Skip to content You are not alone if you were abused by a leader or member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Many survivors are now speaking out—and you may have legal options to receive compensation for the harm the “Mormon Church” caused. If you’re searching for a lawyer to help you file a lawsuit against the LDS Church, legal support may be available.
The power structure behind every religious denomination is only as morally sound as the people who are at the top. No human being is perfect. However, members of a church congregation expect those at the very top to be exemplars of moral purity.
Few religious denominations have betrayed that moral expectation more than the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), also known to many as the Mormon Church.
The LDS Church was supposed to be a sanctuary. A place of trust, community, and unwavering moral guidance. But for countless survivors, it became the setting for the betrayal of the most devastating kind: childhood sexual abuse, followed by cover-ups orchestrated by those in positions of spiritual and institutional power.
These failures have opened the door to legal accountability. Today, survivors are filing LDS sexual abuse lawsuits across the U.S. — often with the help of experienced abuse attorneys who understand how to sue the LDS Church.
Over the past two decades, more and more survivors have stepped forward, revealing deeply disturbing allegations committed by bishops, youth leaders, missionaries, and other members in positions of church authority.
What’s more, many of these allegations involve not just isolated acts of abuse but systemic efforts to silence victims, shield abusers, and suppress the truth through internal reporting systems, non-disclosure agreements, and intimidation tactics.
The result? A growing number of lawsuits have been filed against the LDS Church, many of which allege decades of negligence, concealment, and re-traumatization.
If you were harmed by a leader, member, or institution affiliated with the LDS Church, you are not alone.
Compensation and closure may be possible through legal action. Healing, though difficult, begins with coming forward and sharing your story confidentially.
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August 1, 2025
In a civil lawsuit involving over 170 former patients of Oregon doctor David Farley, the LDS Church is fighting a subpoena that could reveal whether church leaders knew about abuse allegations, Oregon Public Broadacsting reports. Plaintiffs allege Farley used his role as a trusted church leader to gain access to girls and young women under the guise of medical care. The church argues clergy privilege and jurisdictional limits protect the requested records. A Multnomah County judge will decide whether the church must disclose what it knew.
In other recent developments, PennLive.com reports that Shawn C. Gooden, a former LDS bishop, scout leader, and Harrisburg attorney, is facing child rape charges in Berks County. He has voluntarily resigned from the bar and has been officially disbarred in Pennsylvania.
July 31, 2025
An Arizona appeals court has revived a lawsuit accusing the LDS Church and two bishops of failing to report sexual abuse committed by a Bisbee man, Paul Adams, against his children. The case had previously been dismissed due to clergy-penitent privilege, but the appeals court ruled a jury should decide whether church leaders had knowledge of the abuse beyond protected confession. The ruling may set a precedent for how clergy reporting duties are interpreted when abuse disclosures extend outside confessional settings.
This Arizona ruling echoes a similar legal battle in Washington State, where courts are weighing whether the Catholic Church can withhold reports of child sexual abuse under clergy-penitent privilege, despite mandatory reporting laws requiring disclosure when abuse is known outside of confession.
July 7, 2025
Former Colorado Springs deputy DA and LDS church leader David George McConkie accepted a plea deal, avoiding prison time after admitting to attempted sexual assault of a child. He received five years of supervised probation, must register as a sex offender, and is barred from contact with minors. The judge cited his unemployment, disbarment, and family situation in lieu of jail time. The Denver Gazette covered the legal proceedings; the non-profit website, Floodlit has a profile on McConkie.
June 20, 2025
For over two decades, top Mormon men serving as Boy Scouts of America (BSA) executives allegedly knew about internal abuse records known as the “perversion files” — but may never have warned the LDS Church. These confidential files tracked sexual abuse allegations against scout leaders, including those operating in LDS-sponsored troops. According to investigative reporting by Floodlit.org, five LDS men held a paid liaison role between the BSA and the Mormon Church from 1963 to 1989, directly communicating with high-level church leaders. Yet in a 2012 sworn statement, the church claimed it first learned about these files in 1989. One of those BSA liaisons, John Fanning, also a Mormon bishop, was later convicted of child molestation.
These findings deepen public scrutiny over what the LDS Church knew, when it knew it, and what steps it did or didn’t take to protect children from sexual abuse within scouting and church programs.
June 13, 2025
Another investigation by Floodlit.org reveals that the LDS Church may have misrepresented the timeline of sexual abuse litigation against it. In 2012, top church official, Paul Rytting, stated under oath that the first sexual abuse lawsuit filed against the church occurred in 1989. However, Floodlit has uncovered two earlier cases: one in 1986 involving Trent Rogers, and another tied to Kenneth Ray that was originally filed on July 5, 1984.
This new evidence raises serious concerns about the church’s institutional memory and transparency regarding its handling of abuse claims. Whether the inaccurate 2012 statement was intentional or not, it highlights ongoing questions about the LDS Church’s efforts to acknowledge and account for its history of enabling abuse. If you want to go down the rabbit hole and learn more about the timeline of the Kenneth Ray lawsuits during the 1980s, read Floodlit’s investigation here.
