LDS Church announces changes to priesthood interviews, sexual abuse policies
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SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced changes Monday to policies that will alter the way local priesthood leaders conduct interviews with church members and counsel victims of sexual abuse.
The First Presidency announced four policies or guidelines that will become part of the church’s Handbook of Instructions. The statements were included in a document titled “Preventing and responding to abuse” that was included with a First Presidency letter sent to leaders worldwide.
CLICK HERE TO READ THE FIRST PRESIDENCY ‘PREVENTING AND RESPONDING TO ABUSE’ LETTER
CLICK HERE TO READ THE ‘PREVENTING AND RESPONDING TO ABUSE’ DOCUMENT
The changes include:
• “Members should never be encouraged to remain in a home or situation that is abusive or unsafe.”
• “When a member of a stake presidency or bishopric or another assigned leader meets with a child, youth, or woman, he or she should ask a parent or another adult to be in an adjoining room, foyer, or hall. If the person being interviewed desires, another adult may be invited to participate in the interview. Leaders should avoid all circumstances that could be misunderstood.”
• “Church leaders should never disregard a report of abuse or counsel a member not to report criminal activity to law enforcement personnel.”
• “At least two adults must be present on all church-sponsored activities attended by youth or children.”
“To ensure the safety and protection of children, youth and adults, we ask that all priesthood and auxiliary leaders become familiar with existing church policies and guidelines on preventing and responding to abuse,” stated the letter, which was signed by church President Russell M. Nelson and his counselors, President Dallin H. Oaks and President Henry B. Eyring.
The changes come months after former Mormon bishop Sam Young launched a petition calling for an end to the practice of one-on-one interviews between Mormon leaders and youth members of the church. The petition has over 19,000 signatures and calls on leaders to “protect LDS children” and “stop sexually explicit interviews of Mormon youth.”