Another Mormon Bishop Told NOT to Report Abuser - Christopher Jenkins | Ep. 2119

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Mar 2, 2026

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Christopher Jenkins

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ANECDOTE

Bishop Confronts Conflicting Sexuality Guidance

Jenkins encountered youth sexuality questions early in his bishopric and discovered varying interpretations from his stake president on whether masturbation remained a sin.
He spoke with his stake president who insisted it was still a sin despite handbook ambiguity.

ANECDOTE

Bishop Called Hotline And Was Told Not To Report

Christopher Jenkins, as bishop, called the LDS abuse hotline after a member confessed sexual activity with a 14-year-old and was told he was not a mandatory reporter.
The hotline lawyer gave the impression he should not report, Jenkins did not notify police, and the confessed member later cut off contact.

INSIGHT

Church Response Prioritizes Legal Risk Over Victims

Jenkins observes the church treats ethical abuse issues as legal risk problems and prioritizes institutional protection over victim safety.
He noted lawyers' focus on minimizing liability shaped hotline advice and left bishops without victim-centered follow-up.

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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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