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

Christopher Jenkins sat in his bishop's office with a confession that made his stomach turn. A woman in her late twenties had admitted to a sexual relationship with a minor. Jenkins, a family physician trained in mandatory reporting laws, reached for the phone to call the authorities. First, he dialed the LDS Church's abuse hotline. The voice on the other end stopped him cold. According to the hotline attorney, he was not a mandatory reporter. He did not have to report the abuse.

This account, detailed on the Mormon Stories Podcast episode 2119, marks another instance of a Mormon bishop being instructed by church legal counsel to remain silent about child abuse. The pattern is becoming harder to dismiss as isolated or anecdotal.

Background: A Doctor in the Bishop’s Office

Jenkins served as a bishop in Washington State from 2019 until 2023. Unlike many lay clergy, he brought professional credentials to the role. As a family medicine doctor who performed everything from deliveries to end-of-life care, he understood the legal and ethical obligations surrounding patient safety. He had performed mandatory reporting in his medical practice. He assumed his priesthood duties carried similar weight.

The case involved a less active female member who voluntarily confessed to statutory rape. Jenkins believed he faced a clear legal and moral duty to report. When he contacted the church's help line, he expected guidance on how to proceed. Instead, he received a legal opinion that effectively neutralized his intention to involve law enforcement.

Key Claims: What the Hotline Said