June 6, 2025
Three updates provided by Floodlit.org deepen the picture of institutional sexual abuse within the Mormon church. First, Floodlit uncovered over $1.26 million in previously unknown LDS Church expenses tied to three child sex abuse settlements, revealing a behind-the-scenes letter in which an LDS risk manager invoked “gentleman’s agreements” with the Boy Scouts of America to share costs—costs that reportedly led to higher BSA registration fees in the ’80s and ’90s. Second, Floodlit exposed a coverup involving Edwin Dyer, a Mormon scoutmaster in Oregon accused of molesting 15 boys over 28 years; the church quietly paid $200,000 to one victim and spent over $58,000 in legal fees, without alerting authorities before Dyer was fatally shot by one of his victims in 1986. Finally, in a recent update about Oregon’s largest-ever sexual abuse lawsuit, involving more than 150 women and girls suing Dr. David Farley, a former Mormon stake high council member and family physician, last month, a Multnomah County judge ruled that Farley cannot be compelled to answer deposition questions about his involvement with the LDS Church. The decision, based on Fifth Amendment protections, raises ongoing concerns about institutional accountability, as many of Farley’s alleged victims say they knew him through church roles.
May 9, 2025
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has reached a proposed settlement that could resolve more than 100 childhood sexual abuse lawsuits filed across California. The cases involve decades-old abuse allegations against LDS bishops, youth leaders, and volunteers. While the financial terms remain undisclosed, the settlement is expected to offer closure and compensation for survivors who came forward during California’s statute-of-limitations lookback window.
April 30, 2025
FLOODLIT reports that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints filed an appeal with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit after losing a federal lawsuit in Utah over insurance coverage for a $32 million sexual abuse settlement and $27 million in legal defense costs. The original case stemmed from the Church’s response to child sex abuse allegations in West Virginia involving convicted abuser Michael Jensen.
The church is seeking reimbursement from its insurers for nearly $90 million in total expenses related to that case. Although the West Virginia lawsuit cost the LDS Church about $59 million in settlement and legal fees, the Church is seeking up to $90 million from its insurers to cover not only that case but also hundreds of other abuse-related payouts it claims fall under the same coverage period. The Church argued that insurers were obligated to reimburse costs exceeding its $15 million self-insured limit. The appeal follows a District Court ruling that the insurance companies had no duty to indemnify the Church. FLOODLIT claims the LDS Church has paid at least $51 million in known sex abuse settlements since 1990, with hundreds more lawsuits still pending.
April 22, 2025
The nonprofit that documents and uncovers LDS Church sexual abuse, FLOODLIT, reported Charles Sheldon Bates, a longtime Mormon church member and Boy Scout leader in Salt Lake County, was arrested April 17 for allegedly sexually abusing four boys over a span of 14 years. Bates is accused of committing sexual abuse in multiple locations, including his home, vehicle, the Kearns Community Pool, and on Boy Scout trips. Court documents allege Bates also created child sexual abuse material (CSAM) featuring multiple victims. Police reportedly found 134 CSAM images in his possession, including images flagged by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. At the time of his arrest, Bates was affiliated with the Kearns Utah North Stake of the LDS Church. He remains in custody without bail. The case is the latest in a growing number of criminal investigations and lawsuits linked to sexual abuse in Mormon-affiliated programs.
April 20, 2025
The LDS Church is reportedly close to settling more than 100 sexual abuse lawsuits filed across six U.S. states since August 2024. According to court documents obtained by watchdog group FLOODLIT.org, both plaintiffs and church representatives filed joint motions in multiple cases on April 15 and 16, asking the courts to pause proceedings while they finalize the terms of a global settlement. The two sides reached a “settlement in principle” during an April 10 mediation, with plans to finalize by July 28. If completed, it would be the largest known sexual abuse settlement in LDS Church history. The lawsuits include disturbing allegations against over 20 bishops and senior leaders, including claims that church attorneys and officials interfered with law enforcement. This proposed resolution follows the recently revealed $32 million settlement in a separate West Virginia abuse case, which cost the Church an additional $27 million in legal fees (see below).
Even if a large settlement is finalized, survivors who haven’t yet come forward may still have time to file a claim—especially in states with open or extended statute-of-limitation windows.
April 12, 2025
The Utah District Court found that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints cannot compel its insurers to cover a settlement related to child sexual abuse in West Virginia. The case centered around abuse committed by Michael Jensen (see entry below), who was affiliated with the LDS Church. After settling with victims, the Church sued its insurers, claiming they were obligated to cover the payout. However, the court ruled that the insurance providers had no duty to defend or indemnify the Church under their policies. The decision effectively leaves the LDS Church financially responsible for the settlement.
While the ruling does not impact the validity of other survivors’ cases, it may influence how the Church approaches future settlements and defenses, potentially making it more cautious in negotiations, or more likely to litigate cases rather than settle quickly.
April 11, 2025
FLOODLIT.org, a non-profit organization investigating sexual abuse in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, revealed that the LDS Church spent nearly $60 million to defend and settle a major child sexual abuse lawsuit involving convicted predator Michael Jensen. Jensen, a Mormon church member and grandson of a senior church employee, was convicted in 2013 of abusing multiple children in Utah and West Virginia. Despite early warnings—including a psychologist’s assessment that he was likely to reoffend—church leaders allowed him to continue serving in trusted roles with children. In 2018, the church quietly paid a $32 million mid-trial settlement to resolve civil claims brought by six families. (The Church spent the other $27 million on legal fees.) The case, which involved years of alleged cover-ups and misuse of the Church’s internal abuse “help line,” is now considered the largest known sexual abuse payout in LDS Church history, far surpassing its previous reported high of $4 million. Kudos to Floodlit.org for the team’s painstaking work, analyzing over 2,700 pages of court recrords.
