One of the Church’s strengths is ministering to others. Compassionate service is a great Mormon tradition. Members often assist those who are sick or bereaved, visit the widowed and lonely, feed the hungry and perform a host of other acts of Christ-like service.
Each week members serve toddlers, children, teens, and adults through music, lessons, and activities. Millions of members spend countless hours serving folks in their congregations and neighborhoods throughout the world. Most serve tirelessly and faithfully.
Although the Church can bless others, when its leaders are abusive, it can wound others. Too many LDS members have been abused by Church leaders who preyed on their innocence and trust. The effects of ecclesiastical sexual or physical abuse are devastating not only to victims but to those who love them.
Because abuse victims have nowhere in the Church to turn except to their LDS leaders, if the leaders are the abusers, they are silenced. Too often the Church shames and blames victims while it protects and aids abusers.
Some members who have attempted to chronicle ecclesiastical abuse have been excommunicated or threatened with excommunication if they speak up. Some who reported ecclesiastical abuse have lost their memberships in the Church. Instead of punishing the perpetrators, too often the Church punishes, gaslights, or silences the victims.*
When abuse occurs, the Church needs to listen to survivors and help them heal. To do this, the Church needs to authorize a team of crisis therapists, victim’s advocates, and other skilled professionals to listen to abuse victims who have been ignored or abused their ecclesiastical leaders.
This group would operate a 24-hour hotline and be empowered to hold perpetrators accountable and to make certain that survivors receive necessary help to recover. The group would also ensure that reported abusers are prevented from holding positions where they can further abuse others.
To follow Jesus’ example, the Church must minister to all abuse survivors, including those who were abused by people who hold—or have held—positions of trust in the Church. It must take necessary steps in order to follow its written policy: “When abuse occurs, the first and immediate responsibility of Church leaders is to help those who have been abused and to protect vulnerable persons from future abuse.”**
*One example of many with which I am personally acquainted includes this account: “When Black Eyes and Police Reports Don’t Matter,” Sisters Quorum, 22 February 2018.
**See LDS Newsroom, “First Presidency Directs Leaders to Prevent and Respond to Abuse,” 26 March 2018 (includes links to a First Presidency letter and the revised Handbook of Instructions “Preventing and Responding to Abuse”)
Other critical steps include eliminating one-on-one interviews with children and youth and providing Church leaders and members with training on ways to prevent abuse and how to recognize abuse symptoms.
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