It’s Official. Eleven year olds are now fair game in the Mormon Church

Mountain Top GirlThe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is changing up programs for children and youth.  Their official announcement from December 14, 2018 can be found HERE.

New Policy For 11 Year Old Children

“Young women may receive their first temple recommend and young men may receive the Aaronic Priesthood and then their first temple recommend in January of the year they turn 12.”

“Ordinations and obtaining limited-use recommends will typically take place throughout January.”

This means that a child born on Dec 31 is to be interviewed within his/her first month of being 11.  It moves the assessment of ‘worthiness’ up by almost a full year from the past practices.

Here we have a mere child being taken behind closed doors with an untrained older man.  In June of 2018, the church openly declared that bishops are to ask the question “Do you live the law of chastity?”  That is a SEX question….with a child who is barely 11.

Can bishops ask “Do you masturbate?”  Absolutely!!!  Protect LDS Children has challenged the Church to condemn 29 Questions that are being used to prob our kids.  Masturbation is at the top of the list.  The church’s response?  “Bishops should not ask unnecessarily probing questions.”  What the hell does that mean?  It sends a loud and clear message that bishops can ask any question that they deem as ‘necessarily probing’.  Now they are free to do it to kids 1 year younger than they we allowed to previously.

THIS.IS.HORRENDOUS.

Dec 12, 2018:  Bishop Charged with Sex Abuse

Two days before the church announced that 11 year olds are now to be interrogated about sex, a Mormon bishop was charged with sex abuse of young people in his congregation.   How ironic that both these news stories appeared at the same time.

Much of what this bishop did is CONDONED by the LDS Church.  You can read the news stories at FOX13, 2KUTV, and KSL.

What Does the Mormon Church condone?

One night, after a church activity in August of 2017, Head drove the boy home. But when he got to the boy’s driveway, he “locked the vehicle doors and stated, ‘We have to figure this masturbation thing out. You’re not leaving until we figure this out,'” the charges state.

A bishop all alone with a young boy?  Bishops are totally sanctioned to be alone with the children and youth of their congregations!!!!

A bishop behind closed doors?  Absolutely.  Whether it be an office, a car, or a home, the church allows children to be taken behind any closed door by any bishop.

Bishops talking about masturbation with a minor?  You better believe it.  That’s the #1 question on the list of 29.  In many stakes and wards, the leaders have been told that masturbation specifically should be asked.

Another boy told police that Head would discuss sex “all the time,” according to the charges.

A bishop talking about sex all the time?  Bishops are mandated to interview the youth at least 2 times per year.  If he perceives the child needs help with a ‘problem,’ he has the purview to call the child into interviews as often as he deems necessary.

A decade after it happened, I found out that at age 12 my daughter was probed by the bishop, “Do you masturbate?”  I asked her if that question was ever posed again.  Like the boy who was abused by his bishop, her response was “All the time, dad.”

The Mormon Church provided this statement in response their bishop being charged with child sex abuse.

“Abuse of any kind cannot be tolerated in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints”

My rebuttal to this statement:  LIARS!!!  Their policy of one-on-one interviews opens the way for abuse.  Asking sexual questions IS child abuse!!!  Thousands of witnesses provide a monstrous monument to the massive abuse the church has facilitated.  You can SEE and READ hundreds of those stories at protectldschildren.org.

News Conference

There was a time that I wondered, “Why do the Mormon apostles allow this?”

There was a time that I asked, “Why do Mormon bishops continue to take children all alone behind closed doors and interrogate them with sexual questions?”

There was a time that I pondered, “Why do the good members of the church tolerate this practice?”

I no longer care why the Mormon Church harms children.  At this point, I just care that children are in harm’s way.   It must stop.  It will stop.

On Thursday Dec 20, 2018, I will hold a news conference in Salt Lake City.  The plans for our next action will be publicly announced.

This will be a MAJOR action.  Bigger and more comprehensive than anything we have done before.  Our message will be expanded.  The audience will be extended.  Its impact will be a gigantic and historic hammer blow to protect ALL children.

To the Mormon Church

I never wanted to embarrass you.  I never wanted to shame you.  You were my church.

But now the time has come.

You, without apology, shame children into self-hatred.  It’s time you be shamed.  From the mountains tops.  All around the globe.

Banners are about to be unfurled, calling to all the world: 

PROTECT.OUR.CHILDREN.

