"Protect the Children" Petition Update

[StarbucksMom]

I signed the Sam Young petition about youth interviews a few weeks back and received this email today. They are looking for stories, and you can remain anonymous if needed.

Greetings,

Thank you, my friends, for standing up to protect our children. We are now 10,000 thundering voices strong.

The petition is already making a big difference in the lives of many adults and children. Adults have reported that what we are doing has helped in their healing process. Children have been protected by parents starting to forbid one-on-one interviews.

The main purpose of our movement is to bring about major changes to the LDS Church’s interview practice. This petition is the first major step. Thank you for taking it with me.

The next step is to get as many stories as possible recorded on the new website protectldschildren.org. Here’s why this is needed:

Various media outlets have asked for a convenient location where testimonials can be viewed of the damage caused by LDS interview practices.
Many church members are still unaware that sexually explicit questions are being asked of our children.
Many church members are unaware of the severe consequences that our children have suffered.

Here’s what I’m asking. If you or your children have experienced sexually intrusive questioning during youth interviews, please record your story at protectldschildren.org. Short or long, the word count doesn’t matter.

Currently, we have 80 stories. My goal is 1,000. On January 18th, we will hold a press conference in SLC. Major media outlets are expected to be present. We have 2 weeks to accumulate the narratives that ultimately will be offered to the press.

BTW, you can choose to hide your name when recording your story.

I’ll get back with you when we launch our next step to protect our children.
All my best for a happy and healthy New Year,

Sam

P.S. Special thanks to the 80 of you who have already recorded your story.

[MoPag]

Thanks for the update StarbucksMom! I've signed it.

I admire all the brave people sharing their stories.

Sam is awesome for doing this.

[Not Buying It]

Is this effort going to result in change? Maybe not today, maybe not next year. But I will tell you what, for the first time ever it is has been brought to the Brethren's attention that some members think that sexual interrogations of youth alone behind closed doors with middle aged men may not be a good idea. If all it has done is let them know that there are some of us who don't agree with them on this, signing the petition was totally worth it to me.

Nothing will ever change in the Church if the Brethren think they can continue their questionable practices without any pushback from the members or public scrutiny. Maybe this isn't successful. But then maybe, just maybe, the Brethren start to understand they can't get away with the crap they used to get away with without public resistance, and they start thinking twice about some things.

Or maybe they are arrogant blowhards who are going to do what they want no matter what. That's a possibility too.