VOLUME 13 |ISSUE 3 |2022 7
Notes
[1] For the full list of the temple recommend questions which
were modified and updated in 2021, see this article: https://
newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/october-2019-
general-conference-temple-recommend
[2] The famous Christian hymn “Be Still, My Soul” was published
in German in 1752 by Katharina Von Schlegel and translated
into English by Jane Borthwick. https://amazinghymns.com/
be-still-my-soul/
References
Church updates temple recommend interview questions. (2019,
October 6). Newsroom: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day
Saints. https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/
october-2019-general-conference-temple-recommend
Foa, E. B. (2010). Cognitive behavioral therapy of obsessive-
compulsive disorder. Dialogues in clinical neuroscience, 12(2),
199–207. https://doi.org/10.31887/DCNS.2010.12.2/efoa
Foa, E. B., &Franklin, M. E. (2001). Obsessive-compulsive
disorder. In D. H. Barlow (Ed.), Clinical handbook of psychological
disorders: A step-by-step treatment manual (pp. 209–263). The
Guilford Press.
Greenberg, D., &Huppert, J. D. (2010). Scrupulosity: a unique
subtype of obsessive-compulsive disorder. Current psychiatry
reports, 12(4), 282–289. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-010-
0127-5
Hershfield, J. (2018, July 1). Moral scrupulosity OCD: Part one.
Sheppard Pratt. https://www.sheppardpratt.org/news-views/
story/moral-scrupulosity-ocd-part-one
Hinckley, G.B. (2010, October). Why these temples. Ensign,
40(10), 25-32. https://media.ldscdn.org/pdf/magazines/ensign-
october-2010/2010-10-00-temples-of-the-church-of-jesus-
christ-of-latter-day-saints-eng.pdf?lang=eng
Houses of the Lord (photo essay). (2010, October). Ensign,
40(10), 12-19. https://media.ldscdn.org/pdf/magazines/
ensign-october-2010/2010-10-04-why-these-temples-eng.
pdf?lang=eng
Ladouceur, R., Freeston, M., &Gagnon, F. (1996). Obsessive-
compulsive disorder. Diagnosis and management. Canadian
family physician, 42, 1169–1178.
Monson, T.S. (2013, April 7). Obedience brings blessings.
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-
conference/2013/04/obedience-brings-blessings
Priesthood (doctrinal study). (n.d.). https://www.
churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics/
priesthood?lang=eng
Seay, S. J. (2012, February 8). Scrupulosity. http://www.
steveseay.com/scrupulosity/
Stephens, C. M. (2013, October 5). We have great reason
to rejoice. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/
general-conference/2013/10/we-have-great-reason-to-
rejoice?lang=eng
Weaver, S. J. (2015, November 12). Elder Christofferson
provides context on handbook changes affecting same-sex
marriages. The Church News. https://www.thechurchnews.com/
archives/2015-11-12/elder-christofferson-provides-context-on-
handbook-changes-affecting-same-sex-marriages-29858
About the Author
Katherine (“Kat”) Schneider, LCSW, is a
clinical social worker, licensed in PA, NY,
AZ, and UT. After graduating with her MSW
from NYU, Kat worked in New York City’s
child welfare system for many years. She
later moved to Philadelphia, where she
now lives and runs a private psychotherapy
practice helping people struggling with anxiety and individuals
leaving high-control groups. She also provides education and
consultation services to help others understand the impacts of
high-control groups. She enjoys writing, hiking, and going on
adventures with her ridiculously cute dog.
Kat@KMSPsychotherapy.com n
Not everyone who joins a cult or high-control group has OCD,
or even anxiety. My theory, however, is that those who find
their way into such groups are often searching for something.
Whether the something they are seeking is a place to belong,
a safe haven, a reason for hope, a friend, or an infinite number
of other things humans naturally seek, high-control groups
may offer answers or relief when nothing else does. Just as a
starving person will eat from the garbage, one who is desperate
for safety from the world or from their own mind will seek
refuge wherever it is offered, even if that place depletes them in
other ways.