Next Big Action!!!

LionWith their most recent excommunication antics, the Mormon Church has decided NOT to protect their children.

However, the Church HAS chosen to protect what they view as more important:

  1. The apostle’s power and reputation.  Hypocrites!  Their first priority should be the children, not themselves.
  2. The Mormon right to expose children to physical sexual abuse.
  3. The Mormon right to expose children to psychological abuse.  Also known as covert abuse.

I have news for the Mormon Church.  As they continue to enforce the absurd policies that damage kids, the reputation of their leaders will continue to be trashed.  Not by Sam Young.  Their character will be vilified by their own actions.

Furthermore, they have NO right to employ sexual interrogations.  They traumatize children.  In the state of Texas, child abuse includes: “Inflicting mental or emotional injury impairing a child’s growth, development or psychological functioning.”  Thousands of testimonials witness that this type of child abuse has been perpetrated over and over and over in bishop’s offices around the world.  IT…IS…CRIMINAL!!!

EXCOMMUNICATION

The Church used it’s biggest hammer to pound me into silence.  I will not be silent.

The all powerful Mormon apostles intended to intimidate me.  Intimidation by hypocrisy does not terrify a moral cause.

They sought to stigmatize me with shame.  Only I have the capacity to stamp myself with shame…by walking away from my friends.  Well…I am not going to take that shameful bend in the road.  The apostles have chosen the shameful path.  I will not follow.  The children and the gospel of Jesus Christ are of infinitely greater import.

NEXT ACTION—THE BOOK

I have decided to publish The Book of Stories.

The Crescendo of awareness has dramatically increased.  Each action has built on the success of the previous action.  Publishing The Book is going to be bigger than anything we have done so far.

The target audience is no longer the apostles nor the membership of the Church.  This Book will be written to the general public.  Church leaders and their obedient followers will be relegated to the sidelines.  They will witness a national discussion unfold regarding “covert” child abuse.  The Mormon Church will be highlighted as the biggest and baddest example of unacceptable behavior.

Over the past 3 days, I have been tutored by a publishing expert.  An exciting course has been charted.  It will generate a ton of exposure in both national and local media.  A lot of work lays ahead with a plethora of moving parts.  I now see a clear path to producing a gigantic impact.

TOGETHER, A PRIDE OF LIONS IS GOING TO ROAR!!!

STEP ONE

When stories were originally submitted to Protectldschildren.org, I had no vision that a book could eventually be the result.  So I didn’t ask for permission to publish the stories in print.  That process began 3 weeks ago.  An email has sent to each submitter requesting permission.  At this point, several hundred permissions have been granted.

Below is the email request.  If you submitted a story and have not responded to the permission request, please do soon.  Simply contact me at liberty-sam@msn.com.

If you experienced an inappropriate youth interview and have not submitted your story, feel free to do it soon.  Story submissions can be made HERE.

PERMISSION LETTER

Dear Story Contributor,

First, let me thank you for taking the time to write out your story and submit it to Protect LDS Children’s website.  That alone has helped protect many children today and has promoted healing of yesterday’s children who are now adults.  I hope that sharing your story has been therapeutic for your childhood wounds.

I’m writing today to give you a heads up and ask your permission. 

As you know, I have implemented several actions to encourage the Mormon Church to revise their dangerous and irresponsible interview protocol for minors.   I’ve now decided on a major next step…to publish the stories in book form.  I’m very sensitive to the survivors and have decided not to publish any story without permission.  So, if you would like your story included, please respond to this email indicating that you give permission.  If you prefer not to grant authorization, that is perfectly ok and understandable.

I’d also like to list geographic info.  If you are willing, please provide the following.  This is not a requirement to have your story included.

Where did the offensive interviews occur?  List which state/states or which country if outside the U.S.

Where do you currently reside?  State or country if outside the U.S.

Here is what I hope to accomplish by publishing:

  1. Create additional awareness of what the Mormon Church sanctions behind closed doors.
  2. Raise consciousness of what damages are being caused by Mormon interview policies.
  3. Assist more and more Mormon parents to decide to protect their own children.
  4. Continue to promote healing for those who have submitted stories and the tens of thousands who don’t feel comfortable sharing their story at this time.
  5. Nudge the Church into implementing the protections that all other institutionalized churches already have put into place:  No one-on-one interviews, no sexually explicit questions, ever.

