was a Mormon temple endowment ceremony actor, BYU professor, mission president, temple president, LDS church area authority; posthumously accused of child sexual abuse by his grandson

Case report

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.

Case facts

Case 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."

Case information sources

  1. 1520-1521: When High-Level Mormon Church Leaders Sexually Abuse: Matt and Stephanie Purcell
    view source details | | Mormon Stories Podcast
  2. Obituary: Spencer John Palmer
    view source details | 30 Nov 2000 | Deseret News

Case information source details

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