EPISODE 1

The Beginning and The Event

Content warning: This episode describes child sexual abuse (CSA), child abuse, and references suicide. The worst of the content is the second part of the episode, the narrator will warn you to skip to Episode 2 to avoid the description of CSA. This podcast episode delves into Joseph’s traumatic upbringing within a deeply troubled Mormon family. Joseph shares his early life experiences, focusing on his parents' dysfunctional relationship, the dark history of his mother’s upbringing, and the emotional neglect and abuse he faced. The narrative explores the impact of his mother’s manipulative behavior, her lack of maternal capability, and her use of the Mormon faith as a tool for controlling and hiding troubling truths. The episode also touches on the darker elements of Joseph’s childhood, including the sexual abuse he and his sibling Courtney suffered in a new town, all while his mother remained detached, absorbed in gossip, and ignoring her responsibilities. The story paints a picture of a family trapped in secrecy, shame, and a cycle of abuse, while raising important questions about the role of the Church in enabling such dysfunction. Joseph’s account is a harrowing exploration of the intersection of trauma, faith, and family secrets, calling for a broader conversation about accountability and healing. https://mormoncoverup.com/blog/

29 min

EPISODE 2

That Was Supposed To Be A Secret

Content warning: This episode describes child abuse, references suicide and child sexual abuse. This episode explores the devastating consequences of parental neglect masked by social performance and manipulation. Set in the 1980s, it highlights how the narrator’s mother—an Australian immigrant who relied heavily on long, costly phone calls to maintain control of her narrative—neglected her children’s well-being while immersing herself in gossip and self-image management. During this time, the children were left unsupervised, creating the conditions for repeated sexual abuse by neighboring children. With a father absent for academic pursuits and an overburdened eldest daughter forced into a care giving role, the household became a site of trauma and unchecked harm. The story underscores the long-term damage caused by emotional detachment, misplaced trust, and denial within families. https://mormoncoverup.com/asecret/

25 min

EPISODE 3

The Baptism Did Not Work

Content warning: This episode describes physical child abuse and references child sexual abuse. In this powerful and deeply personal episode, Joseph recounts his early years growing up in a devout LDS Mormon household marked by emotional neglect, physical abuse, and the lasting trauma of child sexual abuse. Through vivid memories of bed wetting, parental rage, and desperate attempts to escape reality via cassette tapes and late-night radio, Joseph paints a harrowing portrait of a childhood under immense psychological strain. He reflects on the contradictions within his religious upbringing, the burdens placed on him and his siblings, and the brief refuge offered by the gifted education program—particularly through the compassion of a beloved teacher, Ms. Alan. This episode explores the complex interplay of trauma, faith, survival, and the quiet search for validation and safety. https://mormoncoverup.com/baptism/

22 min

EPISODE 4

The Mormon Cover Up at the LDS Meetinghouse

Content warning: This episode references suicide, physical child abuse and child sexual abuse. In this harrowing and incredibly personal podcast episode, the narrator recounts a traumatic chapter from his childhood rooted in the culture and institutions of the LDS Mormon Church. Set against the backdrop of a church meetinghouse where major life events unfolded—including baptism, marriage, and a critical CPS investigation—the story introduces key figures: Ms. Alan, a brave teacher and mandated reporter, and “The Dirty Cop,” a local officer who, despite having no jurisdiction, used his authority and church ties to derail a child abuse investigation. The narrator, then a 12-year-old boy, details a chilling night when the church became the stage for institutional betrayal, silencing efforts to protect him and others from ongoing abuse. The episode exposes how religion, law enforcement, and silence intersected to protect abusers, while the narrator and his teacher were isolated and overpowered. It’s a powerful call for accountability, systemic reform, and justice for victims failed by overlapping systems of power. https://mormoncoverup.com/themormoncoverup/

20 min

EPISODE 5

Under the Table and Escorting Courtney

Content warning: This episode references suicide, physical child abuse and child sexual abuse. In this episode, the narrator reflects on their early teenage years working at a Mormon-owned restaurant in the 1990s, a job arranged by their parents primarily to keep the children out of the house and occupied. The narrator began working there at age 12, often underpaid and socially isolated, but still found the environment preferable to home due to the relative kindness shown by the restaurant owners. We find young Joseph escorting his sisters on “dates” - not allowed in Mormon culture until a youth is 16 years old. The story sheds light on a household marked by emotional neglect, maternal manipulation, and the strategic silencing of abuse through forced busyness and isolation, all under the guise of religious and social propriety. https://mormoncoverup.com/escort/

21 min

EPISODE 6

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/

20 min

EPISODE 7

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/

19 min

EPISODE 8

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/

21 min

EPISODE 9

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/

20 min

EPISODE 10

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/

26 min

Mormon Cover Up

Season 1

The Beginning and The Event

That Was Supposed To Be A Secret

The Baptism Did Not Work

The Mormon Cover Up at the LDS Meetinghouse

Under the Table and Escorting Courtney

Kidnapped!

Courtney's First Pregnancy and the Baby's Death

Courtney's Second Pregnancy and her Death

Are You Going to Sue Us?

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

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