I am a Mormon. Simple answer: No.
More complex answer: Fathers are the patriarchs of the family and he should lead with love and never ending patience the same way Christ leads the church. Fathers and mothers are equal partners in the relationship and leading the family. Any man who abuses his wife or children can be excommunicated from the church. Women do not have to put up with abuse under any circumstances. Women are not bound by any rule to do what their husband tells them to do simply because he has a penis and she does not. But a wise woman and a wise man will put their relationship first and work differences out in a reasonable way, listening to each other and and putting the welfare of their partner above their own wants. It sounds to me like Susan was doing that and Josh was not. I believe one reason he quit going to church is because he felt the disapproval of his fellow ward members in the way he was treating his wife.
Because the LDS church does so much to foster and teach leadership skills and self sufficiency, there are very few "shrinking violets" in the female membership. In my experience they are competent, and confident. Susan just rushed into a marriage with a bad egg. I wish she would have listened to her parents and waited a bit. JMO.
Gwenabob, I appreciate your view of your religion . . . .however, I have a different perspective. I was "converted" to the LDS church at age 12 when my Mother married a Mormon man. My experience is some 40 years ago now, but I will never forget the lessons that I learned during the time I spent being "faithful" and "keeping sweet". I know that my experience is not every Mormon's and I would not want to generalize to the entire church population but it was not as you described it for me. My Step-Father was quite well-to-do and a major entity in the Professional arena in our city. He had 7 kids with his wife he married in the Temple, along with 2 other illigitimate children with two other women. He was never "ex-communicated" and just kept paying his "10% tithing". He was never "dis-fellowshiped". He and all of the Bishops' and Elders would go on long vacations together (ie: Mexico). As soon as they hit the "border" they began drinking excessively. (apparently "Word of Wisdom" doesn't apply there). He beat me repeatedly when I questioned his authority (especially when he attempted to take my own Father's rights away and not let me see my Dad). After one particularly brutal beating, I ran away to my Father's home and never went back. What
I learned from the LDS religion was:
1) How to be a really good liar (there are no other options sometimes).
2) How to look good to others - and keep secrets.
3) Knowing when to "keep sweet" and not talk back (especially in front of Men)
4) "Shrinking Violets" were preferred to anyone with a different opinion.
5) Never question authority . . . .there will be consequences!
6) The church controlled members through gossip and intimidation.
7) Your personal business was everyone's knowledge by the following Sunday (if it took that long).
8) If you were Male and had some money, you would be protected by your fellow Members, as long as you kept paying tithing.
9) Women and children are not "equal" in the church. They cannot hold Priesthood, can't get their own "Universe" in the Celestial Kingdom, and must be "sealed" to a Man (Priesthood head) in order to enter the 3 degrees of Heaven.
Of course, I should let everyone know that this was still during the time that "People of Color" were considered decendents of "Cain" and wore the "mark of the Beast" according to the Doctorine I was taught in the LDS religion.
Supposedly, they have changed their stance on this issue over the last 20 years, but it was part of their original beliefs from the beginning - just like polygamy/polygeny (sic?) changed over the years.
I am not trying to "Mormon Bash" here, I am only offering my experience. It sounds like the church has been making concentrated efforts in the past few years to rectify these long held beliefs.
I am telling you all of this because this "ideology" sounds more like what JP had adopted for his own, vs. the newer version of the LDS faith that Gwenabob has described above.
Please note, I do not wish to offend anyone's faith or beliefs - only explain from my perspective.
