LDS Church Gets Away With Protecting Child Molester! [RFM: 318] 

I'm absolutely disgusted by the LDS church!

Just over 10 ago when I served as a bishop, I called the KM hotline about a child abuse situation and was told that I could not testify because of the clergy-penitent privilege. I explained that I had been a county prosecutor and was currently serving as guardian-ad litem for abused children in a different county, KM then warned that I could have nothing to do with the matter in any way. I did not follow that advice and helped to get the abuser removed from the home and got the abuser to plead guilty. Until I left church activity in 2022, I was concerned that my non-compliance could negatively affect my membership. I’m not concerned any more. Thank you for your report of this disturbing event !

This is the case that finally did it for me. I submitted my resignation letter the week this story came out in August 2022.

Not only did the Church cover it up, they then went out of their way to rub salt into the wounds of the victims.

RFM I’ve been on this since the first AP article and I’m absolutely unwilling to let it go until all “lifeguards” for children, ie church institutions, in every US state, are no longer allowed to further abuse children. I’ve been in college and used the topic in many assignments, even w/ some eyebrow raises from an LDS professor. (I’m in Idaho Falls). RFM and anyone on the front lines or ready to be, count me in for ANY volunteer advocacy I can do to help. Together, we can and we must protect children.

My $20 question is, when do people start looking at what is right and wrong? For example the lawyers. Child molestation should have no place in society, EVER!!!

I share your disgust over this case, RFM. There are no excuses for this. This Church has the gall to “celebrate” after this? The most whited sepulcher to ever be seen.

This is horrifying…I moved to Utah 15 years ago, I’m not LDS. This happened a few years after moving here. In Kaysville, a man was abusing a small child. His “sentence”, was to not watch R rated movies. Equally horrifying….it’s hard for me to understand why so many people are still members.

“Choose the right when the choice is placed before you…” How many times have I sang these words while sitting in a LDS Chapel? How many times I heard these words, repeated over and over from the pulpit? When it truly matters, the church clearly made the wrong choice. I am disgusted beyond words!!! When I learned about the sexual acts of Joseph Smith, after they were repeatedly denied by the LDS church for 50 years, I walked away from the LDS Church and withdrew my membership. Somehow, I could emotionally disconnect from these evil actions by thinking to myself, “This didn’t happen when I supported the Church”. But… this did happen when I was a member of the LDS church. How was I so blinded by such an evil organization? The Church had a CHOICE!!! The Bishop had a CHOICE! !!! He had a clear choice to report or not to report. The choice was clearly his by his state law. The Stake President had a choice!!! He went through the effort to call for the excommunication hearing for the father, but he ignored the safety of the children? He chose the right concerning the father, but he chose not to protect the precious child under his stewardship? Even after the church decided to make the “wrong choice”, the bishop could have made the “right choice”. The state president could have made the right choice! One member of the 15 members of the high council could made the right choice! All these men turned their eyes! Not one reported this to authorities! I am disgusted beyond belief!

This is only one case. This stuff happens over and over in the church and they cover it up and protect the evil men every time.

Thank you for describing this sinister set of secrets that this corporation demands to defend the money they actually worship

The brief over view was horrific! The church is criminal!!!

My stepson was molested at school. Just so happens the school counselor (in Utah) was in our ward. The school sent her to our home to tell use at the direction of the bishop, the counselor told us it would be dealt with by the bishop….i said. “F%^k that. A called the police, a the kid was aressted. That Subday I was called In to the bishop office a reprimand. I said, a crime was committed. So I reported it, with no regrets….bishop never talked to me again after that

I went ballistic on TwiX few days ago on this story. In late 1970’s (central Cali) my friends dad was molesting her. He was a bishop- no legal was contacted (my mo dad was a magistrate judge) her Dad was excommunicated for 1 year. My friend was told to “forgive” her dad and let it go! (I’ve got another story even worse but, she was a patient so can’t go there). Bottom line, Mormon Corp- will do everything to protect member awareness of of imperfections.

This is so upsetting. I have to believe that Jesus Christ himself will bring justice upon these evil men and this evil cult Church.

Thank you for covering this horrific story. I appreciate and share your outrage with the Church.

Disgusting that religious groups are given the option to report heinous acts. Everyone else are legally obligated but the religious groups are not!? We need to stop extending religious groups with a reverence and respect they are not deserving of.

Thank you for posting this. I've read through all of the court documents that were made public, including his wife's complete trial transcript. It's absolutely awful. Your understanding of the case is spot on and matches my understanding from the documents exactly. The Mormon church should feel ashamed at this outcome. I submitted my resignation earlier today. I advise all those who have not yet done so to resign in protest.

