Over the past couple of decades, harrowing stories of sexual abuse, child abuse, and subsequent coverups have dogged some of the major religious denominations and church organizations across the United States. The Mormon church, AKA the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS), is no exception, having faced a series of sex abuse lawsuits and accusations against its leaders and other individuals linked to the movement. As with any organization, some of the Mormon sex abuse cases are isolated incidents. However, there are also claims that some of the abuse was institutional, either carried out by – or covered up by – senior church members. In most cases, those bringing lawsuits against the Mormon Church and its hierarchy claim that the church either failed to take the necessary steps to protect them from abuse, knew about the abuse but did nothing, or engaged in wholesale coverups to preserve the reputation of the church.
May 4, 2025
In March 2025, a judge allowed several consolidated abuse cases in Arizona to proceed to trial, rejecting the church’s motions to dismiss. Plaintiffs allege systemic cover-up of abuse.
April 24, 2025
Federal judge dismisses yet another tithing suit against the Church of Jesus Christ: On Thursday, a federal judge gave The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints an important legal victory. The lawsuit was filed by nine people who sought to return hundreds of thousands of dollar in donations that they had given the church over a 25-year period.
April 16, 2025
California is experiencing a large number of sexual abuse cases.
April 10, 2025
California is experiencing a large number of sexual abuse cases.
April 7, 2025
What is the LDS Church doing to protect children from sexual abuse under a Utah law? All Utah organizations providing services to children younger than 18 years old must verify the names of all staff and volunteers by May 1. This will be done using two databases that contain information on sex offenders.
April 3, 2025
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS), commonly known as the Mormon church, is facing a wave of sexual abuse allegations in California, marking the latest scandal to impact the organization in the United States.
April 1, 2025
Following a series of high-profile abuse cases, including the arrest and conviction of a prominent family vlogger, Utah has enacted a new law to protect children featured in online content. While not directly related to sexual abuse, the legislation addresses broader concerns about child exploitation—issues that overlap with claims in ongoing lawsuits against the Mormon Church. In both contexts, critics argue that power imbalances, institutional silence, and the misuse of trust can create environments where children's well-being is compromised. The law reflects growing public awareness of the different forms abuse and exploitation can take, especially when children are placed in the public eye or under the control of authoritative figures.
March 27, 2025
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has requested a delay in the pending multidistrict litigation lawsuit against the organization, stating that an upcoming mediation may resolve cases that allege church officials of hiding reports of sexual abuse in the Church. This could mean that the Church is working to create a settlement offer to plaintiffs in an effort to avoid going to trial. Plaintiffs have not opposed the Church's request for a delay in the MDL trial.
March 25, 2025
A recent court ruling has strengthened legal protections for religious institutions in cases involving abuse allegations. The decision allows clergy members to withhold information obtained in confessional settings, even in cases of child abuse. Critics argue this ruling could shield institutions from accountability, while legal challenges seeking greater transparency continue.
March 20, 2025
More Mormons in the public eye are choosing to step away from the church. Nathan and Valerie Hmaker, co-hosts of the Latter Day Struggles podcast, have resigned their membership to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. According to the Hamakers, they chose to leave the church because they were at high risk of becoming excommunicated.
March 16, 2025
A wave of sexual abuse allegations has been filed against the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS) in California, with claims spanning decades. Plaintiffs accuse church leaders of failing to protect victims and mishandling reports of abuse, while the institution denies wrongdoing and questions the validity of some claims. Attorneys are seeking to consolidate the lawsuits into a single proceeding, as scrutiny intensifies over the organization’s handling of abuse allegations.
March 13, 2025
Sexual abuse lawsuits, like other civil tortד or legal actions seeking to recover damages, are subject to an official deadline called the statute of limitation. It is vital to understand the applicable statute of limitation if you are considering a sexual abuse claim. Survivors will be barred from suing and recovering compensation after the statute has expired.
March 9, 2025
A 24-year-old woman filling under the name Julie Doe has opened a complaint regarding the failure of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to report allegations of sex abuse perpetrated by her adoptive father. The lawsuit states that Doe was placed into the home of foster parent Craig Ford, who later adopted Doe. Ford's wife became aware of the abuse, and eventually reported the abuse to church leaders. According to the lawsuit, the Church advised Mrs. Ford not to report the abuse and instead stated that the abuse was caused by Doe. This accusation is sadly one of many lawsuits currently pending against the Mormon Church for failure to take action after being informed of sexual abuse.
March 5, 2025
Five of the 91 plaintiffs suing The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints regarding sexual abuse allege that the abuse occured in San Diego. Three of the five abusers who allege abuse in San Diego County state that they were sexually assaulted by clergy members. Plaintiffs are arguing that their cases should be heard by the San Diego Superior Court, rather than federal court, as state courts require 9 out of 12 jurors to agree to a guilty verdict, while federal courts require a unanimous vote from a 6-person jury.
