If you have young children around, you may want to save this episode for later, as we frankly discuss sexual matters. This American Life, an NPR podcast, recently discussed LDS bishops asking young teens what some call sexually explicit interviews. Should the LDS Church modify the interviews or ban questions about sex? Kurt Francom of the Leading Saints podcast weighs in and we discuss the pros and cons of bishop’s interviews.
Kurt: The vast majority of bishop interviews or having a total net positive in the lives of youth.
GT: Yeah. I mean we could look at is 87 percent are good, 13 percent are bad.
Kurt: Right. Right. We can’t shut down all the beaches because shark attacks happen every once in a while. There’s so much good that happens in these wards because of bishops interviews, even alone with youth, right? Now, obviously the bishop has to protect themselves and handle this correct, but I guess that’s my main point. Sure, more policy would be good. But there’s so much more we can do without a new policy.
GT: Let me throw this out there because I know this has always been a thing that has bothered me over the years. We have two-deep in scouts although we’re getting rid of scouts, but we have two-deep in Primary. Why do we not have two-deep in bishop’s interviews? Why is it? I mean even if you don’t allow the parent to be there, why not have the Relief Society president there if it’s a girl, or a young men’s president, if it’s a boy, I mean, a lot of people have made these suggestions and you know, it’s not like I’m coming up with something original here. Why isn’t the church, and I know it’s not your pay grade, but some people are saying this is common sense, you know? If you have one percent of the problem, I mean the Boy Scouts was a problem. So we have two-deep leadership. The Primary apparently was some sort of an issue. So we have two-deep. So why is the bishop different?
Find out Kurt’s response! What are your thoughts on sexually explicit Bishop’s interviews? Should the Church modify them?