I have no words here ... Harming those that have no voice, and who need to be protected is crucial when claiming to be Representatives of Christ, and not doing so to protect the Mormon Church is astonishing as Hell! 😮

The church’s “Proclamation on the family” is a such a joke in this case and so many more like it. The church’s hypocrisy is unfathomable. After 53 years I’m SO glad I’m out!

We had something of a similar nature happen to a family member. The perpetrator did not confess. He was caught because one of his children was brave enough to report his activities to a judge overseeing a custody issue. The bravery of that child is beyond measure. She knew that if he did not take her seriously and dismissed it she could be murdered by her pedophile criminal. Long story short, there was a trial, the prep was found guilty and sentenced to prison. During this time the innocent spouse was subjected to numerous priesthood interviews traumatizing her even more while she dealt with the total upheaval of the family and multiple children working through their trauma. The church never excommunicated the convict. Not the bishop, not the stake president, no one. To this day as far as we know, (8 yrs and counting) the perp is still a member of record. There just seemed to be this odd sympathy for the criminal! When the ex wife finally remarried and sought to have the sealing canceled they again put her through hell having to discuss terribly painful details, then writing some letter and other humiliating requirements while the criminal was subject to no such pain. She finally gave up and is no longer active. Gee, I can't imagine why that is. The only bright spot in this whole ordeal is the perp was denied parole as he refused to admit guilt or participate in prison programs for such offenders. He hates every one of us connected with this conviction or has been helpful to the family, has had all this time to plot revenge, and is coming to the end of incarceration time. Our family is concerned for the safety and welfare of these victims, especially the child who blew the lid on this. "TRUE" CHURCH? Yeah, right. Everyone involved in this mess needs the millstone treatment that Jesus prescribed as recorded in Matthew, Mark and Luke. smh

I was a faithful member of the LDS church for 39 years, and I left after reading real church history instead of the Cloroxed, prettified versions taught in the carefully crafted church lesson materials. All these years since, I’ve been a little sad inside, missing the church’s emphasis on seeking truth and wholesome families. After this, never again will I feel anything about the LDS church other than pure contempt and disgust. This is about as horrific as it gets, brothers and sisters, and I cannot help but imagine how high LDS church leaders must dread standing before God Almighty on Judgment Day - if they even have any remaining conscience.

My family is LDS not me and I have waited a life time for someone to speak up for truth thank you from the bottom of my heart ❗️❗️

The real problem is the name they put on the outside of the church isn't consistent with the church's behavior. Law of the land isn't the issue, it's Gods laws that were violated by a church claiming to be His.

Consider your membership in this organization. These things are why I absolutely removed my name and resigned from the church.

Thank you for standing up for morality over religion. It's is so upsetting when religious leaders care more about themselves than them about the abused and downtrodden. What a world.

I can hardly listen to this. 😭 This church is pure evil. Didn’t a prophet once say, that “society cannot sink any lower than when it fails to protect the children…?” I seem to think it might have be Spencer W Kimball, and yet they do that very thing, over and over, and in this case horrifically and catastrophically so.

This is so sad and disturbing. It only solidifies my reasons for leaving. I almost had to stop watching because it hurt so much to hear it. I continued watching knowing I must. Imagine how these children feel. I cannot fathom their pain and scars.

We all know why they did this, to protect the image of the church, to not have the embaressment of people knowing there is a predator in the church. Here's the kicker, the only thing morally worse and optically worse than having a predator in your church, is potecting one. If they had turned him in we'd be applauding but now we're disgusted and just adding this to the list of wrongs by the church. The church made it worse for themselves. "A person often meets his destiny on the road he took to avoid it." - Jean de la Fontaine

Thanks RFM. I’ve known for a long time through local abuse cases I’m aware of that church leaders protect predators over victims. But when this story first came out last year I was forced to face head on just how corrupt the system is and how high up this tolerance and perpetuation of abuse goes. It’s the thing that finally broke me. I decided I was done being scared to actually go searching for real answers to my questions. Now I know all the things they are so afraid of everyone finding out about.

Best thing to do is repeat the church's arguments to the appellate courts to expose them. Also change the reporting laws for clergy. The LDS church is a criminal protection enterprise.

OMG... Thank you for wading through the church's sewer system of lies. I've shared this with my sister.

We feel you, RFM. Thank you. With the shocking scandals swirling throughout the church, we’re reminded the fish rots from the head and the rot has reached a point where the entire world can see and smell it.