As mentioned in the news entry above, a judge ruled against the LDS Church in its lawsuit seeking up to $90 million from two insurers for defense fees and settlement payouts in the Jensen case.
April 10, 2025
The U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) has denied (PDF link) a request to consolidate nearly 50 child sexual abuse lawsuits against the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints into a single federal MDL (multidistrict litigation). Survivors and their attorneys had hoped that combining the cases in one court would streamline the discovery process, minimize conflicting rulings, and create a more efficient path toward justice. However, the JPML concluded that the allegations span over five decades and involve too many differing circumstances to be handled as one unified case. For survivors, this means their lawsuits will move forward individually in separate courts across the country. While this may slow down some cases and increase legal complexity, it does not reduce survivors’ legal rights. In some instances, the ruling could allow for more personalized outcomes. Survivors are encouraged to speak with attorneys we partner with who are experienced in LDS Church abuse cases to understand what this decision means for their claim.
April 2, 2025
A recent Arizona Court of Appeals ruling has revived part of a lawsuit against the LDS Church and its members, signaling a major shift in how mandated reporting laws may be interpreted going forward. The case involves three children who endured years of sexual abuse by their father, Paul Adams, a former Border Patrol agent, while several members of the local Mormon congregation either knew or suspected the abuse and failed to report it. The court rejected a lower court’s interpretation that Arizona’s Mandatory Reporter Law only applies to professionals, instead ruling that anyone who assumes responsibility for a child—such as a Sunday school teacher or church volunteer—may have a legal obligation to report suspected abuse.
March 31, 2025
Scott Owen — a former LDS Church leader and licensed therapist — was sentenced to at least 15 years in prison by Utah’s Fourth District Judge Kraig Powell in Provo, for sexually abusing multiple patients under the guise of therapy. Survivors, many of whom were referred by LDS bishops and struggling with their sexuality and faith, say Owen manipulated their beliefs and used his authority to normalize abuse. While the LDS Church was not a defendant, this case raises serious concerns about the church’s referral practices and lack of oversight over therapists paid with church funds.
March 8, 2025
A wave of new lawsuits has been filed against the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) in California, alleging widespread sexual abuse by church leaders. The lawsuits stem from a three-year legal look-back window, which temporarily allowed survivors of childhood sexual abuse to file claims regardless of when the abuse occurred. Nearly 100 survivors have now come forward with accusations, painting a disturbing picture of systemic abuse and institutional cover-ups within the LDS Church.
February 25, 2025
Three siblings are asking the Arizona Court of Appeals to revive their lawsuit against a Mormon bishop and physician, John Herrod, who they say failed to report years of abuse by their father, Paul Adams. The children’s legal team argues that Herrod, acting as both their family doctor and a local LDS bishop at a small congregation in Bisbee, lost his legal right to keep the father’s confession private when he disclosed it to the children’s mother and urged her to call the police. The plaintiffs say this action waived any clergy-penitent privilege, meaning Herrod should have reported the abuse himself.
The lawsuit, filed in 2021, also targets the LDS Church, claiming leaders were aware of the abuse for years but chose to protect the church’s image instead of intervening. Herrod’s legal team said he was spiritually prohibited from reporting the confession and that his actions did not break confidentiality. The court is also weighing whether to allow new testimony from the now-teenaged children, who were too young to speak for themselves when the case was first filed. A final ruling from the three-judge panel is still pending.
February 12, 2025
A new $25 million federal lawsuit filed in Eugene, Oregon, accuses the LDS Church of failing to report child sexual abuse after a church leader allegedly received reports about an adoptive father’s misconduct but took no action. The victim was placed in the Ridgefield, Washington, home of Craig and Jenny Ford, where she was later adopted and subjected to repeated abuse. Despite the family’s active involvement in a local LDS ward and the mother allegedly notifying Bishop Wade Pickett, no report was made to authorities. The abuse continued for months after the girl was taken to Oregon. The case highlights ongoing allegations that the church’s internal systems protect abusers rather than victims.
February 3, 2025
Attorneys representing survivors of sexual abuse by members of the LDS Church have petitioned the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) to consolidate 48 federal lawsuits into a single multidistrict litigation (MDL) in the Central District of California. The lawsuits, filed across nine federal districts, allege a widespread cover-up by the LDS Church, including use of its internal “Help Line” to suppress abuse reports and protect abusers. Plaintiffs argue that consolidation is needed to streamline pretrial proceedings, prevent inconsistent rulings, and address shared questions about the Church’s internal policies and alleged destruction of evidence. They cite California’s favorable laws for survivors, the many cases already filed there, and experienced judges as reasons for centralization. If approved, this MDL could become one of the largest sex abuse proceedings against a religious institution in U.S. history.
February 1, 2024
The LDS Church is under fire as survivors come forward with decades of abuse allegations and cover-up claims. Recent lawsuits and exposés reveal church leaders shielded abusers and silenced victims, sparking calls for transparency and justice.
December 10, 2024
Samuel Bateman, a polygamous religious leader who claimed more than 20 spiritual “wives,” including girls as young as nine, faces up to 50 years in prison after pleading guilty to a years-long scheme involving child exploitation and kidnapping.
September 26, 2024
Dr. David Farley, a once prominent OB-GYN and esteemed member of the LDS church in Oregon, is facing a nearly $1 billion lawsuit with a plaintiff class of more than 170 of his former patients, who allege sexual abuse by him.
