Person by Becky Bird
Behind the Mormon Ideal: Surviving Narcissistic and Domestic Abuse
I was a lifelong member of the Mormon/LDS Church and a survivor of domestic violence, narcissistic abuse, and coercive control by a man who held positions of power and influence within the Church. My experience involved emotional, financial, and reli...
I was a lifelong member of the Mormon/LDS Church and a survivor of domestic violence, narcissistic abuse, and coercive control by a man who held positions of power and influence within the Church. My experience involved emotional, financial, and religious control—where faith, money, marriage, and spiritual authority became tools of manipulation and control. For years, I struggled to understand what was happening while trying to reconcile abuse with the beliefs and expectations I had been taught to honor. I’m now breaking the silence and sharing my story to shine a light on the hidden realities of coercive control, especially when the person causing harm is respected and trusted within a religious community. I speak for survivors who have been silenced, financially trapped, spiritually manipulated, or made to question their own reality. My goal is to educate, empower, and remind others that they are not alone—and that reclaiming your voice and your life is possible.