreme are easier to review -- motives are clear, only content need be studied closely. This book sits in that middle ground.

Suddenly Strangers is the story of two brothers who, independently, find that their testimony of the Church, their belief in Joseph Smith as a prophet, and their desire to remain in the Church are gone. It is a heart-wrenching story, one that I suspect was difficult to write.

The narrative generally follows a chronological sequence, with Brad's and Chris' stories intertwined. The publishers were very wise to identify, at the top of each even-numbered page, who is speaking. Although they travel similar paths, it would be some time before each knew the other was struggling with doubts.

Brad and Chris are two children in a large LDS family. They express their devotion and appreciation to their parents, who clearly influenced their lives in a positive way. As a close family, even as the children grew up and married, they always came together for holidays and family reunions. Leaving the Church, the center of their family structure, would certainly cause a rift in the family, and this is not to be taken lightly.

But as these brothers pursue academic careers in mathematics, and as they interact more closely with non-LDS families, they begin to question some of the things they were taught in regards to the Church and its relationship to non-members. They saw loving families, faithful Christians in other churches. They began to wonder if Mormon claims to exclusivity were legitimate.

Several areas in particular became vexing problems: questions about polygamy in the early Church and the authenticity of the Book of Abraham seem to have been the catalysts for further exploration. When they couldn't find sufficient evidence for the Church's positions on these and other issues, they found themselves unable to reconcile the idea of intellectual honesty with a profession of belief in the Church.

The authors are clear in that this move was one that profoundly affected their lives and their familial relations, and thus was taken only after much consideration. There is an underlying sadness to this tale, reflected in alternating feelings of relief and disappointment as they neared their decision to sever their membership.

At the core of their disillusionment is their sense that the Church isn't willing to engage in a meaningful dialogue that includes objective research and admission of error. Chris speaks here:

I had concluded that humans are, to some extent, would-be sculptors trying to mold reality to fit their conceptions. Nonetheless, I was troubled to see that we Mormons were also guilty of such behavior; with prophets to give us truths directly from God, we Mormons could, and should, support our beliefs with honest analysis and sound logic. (p. 49)

Whether Chris is correct or mistaken, one wonders how many others have been driven from membership due to similar feelings.

Later, Chris again muses on how his world-view shifted as he distanced himself from the Church.

Life in the Church had become a virtual reality -- in many ways, a comfortable virtual reality. The proprietor had drawn unambiguous lines between good and evil, allowing me to live my life in a simple black-and-white world In stepping out of this virtual reality, my eyes were open to a world full of colors, shades, ambiguities, and unanswerable questions. My previous comfortable answers to some important questions now seemed invalid. But, with my sudden, overwhelming ignorance came an exhilarating freedom to confront all of my beliefs, the challenge to see the world for what it really was. I was agog at the expansive world that I had always tried to fit into a neat little box. (p. 126-7)

If all of this sounds too one-sided, the reader must remember that, with the freedom and exhilaration came a terrible burden of alienation from family and friends. You cannot finish this book with a simplistic picture of two young men breaking the bonds of Mormonism, so to speak, and walking out into a new world of freedom. You learn, along the way, that these two men honor and love their parents, and continue to be grateful for the values and life-lessons they learned as Mormons.

And this is why I cannot rank this as an "anti-Mormon" book. While faithful Latter-day Saints may find the book disturbing, there is an intensely human side to this story, where two men clearly wish this step were not, in their view, necessary.

The authors are conscious that some of their readers may not be familiar with Mormon vocabulary and ideas. More than 200 endnotes clarify these issues. Several appendices offer the reader further opportunities for study.

Suddenly Strangers is an amazingly well-written and nicely produced work. And, unlike other similar publications, it is not a call for people to leave the Church. It acknowledges that many are happy in their religion, and ought to pursue their happiness. Instead, this fine book is, in a sense, a opening of the hearts and souls of two brothers who found that they had to make a very difficult decision.

But, more than this, it serves as a reminder of how cruel some can be when they feel that a friend or family member has been disloyal to the Church. The reactions of various family members range from tacit acceptance to personal rejection. The latter can cause only more pain. This book can be a real wake-up call for those dealing with disengaged family members.

This is a very good book, and is recommended for those who wish to share the separation experience. It is highly readable, well edited, and nicely produced. The authors are to be commended.

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Jeff Needle
May 29, 2004