Many still refer to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as the “Mormon Church.” However, church leaders have officially discouraged using that term since 2018. President Russell M. Nelson stated that nicknames like “Mormon” detract from the faith’s central focus on Jesus Christ.
But critics argue that the shift is about more than theology. The term “Mormon” carries cultural baggage — including historical ties to polygamy and racially exclusionary policies, such as the church’s priesthood ban for Black men (lifted only in 1978). More recently, the church’s involvement in covering up sexual abuse has drawn national scrutiny, adding to reputational damage.
Despite this, we use “Mormon Church” throughout this guide to help ensure that people, especially survivors or family members searching for Mormon Church sexual abuse lawsuits, can find accurate, timely legal information.
Whether you’re inside or outside the LDS faith, this page exists to help you understand your legal rights and options.
A Riverside County jury awarded $2.28 billion to a woman who was sexually abused by her stepfather from the ages of 5 to 14. The abuse took place in their home and on LDS Church property, where both of her parents were active members. The plaintiff alleged that multiple leaders in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, including bishops and counselors, failed to report the abuse to law enforcement, instead pressuring her to forgive her abuser and warning her that speaking out would harm her family. Her mother also knew of the abuse but did nothing to stop it. The abuse only came to an end in 1997 when the victim confided in her high school basketball coach, who reported it to a counselor. Her stepfather was arrested the same day, later pleading guilty to 55 counts and serving three years in prison.
The historic jury award included $836 million in compensatory damages and $1.44 billion in punitive damages, though the amount is largely symbolic, as the stepfather was the only remaining defendant at trial. The LDS Church denied wrongdoing but settled with the plaintiff for $1 million. The mother, also named in the lawsuit, settled for $200,000 in early 2023. According to the lawsuit, the stepfather had manipulated LDS doctrines to groom the victim and was supported in court by both her mother and church members, despite his conviction. The case has become one of the largest known verdicts in a sexual abuse case involving a religious institution.
Although the LDS Church initially agreed to pay $250 million to a Boy Scouts survivor trust, a bankruptcy judge rejected the deal due to overreaching legal protections. While the church avoided the payment, survivors may still pursue lawsuits directly. The LDS Church was a key partner in the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) for decades and sponsored thousands of scouting units. When the BSA filed for bankruptcy in 2020 to deal with over 82,000 sexual abuse claims, the LDS Church faced growing legal exposure as a co-defendant in many cases.
In 2022, the church agreed to contribute $250 million to the BSA’s $2.4 billion survivor compensation trust — one of the largest contributions from any single religious institution in U.S. history.
In August 2022, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Laurie Selber Silverstein rejected the proposed $250 million settlement between the BSA and the LDS Church. Judge Silverstein ruled that the agreement was overextended by attempting to release the church from liability for abuse claims unrelated to Scouting activities, stating it “stretches third-party releases too far.” Following this decision, the BSA revised its bankruptcy plan to exclude the $250 million contribution from the LDS Church. Instead, the church agreed to be treated as a participating organization within the BSA’s reorganization plan, aligning its treatment with other chartered organizations. As of March 2025, there have been no further publicly reported developments regarding a new settlement between the LDS Church and the BSA.
How does this affect survivors who want to pursue justice?
The church avoided the $250 million payment but still participates in the BSA bankruptcy plan. In the process, the LDS church gained some liability protection tied to its formal role in the Boy Scouts of America, but not blanket immunity for all abuse-related claims.
Survivors can still pursue lawsuits against the church outside the BSA context.
The LDS Church agreed to a $1.1 million settlement in a lawsuit brought by a man who was sexually abused as a preschooler by a teenage volunteer in his Tacoma ward. When the parents of the plaintiff, who was five at the time of the incident in the 1980s, told their bishop for the Mountain View Ward, the church leader said the same volunteer had been accused months before. However, the bishop discouraged the parents from going to the police.
The LDS Church reached an undisclosed settlement with six families in West Virginia who had filed a lawsuit alleging that church officials covered up years of sexual abuse committed by a member, Christopher Michael Jensen. The plaintiffs contended that the church and local leaders were aware of Jensen’s prior sexual abuse convictions and allegations but failed to take action to warn or protect their children.
The civil trial began in January 2018 in Berkeley County Circuit Court and concluded with the settlement announced by Judge Christopher Wilkes. Details of the agreement were not made public, and all parties were barred from discussing the case. This lawsuit is among several that have accused the LDS Church of mishandling or concealing reports of sexual abuse within its congregations.
Multiple members of the Navajo Nation filed lawsuits against the Mormon Church, alleging they were sexually abused while participating in the church’s Indian Student Placement Program, also known as the Lamanite Placement Program. This initiative, which operated from 1954 until 2000, placed an estimated 50,000 Native American children with LDS foster families during the school year. The plaintiffs claimed that during their time in the program, they suffered sexual and other forms of abuse that the church failed to prevent or adequately address. By 2018, several of these cases reached confidential financial settlements, with no admission of wrongdoing by the LDS Church. The exact terms and amounts of these settlements were not disclosed.
These settlements and jury awards demonstrate that survivors of LDS Church abuse can hold the institution accountable. While some cases remain sealed or underreported, legal action has led to financial compensation and national attention. If you believe you have a case, a qualified LDS sexual abuse attorney can help explore your options.