March 3, 2025
Missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has been accused of attempting to convert Muslim Maylasian citizens to Mormonism. In Malaysia, federal law prohibits non-Muslims from poselytizing to Muslims. While the Mormon Church states that they're commited to obeying the law in all countries they visit, Tan Hoe Chieow, the president of the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism, and Taoism (MCCBCHST) says that this is the second incident with Mormon missionaries in recent months.
March 1, 2025
In addition to ongoing abuse and cover-ups, some are accusing the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, specifically the polygamist sect of the church, of child sex trafficking.
February 24, 2025
Researchers are still learning more about the long-term effects of childhood sexual abuse perpetrated by religious figures. Studies show that people who experienced sexual abuse perpetrated by clergy members may have a higher risk of developing long-term physical and mental health issues as adults.
February 17, 2025
A Portland law firm has filed a new suit against The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on behalf of a victim using the pseudonym Jane Doe. She alleges that her adoptive father sexually abused her beginning in 2015, when Doe was 15 years old. Doe states that her mother separated from her father and informed the church of the abuse. LDS officials allegedly turned a blind eye to the compaints of Doe's mother.
February 12, 2025
Dan Reynolds, lead singer of the chart-topping group Imagine Dragons, is speaking out about stepping away from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. A Brigham Young University alumnus, Reynolds has taken a public stance against the Church's position on gay marriage. The singer is one of many who have spoken out against the Church's policies.
February 11, 2025
More and more former Mormons are continuing to leave the church. In 2020, Utah was 60% Mormon, and as of the end of 2023, the percentage of Utah residents who identify as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is down to just 42%. It's possible that younger generations are leaving the church due to dissatisfaction with leadership and a refusal to stand behind a church that allowed sexual abuse to occur.
February 9, 2025
The U.S. continues to make progress to protect victims of sexual abuse. The North Carolina Supreme Court's landmark decision to uphold the SAFE Act—a law passed in 2019 that allows childhood survivors of sexual abuse to file civil suits beyond the standard statute of limitations. Many victim advocates are hoping similar legislation will be introduced in Utah, the home of many people in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Currently, victims can file civil suits within four years of the event.
February 6, 2025
A federal court of appeals has thrown out the lawsuit against The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints regarding tithing. The Court ruled that no reasonable juror would find the Church's actions to be fraudulent.
February 1, 2025
Ruby Franke's daughter Shari speaks out about mom's arrest, says she was abused as a child.
January 26, 2025
To date, nearly 100 lawsuits have been filed against the Mormon Church in California. Each lawsuit has been filed by a different plaintiff alleging that an official within the Church committed sexual abuse against them. The accused parties include elders, high priests, missionaries, bishops, youth leaders, and more. More people who experienced sexual abuse within the church are expected to come forward and file similar suits.
January 12, 2025
Sexual abuse within the Mormon Church (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or LDS Church) can vary widely, reflecting the same patterns found in other institutions where abuse has occurred. Some types of sexual abuse reported in LDS-related cases include:
1. Clergy Sexual Abuse
- Abuse committed by church leaders, including bishops, elders, high priests, missionaries, and other church officials, often involving an abuse of power and trust.
- Victims may be manipulated into silence through spiritual or emotional coercion, with perpetrators leveraging their religious authority.
2. Child Sexual Abuse
- Abuse of minors within church families, congregations, or activities, including youth programs like Boy Scouts (formerly sponsored by the LDS Church).
- Includes grooming behaviors, exploitation, and inappropriate relationships with children in the church community.
3. Sexual Abuse in Counseling Settings
- Abuse occurring during private, one-on-one interviews or counseling sessions, often between a bishop or church leader and a vulnerable individual.
- In some cases, inappropriate questioning about intimate behaviors during "worthiness interviews" may cross into abusive territory.
4. Abuse in Youth Programs
- Incidents of abuse during church-organized activities, such as camping trips, youth gatherings, or missionary training programs.
- Victims may be targeted due to the close-knit nature of these groups and the trust placed in leaders.
5. Spousal Sexual Abuse
- Abuse occurring within marriages, where one partner uses religious teachings to justify sexual coercion or control.
- Victims may feel trapped due to the emphasis on marriage permanence and gender roles within LDS teachings.
6. Institutional Cover-Up
- Allegations of church leaders or officials failing to report abuse, covering up incidents, or pressuring victims and families to remain silent to protect the church’s reputation.
- The church's "Helpline" for reporting abuse has been criticized for prioritizing legal protection for the institution over victim support.
