The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints position on Child Abuse

When I was initially searching the web for Mormon based sites that addressed sexual abuse-I was very disappointed. Not only did I find nothing helpful, but I found some sights I felt were totally ridiculous. I don't know the purposes behind some of these sites, but I found them truly misinformed. Because of this I feel it is important to clearly site the church's position on child abuse.

Straight from the Church's handbook it states:

"The Church’s position is that abuse cannot be tolerated in any form. Those who abuse or are cruel to their spouses, children, other family members, or anyone else violate the laws of God and man."

Having been raised in the the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints-this seems clearly obvious to me. But since there is so much misinformation out in the world (especially on the internet) --I figured I had better just put that out there.

President Thomas Monson has said,

"Local hospitals everywhere receive these little ones, bruised and battered, accompanied by bald-faced lies that the child “ran into the door” or “fell down the stairs.” Liars, bullies who abuse children, they will one day reap the whirlwind of their foul deeds. The quiet, the hurt, the offended child victim of abuse, and at times incest, must receive help. A district judge, in a letter to me, declared, “Sexual abuse of children is one of the most depraved, destructive, and demoralizing crimes in civilized society. There is an alarming increase of reported physical, psychological, and sexual abuse of children. Our courts are becoming inundated with this repulsive behavior.” The Church does not condone such heinous and vile conduct. Rather, we condemn in the harshest of terms such treatment of God’s precious children. Let the child be rescued, nurtured, loved, and healed. Let the offender be brought to justice, to accountability, for his actions and receive professional treatment to curtail such wicked and devilish conduct. When you and I know of such conduct and fail to take action to eradicate it, we become part of the problem. We share part of the guilt. We experience part of the punishment.-Children a Gift from God (Ensign, October 1991)