How do these people sleep! Worthy of a Dateline episode. So very sad 😢

WILL THE REAL GREAT AND ABOMINABLE CHURCH PLEASE STAND UP?

A corporation is built to protect itself over all costs. This so angers me. I am only attending for social reasons. I stopped tithing in 2018. Every day I loose whatever reasons I have left to keep going.

RFM, thank you for using your knowledge to help the rest of us understand. I’m using my husband’s account here so I need to tell you I am an exmormon, a mother, a grandmother and a retired teacher. My husband and I love the clarity you bring to difficult issues.

I also want a church representative to come on your show to discuss how they can allow known child molesters to continue the abuse. This also happened to me as a seven year old in a Mormon chapel in Australia on a regular basis. The church knew, the abuser had abused another child prior to me. It has affected my life and impacted on my family deeply.

RFM, the church doesn't have the balls to go on your show. It's a terrible situation, and it needs to be known.

With how calm and collected you usually are RFM, it seems that it takes a lot to throw you, so as a girl who grew up in a Mormon world where girls and women were not protected from abuse, I find it moving to see and hear how much you genuinely care about this horrible problem. I’ve always greatly appreciated your talent and intellect but tonight I’m moved by your heart. Thank you for standing up to this. It seems like these had kids no one protecting them. No one to stand up for them against the status quo of this soulless system. Even now the LDS church stands against them, caring only to cover their own backsides. Thank you for your courage and integrity, calling out those who protect abusers and keep systems of abuse enshrouded in darkness. Thank you for shining a light into that darkness on this important issue.

This case is so sick!! If it had been their daughters being abused by someone, do you think they would stay silent??

RFM I applaud how well you maintained your composure, I couldn’t have done it. I second your question, if the church covered this case up how many more are there? To all those that have suffered abuses at the hands extended from the church please know you are wrapped in my love and support. Stand strong and show the world your light and beauty. ❤

This is wrong in every way so so evil 😈 💔 😢we must protect 🙏 children anyway we can ,the children are getting victimized by the LDS church all over again

“Pleased”??? They are “pleased” with the outcome!!!!🤯. Thank you for covering it.

Evil Cult!!!!!! What the hell??

I have worked in child welfare (Canadian equivalent to CPS) for many years, and I have seen the lifelong harm sexual abuse does to a child. There is no excuse for the church to have allowed this to go on. But also it is appalling that the law has this "loophole" in it. There should be NO exceptions - if you become aware of abuse, you report it. That's it.

When the original AP article came out I made an appointment with my stake president to talk about how terrible this was. I was saying this cannot be right and they should have reported it and he said, "Really? You would have the bishop break the law?" And I saw red. It was not against the law to report. It just wasn't required by the law to report and he damn well knows that. It's so crazy making it makes me want to scream.

Please let this be the straw that breaks the back of this corruption. Mandatory reporting MUST be the law of the land regardless of religious designation or 'doctrine'. The consequence must be the immediate loss of tax exempt status. Period.

Thanks RFM. The lifeguard analogy you offered at the end really drove it home for me. Utterly horrific!

And all good obedient lil Mormons would do the same thing as that Bishop. This story is why I no longer believe Mormons are nice people. They are "seemingly" nice people because when push comes to shove they will call Kirton McConkie before they call the police. If the Bishop was an actual good person, he would call the police and be willing to let the chips fall for the good of the child. His obedience makes him an actual evil person. Mormons are not good people NOT. Can't be if they're obedient.

If reporting confessions of abuse threatens the underlying tenets of your religion, your religion needs some work. Sadly, that is true of most religious orders. When you have the choice to report, and choose not to, that is repulsive. But I'm sure they take great comfort in the fact that the church told them to, and feel little to no blame for their complicity.

Thank you RFM for bringing up the Pharises!!! EXACTLY!

Extremely disturbing. I hope they take their case to the federal level. They don't have a shot in a conservative state I fear.

I’m 6 minutes in and I’m livid. How dare that bishop and how dare the church. Despicable.

This is so sick. How can they expect our undying loyalty when they show zero loyalty to us?

I will never be a bishop but I can say that if I learn of any abuse I am not calling a fucking church phone line. I’m calling the police!!! Then doing what I can to remove the abuser from the victim and use the billions of church resources to help the victims.

Thanks for letting us know. I have my resignation notarized and I didn't have the courage yesterday to hand it in. This was the final straw I will call the Ward clerk to see if I can do it sooner. Or setup an appointment for Sunday.

How can an organization put the name of Jesus Christ on themselves and then act like this?

How can the Bishop live with what he allowed that father to do. The church doesn't sound like it is following Christ. Why didn't the family call the police? This is what makes the church look bad. Christ said to protect the children.

