In addition, the suit alleges that the church, through its leaders, has tried to intimidate the families of the children suing the church and has allegedly directed fellow church members to try to convince them to abandon their claims ‘lest they run afoul of church teachings regarding forgiveness’ a copy of the suit reads.
The lawsuit seeks unspecified punitive and compensatory damages. The Mormon Church receives $5 billion to $7 billion per year in tithing from members and Time magazine estimated in 2001 that the Mormon Church owned financial assets and real estate in excess of $120 billion, according to the suit. Susan I/S, board post October 2013, ‘Christopher Michael Jensen & LDS Inc – Lawsuit’
Stake-presidency reorganised. Exec Sec released finally. An arrogant bullying brute of 55. Womanizer, and known paedophile who has had sexual affairs with at least 3 young girls over 25 years ago. So legally he can’t be prosecuted anymore, and never was because leaders at the time pressured the victims into silence.
His entire ward knows about it, his wife knows it, stake-leaders know it. They all have known for years. He was acquitted in a Court-of-Love on a technicality.
His ward hates his guts, so what does the SP do? Release him because he’s worked so good and call him as a high-councillor !!!!!
Over 30% of the membership did not sustain him last week. He got the new call nonetheless. And was ordained after the meeting.
We had an uproar which lasted for 2 days and is now quieting down.
My wife tells me to quit nagging about it and let it be, but I feel I can’t work with my new adviser.
I feel when the Church is so callous about such crimes and calls a man against whom such heavy accusations (facts) are known ... At least the leaders seem to be uninspired. Jan Peter, board post 23rd October 2011, ‘Unworthy of a Calling’
As I walked into the building I started to feel a little light headed and then I started to feel like I was having trouble breathing. It felt like my neck was swelling and cutting off my air passage. I checked. I was OK. I was breathing, I was not going to pass out.
I went into the primary room and sat down. The sisters I knew all smiled and acknowledged me. The children started to sing songs and I felt more and more uncomfortable. I had been the music leader in Primary and I knew all the songs and all the words. I had always loved the beautiful melodies and simple versus.
Today the songs enraged me. I now recognized the simple words as part of the indoctrination process. The same message was given over and over to these children at their most vulnerable and suggestible age. The message was obey and be saved. Conform and be lovable. Think and risk losing your salvation ...
I was overcome with anger ...
Everything about the primary program was designed to mold and shape the children into a narrow, limited caricature of a real person.
I did not want my daughters to think that it was wrong to feel human emotions. I did not want them being forced into the being and doing of what I had been forced into. I started to feel like I could not breathe and that I had to get out of the building. I started to feel dizzy and sick. I thought I might throw up. I got up and almost ran for the door.
Once outside, the quiet, the sun, and the fresh air started to calm me. I walked home and never wanted to go back. tol, board post ‘I Did Not Want My Children to be Raised With the Lies and Deceit of Mormonism’
The victim must do all in his or her power to stop the abuse. Most often, the victim is innocent because of being disabled by fear or the power or authority of the offender. At some point in time, however, the Lord may prompt a victim to recognize a degree of responsibility for abuse. Your priesthood leader will help assess your responsibility so that, if needed, it can be addressed. Otherwise the seeds of guilt will remain and sprout into bitter fruit. Yet no matter what degree of responsibility, from absolutely none to increasing consent, the healing power of the atonement of Jesus Christ can provide a complete cure. Ensign 1992
... bearing children out of wedlock has traditionally been considered an embarrassment and a disgrace. But in today’s world, where good is called evil and evil good, the stigma of non-marital childbearing has largely vanished. Not only is this practice a sin in the eyes of heaven, but researchers have found out-of-wedlock birth to be associated with several risks for the baby ... children born out of wedlock are more likely to die of sudden infant death syndrome, suffer death due to injury, or eventually become juvenile offenders. Ensign article April 2005, ‘Multiply and Replenish the Earth under Non-Marital Child-Bearing’
Is there a reason we all have to stand up and chant this absurd load of garbage every Sunday? Just curious. It’s rather cult-like ...
We are daughters of our Heavenly Father who loves us and we love him.
