Mormon Church Sexual Abuse

Understanding Sexual Abuse in the Mormon Church

The Mormon Church, which is officially known as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), has faced hundreds of lawsuits involving child sexual abuse at the hands of leaders, members, and volunteers.

The Church has been accused of directing religious leaders to manage abuse claims internally instead of reporting them to law enforcement, shielding the organization from accountability rather than protecting victims.

Mormon Church abuse lawsuits allege:

• A “help line” was used to route abuse allegations to the Church’s law firm instead of the police
• Church officials allowed suspected abusers to remain in the community
• Survivors were often silenced or pressured to forgive their abuser
• The institution’s reputation was placed above child safety and well-being

“They were aware of it but they just kept covering up and never did anything about it.”
– Tom S., Mormon Church Abuse Survivor

Some survivors are now filing civil sexual abuse lawsuits to hold the organization accountable. So far, billions of dollars have been paid out to survivors of Mormon Church sexual abuse across the country.

If you or someone you love suffered sexual abuse in the Mormon Church, sexual abuse lawyers may be able to help you get closure and accountability.

Mormon Church Sex Abuse Settlements & Verdicts

Billions of dollars have been awarded to survivors of sexual abuse within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This compensation can help cover the cost of therapy and medical care while also sending a powerful message that abuse is never okay.

Mormon Church sexual abuse settlements and verdicts include:

• $2.28 Billion to a woman abused by her stepfather at home and at church functions between the ages of 5 and 14. Church officials had allegedly been told about the abuse but failed to report it and pressured her to keep it secret.
• $4.2 Million for two sisters in Washington who were sexually abused by their stepfather in the 1990s. One sister allegedly reported the abuse to a bishop, but he failed to alert the authorities.
• $4 Million to a boy abused by Robert Blome, a former LDS Church member. Blome, later sentenced to 15 years in prison, was accused of abusing multiple boys while Church leaders allegedly ignored warnings about his behavior.
• $3 Million to an Oregon man who claimed the Church covered up sexual abuse that occurred when he was 11.

In one case, the LDS Church offered $250 Million toward a Boy Scouts of America settlement for sexual abuse, as they had sponsored hundreds of troops. A judge rejected the deal, which would have shielded the Church from LDS abuse claims.

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How the Church Handles Mormon Sexual Abuse

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has systematically mishandled reports of sexual abuse, often prioritizing legal protection for the organization over the safety of victims, according to an investigative report by the Associated Press.

When bishops learn of abuse, they’re instructed to call a confidential Mormon abuse hotline operated by the Church’s law firm, not law enforcement. The Church is also accused of using “clergy-penitent privilege” to keep abuse secret.

In one case, Arizona church member Paul Adams raped his daughters for years. The Church was made aware through the hotline, but never contacted police. Adams continued the abuse and posted videos of it until authorities discovered the crimes.

“They just let it keep happening. They just said, ‘Hey, let’s excommunicate her father.’ It didn’t stop. ‘Let’s have them do therapy.’ It didn’t stop. ‘Hey, let’s forgive and forget, and all this will go away.’ It didn’t go away.”
– MJ, Adams’ Daughter & Mormon Church Abuse Survivor

In July 2025, an Arizona appeals court ruled that a civil lawsuit against the LDS Church over this case can proceed, finding that Adams’ admissions may not have been protected by clergy-penitent privilege.

The judges cited a passage from the Church’s handbook, which states that bishops should disclose confidential information when “necessary to prevent life-threatening harm or serious injury.” This ruling challenges the Church’s long-standing defense for keeping abuse reports secret.

Power and Control Enabled Sex Abuse in the Mormon Church

Reports of sexual abuse within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints describe a range of deeply traumatic experiences, often involving a pattern of grooming, manipulation, and ongoing harm.

Alleged perpetrators include bishops, home teachers, and other church-affiliated adults who used their power to gain access to children and teens. Survivors often report that the abuse escalated over time and was enabled by a culture of silence.

Improper behavior reported in Mormon sexual abuse cases includes:

• Grooming and psychological manipulation
• Oral, anal, and vaginal rape
• Sexual touching or groping

These experiences often left survivors confused, afraid, and ashamed, especially in a religious environment where obedience and forgiveness were emphasized over justice and protection.

Get Justice for Mormon Sexual Abuse

The true scope of sexual abuse within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is still unknown. Survivors continue to come forward, but decades of secrecy and internal handling have made the full extent of harm unclear.

Over 100 new Mormon sex abuse lawsuits have been filed in 2025 alone. The LDS Church has also been named in lawsuits related to the Boy Scouts of America sex abuse crisis, which involves more than 80,000 claims.

These numbers show that abuse isn’t isolated or rare. Church officials have released little data on their own, leaving independent investigations, lawsuits, and survivor accounts to fill in the gaps.

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