A Recent Email

I wanted to send a heart felt thank you for standing up and putting your neck on the line regarding the Bishop interviews and sexual questions. I heard on NPR today you were excommunicated. I believe your fight is worth it.

Earlier this year, my Father had just been called to be a Bishop. I immediately knew I needed to talk about the Bishop interviews with my Father now that he was in this leadership role. I wasn’t sure how to bring it up. Then I read your story in the news, and sent it to my Father.

As a youth in the church, it is all fun and beautiful until you hit about 12, and yes, the Bishop interview threw me off. Why was this man asking me these questions? I could never look that Bishop in the eyes again without feeling gross. I avoided him.

Flash forward to hearing about your story earlier this year. I sent a link to an article about you to my Father. And it opened the dialogue. For the first time in my life I told my Father we needed to talk about this issue. That I wanted to share my story with him. My father cried when I told him what happened to me.

My Father, still a Bishop, has promised to not ask sexual questions to youth, and has promised to invite parents or church leaders to interviews. I asked my Father to be an example of what the church could and should be. I believe he will.

Thank you again for championing this important issue. For sacrificing your name on the church records. It has made a difference.

My response

Your message sent goose bumps down my arms and legs. Still there. Electrifying. By speaking with your father you have provided a level of protection to the children of his ward and to him. Amazing. In my mind, I’m hugging you with love and admiration.

Would you mind if I publicly shared some of the details of this email? Anonymously of course. It’s such great news.

Warmest regards, Sam

Audiences

To date, actions have been directed at 3 audiences:

The Q15 . I had hoped that as they were confronted with the massive damage their policies have done to thousands of children that they would change the policy in a substantive way. The 15 chose to excommunicate rather than to mitigate. I no longer plan to reach out to these men who turn a blind eye to their own victims. The Mormon members . My hopes are that parents and local leaders will implement changes to protect their own children, their congregation and themselves. The email above is one of many witnesses that Protect LDS Children has accomplished a great work here. Many children are being protected from harmful interviews and potential predators. However, most members have either not heard of our cause or have chosen to support the policy from SLC. Going forward, I’ll continue to reach out to the fine members and good-hearted leaders in the Church. Non-members . Our cause has now reached the ears of millions of people outside the Mormon Church. They get it. I have never talked to a non-Mormon who wasn’t disgusted. Nor was anyone previously aware of what Mormons subject their children to. Our efforts to reach this group has met with resounding success. We will continue to spread the word in the community-at-large.

Action

You can make a difference!

Talk to your friends, your family, your local Mormon leadership. If it’s not safe to discuss with members of the church, spread the news to every non-member you encounter.