Survivors of abuse in the Mormon Church describe a common pattern: abuse by someone in authority (such as a bishop, youth leader, or missionary companion), followed by institutional silence, coercion, or misdirection. These experiences aren’t isolated. They reflect systemic issues in how the LDS Church handles — or more often, fails to handle — sexual abuse allegations.
At the center of much of the criticism is the LDS Church’s so-called “help line.” Established in the mid-1990s, the line was designed for bishops and other lay leaders to seek guidance when someone disclosed child sexual abuse. However, the line routed calls directly to the church’s attorneys at a Salt Lake law firm, not to licensed counselors or child protection agencies, as an AP investigation revealed.
Instead of advising bishops to report sexual abuse to police, the help line has often prioritized protecting the church from liability. In multiple lawsuits, plaintiffs have alleged that the church used this line to suppress mandatory reports and coach bishops on how to avoid mandatory reporting requirements, a tactic cited in multiple LDS Church sexual abuse lawsuits.
In the 2022 Paul Adams case (see above: Arizona Appeals Court Hears Case Against Mormon Bishop Accused of Failing to Report Child Abuse), the hotline was used after Adams admitted to bishops that he was sexually abusing his daughters. Rather than notifying law enforcement, the bishops were allegedly advised by the church’s legal team to remain silent due to “clergy-penitent privilege.” This legal advice allegedly allowed Adams to continue the abuse for years.
According to the AP report (per Business Insider), LDS Church protocol suggested that employees “never advise a priesthood leader to report abuse. Counsel of this nature should come only from legal counsel.”
The help line was established when reports of sexual abuse cases were increasing, and outcomes in lawsuits often awarded millions of dollars in damages to victims, the AP report stated.
Survivors say the LDS Church’s teachings about chastity, repentance, and church discipline create a culture of shame and silence, and institutional loyalty that suppresses abuse disclosures. Victims are often told to “forgive” their abusers or are made to feel responsible for the abuse, particularly in cases where sexual purity is emphasized above personal safety.
In some cases, survivors have reported being pressured into signing non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) or facing excommunication threats if they went public. These tactics not only silence victims but also prevent others from coming forward, further enabling abusers.
If you or someone you love has experienced abuse by someone affiliated with the LDS Church, you are not alone, and you do not have to stay silent. SurvivorsRights.com may help connect you with an attorney who understand what you’ve been through and can help you explore your legal options confidentially and compassionately.
One of the unique structural aspects of the LDS Church is its reliance on lay clergy, meaning bishops and church leaders are not trained professionals. Most bishops are volunteers, often with no background in mental health, social work, or law enforcement.
This model creates a dangerous dynamic: individuals in significant positions of spiritual power are entrusted with handling abuse disclosures, despite having no professional qualifications or safeguards in place. As a result, abuse disclosures are sometimes minimized, ignored, or dealt with internally rather than reported to the authorities.
Numerous lawsuits have argued that the LDS Church’s first priority in abuse cases is institutional protection. Documents uncovered in litigation show church attorneys developing strategies to protect the church’s reputation, often at the expense of victims’ welfare. In some cases, abusers were allowed to remain in positions of trust, moved to other wards, or quietly released without explanation.
Critics say the church’s vast legal and financial resources to settle cases, avoid public trials, and shield high-level leadership from scrutiny reveal a pattern of systemic cover-up, not just isolated failures.
If you or someone you love experienced abuse involving the LDS Church, you’re not alone, and it’s not too late to seek help. SurvivorsRights.com may help you connect with attorneys who can guide you through your legal options with compassion and confidentiality.
Reports of sexual abuse in the LDS Church extend beyond chapels and private homes. They have also surfaced across a wide range of church-sponsored programs, youth groups, and missionary settings. These environments are where adult leaders wield significant authority over minors. Survivors have increasingly reported that these programs created conditions where predators could exploit trust, religious reverence, and institutional insulation to commit abuse unchecked. Here are some of the most significant LDS-affiliated programs linked to abuse:
As mentioned in the above section on notable settlements and lawsuits, this now-defunct program, officially called the “Lamanite Placement Program,” placed tens of thousands of Native American children into white LDS families from the 1940s through the 1990s under the guise of providing education and spiritual development. Survivors have since come forward alleging widespread physical, sexual, and emotional abuse in the foster homes and wards they were assigned to. The church allegedly failed to investigate or prevent the abuse, survivors reported. Lawsuits filed by Navajo Nation citizens claim the church used its authority and influence to avoid scrutiny and silence victims. The program is now widely criticized for its colonialist undertones, racial targeting, and lack of oversight.
The LDS Church was one of the largest sponsors of BSA troops in the United States until it formally ended the relationship in 2019. However, the damage had already been done: LDS-sponsored scouting programs were implicated in hundreds, if not thousands, of sexual abuse claims filed as part of the BSA’s historic bankruptcy case. As noted above, in 2022, the LDS Church offered a $250 million contribution to the BSA survivor fund, a payment that would have protected the church from further liability related to scouting abuse. A U.S. Bankruptcy Judge rejected that settlement, allowing survivors to continue pursuing claims against the church. Many of the survivors claim church officials knew of abusers in their troops and failed to act.