7. Exploitation of Vulnerable Adults
- Abuse of adult members, especially those seeking guidance or support from church leaders during times of personal crisis.
- Vulnerability may be exploited in the guise of offering spiritual advice or mentorship.
8. Sexual Exploitation During Missionary Work
- Cases involving inappropriate relationships or abuse by missionaries or mission leaders, either towards other missionaries or members of the communities they serve.
9. Abuse Facilitated by Family Connections
- Abuse within LDS families or extended families, often involving cover-ups or failure to report due to the emphasis on family unity and loyalty within the church culture.
Common Themes:
- Grooming and Manipulation: Abusers may use their position of authority to gain trust and groom victims.
- Cultural Silencing: Victims often face pressure to forgive or avoid reporting abuse due to church teachings on forgiveness and the potential stigma within their close-knit community.
- Legal and Institutional Barriers: Reports suggest that the church’s internal processes and reliance on its legal defense teams often create obstacles for survivors seeking justice.
January 7, 2025
The Mormon church's audio recordings reveal how it has protected itself against allegations of child sexual abuse.
One of the latest developments in the Mormon church sexual abuse lawsuits centers around the trial and conviction of Michael Adam Davis in a Minnesota court in May 2022. Davis, a former leader of the Mormon church, had been a registered sex offender – convicted three times in Utah – before moving to Minnesota and attaining the role of Elders Quorum President at an LDS church in the state. The court heard that Davis used his position to gain the trust of a minor – a 13-year-old boy – whom he assaulted. Davis was convicted of all charges against him, including two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, and he awaits sentencing at the time of writing. While the individual case is shocking, critics have asked how a registered sex offender in one state can so easily be installed in a position of power in a Mormon church in another.
Mormon Church Sexual Abuse Claims
As with other churches and religious sexual abuse scandals, one of the main issues in the Mormon church is how sexual abuse claims are handled. For instance, back in 2018, a Utah woman, Kristy Johnson, accused the Mormon church of having knowledge of the child sexual abuse carried out by her father against her four siblings. Johnson went as far as to say that the Mormon church, which employed her father, has a culture of protecting sexual predators. The LDS was not named as a defendant in Johnson’s civil lawsuit, but the press conference made national news and shone a light on the alleged practices of silencing abuse victims within religious organizations. All too often, protecting the reputation of the church and its hierarchy seems to be given precedence.
Several high-profile sexual abuse lawsuits have been launched against the LDS in recent years. In fact, large cash settlements have been paid out by the church over the last 25 years to settle claims of sexual assault. This includes a $3 million payout in 2001 to an Oregon man who claimed he was sexually abused as a child by a member of the church. Since then, many more lawsuits have been filed against the church and its leaders. While the Mormon movement is centered in Utah, where almost 70% of members reside, it has churches and members in every state. As such, the LDS sex abuse lawsuits are a national issue, with high-profile sex abuse lawsuits litigated in states like Hawaii and Minnesota. The biggest question for Mormon abuse lawsuit lawyers is what was known by senior members of the organization. Were Mormon church leaders involved in a widespread sexual abuse coverup? The Mormon church claims that it does more than any other religious denomination to prevent and report abuse, pointing to its 24-hour national abuse hotline launched to advise bishops* and other members on how to proceed when hearing of suspected abuse. The problem, say critics, is that information about this hotline is not shared, so we do not know how many potential Mormon sex abuse cases there are, nor how many cases have gone unreported.
*Please note that the role of a Mormon bishop differs significantly from that of a Christian bishop. In the LDS, this position is more akin to a pastor or priest who has authority over a congregation in a geographical area. Moreover, the role of a bishop can differ among different sects of Mormonism. For instance, in some denominations, the bishop is called from the wider congregation to serve an elected term (ranging from four to seven years). This is important to understand in the context of the Mormon sex abuse cases as, broadly speaking, Mormon bishops do not operate on the same level of church seniority as their Christian counterparts.
Right now, we do not know the scale of sexual abuse within the Mormon church. Some of the cases of sexual abuse have been highlighted by MormonLeaks, a campaign group and watchdog website, which has leaked dossiers and videos showing evidence of child abuse within the church. These leaks have led to litigation. Other sex abuse lawsuits have been brought by individuals. As with other religious denomination sex abuse scandals, it is possible that there are 100s of Mormon sex abuse survivors who have not yet come forward. We may be waiting for that tipping point moment, as seen with the Southern Baptist Convention abuse scandal or the Roman Catholic Church “Spotlight” investigations which led to concentrated and coordinated efforts to hear survivors’ stories and pursue compensation on their behalf.
