Cult Insanity

A Memoir of Polygamy, Prophets, and Blood Atonement

By: Irene Spencer

Narrated by: Laural Merlington

Life for Irene Spencer was a series of devastating disappointments and hardships. Irene's first book, Shattered Dreams, is the staggering chronicle of her struggle to provide for her children in abject poverty and feelings of abandonment each time her husband left to be with one of his other wives. Irene was raised to believe that polygamy was the way of life necessary for her ticket to heaven. The hard knocks of her environment were just the beginning of Irene's shocking tale.

In Cult Insanity, Spencer reveals the outrageous behavior of her brother-in-law Ervil---a self-proclaimed prophet who determined he was called to set the house of God in order---and how he terrorized their colony. Claiming to be God's avenger and to have a license to kill in the name of God, Ervil ordered the murders of friends and family members, eliminating all those who challenged his authority. Cult Insanity is a riveting, terrifying memoir of polygamist life under the tyranny of a madman.

©2009 Irene Spencer (P)2009 Tantor

True Believers?

The depiction of fundamentalist Mormonism from a woman that had a particularly inside perspective was enlightening.

Why do they do it?

I read these books because I am continually amazed at how these seemingly intelligent people buy in to these wacko cults. In writing these books, it begs the question as to whether they are really completely normal now; how can they be? A good study in abnormal psychology, I guess.

Narrator problems

The narrator mispronounces many names common to Mormon culture. The writing also is somewhat repetitive in places, and keeps referencing another book written by this author, as though reading footnotes, which is strange. That being said, it’s a fascinating and tragic history of the LeBarons.

WTF

Cults are truly insane (didn’t mean to use part of the title, just the most apt word I could think to use. Reading a book like Cult Insanity makes me hope that Hell and/or karma are real.

I don’t think I’ll ever understand the mind of those who come out of cults and talk about all of the horrible and sometimes illegal things they’ve done; especially religious cults. Even Irene Spencer used a narrative device to make you feel like Joel and Verlan were good guys. Spoiler they weren’t. Did anyone else find it funny that evil is in Ervil’s name? Just me. Ah well, sometimes I do have an inappropriate sense of humor. Helps me cope with our ridiculous world.

Quick question at large: If “thou shalt not worship false idols” what the heck happens to those who are claiming to be the false idols? I wondered that for a good portion of the book and have a feeling that without deep diving into religion, I’ll never know. Also, odds are there’s a different answer depending on the religion you’re consulting. *Note I know there’s a whole thing in the Bible saying you’ll be punished basically down through family lineage. Do we think that’s why so many LeBarons died or can we hold them accountable to their own actions?

If you’re interested in cults, I would recommend Cult Insanity with a caveat. Don’t let it be your first cult book. Maybe start elsewhere.

A must read!

Any additional comments?

I didn't think this sequel was quite as enticing as the first but I would highly recommend them both! Irene seems to be an amazing lady that has conquered and acquired much throughout her life and her story needs to be shared. This series really opened my eyes to Polygamy. I am LDS and these books gave me an interesting perspective as to how their religion differed from ours and I am so glad that I read them!

Not as goon as Shatter Dreams, but still good!

What made the experience of listening to Cult Insanity the most enjoyable?

I enjoyed the narration. Listened to her read the first book & I enjoyed her voice & inflexion in reading. It never ceases to amaze me that perfectly "sane" people could believe in this movement & follow these prophets & beliefs.

What does Laural Merlington bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I can listen much easier than reading (when I fall asleep).

Couldn’t stop listening

I’ve been reading all the LaBaron story books….they are all so captivating. The stories are wild and to know what some of these people went through during a religious culture……it’s eye opening. The only thing that bothered me was the narrator pronouncing “Chenoweth” as “Shenoff” when other books pronounced it “Chenowith”.

Buckle up or find something else

I did listen to this entire book, but it was hard. I nearly abandoned it several times, in fact. This isn't because it wasn't interesting or well-told, and the performance was fine, if a bit stiff at times. The problem for me was how horrific Spencer's account is. It is a constant onslaught of abuse, blasphemy, scripture-twisting, doctrinal heresies, murder, misery, lies, trauma, betrayals, and so on--just evil after evil. I do think Spencer was right to bring it all into the light, to expose it and allow the public to understand it from the inside; however, it is not for the faint of heart. What I don't understand is why she didn't try to escape at some point, but then, I've never been caught up in a cult. If you want to understand it, then take the time to listen to this book, but don't do it for fun. There is none to be had.

The utter chaos

The story was decent, a little hard to follow in a couple spots. I had to rewind and make sure I knew who we were talking about.

The narrator pronounced Moroni, Deseret News and Zion incorrectly, there may have been some others but it distracted from the reading.

A book too far!

The book might be good but the subject was too emotionally draining for me. I’ve read or listened to many accounts of the FLDS and they all make me angry but this one is so disturbing I can’t finish it.