Derek Driggs's Reviews > Chosen Path: A Memoir

D. Michael Quinn's personal history and memoir was absolutely gripping. For anyone of a Mormon background, or a background in any high demand religion, I feel there are few more beneficial reads for shedding light on the complexities of being raised in those organizations. Particularly, Quinn's position as a person of deep faith and loyalty to Mormon teachings, a closeted homosexual, and a rigorous academic were shockingly relatable for me. Although we have major differences in personality, Quinn shared many personal thoughts--spanning his whole life--that could have come straight from my brain: on his own worthiness or lack thereof, on the trial of his gayness, on his love for God, and on his frequent disappointments in the very human leaders of the Church.

Quinn was excommunicated for his honest historical publications and his refusal to change his "warts and all" approach at a time when the Church engaged in extreme censorship. His conviction was that knowing the problems of history does not need to shake a person's faith or religious commitment. Church leaders did not agree with him, and he was part of an infamous slew of academic excommunications in 1993. Significantly, he had fought and succeeded his whole life to remain celibate of homosexual intimacy in order to retain his precious Church membership. The irony that his faith-driven publications were what ultimately pushed him out is a bitter one.

Quinn also relates his feelings on politics (his intense concern about the right-leaning tendencies of American Christians), his advocacy for minority groups and women, and his dismay at the political involvement of Church leaders (along with their own inner Church leadership politics). A true liberal Mormon (we need more of those)!

Although Quinn was pushed out of the Church, he remained a believing Mormon, if not a welcomed member, his whole life. He did so while disavowing what he construed as undoctrinal Mormon positions of bigotry, patriarchy, and white supremacy.

As a person of faith who also believes that every earthly religion is fraught with human weakness; as a gay person who struggled with self-acceptance my whole life because of religion; as an academic who believes in freedom of speech and integrity; Quinn's life story absolutely floored me.

What if every Mormon, every Catholic, every Evangelical had the bandwidth to live and believe in their religions while also letting go of hurtful doctrines and practices? What if religious people applied self-improvement and repentance to their religious practice--and expected it of their leaders--rather than trying to immortalize ancient customs and abuses and mortal leaders?

Even if one does not agree with Quinn everywhere, I believe that his memoir will inspire more compassion and nuance in any honest reader.