I did not seek out the LDS church so that I could lose my
identity or feel consumed by shame I joined a community that
promised relief from the anxiety I had been tortured by since I
was eight years old. I was desperate, and desperate people do
desperate things. n
Notes
[1] For the full list of the temple recommend questions which
were modified and updated in 2021, see this article: https://
newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/october-2019-
general-conference-temple-recommend
[2] The famous Christian hymn “Be Still, My Soul” was published
in German in 1752 by Katharina Von Schlegel and translated
into English by Jane Borthwick. https://amazinghymns.com/
be-still-my-soul/
References
Church updates temple recommend interview questions. (2019,
October 6). Newsroom: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day
Saints. https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/
october-2019-general-conference-temple-recommend
Foa, E. B. (2010). Cognitive behavioral therapy of obsessive-
compulsive disorder. Dialogues in clinical neuroscience, 12(2),
199–207. https://doi.org/10.31887/DCNS.2010.12.2/efoa
Foa, E. B., &Franklin, M. E. (2001). Obsessive-compulsive
disorder. In D. H. Barlow (Ed.), Clinical handbook of psychological
disorders: A step-by-step treatment manual (pp. 209–263). The
Guilford Press.
Greenberg, D., &Huppert, J. D. (2010). Scrupulosity: a unique
subtype of obsessive-compulsive disorder. Current psychiatry
reports, 12(4), 282–289. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-010-
0127-5
Hershfield, J. (2018, July 1). Moral scrupulosity OCD: Part one.
Sheppard Pratt. https://www.sheppardpratt.org/news-views/
story/moral-scrupulosity-ocd-part-one
Hinckley, G.B. (2010, October). Why these temples. Ensign,
40(10), 25-32. https://media.ldscdn.org/pdf/magazines/ensign-
october-2010/2010-10-00-temples-of-the-church-of-jesus-
christ-of-latter-day-saints-eng.pdf?lang=eng
Houses of the Lord (photo essay). (2010, October). Ensign,
40(10), 12-19. https://media.ldscdn.org/pdf/magazines/
ensign-october-2010/2010-10-04-why-these-temples-eng.
pdf?lang=eng
Ladouceur, R., Freeston, M., &Gagnon, F. (1996). Obsessive-
compulsive disorder. Diagnosis and management. Canadian
family physician, 42, 1169–1178.
Monson, T.S. (2013, April 7). Obedience brings blessings.
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-
conference/2013/04/obedience-brings-blessings
Priesthood (doctrinal study). (n.d.). https://www.
churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics/
priesthood?lang=eng
Seay, S. J. (2012, February 8). Scrupulosity. http://www.
steveseay.com/scrupulosity/
Stephens, C. M. (2013, October 5). We have great reason
to rejoice. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/
general-conference/2013/10/we-have-great-reason-to-
rejoice?lang=eng
Weaver, S. J. (2015, November 12). Elder Christofferson
provides context on handbook changes affecting same-sex
marriages. The Church News. https://www.thechurchnews.com/
archives/2015-11-12/elder-christofferson-provides-context-on-
handbook-changes-affecting-same-sex-marriages-29858
About the Author
Katherine (“Kat”) Schneider, LCSW, is a
clinical social worker, licensed in PA, NY,
AZ, and UT. After graduating with her MSW
from NYU, Kat worked in New York City’s
child welfare system for many years. She
later moved to Philadelphia, where she
now lives and runs a private psychotherapy
practice helping people struggling with anxiety and individuals
leaving high-control groups. She also provides education and
consultation services to help others understand the impacts of
high-control groups. She enjoys writing, hiking, and going on
adventures with her ridiculously cute dog.
Kat@KMSPsychotherapy.com n
Not everyone who joins a cult or high-control group has OCD,
or even anxiety. My theory, however, is that those who find
their way into such groups are often searching for something.
Whether the something they are seeking is a place to belong,
a safe haven, a reason for hope, a friend, or an infinite number
of other things humans naturally seek, high-control groups
may offer answers or relief when nothing else does. Just as a
starving person will eat from the garbage, one who is desperate
for safety from the world or from their own mind will seek
refuge wherever it is offered, even if that place depletes them in
other ways.
I did not seek out the LDS church so that I could lose my
identity or feel consumed by shame I joined a community that
promised relief from the anxiety I had been tortured by since I
was eight years old. I was desperate, and desperate people do
desperate things. n
