Can child sexual abuse happen in a Mormon chapel?
Yes.
By a missionary? Yes.
By a bishop? Yes.
In a bishop’s office? Yes.
In Primary? Yes.
In sacrament meeting? Yes.
An official LDS Newsroom article states that “Church facilities are designed to protect against abuse. Since 2006, all classrooms in new chapels and meetinghouses have windows so parents and others can help watch over children and keep them safe.”
Despite this, Mormon priesthood leaders have sexually abused children inside LDS chapels on hundreds of documented occasions, including:
- in a Mormon bishop’s office (including by an LDS bishop or branch president)
- during a Primary class/activity for little children
- during Sunday LDS church meetings
- (allegedly) in Sacrament meeting (criminal case is ongoing; the accused admitted to molesting around six to eight children in different locations; one victim said some of the abuse took place while he was sitting on the abuser’s lap in church as they folded paper)
President Dieter Uchtdorf’s office inside the Church Administration Building in Salt Lake City Monday, Sept. 18, 2017.
FLOODLIT.org is not aware of any documented instances where sexual abuse in a Mormon church building was allegedly prevented via the gift of discernment, which the Mormon church teaches “enables a bishop or branch president to […] know what is in a person’s heart.”
An LDS scripture in Doctrine and Covenants 46:27 says: “And unto the bishop of the church, and unto such as God shall appoint and ordain to watch over the church and to be elders unto the church, are to have it given unto them to discern all those gifts lest there shall be any among you professing and yet be not of God.”
If you know children who currently attend LDS church meetings or activities, please consider sending their families this information. Awareness is a key to safety.
Have you ever heard of anyone being groomed or sexually assaulted inside an LDS chapel or other Mormon church building? Report abuse to FLOODLIT. It’s anonymous by default and can help others stay safe or find healing.