We will stand as witnesses of God at all times and all things and in all places as we strive to live the young women values which are: Faith, Divine Nature, Individual Worth, Knowledge, Choice and Accountability, Good Works and Integrity.
We believe as we come to accept and act upon these values we will be prepared to strengthen home and family, make and keep sacred covenants, receive ordinances of the temple and enjoy the blessings of exaltation.
Yeah, we say that in unison. Every week. Yeah, I don’t know why either. J cashfan, board post 13th April 2006, ‘The Creepy Young Women’s Theme – Said in Unison Each Week by the Young Women in Mormonism’
Salt Lake City — Top officials of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints say they are investigating reports from members that, as children, they witnessed human sacrifices and suffered ‘satanic abuse’ at the hands of renegade Mormon-affiliated cliques.
Glenn L Pace, a member of the church’s three-man presiding bishopric, reported in a memorandum ... that he is personally convinced at least 800 church-affiliated Satanists now are practicing occult rituals and devil worship. Chicago Tribune 3rd November 1991
I was denied church callings, temple recommends, shunned by the rank and file members. During almost every bishop interview I was accused of committing sexual sins with single women, married women, members, non-members, etc. For three years I endured abuse at the hands of mormons simply because I was not married but divorced. I was told by one bishop that since I was single that I should find another church. I moved multiple times and had 7 different bishops across the USA during my 3 years of being single. Some of the moves across country were work related and others were local because I wanted a nicer apartment which meant a new ward and a new bishop. The way I was treated and abused was not isolated to one rogue bishop but was systemic of how LDS treats divorced men and women throughout the USA. Themaster, board post 2nd December 2013, ‘You’re Divorced; You’re Not Welcome at LDS’
Cognitive dissonance is at the root of denial. Fear is at the root of cognitive dissonance. The extent of our fear is determined by our general tendencies in that regard, and our beliefs. The nature of our beliefs determine our vulnerability to the issue in question. For example, I used to fear not being with my family in the Celestial Kingdom and wanted to be there with them. Fear and desire walk down this path hand in hand. Hence I obeyed the rules designed to get me what I wanted and avoid what I feared. As soon as I no longer believed that the Celestial Kingdom existed, my motivation to do many things evaporated, including some that I did not even know were related to that belief disappeared. Anonymous, board post 29th March 2005, ‘Why Can’t Insiders Accurately Perceive Their Own Culture?’
So, I walk into the Bishop’s office and he starts by asking general belief questions and how are you doing, stuff like that. Then, out of the blue, he asks, ‘Do you masturbate?’ Well, my mind started to race, cause, I had heard that word, but, honestly wasn’t really sure what it meant. Anyway, I said ‘I don't know, what does it mean to masturbate?’ Well, he proceeded to tell me what it meant. So, then he asks me again, ‘Do you masturbate?’ I became so nervous and scared, that my vision became distorted, my face became flush and I started to sweat profusely. I whispered ‘Yes’. I was devastated, I thought I was doing everything that ‘God’ commanded. I thought I was a good boy. Now I was being told that what I thought was exciting, fun and joyous – was a SIN.
Well, the Bishop showed absolutely NO compassion, or sensitivity. He proceeded to tell me that this could lead to disfellowshipment or excommunication if I did not immediately get it under control. I sat in the interview so worried about being ‘cut off’ from my family at death, that again, my vision became distorted and I started to sweat. At this point I felt like crawling under the chair, and screaming ‘Mom, Dad, help!’ But, I was alone, with God’s representative – I had nowhere to turn.
The Bishop then started to tell me that if I continue this practice of masturbation, I may end up doing this act with furniture, with animals, or, heaven forbid, with men or boys – and that masturbation often leads to Homosexuality. I was so scared, I couldn’t even respond to the rest of the interview, and the Bishop dismissed me. Anonymous, board post 16th March 2006, ‘Recovering Memory Regarding a Bishop’s Interview’
The bully priesthood leaders who barged into our house and dragged my boys out of their beds, the father who beat his son in front of the whole quorum, the creepy bishop’s son who tried to molest my daughter in her sleep – they all got promoted! They are now a Stake President, a Mission President, and a Returned Missionary who is Elder’s Quorum President. Abuse is actually rewarded!