Reader comments
LDS leader blasts abuse

The church really did an awesome thing by having Elder Scott give this talk. My respect for the church as an organization has increased ten-fold.

What a wonderful talk! Elder Scott teaches this topic with such sensitivty. It is possible to recover from this abuse but it is sometimes a lengthy process.

Elder Scott's advice to watch our children for abrupt changes in behavior and to teach them about safety was especially important.

C'mon, this is common sense. Scott told us nothing that we haven't been told over and over by psychologists, school teachers, counselors, and parenting experts.

To Anonymous:

Not everything he said was common sense known to all. The part I liked was when he said that if you are guilty of being an abuser, then you will be found out. Satan will identify you then abandon you. Now THAT is powerful.

There was as much about coming clean as an abuser and repenting as there was about trusting the healing power of the Savior for the abused. Very balanced. Very well said. The Savior does not abondan anyone.

What a wonderful message spoken by an Apostle.

An excellent talk and unfortunately very timely. However a thought came to me about those who are falsely accused. It is happening locally. Hypnotherapy and false, planted memories. It was in the paper recently and a social worker is being investigated. The police gave her false information that then showed up in the testimony of her child clients. The only way that could have happened is if she put it in their minds. It is a shame because the children really believe it happened but it didn't. Satan will stop at nothing to cause misery. Misery for those abused and misery for those falsely accused of it.

anonymous,

Yes, much of this may have been info we are aware. But not everyone is and believe it or not, there are still people out there that need help healing and a righteous Priesthood holder, an Apostle of the Saviour is a great instrument in the Lord's hand for that purpose. He is a great man. His talk will make a difference to many people,old and young who have been affected by these circumstances on the one end or the other. There is the balm of Gilead that the gospel offers. I hope you actually watched, perhaps a loved one needs the help of the righteous priesthood. Blesings on your head...

Common sense is not a term usually associated with abuse cases. Everything about it is insane. Elder Scott's counsel was timely and appropriate for this growing problem in our society reminding all concerned what the realities of abuse are for those concerned.

To Anonymous...C'mon sign your name! Are you that fearful for your life or just not willing to own your own words? Sounds like a cowards way out. I believe you would find fault with anything the church said or represented, regadless of its value. In addition, find me any statement uttered by anyone that has not been made by someone else. Originality is a rare commodity my friend, even for church leaders. The real courage is someone willing to take the bully pulpit and make a statement regardless of what people have to say. Right doesn't change just because someone representing an insitiution you disapprove of says says it.

Yes, what Elder Scott said may be common sense. But because HE said it, it makes everyone oooh and aawh, like it is some special revelation from God.

What a joke you people are. You have no more insights into life than anyone else. You are no happier than anyone else (and if the anti-depressant consumption is any clue, you are much LESS happy!).

You all pretend to be so spiritual, and you pretend to be "in tune with the spirit", but you are deluding yourselves. You all are just full of pop psychology dressed in protestant priests' robes.

I was particularly struck by his simple declarative about this problem being a "rising tide." I've wondered whether there is more abuse happening now, or whether we are simply more aware of it. These words for an Apostle and Prophet lead me to believe that while awareness is certainly increasing, there is also an increase in the amount of abuse. Which is very troubling.

What is happening in society that abuse would be increasing even as awareness of, precautions against, and punishment and treatment for abuser and abused, respectively, are all increasing? What is going on that in the face of all this, the amount of abuse is also increasing?

I also agree with "Anonymous at 5:18" that we must be careful not to falsely accuse the innocent, nor believe that false accusations never happen. We are certainly well advised to avoid any situation where a false accusation could be made.

Anonymous, you are right, unfortunately, there are instances of false reporting. Elder Scott addressed the role of Satan in all areas of abuse--this is one. He also mentioned how important it is that we rely on the spirit to guide us in every step of the process. There are ways to detect false reporting. It is very important that you seek help through reputable and trained therapists--most do not use hypnotherapy.

Sexual abuse of children has nothing to do with Satan or "the Saviour". Sexual abuse has nothing to do with religion or lack of religion. It has everything to do with humans acting in illegal and unethical ways for which they should be brought to justice under the appropriate criminal laws. The children in these communities need professional help and therapy and a chance to see that there is a life outside of the control of these 'righteous' priests who condoned and, in some cases, conducted the abuse.

It's time to stop seeing crimes in religious terms and start demanding accountability in human terms.

give it a break "anonymous" someone is addressing
a very serious subject, perhaps the most serious of our time and clearly warning those evil people that somewhere, somehow, they will be called for their actions and you dare find fault? as a foster parent, and teacher in a school for children who have suffered this kind of abuse (among others) I
am very glad that Elder Scott has drawn a clear line
in the sand on the topic, what's YOUR backgound or experence to issue such jaded comments. I stongly suggest you find some form of psychologial treatment!

There is a rising tide of sexual abuse, and it is directly relate to the proliferation of pornography in our society. I am a recovering porn addict and I can tell you this, pornography desensitizes the individual and slowly degrades their reasoning ability and leads them to do more and more sexually degrading things that they normally would have been repulsed by before they started using pornography. I�m lucky I got help before I did anything really stupid like sexual abuse.

Pornography is not victimless; it affects everyone around you, and destroys your life faster then any drug and has far longer ramifications.

Of course, abuse wasn't as important, wasn't as big a deal, until a MORMON APOSTLE "blasted" it!

Mormons wait around on their backsides for their leaders to command them. Mormons can't think for themselves, so they need to be told that abuse is a problem.

Where have you people been? Get your heads out of the scriptures long enough to look around and see what is going on around you! Then you wouldn't need an old man to tell you that abuse is a problem!

Wake up!

To Reality:

I'm surprised the Deserted news actually posted what you wrote.
And I agree with you 100%.

What kind of articles do you expect to read in the Deseret News? I don't understand people like you who have nothing better to do than spend hours reading articles for the soul purpose of having material to mock other people's beliefs. Go do something productive with your life. It's terrible an "old man" would counsel a bunch of Mormons on subjects such as this. I get my head out of my scriptures as soon as you get yours out of you know where.

those shameful adoptions of the Samoan people? I know of some that went on the mormon indian placement program..maybe george was one of the ones who got abused too!

Here is how the timeline works for Apostles like Elder Scott to get a "revelation" - sociologists and politicians begin to take notice of an issue. Then about 5 years later, the issue becomes important in the public eye. Then another 5 years later, a few enlightened LDS people start having the guts to raise the issue in their local wards and stakes. Then another 5 years later, some of these enlightened people are called into leadership positions where they have the ear of a general authority. Then another 5 years, and the issue finally gets into a talk by an apostle in General Conference.

That is the latency: LDS leaders tend to be about 20 years behind everyone else with their talks.

Cheeeez. Turning this issue into a blasting of Mormons and the Deseret News is pathetic. It is obvious your agenda is to attach the Mormons and the Deseret News, not take a stand against abuse. Sad, so very sad my friend. Then again if you are trying to agitate for the sake of irritation please choose another subject. For me any person or institution that stands against abuse is worthy of some respect. Then again, you demonstate your ignorance if you believe this is the first time the Mormons have talked, acted, or have a policy on abuse. If ignorance is bliss you must be the happiest person in the world. Cheeeez!