Going over the LDS church with the BITE model because I'm bored
If I skip over any bulletpoints, it's because I didn't feel they applied to the church
Promote dependence and obedience- you need to follow specific doctrine if you want to get into the Celestial Kingdom
Modify behavior with rewards or punishments- wearing garments 24/7 will protect you from harm, paying tithing and following the word of wisdom etc will let you into the temple
Restrict or control sexuality- not even going to touch on the blatant homophobia, the church has a massive sexual purity culture problem. No porn, no masterbation, no sex before marriage. (Ever heard of Soaking? Not normal behavior)
Control clothing- modesty is expected. Much more in adults than kids because of garments, but no sleeveless shirts or crop tops or shorts that go above the knee etc
Regulate food and drink intake- monthly fasting, fasting as a valid way to get closer to God if you need help with something, word of wisdom
Exploit you financially- tithing. 10% of all income to get to the Celestial Kingdom.
Require you to seek permission for major decisions- not "required" per se but it is expected that you meet with a bishop or pray thoroughly before making big decisions
Deliberately withhold and distort information- hiding billions of dollars from members, changing church history
Forbid you from speaking with ex-members and critics- label exmos as apostates. Taught that anyone who left the church left purely to engage in sinful behavior and therefore cannot be trusted
Discourage access to non cult sources of information- taught to only go to the official church website for any questions we have about the church. Any information that criticizes the church is seen as hate and Satan trying to lure members away
Use information gained in confession sessions against you- if you go to the bishop about anything that contradicts the church teachings, you aren't allowed to take sacrament and you can't go to the temple, which are public acts of shame.
Gaslight to make you doubt your own memory- constant changing of church doctrine "God lives on a planet near Kolab, except no he doesn't" "joseph Smith translated the bom using the urim and thummem except no he actually stuck his head in a hat" "if you make it to the Celestial Kingdom you get your own planet except no you don't"
Require you to report thoughts and feelings to superiors- if you have any thoughts that contradict the church teachings you are expected to tell your bishop. Talking about sexual thoughts with an old man while 11 because I was scared I was going to hell is not fun
Encourage you to spy and report others misconduct- you're expected to tell your bishop if someone is acting against what the church teaches. Someone's drinking coffee? Tell the bishop. Someone is dating while being 15? Tell the bishop
Instill Black vs White Us vs Them Good vs Evil thinking- there's a right and a wrong way to do things. There's no arguing or bargening your way out of sin. Don't really know how to describe it
Change your identity- you're a mormon first, yourself second. Taught that God comes before literally everything else.
Reject doubt- taught to "doubt your doubts"
Instill fears of leaving the church- you're taught that if you leave, you lose your community, your shot at eternal happiness and mortal wellbeing.
Label some emotions as evil, worldly, sinful, or wrong- you feel anything sexual in any context other than towards a spouse? Sinful. You have any doubts about the church? Sinful.
Shun you if you don't believe or want to leave- I've lost all of my close friends when I left. I don't even want to mention the way my parents reacted to the idea that their child will have "Excommunicated" on their church record. Stuff of nightmares I'll say that much
Teach that there is no happiness or peace outside the group- taught that people only leave to sin. To live a worldly life. Sinning and living a worldly life is taught to result in sorrow.

