Thank you so much for this episode. The AP article last Fall is what made me start questioning the church. It felt so unChristlike to have a helpline. The dismissal of the lawsuit last week was so disappointing. It makes me sick to my stomach to know that in a very small way, through tithing, I was supporting the organization in protecting abusers. It’s sickening.

My blood pressure and anger are right there with you. This whole story makes me feel physically sick.

Amazing work RFM! That is why I truly love you and others who bring out the hidden truth about the church

This is so appalling that I don't even have words for how upset I am. This church Is abominable.

As someone who went through this with a family member (with, fortunately, a much better outcome), thank you for doing this podcast. I could tell it was not easy for you.

The church is disgusting in this. Imagine having to sustain the prophet, which (to me) essentially means sustaining the behavior of abusers. Reprehensible.

I'm still struggling to find what "concepts within the LDS faith" deem their inaction "reasonable and necessary". Isn't it taught in primary that the steps of repentance are 1.) Feel sorry 2.) Ask forgiveness 3.) Right the wrong 4.) Don’t repeat the wrong? Doesn't righting the wrong also involve settling up with the law when transgressed? That's what I was taught. As I see it, no one here from the church acted in any way that could be determined "reasonable".

Thank you RFM for this report. You did it well, highlighting the difference between ethics - what is allowed - and morals - what our soul finds acceptable. In this case ethics are trumping, yet those with morals are absolutely appalled, disgusted and left without words.

RFM your composure...intellect, knowledge, professionalism, and yes even the outrage, so very needed and useful in tonight's broadcast. I am basically speechless with anger at what this evil "church" gets away with. Thank you to you, and Bill Reel, for all you do.

I’m pissed and heartbroken for the girls.

Eff yeah that's what they do. And I haven't even heard the podcast yet. Every mormon bishop has to call the lawyers if they find out about abuse, but in Utah they don't have to call the police. Also the lawyers delete the call logs daily, what else would they be doing.l?

Thanks for sharing your strong feelings about this issue. So many of us feel the same. My heart breaks that a church which claims to follow Jesus would want such a millstone to hang about its neck. The Church has been perfectly happy to operate outside the law (to differing degrees) for years to their own advantage, yet when they had the opportunity to be WITHIN the law & report this abuse, they failed. They chose to hide behind the letter of the law in blatant violation of the spirit of God’s law. I still don’t get how not turning this guy in would have contributed to his salvation. He can’t repent if he avoids the natural consequences of his actions. Nobody benefits from this approach with the potential exception of the reputation of the church, and that only works until their actions come to light.

Sorry one more thing. My daughter when she was married was in a ward where she found out one of the men in the bishopric had spent time in jail for molesting his daughter. My sister had a woman in her ward that had spent time in jail for molesting girls on the high school volleyball team and her and her husband were called to be a ma and pa on one of those treks where the kids go push handcarts in wyoming. She was her sons ma. My sister was NOT happy about it. She warned her son to stay away from them.

Looking at D&C 42:79, 84-86 according to the Church doctrine if a person Kills, rob, steal or lie they are to be delivered up to the law of the land. But I guess the current leaders of the church do not see rape and child abuse as being included in those sins. I say they are wrong, rape and child abuse is robbing and stealing what is most precious to children, their innocence, their health, and many other precious things that can never be restored, but is seems that the church only wants to interpret robbing and stealing with regards to money...we see now where their heart is.

Every adult is a mandatory reporter. Period.

Thank you RFM for your reasoned and considered opinions and information. A very disturbing story handled with true professionalism.

The church has their fingers in so many holes in the dam, every now and then they cannot keep one plugged.

Thank you for covering this. My heart breaks for those girls.

Are there still people who ask if Utah is a theocracy?

Is there anyway to take this suit to highest supreme court in Washington D.C.? Just wanting to know if it is possible! I’m so angry I’m heartbroken over this injustice!

This is sick, I have 5 daughters so this hits home 😢

My bishop casually told me that he'd observed a priesthood holder had teen girls on his lap during church.He was young woman's teacher in his 70's. One of many reasons y my shelf broke and I left. Separately,I myself observed conduct such as this where they girl was sitting in the middle of his lap during the service,the same person went on to serve a mission mission and was glorified for being a successful missionary. The girl was only 2-3 years old and he was 16-17 at the time. I was told not to cause contention and keep it quiet 🤐🤫

