The Mormon Gulag

[_Daniel Peterson]

Excellent work, Gad, in attempting to link FARMS to this.

I really think that you're beginning to eclipse the Scartchmeister himself.

[_Jersey Girl]

GoodK,

Without tipping your hand regarding what you plan to do with this, can you share why you think you were sent to such a facility?

I know exactly why I was sent there.

1. My step-dad was Mormon and another boy from our stake was sent there.

2. I refused to go to seminary or church.

3. He caught me violating the laws of chastity and the word of wisdom.

Basically...

Do you mind saying if you were..

1. Truant at school.
2. In violation of school rules.
3. About to fail or failing in school.
4. Drugging.
5. Drinking.
6. Breaking the law in other ways such as tickets, DUI, stealing?

I won't press you if you decline to answer any of those.

[_GoodK]

I kind of thought it was a "summer" program for "wayward youth" that had minor criminal issues as teens.

Trust me, this place is like nothing you've ever heard of. Another interesting tid-bit is the screening process. They don't let kids with "major" issues in, so there really aren't any "criminals" there. Just some really screwed up ones mixed in with typical teenage boys.

Well, JustMe ought to think very carefully about his obsession with "book reading". Apparently, some of the most commited and educated readers of the review can read hundreds or thousands of books and be so out of touch with reality and blinded by the cult that they make decisions like this.

Not only reader, but contributor. A lot of prominent LDS families have sent their children there. My friend's dad was a Utah judge. My room mate at one point (who was there for some sick sexual issues) was the son of a general authority whom wrote at least one LDS hymn. I'll have to look up the song, but his last name was Gardener (or Gardner?).

I seriously almost cried when I saw your "walked out at 18" remark. Honestly, that you'd even ever had wanted to have a relationship with your parents again shows an amazing capacity to forgive on your part.

It wasn't easy, believe me.
Especially because he tried to leverage my lack of options into making me stay past my 18th birthday, foolishly thinking that I would choose to stay at the Mormon Gulag over being homeless in a state I had never been to before.

But starting from scratch, literally, in an October Utah on my 18th birthday makes everything I have today so much more fulfilling.

[_Jersey Girl]

Gad

Well, JustMe ought to think very carefully about his obsession with "book reading".

Knock off the off-hand remarks about Kerry. He's not on this thread, not a part of this topic and stop dragging him into it as if he's somehow involved.

He's not.

If you've got something to say about him or to him, put it right in front of his face and confront him directly with it.

[_Gadianton]

In case it comes up. I don't think that this, by the way, speaks badly about FARMS or apologetics per se. There would have to be more investigation done to make that thesis.

But, it does call into question the moral high-ground that JustMe and perhaps others have taken when they boast their scholarly knowledge, most of which is connected to the Maxwell Institute in some way, and make fun of people who haven't read that many books.

I mean, it is readily apparent that all that knowledge of apologetics can still leave one very ill-equipped to handle reality.

This will for sure, however, have some very negative implications for the LDS church and for LDS culture.

[_Daniel Peterson]

I can't help but remark that everything in the family was plainly wonderful -- until I ruined it all by sending a link to a friend.

[_Jersey Girl]

In case it comes up. I don't think that this, by the way, speaks badly about FARMS or apologetics per se. There would have to be more investigation done to make that thesis.

But, it does call into question the moral high-ground that JustMe and perhaps others have taken when they boast their scholarly knowledge, most of which is connected to the Maxwell Institute in some way, and make fun of people who haven't read that many books.

I mean, it is readily apparent that all that knowledge of apologetics can still leave one very ill-equipped to handle reality.

This will for sure, however, have some very negative implications for the LDS church and for LDS culture.

Incase it comes up? You guaranteed that it would come up with your remarks and my prediction is that yet another FARMS/apologetics derailment will take place instead of addressing the OP.

Then the OP will tank and the never ending snark fest/pissing contest will take over.

No surprises there.

[_GoodK]

Do you mind saying if you were..

1. Truant at school.
2. In violation of school rules.
3. About to fail or failing in school.
4. Drugging.
5. Drinking.
6. Breaking the law in other ways such as tickets, DUI, stealing?

I won't press you if you decline to answer any of those.

No I don't mind, although deserving to be sent there is hardly the issue. There were a lot of kids that needed to be helped professionally. Abusing them, humuliating them, and forcing them to be Mormon probably wasn't the best remedy.

Like I said, I refused to go to seminary and church.
My step-dad was always very physical with me, and often tried to manhandle me out the door and into the car.
Eventually, he gave up making me try, and I enjoyed sleeping in again until I was escorted onto a plane by two large strangers on Valentines Day 2000.

Regarding the law of chastity and word of wisdom, I was sexually active and had tried drinking and weed. That's it. No criminal record. No getting kicked out of school. No insider trading or securities fraud. I wouldn't classify anything I was doing at age 15 as out of the norm or "high risk." Of course, if he really cared about results and wanted me to go to seminary and start living like a good Mormon, they should have just gave me the $108,000 that they dumped into that place.

[_GoodK]

I can't help but remark that everything in the family was plainly wonderful -- until I ruined it all by sending a link to a friend.

A friend or customer?

I'm not sure "friend" is the most accurate description of your relationship with my step-dad.

Of course the description, "sending a link to a friend" is poppycock as well.

[_Daniel Peterson]

A friend or customer?

I'm not sure "friend" is the most accurate description of your relationship with my step-dad.

I most likely know the nature of my relationship with your stepfather better than you do.

Of course the description, "sending a link to a friend" is poppycock as well.

What do you think I sent to him?

A sports car? A book? A candygram? A money order?

Whatever. I'm in an exceptionally good mood today, and you probably can't do much to ruin that.