Mormon Cover Up

The Trial: Joseph's parents and The Mormon Church in Court

Content warning: This episode references suicide, physical child abuse and child sexual abuse. In this emotional podcast episode, the narrator recounts their legal battle against their parents and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in 2022, after being served with a protection order. The narrator decided to represent themselves in court, despite the pressure from lawyers advising them to surrender. The episode highlights the intense panic and anxiety the narrator experienced during the proceedings, including the psychological toll of facing their parents and the Mormon lawyer. The narrator meticulously prepared evidence, including documentation of abuse and personal trauma, while their parents and their lawyer tried to discredit them. The court revealed the deep lies and evasions from the parents, including the mother’s attempt to falsify her history with Child Protective Services. Ultimately, the judge issued a decision, granting a two-year protection order rather than the five years the plaintiffs sought. The episode reflects the ongoing struggle to confront and expose the truth about the abuse and the toll it takes on the narrator’s mental and emotional well-being. https://mormoncoverup.com/trial/ [https://mormoncoverup.com/2023/02/28/trial/]

Are You Going to Sue Us?

Content warning: This episode references suicide, physical child abuse and child sexual abuse. In this intense podcast episode, the narrator recounts a confrontation with their father and mother in January 2021, during which they reveal the long-hidden truth about the child sex abuse that took place in their home in 1984. The narrator confronts their father about his role in covering up the abuse, including his involvement as the Mormon bishop and collusion with a local police officer, and questions whether father was aware of the abuse. The interaction quickly becomes heated, with the mother reacting defensively, fearing legal repercussions, and the father downplaying the significance of the abuse, referring to it as a sin washed away by baptism. As the discussion unfolds, the narrator's father refuses to acknowledge the severity of the abuse, ultimately leading to a breakdown in communication and estrangement. The episode sheds light on the emotional turmoil and familial disintegration caused by years of denial and the manipulation of religious beliefs to shield the truth. https://mormoncoverup.com/dontsueus/ [https://mormoncoverup.com/2023/02/27/dontsueus/]

Courtney's Second Pregnancy and her Death

Content warning: This episode references suicide, physical child abuse and child sexual abuse. In this podcast episode, the narrator recounts their complex and loving relationship with their sister, Courtney, as they both navigated life after growing up in an abusive environment. The episode details Courtney's struggles after the death of her first child, her attempts at recovery, and the support the narrator provided, including helping Courtney get a job and find reliable transportation. Tensions within the family are explored, especially during a heated argument between Courtney and their sister, Stefanie, over Courtney’s pregnancies, highlighting the deep-rooted jealousy and emotional manipulation from their mother. The episode follows Courtney’s journey to motherhood, her death in 2004, and the aftermath, as the narrator reflects on the lasting impact of family trauma. https://mormoncoverup.com/death/ [https://mormoncoverup.com/2023/02/22/death/]

Courtney's First Pregnancy and the Baby's Death

Content warning: This episode references suicide, physical child abuse and child sexual abuse. In this podcast episode, the narrator reflects on their complex sibling relationship with Courtney, rooted in shared childhood trauma and survival. The episode details Courtney’s pregnancy announcement to the family, the strained reactions from their mother and sister Stefanie, and the underlying tensions caused by years of blackmail and suppressed trauma. The narrator recalls a heated confrontation between Courtney and Stefanie, with their mother passively observing, hinting at the emotional manipulation and dysfunction within the family. The episode also touches on Courtney's grief after the death of her first child and her struggle with the past, including a poignant conversation with the narrator about their parents' abusive behavior. The episode emphasizes the lasting impact of their childhood and how parenthood eventually led both siblings to realize the depth of their parents’ crimes. https://mormoncoverup.com/birth/ [https://mormoncoverup.com/2023/02/20/birth/]

Kidnapped!

Content warning: This episode references suicide, physical child abuse and child sexual abuse. In this podcast episode, the narrator shares their experience of being hidden away from Child Protective Services (CPS) by a Mormon couple, Brother and Sister Ralph, in the 1990s. The Ralphs, who were older and had grown up children, took the narrator in without asking many questions, as they believed they were helping a child in need. Despite their kindness, the narrator reflects on how the couple, unknowingly, participated in covering up the situation, not realizing the depth of the abuse. The episode also includes a letter from the Ralphs' daughter, who expresses regret over her lack of awareness regarding the abuse and acknowledges her parents’ naivety, while expressing sympathy and support for the narrator’s journey of healing and speaking out against the injustices they faced. https://mormoncoverup.com/kidnapped/ [https://mormoncoverup.com/2023/02/09/kidnapped/]