Apparently, Arizona law allows "clergy" members to use their discretion to decide whether or not to report (within the scope of their religious role and beliefs). But in this case can we genuinely say that any "clergy" was even involved, since the role of any "clergy" was assumed and exercised by a law firm? Essentially, Adams (the perpetrator of the abuse) confessed to non-autonomous items of church machinery that are labeled as "bishops". As they are programmed to do, these items of church machinery then communicated the content of the confessions to the church's law firm. The law firm then exercised the discretion granted to "clergy" members...but the law firm is not really clergy, even under the church's own definitions and rules. In other words, if a person confesses to a non-autonomous item of machinery that is controlled by a church lawyer, how can decisions made by the church lawyer fall within the scope of any privilege or discretion granted to "clergy"? And the fact that the "General Authorities" have apparently granted such decision-making control and role to its law firm would not ipso facto turn the law firm or any of its lawyers into "clergy". Basically, it would be the same situation as if there had been a box in the "bishop's office" wired up with speakers and a microphone. You push a button labeled "confession". You push another button that indicates the category of confession. In this case, the category would be "horrendous and horrific deeds". As a result of pushing that button, the confession is heard by the law firm and any relevant decisions to be made pursuant thereto are made by the law firm. There is no genuine "clergy" involved and no decisions made by the law firm were made for religious reasons or purposes by anyone properly designated as "clergy".

What is really disgusting (along with everything about this case) is hearing active members cheering and celebrating this "win".....smh.

This case, and others like it, have always troubled me. Nowhere in the LDS scriptures is confession to a bishop required for forgiveness, further the bishop does not "forgive" sins as Catholic Priests do. Being a "Judge in Israel" does not place them in the place of determining if God forgives the sinner forgiveness is the sole providence of God a bishop may suggest how the sinner go about repenting but that is not determinate of if the sinner is forgiven. What being a "Judge in Israel" applies to is the bishop responsibilities in protecting the "good name of the church" meaning they can excommunicate members in order to protect the good name of the church. So when the church makes all this noise about how they are claiming that clergy penitent privileged it is absurd. Do we all not remember how the church blasted the saying that one of the sighs of the fall of the Catholic church was how they gave the priests the authority to "forgive" sins and all the corruption that came from that. Now the church is claiming that its clergy is equivalent. So if the in the words of Bruce R. McConkie, the Catholic church is the whore of the whole earth, well now the LDS church has become the same.

This was very difficult to get through, thank you so much for covering. If this is what we know about imagine what we don’t know!

I'd like to know the molester's requires pennace. Was he told to move out of thr family home? Never to be alone with his daughter? Seek counseling? Provide therapy for the victims? Confess to his wife? Provide any protection for the children? I understand protecting the sanctity of confession. But, protecting victims, especially the most vulnerable, overrides.

Thank you RFM!!!

This is disturbing, hopefully most bishops have the sense not to follow this heineous "Hot Line Dictatorship Rule!"

Another opportunity for Prophets to be open and honest…what will they do? The usual

Thank you, RFM.

This story is heart breaking. The church clearly cares about protecting themselves. Protecting the victims or holding the perpetrator is far less important to the church than its own reputation or money.

People we need more likes on this post ! For more exposure!!

If there was nothing else disturbing in the LDS church this would be enough to keep me from ever going back. It is also disturbing that the court sided with the church. Are the judges Mormons?

48:59 I concur with your assessment of this horrible situation. I’m disgusted. I live in Cochise County AZ and was unaware of this case until the 8th. Thank you for covering this RFM. 😢

I am horrified. Words fail me.

My heart goes out to the mother and the children who were traumatized for years by this disgusting act. Thank you for covering this, RFM, I can tell this was incredibly difficult for you.

Damn, RFM. Please go do some self care after this one. :( I've been following this case fairly closely and it's horrifying. Even if that first bishop decided not to report it to authorities, why did he not make some private move to protect the children? Alerting their mother? Insisting that the man needed to move out of the family home as part of repentance? Nope, just turn a blind eye. I'm working on a theory that it's really a product of purity culture. In a culture where pre-marital sex is akin to murder, there is no sense of balance or appropriate boundaries. A complete non-crime, like sex outside of marriage , is seen on the same level as this kind of horrific abuse. Yeah, let's keep donating to Tim Ballard to protect children and do nothing about the children in our front yard. I'm surprised you kept your cool as well as you did trying to lay this out.

Thank you for covering this atrocity. I love the spotlight you’re a shining on the churches shadows.

Tremendous explanation. So disturbing. Vile church to conceal all their evidence from the victims. Please refer to plantiff as the victims of CSA. Plantiffs sounds rather neutered.

One of the biggest reasons I do not go to the Mormon church, especially here locally Tehachapi, California. The church protects the rapist. Not the child.