That poor, misunderstood bishop/rapist will emerge as a folk-hero, and an example of someone who will be ‘saved’ through repentance, and through the love of his family and ward, bla-bla. The parents of those teenagers will see his smug, sanctimonious face at the pulpit, telling his sad story to various Sacrament meetings. The victims – the victims will be blamed for wearing short skirts and having piercings.
I hate the cult. Anonymous, board post April 2008, ‘This is the Mormon Church’s Stand on Rapes and Abuse’
A Washington state jury has ordered The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to pay at least $2.5 million to two sisters who alleged their bishop failed to protect them from a stepfather who sexually abused them for years.
The church also is on the hook for an additional $1.7 million unless its attorneys can convince a judge that it shouldn’t have to pay for damages related to Peter Taylor, who served just over four years in prison for the crimes. Anonymous, board post 22nd November 2005, ‘LDS Church Told to Pay $4.2 Million in Abuse Case – Jury Holds the Church Liable For Emotional Distress Because a Bishop Did Not Report the Sexual Abuse of Two Girls’
Does Mormonism breed a bunch of childish, silly, whining, threatening, women, stomping their feet and throwing fits who think only their beliefs are so important they can destroy a family over them? Do they ever consider the consequences of this outrageous behavior?
Do they really think they can force a belief in Mormonism or a God down the throat of their mate? Really? They think they have that much power?
It is embarrassing to hear of women who have their spouses dragging their tails between their legs to ‘save the family’ just because they are hurling ultimatums telling another human being what they can read, where they can post and read on the Internet etc.? The unmitigated gall! Despicable behavior!
What is the matter with these women? Anonymous, board post 12th October 2005, ‘As a Female, I am Ashamed and Disgusted at the Reports of Mormon Females, Particularly Spouses!’
In Mormon culture females are supposed accept a calling. They are to be constantly smiling over their family of five. They are supposed to take supper across the street to an ill neighbor and then put up with their husband when he comes home from work and smile about it the whole time. There is this sense that Mrs Jones down street is doing the same thing, and there is this undercurrent of competition. To be a good mother and wife, women have to put on this mask of perfection. They can’t show their tears, depression or agony.
Obedience, conformity and maintaining a sense of harmony ... the Mother-of-Zion Syndrome. Russell Goldman, ABC News, ‘Two Studies Find Depression Widespread in Utah’
To you innocent ones who have not transgressed, but were abused as little children and still carry an undeserved burden of guilt, I say: learn true doctrine – repentance and forgiveness; lay that burden of guilt down! Boyd K Packer, Little Children
The most important thing for a woman in this life is to be the wife of a worthy priesthood holder and the mother of his children. Boyd K Packer, address 11 February 2012 worldwide training meeting
‘I am gay. I am also LDS ... I traveled down a tortuous path of internalized homophobia, immense self-hatred, depression and suicidal thoughts.
‘Despite the calluses on my knees, frequent trips to the temple, fasts and devotion to my mission and Church callings such as elders’ quorum president, I continually failed to attenuate my homosexuality.
‘... murderers, satanists, prostitutes, pedophiles and partakers of bestiality. Imagine having to live with this rhetoric constantly being spewed at you ...
‘I implore the students at BYU to re-assess their homophobic feelings. Seek to understand first before you make comments. We have the same needs as you. We desire to love and be loved. We desire to live our lives with happiness. We are not a threat to you or your families. We are your sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, neighbors, co-workers and friends, and most importantly, we are all children of God’.
A few weeks later, a despondent Stuart took his own life on the steps of a LDS chapel in Los Altos, California.
Stuart’s blood today stains the hands of the Mormon Christ. Steve Benson, board post 2nd December 2002, ‘Diversity, Not Perversity: My Prison Break from the Homophobia of Mormonism’
D Michael Quinn – an esteemed historian on Mormon matters who happens to be gay – has laid out in brutal detail the Mormon Church’s official policies and practices of bigotry toward gays.
