John Fanning was a former Mormon bishop and scout leader in Utah; accused of sexual abuse in 1987 of a teenage boy during an overnight scouting activity; two victims later sued the Mormon church; died in 2012.

This case arose in 1987 in Utah. The following information comes from John Fanning’s record in the Boy Scouts of America’s ineligible volunteer files (“perversion files”).

LDS church member John Wood Fanning “has admitted to having an involvement with a teen age boy on one occasion while the two sleeping together in a double sleeping bag during an Order of the Arrow overnight activity.”

Notes and letters from K Hart Bullock LDS Scout Executive are included in the BSA files.

“Fanning is shown to be involved in troops in Illinois and Louisiana.”

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FLOODLIT.org reports on sexual abuse in the LDS church in order to raise public awareness and help survivors heal. Learn more »

Sources

  1. John Wood Fanning - Perversion Files, Los Angeles Times, July 12, 2025.

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