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The 17 million members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), commonly known as the Mormon Church, value marriage and family above all else. Founded in 1830, the religion emphasizes strict moral codes, including abstaining from alcohol, premarital sex, and even caffeine, while fostering a deep sense of community through its tightly-knit congregations (wards). However, beneath this outward image of virtue lies a dark underbelly of moral depravity that contradicts the church’s most fundamental teachings. The insular nature of the LDS community has enabled decades of unchecked sexual abuse, shielded by a culture of secrecy and institutional protection that prioritizes the church’s reputation over the safety of its most vulnerable members.
Reports of sexual abuse within the LDS Church have surfaced over the years, with allegations dating back decades. Despite its vast wealth and influence, the church has faced growing legal scrutiny as survivors continue to come forward, revealing a disturbing pattern of abuse and cover-ups.
How Deep Does the Problem Go?
In recent years, multiple high-profile cases have revealed the extent of abuse, the church’s systematic cover-ups, and the failure of LDS leaders to protect children from predators within their ranks.
One of the earliest publicized cases involved Joseph Bishop, a former president of the LDS Church’s Missionary Training Center (MTC) in Provo, Utah, who was accused of sexual assault during the 1980s. In 2018, just days after the release of a trove of documents published on a whistleblower website, “MormonLeaks,” Bishop admitted to sexual impropriety.
Despite complaints brought forward by multiple victims, Bishop continued serving in high-ranking positions within the church. His case, along with hundreds of others—approximately 1,000 survivors have stepped forward—demonstrates a troubling pattern: instead of removing abusers and helping survivors, church officials have consistently shielded perpetrators from legal consequences.
Organizations and Programs Linked to Sexual Abuse in the LDS Church
Sexual abuse within the LDS Church is not limited to church buildings—it extends to church-run programs, camps, and youth organizations where children are placed under the supervision of church leaders. Survivors have reported abuse in numerous LDS church-affiliated settings, including:
- The Indian Placement Program – This now-defunct program, designed to integrate Native American children into LDS families, has been implicated in multiple sexual abuse allegations.
- Scouting Programs – The LDS Church was a major sponsor of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA), which faced a massive sexual abuse scandal of its own. Many former scouts have filed lawsuits against both the BSA and the LDS Church for allowing known predators to continue working with children. In August 2022, the BSA considered a $250 million settlement with the LDS Church, but a U.S. Bankruptcy Judge rejected the settlement. The settlement would have protected the LDS Church from sexual abuse claims in exchange for the contribution.
- Young Men’s and Young Women’s Programs – Youth groups within the LDS Church have been associated with cases of grooming and sexual abuse, with reports indicating that church leaders failed to intervene or actively covered up allegations.
- LDS Church-Sponsored Youth Camps and Missionary Programs – Many reports detail abuse occurring in faith-based youth retreats, summer camps, and missionary assignments, where young members are placed under the guidance of older church leaders.
Noteworthy Lawsuits and Settlements
Despite the LDS Church’s insular nature and vast financial resources—estimated to be worth $250 billion—the legal system has increasingly held it accountable for failing to protect children from sexual abuse.
$2.3 Billion California Jury Award
The largest sexual abuse settlement involving the LDS Church was announced in 2023 when a Riverside County, California jury awarded a woman $2.28 billion after she was sexually abused from age 5 to 14 by her stepfather, an active church member. The lawsuit alleged that the survivor, who was sexually abused beginning in the 1980s, reported the abuse to multiple church officials, including local bishops, who not only failed to take action but actively discouraged her from going to law enforcement. Instead of helping her seek justice, the church allegedly attempted to intimidate her into silence.
While the LDS Church denied wrongdoing, it settled its portion of the case for $1 million—a fraction of the total judgment.
The Arizona Child Abuse Cover-Up
A 2022 Associated Press investigation uncovered a shocking case in Arizona where church officials knew for years that a father had been sexually abusing his daughters but failed to report it. The abuse stopped in 2017 after the father was arrested, with no help from the church. Instead of involving law enforcement, bishops referred the case to the church’s internal “help line,” which provided legal guidance aimed at protecting the church—not the victims. Because of this failure to act, the abuse continued for over seven years.
An Associated Press investigation revealed that the LDS Church used the” clergy-penitent privilege” to shield itself from reporting child sexual abuse, advising bishops that they were legally exempt from disclosing abuse confessions. In the Arizona case, a church attorney explicitly told Bishops John Herrod and Robert Mauzy, “You absolutely can do nothing,” leading to seven years of silence while the abuse continued unchecked.
Secret Recordings Expose Internal Tactics
Another Associated Press report revealed recordings of church officials discussing ways to handle sexual abuse allegations internally to avoid legal repercussions. The recordings provided evidence that LDS leadership actively discouraged victims from seeking outside help and instead focused on keeping abuse claims quiet to protect the church’s image.
Legal Barriers for Survivors—and How They’re Changing
For years, survivors of sexual abuse within the LDS Church faced severe legal barriers to seeking justice. Many states had statutes of limitations that prevented survivors from filing lawsuits if too much time had passed since the abuse. This meant that even if new evidence emerged—or if the survivor was only able to process the trauma years later—their claims could still be dismissed on procedural grounds.
However, laws are changing. A growing number of states have extended or eliminated the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse cases, making it possible for survivors to file lawsuits years or decades after the abuse occurred. The increasing public outcry and mounting evidence of church cover-ups have also made it easier for survivors to take legal action against the LDS Church itself—not just individual abusers.
The Emotional Toll on Survivors
Survivors of sexual abuse within the LDS Church face unique psychological and emotional challenges. Many experience:
- Doubt and Shame – The church’s influence in their lives may lead them to question whether speaking out is the right thing to do.
- Anger and Betrayal – Survivors often feel deeply betrayed by an authority figure who was supposed to protect them.
- Religious Trauma – Some survivors develop an aversion to religion altogether, while others remain loyal to the church but feel lost and abandoned.
- Fear of Excommunication – Many survivors worry that coming forward will lead to ostracization from their faith community and even from family members.
No matter how a survivor feels about the LDS Church today, they deserve justice. They deserve accountability. They deserve to be heard.
The Path to Justice: How SurvivorsRights.com Can Help
Survivors of sexual abuse in the LDS Church have lived through a nightmare, but justice is possible. At SurvivorsRights.com, we connect survivors with compassionate, experienced legal advocates who will fight for their rights.
If you or someone you love has suffered abuse within the LDS Church, now is the time to take action. Thanks to new laws, survivors have more legal options than ever before—but time limits may still apply. Fill out our confidential contact form today to be connected with a Survivor’s Advocate who can guide you through your legal options.
You are not alone. Your voice matters. And you deserve justice.
References:
https://www.sltrib.com/news/2018/03/22/former-missionary-training-center-president-admits-to-asking-a-young-missionary-to-expose-her-breasts-in-the-80s-byu-police-say/
https://apnews.com/article/california-child-sexual-assault-lawsuit-settlement-b0b80f5f6cd3fdb3882f8ba4ed78bc29
https://apnews.com/article/mormon-church-sexual-abuse-takeaways-f01fba7521ddddffa89622668b54ac10
https://apnews.com/article/mormon-church-investigation-child-sex-abuse-9c301f750725c0f06344f948690caf16
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mormon_abuse_cases