These gender-specific youth programs are central to LDS life, preparing teenagers for missions, temple ordinances, and adult responsibilities. But within these “spiritual training grounds,” abuse has also occurred. Survivors report being groomed by leaders, including teachers, youth advisors, and priesthood holders, some of whom were later transferred quietly or allowed continued access to children after allegations surfaced. In several lawsuits, plaintiffs allege that complaints made within the church were dismissed, minimized, or buried by local leadership.
Church-run camps and weekend retreats, often held in isolated, overnight settings, have been the backdrop of multiple abuse reports. These programs place minors under the supervision of adult leaders with little external oversight, and some survivors say their abusers used the church’s strict rules around obedience and modesty to manipulate and shame victims into silence.
Many missionaries are teenagers or young adults placed in highly structured, often isolated environments. Reports have emerged of:
Notably, former MTC President Joseph Bishop was accused of sexually assaulting a sister missionary in the 1980s, yet continued serving in high church roles. His case, along with secret recordings of admissions and denials, has become emblematic of how institutional loyalty and internal hierarchy have taken precedence over survivor protection and accountability.
These programs weren’t simply background settings. Rather, they were church-sponsored environments where abuse was enabled by a lack of transparency, inadequate adult supervision, and deeply ingrained trust in LDS leadership. For many survivors, these settings were not just physical places but emotional and spiritual battlegrounds where their faith and safety were violated.
If you were harmed in any church-sponsored program, even decades ago, you may have a legal case. These environments were under church control, and that means the church may be held accountable.
A qualified LDS sexual abuse attorney can help evaluate your case…
The sexual abuse crisis within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has unfolded over decades, marked by repeated patterns of abuse, institutional cover-ups, and legal efforts to hold the church accountable. Below is a timeline of key events that have shaped the growing legal and cultural reckoning within the Mormon Church.
As more survivors speak out and courts begin to chip away at the legal defenses historically used by the LDS Church, public awareness is growing. Church policies and internal procedures are now under intense scrutiny, and legislative reforms in several states are being pushed to remove religious exemptions in mandatory reporting laws.
This timeline is still unfolding — and your voice, your story, could be part of the next chapter toward justice and change.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) is facing a surge of sexual abuse lawsuits, as survivors increasingly challenge the institution’s history of cover-ups, internal reporting procedures, and failure to protect children.
As of 2023, independent estimates place the LDS Church’s total wealth at approximately $265 billion. That’s up nearly $29 billion from the previous year. This extraordinary figure reinforces what survivors and advocates have long asserted: the Church has the financial means to compensate victims, but has often chosen not to, settling selectively and as quietly as possible.
When large religious institutions like the LDS Church face widespread abuse claims, there are two primary legal approaches:
Class Action Lawsuits: A single, unified case representing a group of survivors with similar claims. One judgment or settlement applies to everyone.
Multidistrict Litigation (MDL): Individual lawsuits from different regions are consolidated in one federal court for pretrial coordination. Each survivor retains their own case and outcome, but benefits from shared discovery and motions.
Given the wide-ranging nature of LDS abuse cases (different states, leaders, and church programs), MDL is often more appropriate than a class action.
Note: On April 3, 2025, the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation denied the request to consolidate LDS Church sexual abuse cases into an MDL. Still, survivors may pursue individual lawsuits in state or federal court and may be eligible for compensation.
California: Nearly 100 lawsuits have been filed against the LDS Church under that state’s revival window law, which temporarily waived the statute of limitations for child sex abuse claims.
Nationwide: The Church is facing dozens more lawsuits across the U.S., with claims stemming from youth programs, Scouting troops, missions, and church-affiliated families.
If you were sexually abused by someone affiliated with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), whether recently or decades ago, you may be eligible to file a lawsuit. Many survivors wonder, “Do I have a case?” or “Is it too late?” Thanks to new laws and legal victories, the answer may be yes.
More survivors than ever are stepping forward and filing claims against the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Sexual abuse lawsuits against the LDS Church focus on institutional negligence, not just the individual perpetrator. That means you may have a case if:
Many states like California have passed “lookback window” laws that allow survivors to file lawsuits even if the abuse occurred years or even decades ago. In some states, the statute of limitations has been extended or lifted entirely for childhood sexual abuse claims. (We’ll explore this in the next section.)
How to Find Out if You Have a Case:
Every survivor’s situation is different, but there’s one consistent truth: you deserve justice, and you deserve options. An attorney who specializes in LDS Church sexual abuse cases can help determine:
If you’re unsure where to start, SurvivorsRights.com may help confidentially connect you with an attorney experienced in LDS Church sexual abuse lawsuits and institutional negligence claims.
One of the biggest reasons survivors hesitate to come forward is fear that it’s “too late”. Too much time has passed since the abuse occurred. But the law has changed dramatically, and in many states, it’s not too late at all.
If you or someone you love were abused by a leader, missionary, or member of the LDS Church, even decades ago, you may still have legal options.
The statute of limitations (SOL) is a legal deadline for filing a lawsuit. Once that deadline passes, survivors usually lose the right to sue, unless an exception applies.
Historically, many survivors of childhood sexual abuse were locked out of the legal system. But that’s changing across the country.
More than 25 states have reformed or eliminated their SOLs for childhood sexual abuse lawsuits in the past decade. Lawmakers now better understand that:
Survivors often take years or decades to process trauma
Religious pressure and shame can delay disclosure
Institutional cover-ups make reporting even harder
These reforms are especially important in LDS Church sexual abuse lawsuits, where church silence and community loyalty have long kept survivors from coming forward.
