The LDS Church’s Coverup of Sterling Van Wagenen’s Sexual Abuse Pt. 2 | Ep. 1111

The Sterling Van Wagenen Case: How Church Knowledge of Sexual Abuse Failed to Protect Victims

When a trusted family friend sexually abuses a child in the privacy of a basement, and the victim's parents report it to church leadership, most people would assume institutional safeguards would follow. Yet according to testimony documented in the Mormon Stories Podcast's investigation into Sterling Van Wagenen's abuse, the LDS Church's response to credible allegations of child sexual abuse was not to protect potential victims, but to allow the accused perpetrator to remain in positions of influence for decades. Understanding how this happened requires examining what the official LDS Church position claims versus what the historical record reveals about institutional accountability and child safety protocols.

Background: A Trusted Leader and a Hidden History

Sterling Van Wagenen held positions that projected trustworthiness and spiritual authority within the LDS community. He worked as a BYU instructor, produced temple videos for the Church, served as a stake high councilor, and operated within social circles that positioned him as an exemplary member. What church members and their families did not know was that Van Wagenen had engaged in a pattern of behavior that extended far beyond the isolated 1993 incident that brought him to the attention of church leadership.

The abuse in question occurred when Sean Escobar, then thirteen years old, was sleeping over at Van Wagenen's home. Escobar woke in the darkness to find an adult hand reaching down into his clothing, a violation that left him traumatized and confused. When Escobar's parents learned what happened, they took an action many families in that era considered responsible: they reported the abuse to their local LDS bishop.

How Church Leadership Responded, and What It Meant