Survivor of Sexual Abuse and Mormon Church Cover-up | Ep. 1509

A strong trigger warning leads off this special Mormon Stories episode with our guest who prefers to be referred to as “Rachel '' for this interview. We discuss Rachel’s father being called as a mission president, the abuse she endured, and the subsequent cover-up from those in positions of power in the LDS church.

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Show notes and links:
The LDS church's Gospel Topics Essays:
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/s...

Time codes:
00:00 Intro
3:30 Why Rachel is doing this interview
10:00 Mormon Story begins
16:20 What factors might have contributed to her dad being abusive
21:00 Parents relationship
23:30 Father being called as mission president
30:25 Adjusting to life post mission and abuse begins
40:31 Verbal abuse, changing behavior
41:47 Why Rachel didn’t speak up earlier, purity culture
47:50 Mom seeing signs of Rachel’s depression, starting therapy, everything coming out
59:00 Not involving law enforcement
1:02:10 Feeling supported by her mom, father confessing to bishop
1:05:00 Epidemic of abuse, father’s punishment
1:11:00 Pressure to keep quiet
1:16:20 Therapist not speaking up
1:18:50 Boundaries, being stalked in own home
1:32:06 The effects of Rachel not being taken seriously, acting bratty
1:36:45 Callings in the ward, telling her brother
1:46:45 Breaking the silence in Mormonism
1:55:40 Effects into adulthood
1:57:10 Telling a bishop in her early 20s
2:01:00 Can the atonement change and cure everything?
2:07:00 Bishop coming into Rachels work, feeling a connection to other abuse survivors
2:10:32 Leaders feeling guilty?
2:16:20 Rachel realizing things are complicated
2:19:50 Who you disclose to, support system
2:22:16 Privilege, victims finding healing
2:33:14 Isn’t there abuse everywhere?
2:39:00 Atonement theology, can we endure to the end?
3:01:08 Rachel going inactive, marrying a non-member
3:03:50 Joseph marrying a 14-year-old girl disturbing Rachel
3:14:30 Having her records removed from the church
3:23:30 How Rachel decided to come on Mormon Stories
3:29:18 Calling the church, speaking with Dan McKonkie, doing better
3:42:05 The church cares more about protecting pedophiles than children
3:49:20 Closing thoughts and thank yous