Monthly Archives: April 2025

Mormonism’s Legacy of Slavery

The history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) in the 19th century is marked by moments of conflict, migration, and the formation of a new religious identity in the American frontier. LDS leaders suggest that early Latter-day Saints were persecuted for being abolitionists or for holding enlightened racial views, meanwhile, …

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Painted into a Corner: Prophets, Revelation, and the Mormon Church’s Integrity Crisis

The Mormon Church has painted itself into a theological and historical corner. Its unwavering position—that all teachings and policies come from direct revelation from God through a living prophet—has created a system resistant to introspection and allergic to correction. For nearly 200 years, this stance may have worked for the institution. But in the age …

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“In Missouri in 1833, our Latter-day Saint values were in direct conflict with the Missouri settlers not of our faith.... Our doctrine respected the American Indians and our desire was to teach them the gospel of Jesus Christ. With respect to slavery our scriptures are clear that no man should be in bondage to another.” - Quinten L. Cook, LDS Apostle, Princeton Theological Seminary, July 2017 | wasmormon.org
“In Missouri in 1833, our Latter-day Saint values were in direct conflict with the Missouri settlers not of our faith.... Our doctrine respected the American Indians and our desire was to teach them the gospel of Jesus Christ. With respect to slavery our scriptures are clear that no man should be in bondage to another.” - Quinten L. Cook, LDS Apostle, Princeton Theological Seminary, July 2017
"How grateful I am that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has from its beginnings stood strongly against racism in any of its malignant manifestations." - Elder Alexander B Morrison, First Quorum of the Seventy | wasmormon.org
"How grateful I am that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has from its beginnings stood strongly against racism in any of its malignant manifestations." - Elder Alexander B Morrison, First Quorum of the Seventy
This is a spotlight on a profile shared at wasmormon.org. These are just the highlights, so please find the full story at https://wasmormon.org/profile/dnc12vs5/. There are stories of Mormon faith journeys contributed by hundreds of users like you. Come check them out and consider sharing your own story at wasmormon.org!
This is a spotlight on a profile shared at wasmormon.org. These are just the highlights, so please find the full story at https://wasmormon.org/profile/dnc12vs5/. There are stories of Mormon faith journeys contributed by hundreds of users like you. Come check them out and consider sharing your own story at wasmormon.org!
The SEC findings opened my eyes to a leadership that misleads its congregations, which then opened the door to explore the historic and social issues that plague the church. - Shane's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/dnc12vs5/
The SEC findings opened my eyes to a leadership that misleads its congregations, which then opened the door to explore the historic and social issues that plague the church. - Shane's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/dnc12vs5/
Determine whether or not the incident of child abuse has already been reported to child protection or law enforcement authorities. If not, Abuse Help Line workers should instruct priesthood leaders to encourage an interested person to report the abuse. - Protocol For Abuse Help Line Calls | LDS Church & Kirton McConkie Law Firm | wasmormon.org
Determine whether or not the incident of child abuse has already been reported to child protection or law enforcement authorities. If not, Abuse Help Line workers should instruct priesthood leaders to encourage an interested person to report the abuse. - Protocol For Abuse Help Line Calls | LDS Church & Kirton McConkie Law Firm
”We actually don't have an abuse help line for just general membership. It's just for bishops or stake presidents.“ - Church Helpline Operator to AP News. “The nature and the purpose of the Church’s help line was seriously mischaracterized in a recent Associated Press article.” “The Church's abuse help line has everything to do with protecting children and has nothing to do with cover-up.” - LDS Church Newsroom: Official Statements August 5 & 17, 2022 | wasmormon.org
”We actually don't have an abuse help line for just general membership. It's just for bishops or stake presidents.“ - Church Helpline Operator to AP News. “The nature and the purpose of the Church’s help line was seriously mischaracterized in a recent Associated Press article.” “The Church's abuse help line has everything to do with protecting children and has nothing to do with cover-up.” - LDS Church Newsroom: Official Statements August 5 & 17, 2022
“These bishops did nothing wrong. They didn’t violate the law, and therefore they can’t be held liable.” - William Maledon, Arizona attorney, Representing LDS Church | wasmormon.org
“These bishops did nothing wrong. They didn’t violate the law, and therefore they can’t be held liable.” - William Maledon, Arizona attorney, Representing LDS Church
The LDS Church claims its abuse helpline instructs bishops to follow reporting laws, yet in Arizona, while clergy may keep abuse confessions confidential, they are not required to, and are even legally protected if they report. Despite this, the helpline advised the bishop not to report the abuse. In practice, the helpline serves less to protect victims and more to shield the institution, keeping abuse cases “in-house.” This approach effectively circumvents law enforcement, protecting the church rather than the victims. | wasmormon.org
The LDS Church claims its abuse helpline instructs bishops to follow reporting laws, yet in Arizona, while clergy may keep abuse confessions confidential, they are not required to, and are even legally protected if they report. Despite this, the helpline advised the bishop not to report the abuse. In practice, the helpline serves less to protect victims and more to shield the institution, keeping abuse cases “in-house.” This approach effectively circumvents law enforcement, protecting the church rather than the victims.
Church leaders and members are instructed in the Church’s “General Handbook” that their responsibilities related to abuse are as follows: • Assure that child sexual abuse is stopped. • Help victims receive care, including from professional counselors. • Comply with whatever reporting is required by law. - LDS Church Newsroom: Official Statements August 17, 2022 | wasmormon.org
Church leaders and members are instructed in the Church’s “General Handbook” that their responsibilities related to abuse are as follows: • Assure that child sexual abuse is stopped. • Help victims receive care, including from professional counselors. • Comply with whatever reporting is required by law. - LDS Church Newsroom: Official Statements August 17, 2022
“The nature and the purpose of the Church’s help line was seriously mischaracterized in a recent Associated Press article. The help line is instrumental in ensuring that all legal requirements for reporting are met. It provides a place for local leaders, who serve voluntarily, to receive direction from experts to determine who should make a report and whether they (local leaders) should play a role in that reporting. When a leader calls the help line, the conversation is about how to stop the abuse, care for the victim and ensure compliance with reporting obligations, even in cases when the law provides clergy-penitent privilege or restricts what can be shared from private ecclesiastical conversations.” - Church Offers Statement on Help Line and Abuse Official Statement, LDS Church Newsroom, 5 August 2022 - Salt Lake City | wasmormon.org
“The nature and the purpose of the Church’s help line was seriously mischaracterized in a recent Associated Press article. The help line is instrumental in ensuring that all legal requirements for reporting are met. It provides a place for local leaders, who serve voluntarily, to receive direction from experts to determine who should make a report and whether they (local leaders) should play a role in that reporting. When a leader calls the help line, the conversation is about how to stop the abuse, care for the victim and ensure compliance with reporting obligations, even in cases when the law provides clergy-penitent privilege or restricts what can be shared from private ecclesiastical conversations.” - Church Offers Statement on Help Line and Abuse Official Statement, LDS Church Newsroom, 5 August 2022 - Salt Lake City

