Abducted in Plain Sight

[_Stem]

I had the same reaction. Couldn't believe it. And I swear I heard about this some years ago, and it came off as much different back when I heard it. Don't know why that is, but sometimes stories told and passed around become a different beast than what they were.

un-freaking-believable. I must have seen the lady, the one who was victimized, speak about it, or something, because she looks so familiar to me. Maybe she was in a ward I was in.

[_Lemmie]

My teen daughter and I watched it together and were exclaiming profanities throughout. It was enraging! It was sumultaneously understandable, though, and eerily familiar. I totally get the environment of trust and shame. I can imagine how unspeakable things can cease to exist in our minds if we think they're impossible, even when presented with the evidence.

True, MC. I think it is much more the case in the homogenous LDS communities of the Mountain West. I grew up outside of Washington, D.C., and I just can't see the level of naïve trust in others that would allow something like that to happen occurring too often in my LDS environment. Won't say it didn't or couldn't happen, but those homogeneously LDS communities out West make a better hunting ground for the predators, in my opinion. Just my two cents.

I'm glad you mentioned that, Kishkumen. It seemed that both the girl and her family felt a great deal of shame at her being the victim. I saw a great deal of that growing up LDS, but you can't say that is an LDS attribute, and leave it at that. Refining it to the homogenous, strongly LDS communities in the west is more appropriate. When I was growing up, those types of communities were relatively isolated and of course internet-free, meaning the LDS people you saw every day were your entire world and your only point of reference. If a girl hears her entire life that she MUST respect the priesthood, listen to the priesthood and follow the priesthood, there are no boundaries. Whatever happens will feel like her fault, and telling someone would be excruciatingly difficult.

[Guest]

I moved to Pocatello in early 1978 when I was 5. Grew up there. I know the extended family of this case. I can see how this stuff happens. Combine the claims of personal revelation to the low level apocalyptic hysteria that is common to the area. Remember Pocatello gave us the "school of the prophets" in the 80s. This kind of stuff is why watching the Handmaid's Tale is so disturbing for me.

[_Kishkumen]

I'm glad you mentioned that, Kishkumen. It seemed that both the girl and her family felt a great deal of shame at her being the victim. I saw a great deal of that growing up LDS, but you can't say that is an LDS attribute, and leave it at that. Refining it to the homogenous, strongly LDS communities in the west is more appropriate. When I was growing up, those types of communities were relatively isolated and of course internet-free, meaning the LDS people you saw every day were your entire world and your only point of reference. If a girl hears her entire life that she MUST respect the priesthood, listen to the priesthood and follow the priesthood, there are no boundaries. Whatever happens will feel like her fault, and telling someone would be excruciatingly difficult.

It is interesting how her predator essentially groomed her to be in his cult of two. He made up a BS story about aliens and the end of the world that was designed to coerce her into intercourse with him. That cult aspect was the most difficult thing for her to extricate herself from on the road to reuniting emotionally with her family. She really believed that she had a mission to perform that would save the world.

And all I am thinking is Joseph Smith and polygamy, polygamy, polygamy.

[_Maksutov]

I read the Daily Mail article. Unreal. The dad breaks down during filming over giving the perp a hand job, saying it’s the worst thing he ever did in his life. Hello??? How about letting an adult man sleep in the same bed as your 12 year old daughter? How about helping the perp get out of serving his sentence? How about failing to either move or keep the perp away from your daughter after he’s already kidnapped and raped her?

But no, the handjob is the worst thing ever.

Exactly. I could have slapped the crap out of both parents. Just decades too late. Grrrrr.

[_Sanctorian]

This proves that no matter the “good” people think is in Mormonism, the bad is way heavier on the scale. Time to shut this piece of crap down so people can use their brains again.

[_Kishkumen]

This proves that no matter the “good” people think is in Mormonism, the bad is way heavier on the scale. Time to shut this piece of crap down so people can use their brains again.

I think that, at the very least, this affirms the absolute necessity of a structural and doctrinal realignment that would prioritize protecting the integrity and security of children and families. Now is the time to do it, since the Church seems to be making some grudging and inadequate moves in that direction.

[_Dr. Shades]

It is interesting how her predator essentially groomed her to be in his cult of two. He made up a BS story about aliens and the end of the world that was designed to coerce her into intercourse with him.

What is this about a "BS" story? All he was doing is creating myth. It doesn't really matter where the myth comes from, as we recently learned--we all need myth in order to function effectively in society. So, just like Joseph Smith and Mormonism in general, no harm, no foul.

Let's not start talking about this guy the way Bill Reel would, since his way is simply naïve to reality.

[_Kishkumen]

What is this about a "BS" story? All he was doing is creating myth. It doesn't really matter where the myth comes from, as we recently learned--we all need myth in order to function effectively in society. So, just like Joseph Smith and Mormonism in general, no harm, no foul.

Let's not start talking about this guy the way Bill Reel would, since his way is simply naïve to reality.

Predictable. Let's not acknowledge the myriad differences that make your comparison at the very least extremely problematic if not disingenuous.

[_Dr. Shades]

Predictable. Let's not acknowledge the myriad differences that make your comparison at the very least extremely problematic if not disingenuous.

In that case, please set me straight. What are the differences between the myths Joseph Smith created and the myths this guy created? Because the net result was exactly the same: They allowed the perpetrator to get into underaged girls' pants.