Hotline Questions and Legal Focus

In this episode of Mormon Stories Podcast, we speak with Christopher Jenkins, a former LDS bishop, about his personal experience with the Church’s abuse hotline. While serving as bishop in Washington, a ward member confessed abuse to him. When Christopher called the Church’s hotline for guidance, he says he was told he was not a mandatory reporter and felt pressured not to report the abuse to authorities.

Christopher walks us through both calls he made to the hotline, the legal framing of the guidance he received, and the lack of follow-up afterward. He also discusses broader issues surrounding clergy confidentiality, how reporting requirements vary by jurisdiction, and what he perceived as the Church’s focus on institutional liability rather than victim care.

We also explore how he now views mandatory reporting laws, the Church’s opposition to certain reporting requirements in Washington, and larger questions about abuse prevention, bishop training, and accountability. Christopher shares how this experience, along with navigating life as the father of LGBTQ+ children, contributed to significant shifts in his faith.

This conversation centers on leadership responsibility, ethical decision-making, and what happens when institutional guidance conflicts with personal conscience.

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