Mormon Abuse Helpline

In 2022, an Associated Press (AP) investigation revealed that officials of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints failed to prevent or report the sexual abuse of children by a church member in Arizona over seven years. The report detailed how church leaders were informed of the abuse but did not notify law enforcement, …

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"We do not receive financial compensation for serving" - Steven D. Shumway, LDS General Authority Seventy, April 2025. "For 2025, we estimate $183k* in equivalent taxable salary for the living allowance offered to the LDS Church's 120 General Authorities." - The Widow's Mite Report - General Authority Compensation | wasmormon.org
"We do not receive financial compensation for serving" - Steven D. Shumway, LDS General Authority Seventy, April 2025. "For 2025, we estimate $183k* in equivalent taxable salary for the living allowance offered to the LDS Church's 120 General Authorities." - The Widow's Mite Report - General Authority Compensation

Church Leadership Claims No Financial Compensation For Service

During the 2025 April General Conference, Steven D. Shumway continued to push the narrative that church leaders are not paid for their service in the church. He claims that “we do not receive financial compensation for serving.” This is misleading and exemplifies a glaring transparency issue regarding church leadership and finances. While it is technically true …

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Steven Was a Mormon, an Ex-Mormon Profile Spotlight

Steven’s story is one of resilience, self-discovery, and finally—freedom. Raised between worlds, with a non-religious mother who distrusted the church and grandparents deeply embedded in it, Steven was surrounded by conflicting messages about Mormonism from a young age. His early life was marked by both devotion to the church and personal trauma, making his eventual …

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