The claims of sex abuse against the Mormon church over the last 20-25 years have been varied in terms of the type of abuse, the links with the perpetrators to the church, how the church leader reacted, and where and when that abuse took place. As such, there isn’t yet a typical blueprint for a Mormon sex abuse case. One of the most high-profile cases was that of John Bishop, a former LDS Church Mission President, who was recorded on film sexually assaulting McKenna Denson. The lawsuit on behalf of Denson was an important one as it not only highlighted the actions of a predatory individual like Bishop but also served to shine a light on the actions of the church in how it mishandles sexual abuse allegations.
It’s important to recognize that there are Mormon sexual abuse cases for both adult abuse and child abuse. These include:
- The case of Helen “W.”, who accused the Mormon church of trying to cover up the abuse of her children in order to protect the church’s reputation.
- The case of Amy Hall, who was groomed and then sexually assaulted by a bishop in a Mormon church in California.
- The case of Lon Kennard, an LDS bishop who was convicted of 43 counts of sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children.
- The case of Michael Wayne Coleman, an LDS bishop who was arrested in Arizona and charged with felonies relating to luring a minor for sexual exploitation.
Please note that the above represents a small selection of child sex abuse cases litigated against members of the Mormon church.
One of the issues we have with reporting sexual abuse statistics for the Mormon church is that we do not know the scale of the problem yet. Some of the reporting issues are structural, such as the fact that many positions in the church can be taken short-term by unpaid volunteers. This raises the issue of accountability. There are also cultural issues, with the emphasis in some church teachings put on forgiving abusers rather than punishing them. And, there are also issues of legality. In 2020, Federal law to compel members of the clergy to report sex abuse crimes to the police was struck down by Utah lawmakers. All of these elements combine to make it difficult to create a database of reliable LDS church sex abuse statistics.
If you or a loved one have been affected by sexual abuse by someone linked to the LDS church, then it is advisable to speak to a Mormon sex abuse lawyer. Sex abuse lawsuits are, of course, sensitive issues, so your claim will be dealt with confidentially. Specialist Mormon sexual abuse law firms have a proven track record of pursuing lawsuits to secure compensation for religious sex abuse survivors and can handle your case with the sensitivity and care required. As we have mentioned, we do not know how widespread sexual abuse is within the Mormon church. Having survivors come forward can help us get a clearer picture of the issues, ensure perpetrators are punished, and potentially prevent abuse of future victims.
Several news reports have mentioned the issue of Mormon sex trafficking. For example, an LDS bishop was arrested along with a group of other men (not necessarily affiliated with the Mormon church) in July 2019. The arrests, as reported by Fox News, were made after a sting operation in Utah, with law enforcement officers posing as minors and prostitutes. The LDS bishop, David Moss, had previously been under investigation for on-duty sexual relationships in Georgia, where he served as a police officer working in vice operations. As Michael Davis mentioned earlier, critics have asked how it is possible for someone with huge question marks over their conduct in one state to simply move to another state and take up a position of authority with the Mormon church, allowing them to attack again.
Arguably the biggest scandal to hit the Mormon church was linked to the activities of the FLDS (Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints) and its leader, Warren Jeffs. The FLDS “President and Prophet” Jeffs, who is serving a life sentence in prison, had several sexual assault convictions and many more allegations against him, leading him to be named on the FBI’s Most Wanted List. The FDS is a polygamous church, and Jeffs is known to have had at least 68 wives. To be clear, the FLDS and LDS are entirely separate, having split into separate denominations over 100 years ago. But the cult-like activities of the FLDS and the series of sexual assaults, including assaults of minors, carried out by its leader continue to cast a shadow over the wider Mormon community.
What is the Mormon Church Sexual Abuse Lawsuit about?
The lawsuits for Mormon church sexual abuse crimes are a response to serval revelations that have been uncovered over the past couple of decades. These include allegations of coverups by leaders in the church. As such, Mormon sexual abuse attorneys are asking for others to come forward to join the LDS sex abuse lawsuits to receive compensation.
Is there sexual abuse in the LDS church?
Yes. Like other religious denominations, the LDS (Mormon) church has been hit with reports of sexual abuse by members and subsequent coverups.
Do Mormon bishops have to report abuse?
Yes and no. Like everyone else in the United States, Mormon bishops must comply with local laws. However, reporting depends on the laws of the state. Utah, which is the center of the Mormon church, does not require that bishops report sexual abuse to the authorities, although this is being challenged by local lawmakers.
What do LDS bishops have to report?
Again, it depends on the state. No fewer than 44 states in the United States have some sort of law offering “ecclesiastical privilege.” Broadly speaking, this means that religious leaders are not always required to report to law enforcement when they learn of abuse cases.
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