California: A “lookback window” from 2019–2022 let survivors file lawsuits regardless of when the abuse occurred. A new window is under review.
Arizona: Extended its SOL and recently ruled the LDS Church can be sued even if clergy didn’t report abuse.
New York: Passed the Child Victims Act, which allowed retroactive lawsuits from 2019–2021.
Utah: Extended the deadline to age 53, with exceptions for church cover-ups.
Montana, Colorado, New Jersey, and others have also expanded or reopened filing windows.
You may still be eligible to sue if:
The abuse was covered up by church leaders
You recently discovered the harm or trauma it caused
The abuser was in a position of trust (bishop, missionary, youth leader)
You were pressured, intimidated, or silenced
In many cases, these factors can extend or “toll” the statute of limitations, especially when institutional negligence is involved.
The only way to know for sure is to speak with a qualified LDS sexual abuse attorney. A lawyer can:
Review how your state’s laws apply
Determine if you qualify under new or extended deadlines
Act quickly if your legal window is closing
At SurvivorsRights.com, we can help you connect with an attorney confidentially and at no cost.
It’s your story. It’s your life. And it’s your right to seek justice.
One of the most common questions survivors have is:
“If I come forward, what kind of compensation is possible?”
While no amount of money can erase the trauma, financial compensation can help survivors rebuild their lives and hold the LDS Church accountable for the harm it enabled.
Over the years, the LDS Church has quietly paid millions in sexual abuse settlements. Many of those payouts were hidden from the public through non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) and sealed court records.
That’s changing.
There’s no fixed amount for settlements in LDS Church sexual abuse lawsuits. Every case is different. Factors that influence the value of a claim include:
Severity and duration of the abuse
Age at the time of abuse
Long-term harm: PTSD, depression, anxiety, physical injury
Church negligence: Did they know and fail to act?
Number of victims: Was this part of a larger pattern?
Evidence: Emails, internal reports, witness statements
Whether the case is individual or part of a class action
In general, the more serious and well-documented the abuse, especially if it involved institutional cover-ups, the higher the potential compensation.
While individual payouts vary, here are estimated LDS Church sexual abuse settlement ranges based on public and legal data:
Typical clergy abuse cases:
$300,000 to $1.5 million per survivor
Montana LDS settlement (2020):
Estimated in the multi-million range (confidential)
California lawsuits (ongoing):
Legal analysts project $1 million+ per plaintiff where negligence is proven
BSA survivor fund (LDS-related claims):
LDS Church proposed $250 million; survivors could receive $3,500 to $2.7 million, depending on evidence and severity
Most settlements (whether via trial or negotiation) include compensation for:
Medical and mental health care (therapy, meds, rehab)
Emotional damages (pain, suffering, trauma)
Lost wages or disrupted careers
Punitive damages (if the church failed repeatedly to act)
Legal and attorney fees
The benefits of a settlement, beyond the financial, include being heard, validated, and empowered to reclaim your life.
Not necessarily. Many LDS Church sexual abuse cases settle before trial. The church often opts for quiet resolutions to avoid public attention. But with growing media coverage and public outrage, some survivors are demanding more transparency.
A qualified attorney can help you decide what’s best for your healing and justice.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) is known for its organizational discipline, financial strength, and carefully crafted public image. But according to survivors, attorneys, and advocacy groups, the church’s response to sexual abuse allegations often prioritizes institutional protection over survivor healing.
Understanding how the LDS Church handles sexual abuse claims reveals a deeper pattern, one marked by secrecy, legal maneuvering, and controlled settlement practices.
The LDS Church has repeatedly stated that it complies with local laws and that its abuse reporting systems are designed to protect children. But internal documents, audio recordings, and whistleblower accounts suggest otherwise.
Survivor-led groups such as Protect Every Child, SNAP (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests), and Mormon Stories have led grassroots efforts to expose these systemic failures and give voice to those the church has tried to silence.
If you’re a survivor of LDS Church sexual abuse, SurvivorsRights.com may help connect you with an attorney who specializes in holding religious institutions accountable. Your voice matters and justice is possible.
One of the most controversial questions survivors ask is: Where does the money come from?
The LDS Church collects billions annually in tithing, which is voluntary donations equaling 10% of members’ income. The LDS Church holds over $265 billion in assets, managed primarily by Ensign Peak Advisors.
Survivors and advocates have raised concerns that church settlements may be paid from these sacred donations. In 2023, The Guardian reported that abuse survivors demanded transparency regarding whether tithing funds were being used to cover legal liabilities, especially given the church’s immense wealth.
The church has not confirmed nor denied the use of tithing funds for settlements, fueling ongoing criticism about financial secrecy.
In many LDS abuse settlements, survivors have been required to sign non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), legally binding clauses that prevent them from speaking about their abuse or the settlement terms.
These NDAs are highly controversial. While they may offer privacy or closure for some, others argue they:
Silence victims
Protect abusers
Prevent public accountability
Many survivors now say they were pressured into silence, and wish they had spoken out instead. In response, several states have introduced or passed laws restricting NDAs in sexual abuse cases, particularly those involving children and religious institutions.
Publicly, the Mormon Church claims “zero tolerance” for abuse. But behind closed doors, its legal approach often includes:
Fighting subpoena requests and disclosure laws
Invoking First Amendment religious protections to avoid civil liability
Quietly settling lawsuits with no meaningful policy changes
This contradiction between messaging and action, survivors say, reinforces trauma and erodes trust.