When Mormonism’s Apostle apologists like Dallin H Oaks attempt to equate Mormon Church opposition to gay marriage with resistance to civil rights for African-Americans, it would do well for those within the sound of his preposterous propaganda peddling to remember that the Mormon Church has a horrid, undeniable history of hateful discrimination against both African-Americans and gays, as Quinn details in excerpts provided below ... Steve Benson, board post 22nd October 2009, ‘Pulling Off the Mormon Mask: The LDS Church is as Bigoted Against Gays as it has Been Against Blacks'
In an article entitled The Divine Institution of Marriage the Mormon Church declares that it was joining a national coalition of religious groups known as the Protect-Marriage Coalition not only to support the passage of California’s anti-gay Proposition 8 against ‘homosexual marriage’ but also to support the passage of Arizona’s anti-gay Proposition 102. Such Mormon calls to action are found on what is identified as an official website of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and include this advisory:
‘Members of the Church in Arizona and Florida will also be voting on constitutional amendments regarding marriage in their states, where coalitions similar to California’s are now being formed’.
Further fueling its anti-gay rights agenda on the Proposition 102 website, Mormon Church statements from its hierarchy warn that recent state supreme court decisions around the nation recognizing the constitutional right of gays to marry pose ‘a serious threat to marriage and family’, claiming that that if marriage rights for gays are allowed to stand, ‘institution of marriage will be weakened, resulting in negative consequences for both adults and children’. Steve Benson, board post 6th November 2008, ‘A Telling Encounter With Mormon Deceit About LDS Church Activism Against Gay Rights’
The Utah legislature and the dominant religious leadership of this state ... in illegal, secret meetings ... have embarked upon [a] journey into the heart of darkness ...
Social justice has been denied ... in naked attacks against our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters, and all our school children and young adults.
Hate speech has been indulged by state legislators who thereby invite crimes.
And leaders who claim a monopoly of prophetic guidance have abandoned true prophetic leadership sensitive to the poor and the vulnerable ...
Most serious of all is its moral bankruptcy in this situation – shame on Mormon leadership for fomenting this spirit of intolerance and hate. Ed Firmage, Utah Law Professor
Another gay mormon has taken his life. Out of respect for the family I’m not going to get into details. My son in law knew him and the information is firsthand. He came out to his mormon family and was subsequently ostracized. He tried to hold on but the pain was too much. A memorial service for him is being held today; the obituary was a sad resume written by his family to make it look like he was some kind of a stellar mormon. He was not. TLC, board post 26th March 2009, ‘Another One Bites the Dust’
I regretfully read your letter of June 8 informing me that because of my opinion piece in the Salt Lake Tribune of June 4, you have decided not to rehire me to teach the philosophy courses I had already been scheduled to teach through next year ... Now let me address some of the issues you expressed in your letter.
Church leaders have consistently opposed same-sex attraction and gay marriage. I have never agreed with this position believing that it was based in misunderstanding and in a purely human bias of cultural place and time and not reflective of divine will. Yet I have never publicly, or in the classroom, opposed their policy. Yet when church leaders take a political stand on a moral issue, then I am not only engaged as a member of the church, but also as an American citizen. As an American citizen, I publicly expressed an honest opinion contradicting a political statement by our church leaders. I fear for the church and the university if the time comes when the members of the church, including faculty at BYU, are not allowed to disagree, either in public or private, with political positions taken by the church. Jeff Nielson, letter to Daniel W Graham, Philosophy department chair Brigham Young University
My brethren, you will never have in all of your lives a greater asset than the woman into whose eyes you looked as you joined hands over the altar in the house of the Lord. She will be your most precious possession in time or eternity. Gordon B Hinckley, married students’ regional conference 1996
Husbands, love and treasure your wives. They are your most precious possessions. Wives, encourage and pray for your husbands. They need all the help they can get. Gordon B Hinckley, general conference address 2007