Notes:

  • How will each story be titled?  1) ‘Name Hidden’ or 2) with the first name and initial of the last n name.  Generally, I’ll follow the instructions from the initial submission.  If you want it to appear differently, just let me know when you email in your permission.
  • Not all stories will be included.  Currently, there are about 950 submissions.  The editor will give input on how much the length of the book will need to be adjusted.  I can’t guarantee which stories it will actually contain.
  • If any profits accrue they will go to Protect the Children Association (ProtectLDSChildren.org) to fund further actions.

I’ve never undertaken a project like this before.  So, I have no idea what a realistic time frame is.  My hope is to get a book out in the next 6 to 18 months.  Every week that goes by, thousands of children are put at risk.  As a result, I feel urgency in my gut.

Thanks for your consideration.

Love and warm regards,

Sam Young,  ProtectLDSChildren.org

 

A Voice Lifted Up…Long & Loud!

Lion RunningA friend recently sent me this scripture and note.

D&C 124:75
And let him lift up his voice long and loud, in the midst of the people, to plead the cause of the needy; and let him not fail, neither let his heart faint; and I will accept of his offerings.

Your diligent work reminds me of the above verse. For if the innocent LDS children suffering abuse and trauma don’t qualify as needy individuals, I don’t know who would qualify.  Thank you, good sir. And use this scripture to rebut your enemies next time they get after you about causing needless contention. Amen? The Lord has asked us to lift up our voice long and loud for exactly these types of circumstances.

Thank you my friend for your scriptural encouragement.

On July 28 & 29, a roaring voice will be raised long and loud.  It won’t be a lonely voice.  Around the world, a chorus of thousands will join in unison to call for THIS to never happen again.  The church has been put on notice.

Our plans are rather daunting.  It’s my hope that we can stay the course until our two days of action arrive.  I have a couple of purposes in publishing these posts:

  1. To help those involved, especially me, to not change our minds.  That is still a reasonable possibility.
  2. To focus the attention of all those who support our cause so they are ready to join in on the 29th when the details are revealed.

Looking for an Apostle

March crush at COBThe following email was sent to my stake president tonight.

Dear President,

Over the past year, I have been very active in working to bring awareness to the dangers of our interview policies:  The petition.  The Sacred Stories.  The march.  The news conferences.  All the TV, radio and newspaper coverage.  The top tier media coverage in Australia and the U.K.  Finally, National Children’s day.

This has led many parents to protect their children by establishing wise boundaries.  A wonderful thing.  It has enabled and facilitated healing.  A gorgeous thing.

It has also led the Church to make changes.  Unfortunately, they were minor.  Although they were steps in the right direction, all the inherent dangers remain.

My next action is planned for July 28 & 29.  Of course, it will be a peaceful undertaking.  It’s an action that the church has never faced before.  It will draw every bit as much attention as the march.  In fact, it will have a much bigger impact.  Millions of people who have never heard of our cause will become aware of what we Mormons subject our children to.

A few months ago, I visited the building which houses the apostles’ offices.  I requested an appointment.  They didn’t let me through the locked doors.  Rather, they talked to me through an intercom.   I was informed that a security detail would meet me in front of the building.

Sure enough, within just a few minutes, three guards in business suits appeared.  They didn’t emerge from the front door.  They just seemed to materialize out of nowhere.  Although I was a bit nervous, we had a delightful conversation.  They told me how to secure a meeting with an apostle.  My stake president would have to make a request to his supervising seventy which would then be relayed through the area presidency.

So, here’s my request.  Please relay to your supervising seventy that I’d like to meet with an apostle. 

I’ll be in Salt Lake City on Saturday the 28th and Sunday the 29th.  The action will last all day, both days.  However, what happens on Saturday will not be visible unless someone is really paying attention.  On the 29th, what happened on the preceding day will be revealed and it will continue all day Sunday.

Preparations have been quietly underway for the past few weeks.   The elements are coming together to enable thousands of voices to unite to protect our children and to protect the good name of the church.

Please rest assured that this action will be completely peaceful and legal and……HUGE.  It will pose no threat to anyone or anything….except to a dreadful policy.

BTW, if you are ready to stand with me to protect our kids, I’ll gladly buy your plane ticket to Utah for our meeting with an apostle.

Please keep me advised,

-Sam