“The church says all the right things publicly,” one survivor told SurvivorsRights.com. “But when it’s your life, your case, your pain they treat you like a liability.”
When survivors think about filing a lawsuit, the first question is often, “Do I sue the abuser?” But in many LDS Church sexual abuse cases, the real legal target isn’t just the individual who committed the abuse. It’s also the institution that allowed it to happen, failed to stop it, or actively covered it up.
In other words, it’s not just about who did the abuse. It’s about who enabled it.
The Individual Abuser
If your abuser is still alive, they can often be sued directly. This includes bishops, youth leaders, missionaries, family members affiliated with the church, or anyone in a position of trust within the LDS community. In some cases, criminal charges may also apply.
The Local Ward or Stake
Though part of the larger church structure, local LDS wards (congregations) and stakes (regional leadership units) may be held liable if local leaders failed to act on reports of abuse, discouraged victims from speaking up, or knowingly allowed abusers continued access to minors.
The Corporation of the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
This is the official legal entity of the LDS Church, and often the primary defendant in civil lawsuits. It owns the church’s vast global assets and is responsible for centralized decision-making, including legal strategy, abuse protocol, and leadership oversight.
This entity has been named in dozens of lawsuits for its role in enabling abuse through systemic negligence, failure to report, and cover-up tactics.
Church Attorneys and Advisors
In some cases, lawyers or individuals advising church leaders may be sued or deposed if they played an active role in suppressing abuse reports or pressuring victims into silence. While rare, these lawsuits are sometimes included in broader institutional claims.
In many LDS Church sexual abuse cases, the survivor never would have been harmed (or re-harmed) if the institution had acted responsibly. That’s why civil lawsuits target the broader church, not just to compensate the survivor, but to expose a pattern of institutional failure and push for systemic reform.
Key legal arguments often include:
It’s not enough that abuse occurred. What strengthens a case and increases potential compensation is evidence that the LDS Church:
When those elements are present, the church can be held accountable just like any other institution, whether religious, educational, or corporate.
At SurvivorsRights.com, we help connect survivors with attorneys who know how to take on powerful institutions like the LDS Church. If you’re not sure who should be held responsible in your case, a legal expert can help clarify your options confidentially and at no cost.
Each situation is unique, but LDS Church abuse lawsuits often rely on the following types of evidence:
Even if you don’t have all this right now, don’t let that stop you. Attorneys who handle these cases are trained to help uncover the truth and build a strong legal strategy.
Whether you’re ready to file a claim or just need answers, SurvivorsRights.com is here to help.
You’ve lived with the weight of this long enough. Let us help you find out if justice is still within reach.
If you file a lawsuit against the LDS Church, you may be entitled to a wide range of damages.
Emotional and Psychological Damages
Medical and Health-Related Costs
Economic Damages
Punitive Damages
In some cases, the court may award punitive damages, which are additional financial penalties meant to punish the LDS Church for egregious misconduct or institutional cover-ups. These are especially likely when there is clear evidence that the church:
Legal and Court Costs
Most LDS Church abuse cases settle out of court, often before trial. Settlements are typically negotiated based on:
Survivors have the right to reject any settlement that doesn’t feel fair or adequate. You’re in control of the process.
If you’re a survivor of sexual abuse connected to the LDS Church, it’s normal to feel overwhelmed, uncertain, or even afraid to take the next step. For years, you may have been made to feel powerless, silenced, or ignored.
You deserve to be heard. You deserve to be believed. And you deserve justice.
At SurvivorsRights.com, we specialize in helping connect survivors with compassionate attorneys who understand the deep emotional and spiritual toll of clergy abuse. Your case review is 100% confidential and completely free. You’ll never feel any pressure to move forward before you’re ready.
You’ve carried this weight long enough. It’s time to take your power back.
You may be eligible to file a lawsuit. Our intake team can help assess your situation and connect you with a qualified attorney. Fill out the brief, confidential form below to start your free case review.
Yes. Many sexual abuse lawsuits are filed using a Jane Doe or John Doe pseudonym to protect survivors’ privacy. Your attorney can help you request anonymity through the court.
No. You may still have a case if you were:
Fill out the brief, confidential form on this page so that we may connect you with an attorney experienced in LDS sexual abuse cases. There’s no obligation and no pressure — just support, clarity, and compassionate guidance.
Settlements vary depending on the severity of the abuse, long-term trauma, and the Church’s role in enabling or covering up the harm. Typical clergy abuse settlements range from $300,000 to over $1 million. Punitive damages and court fees may also be awarded.
Most of the LDS Church sexual abuse lawyers we partner with work on a contingency basis — meaning you pay nothing upfront. They only get paid if you win compensation through a settlement or trial.
Not necessarily. Many states have passed lookback window laws or extended statutes of limitations for childhood sexual abuse. Even if the abuse occurred decades ago, legal options may still be available — especially if the LDS Church played a role in covering it up.
You may still be able to come forward. Some NDAs have been challenged in court, especially when signed under pressure or involving minors. An attorney can review your situation and determine if the NDA is enforceable.
You don’t need to have everything up front. However, helpful documentation can include:
An attorney can help gather evidence and build your case.
Lawsuits often target the institution, not just the abuser. Defendants may include:
Not always. The majority of LDS Church abuse cases are resolved through confidential settlements before trial. That said, you have the right to decline a settlement and take your case to court if you choose.