Spencer Palmer (1927 – 2000) was a Mormon temple endowment ceremony actor, BYU professor, mission president, temple president, LDS church area authority; lived in Utah; posthumously accused of child sexual abuse by his grandson.

Spencer Palmer was a former BYU professor of religion, mission president, temple president, LDS church area authority, and personal friend of Mormon prophet Gordon B. Hinckley.

FLOODLIT recognizes that Spencer Palmer was never publicly charged with a sex crime during his lifetime. Our goal is to provide transparency and accuracy to this topic.

Palmer was posthumously accused of child sexual abuse by his grandson Matt Purcell on Mormon Stories Podcast.

In a 1969 film version of the Mormon church’s temple endowment ceremony, Palmer played the role of a Christian minister hired by Satan.

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Sources

  1. 1520-1521: When High-Level Mormon Church Leaders Sexually Abuse: Matt and Stephanie Purcell, Mormon Stories Podcast, March 14, 2026.
  2. Obituary: Spencer John Palmer, Deseret News, November 30, 2000.

Documents

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Criminal case documents

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Timeline

  • 1927
    Born

Videos

    • Video title: When High-Level Mormon Church Leaders Sexually Abuse: Matt and Stephanie Purcell Pt. 1 - 1520
    • Video description: "Matt Purcell is the grandson of Spencer Palmer - former BYU professor of religion, mission president, temple president, LDS church area authority, personal friend of Mormon prophet Gordon B. Hinckley, and likely recipient of the top secret Mormon church Second Anointing ritual.In today's episode Matt tells his story of being one of several victims of sexual abuse by his grandfather - who served at some of the highest levels of Mormon church leadership. Matt is joined by Stephanie, his wife. Both share their Mormon stories, which include their faith journeys after discovering problematic Mormon church history."

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Other Mormon sex abuse cases

    • Shawn Gooden (1974 – ) was an LDS bishop in Lebanon, Pennsylvania from 2016-2020; arrested in 2022 and charged with sexual abuse of two children in Virginia from 1997-2000; pleaded guilty in July 2023 in Virginia to four felony counts; sentenced in November 2023 in Virginia to prison time and supervised probation on release; charged in July 2023 in Pennsylvania with more child sex abuse charges
    • View report »
    • Clark Crookston (1949 – ) was a former Mormon bishop, dentist and college professor in Orem, Utah; accused of nearly 60 years of sex abuse of multiple children; pleaded guilty to attempted aggravated child sexual abuse; sentenced in 2022 to up to 35 years in prison
    • View report »
      • "I assumed I was alone. I felt guilty even to question his worthiness. [...] I buried the hurt and kept it secret for over 30 years. [...] The children who came forward are my heroes. These are the brave souls [who] broke the curse that has been happening for nearly 60 years."
      — Jane Doe, abuse survivor