Legal Help May Be Available For Survivors Of Sexual Abuse In The Mormon Church

According to one tally, more than 6.8 million Americans are currently members of the Mormon Church. A closer look at membership statistics shows that Utah has by far the most members, with more than 2.1 million, followed by California with more than 728,000. Idaho, Arizona, and Texas round out the top five states in terms of membership. Washington, Nevada, Florida, Oregon, and Colorado now round out the top ten states with practicing Mormons.

That being stated, it is important to differentiate between Mormonism and the denominations within it. As one expert explains, there are actually three recognized branches. These are The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS), which is the largest of the three; the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS), which has garnered global attention for its cult-like practices, polygamy, and sexual abuse; and the Community of Christ.

Basically this means that all LDS followers are technically Mormons. But not all Mormons are members of the LDS. Even so, the terms Mormon Church and Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints are often used interchangeably, especially when reporting on sexual abuse cases.

If you or a loved one experienced sexual abuse in the Mormon Church, you may still be able to seek compensation through a civil lawsuit. Keep reading to learn more.

A Basic Overview Of Local Mormon Church Organization

To understand the magnitude of sexual abuse allegations in the Mormon Church, one must first understand how church leadership is structured in the United States.

In some states, such as Utah, California, and Idaho, there are thousands of Mormon congregations. Other states, such as Washington, have hundreds. In any case, bishops lead congregations that are grouped into administrative parishes or “wards.” A grouping of wards is called a stake, which is overseen by a stake president. These bishops and stake presidents, who usually serve five and nine year terms respectively are most likely to interact with church members.

Mormon Church Leaders Accused Of Sexual Abuse, Coverups, In Dozens Of Cases

FLOODLIT.org is non-profit organization that investigates sexual abuse in LDS. In a recent article published on its website, FLOODLIT said the church was getting ready to settle more than 100 claims of sexual abuse filed since August 2024 in six states.

According to FLOODLIT, the plaintiffs in these cases accused the LDS of covering up their sexual abuse. Most were children at the time of the alleged abuse. In all, FLOODLIT says, the defendants in these cases included 20 bishops, 20 elders, eight missionaries five high priests, six teachers, four counselors three youth leaders, one stake president, and 30 other leaders/members.

Citing court documents, the organization explained that the church and plaintiffs were trying to reach a settlement through mediation, and agreed to a “settlement in principle,” on April 10, 25 In other words, the parties had then achieved consensus on substantial issues at hand, but needed more time to finalize and implement specific terms.

This is not the first time the LDS church has settled sexual abuse claims out of court, according to FLOODLIT.

Different Types Of Sexual Abuse Occurring In The Mormon Church

As detailed on selectjustice.com, several different types of sexual abuse take place in the Mormon Church. These include but are not limited to:

Clergy sexual abuse – perpetrated by church leaders, such as bishops, elders, high priests, missionaries, and other church officials.
Child sexual abuse – which occurs when minors are victimized in various church groups, settings and/or activities.
Sexual abuse in counseling settings – which occurs in the context of private, individual interviews or counseling sessions that are often, but not always conducted by a bishop or church leader.
Abuse in youth programs – typically happens in the context of church-organized activities, such as camping trips, youth gatherings, or missionary training programs.
Institutional coverups – actions taken (or not taken) in response of sexual misconduct reports in an effort to protect the church’s reputation.

Immediate And Long-Term Effects Of Sexual Abuse

Experts say victims of sexual abuse experience immediate and long-term effects. The former include confusion, fear, shock and anxiety. The latter include ongoing anxiety, health issues, chronic fear and depression, panic attacks, paranoia and intense fears that can be classified as phobias, and social isolation.

In some cases, victims suffering from immediate and long-term effects of sexual abuse may have a hard time maintaining personal relationships, or keeping jobs. In some cases, they may even turn to alcohol or drugs in an effort to “self-medicate.”

If you or a loved one experienced sexual abuse in the Mormon Church, you may be able to seek compensation for your financial and non-financial losses. Contact Van Law Firm to schedule a free consultation and case assessment today.

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