DiscussMormonism.com

How important is establishing early grooming with young victims?

https://www.reddit.com/r/exmormon/comme ... _auto=true

Can you imagine the delight in the eyes of the Kirton McConkie lawyers at being able to defend the next wave of priesthood predators protected under the rubric of 'doing the Lord's work'?

Given the number of cases where minors have been groomed, directly or indirectly, as a result of building up a trusting relationship with an unrelated volunteer adult, one can only conclude the Church is deliberately presenting predators with a safe haven and plenty of opportunity.

The bells of hell are ringing!

Gross. Knock it off, LDS Church.

What could possibly go wrong? As for me, I choose to have faith in the Church leaders that they are making good, sound decisions directed by God.

I’m sure cynical critics will point out that trust should be earned and not assigned. Or, that in the Church where the questioning of authority is strictly taboo, even off limits, this is guaranteed to have disastrous consequences. Or, that this is just an attempt to brainwash and guilt the children at a younger age to stay in the Church in an attempt to stop the hemorrhaging.

I’m just being sarcastic. This is just another horrible idea from the Church that will lead to increased child sexual abuse, trauma and destroyed lives.

It’s almost like the Church asked Satan what changes he would like to implement. Can someone please throw the Church a lifeline?

This image was posted by John Dehlin yesterday, but does not include the bottom edge of the page. It appears to be a page from a survey taken in 2019. A full copy of the survey is posted here. https://imgur.com/a/8d4mdnl John should know when the survey happened, as Mormon Stories did an episode in it in July 2019. https://www.mormonstories.org/portfolio ... -children/
Given that the interviews have not been implemented, I suspect some folks came to their senses and realized that such interviews would facilitate grooming and abuse. I suspect Sam Young's efforts helped keep this from happening.

Even in 2019, it was unbelievably tone deaf and short sighted. (Sam was excommunicated that year.) But portraying it as a current threat without showing the bottom of the page (which should contain the copyright information) isn't honest.

First, I find this idea repulsive to begin grooming younger children earlier. This is simply wrong.

Second, this is just another think for bishops to do. They already have so much in their plates. I wonder if they will give bishops a raise or take away some of their current responsibilities.

Honestly, bishops should let parents deal with their minor children, whenever possible.

If Bishops left the door slightly open, the questions would likely be some what appropriate like open ended questions: “Johnny, what are you going to do after High School?” “Join the Marines.”

From the current handbook:

The bishop or an assigned counselor interviews those who are to be ordained deacons or teachers to determine if they are spiritually prepared. The bishop interviews brethren who are to be ordained priests.

Before interviewing a young man for priesthood ordination, the bishop obtains verbal permission from the parents or guardians. Permission is not required from a parent or guardian who has no legal basis for opposing the action.

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/stu ... e_number63

So the Bishop is authorised to interview a minor regardless of a parents' objection.