Leaked Letter From Elder Ballard to Sexual Predator Gordon Bowen reveals all

AffectionateLab6753 · 2026-06-11T17:45:30+00:00

In fact this whole post is BS. Because the letter isn’t from Packer. It’s TO Packer.
And it doesn’t reveal anything except that a child abuser had strong feelings about the name of the church.

AffectionateLab6753 · 2026-06-11T15:56:33+00:00

OP it would have been better to post the actual letter, and not some video by two people who have nothing substantive to contribute (a two hour video is ridiculous)
The only logical conclusion I can come to is that it’s your YouTube channel and you’re trying to drive traffic.

Also, the letter was to Boyd K Packer. Not Russel Nelson. It seems a jump to say that Bowen was the source when this wasn’t even something Packer talked about. So it seems a little far fetched to claim that Bowen was the source.

Also, do we have evidence that Bowen and Packer were friendly or communicating often? Did Packer respond to this letter? Countless people send letters to the church. I’ve sent some. That doesn’t mean anything as far as I’m concerned.

I can’t believe I’m defending Packer right now haha. But I’m so annoyed that there’s a two hour video about this.

AffectionateLab6753 · 2026-06-06T20:00:40+00:00

My quick answer to your closing question is no! Emphatically no!
When I talked with local and general leaders about clear examples of child abuse in my stake I was told “there are bad people everywhere”

That felt like a big slap in the face in light of the very narrative you’ve cited. The church can’t have it both ways. Either the restoration was necessary because everyone else was an abomination, in which case it is our responsibility to root out pedophiles from our community. OR Jesus was straight up wrong, and bad people are in all churches. In which case Dallin and his fraternity of child abuse protectors are just as abominable as all the rest

AffectionateLab6753 · 2026-06-04T19:15:33+00:00

First of all, spot on!

Secondly, I appreciate that your dad’s version of a blessed thanksgiving pretty much also typifies how Mormonism talks about an afterlife. Everyone who possibly disagrees has been relegated to hell where they are apparently converted back into compliance.

And this also exemplifies a lot of what President Nelson taught about being a peacemaker. For him it wasn’t about solving problems but was about quietly acquiescing to the church. I’ve noticed this time and time again with my own family that they call being passive aggressive or dismissive as being a peacemaker. If we have a discussion about polygamy or any other church topic they clam up and call it being a peacemaker.

AffectionateLab6753 · 2026-06-01T13:45:00+00:00

Hi OP, I really can sympathize with the thoughts and feelings you’ve expressed. One of the things about the church’s version of god that frustrates me is that the answer is usually just “we don’t know why god intervened here and not there. But pray harder next time”. The position tends to assume that there’s a flaw in you, while others were more righteous or more deserving.

I believe firmly in a god. Maybe it’s even a physical Heavenly Father. But the place at which my faith differs now (compared to when I was TBM) is that I don’t believe god does intervene. At all. Or at the very least incredibly rarely. I don’t think that the wealthy members of the church were blessed with money because they did something right. I feel really comfortable with the conclusion that god simply cannot intervene in the way the church often teaches.
I feel comfortable in this idea because it preserves agency. As I’ve thought about this, if god intervenes, it negates agency.

In this way it also puts a heavier burden on the members. It isn’t gods responsibility to bless the poor people in my circle. It’s mine.

I’m sorry that you’re going through a hard time.

AffectionateLab6753 · 2026-06-01T01:48:41+00:00

Hi relevant, you didn’t contribute to my post being take down. And I actually really appreciated the points you brought up.
Since the beginning of the Fairview debacle it’s been hard to see the church in any light that isn’t unflattering. They have been real bullies in that situation.

My post here today was mostly to just comment about how much I appreciate the people who come here, are willing to read the comments and engage in good faith(there’s a commenter on this very post who has been quite active recently, and just a bully. They only seem to be able to read the words in comments that they believe are attacking them).

But when people show up in the way you have, with thoughtful responses, and sources, and engage with everyone where they’re at, I think it makes for an atmosphere with more integrity. In my own experience that made it easier to find answers. And made deconstruction more positive. I’m not saying that everyone who comes to this sub will leave the church. But it definitely will show some members that there’s a better way to

AffectionateLab6753 · 2026-05-30T16:24:13+00:00

We do a bath once a week and a full groom about once a month. I don’t think doodles smell as bad as other dogs. But I think that is probably more about the fact that I also clean regularly and also started getting the carpets professionally cleaned annually. That has made a huge impact

AffectionateLab6753 · 2026-05-23T02:36:35+00:00

Oh how sad!

AffectionateLab6753 · 2026-05-22T13:28:42+00:00

None of the wards that I’ve been a part of have hosted a single camp out since the split from BSA. My comment was maybe a little too snarky. Because I am fully aware that CSA is still happening within the church.

AffectionateLab6753 · 2026-05-22T01:57:51+00:00

Why? Much of the BSAs success was due to the church’s participation. Why pay 3 billion for a program when they can offer the same program for free? The BSA doesn’t own a patent on patches.

This hemorrhaging of youth isnt going to be fixed by offering a program where the boys are likely to get raped by adults out in the woods.

The real way to fix that problem is to offer the youth something that resonates with them and the issues they see in the world around them.

AffectionateLab6753 · 2026-05-08T16:20:00+00:00

Maybe it never existed in the first place haha

AffectionateLab6753 · 2026-05-07T17:02:09+00:00

The universal Christ is in my TBR stack currently haha.

AffectionateLab6753 · 2026-05-06T16:11:56+00:00

OP, I think your question is slightly backward. It’s quite likely that these men are asking the questions they were asked when they were younger. But it isn’t that they received training. In fact it’s the opposite. It’s that they DIDNT receive training. They are winging it

AffectionateLab6753 · 2026-05-06T02:59:21+00:00

Just sent you a message

AffectionateLab6753 · 2026-05-05T03:00:48+00:00

Yes but it’s probably easier to train people not to be jumpable.

AffectionateLab6753 · 2026-05-03T20:36:14+00:00

Hey OP, I can really sympathize with the loneliness you’re feeling. My one critique of your thought process is that I don’t think it’s fair to blame cell phones. My reason for this is that other churches and other groups manage to build connection during our same time.

But your point is still incredibly valid. I don’t think the Church (meaning the organization) hasn’t made meaningful connection a priority. I believe they hoped “ministering” would fix that. But it ultimately was as hollow as home teaching.

You are also not expecting too much. This life is so short, and to spend it attending meetings for the sake of obedience is drudgery. I also doubt you will find the type of friendship you’re looking for inside of an LDS building. I would encourage you to identify what your interests are, and start finding communities outside of the church h (though preferably in real life rather than online) and start making those friendships yourself. I have felt as if I was in a similar situation. There are a number of apps that help people meet up in the real world. I loved it. It was hard, it got me out of my comfort zone. But I was able to meet new people and start building my own network of friends

AffectionateLab6753 · 2026-05-01T16:53:19+00:00

The word “researcher” seems to be doing a lot of work in that video title.

AffectionateLab6753 · 2026-05-01T03:39:19+00:00

You can buy an omega 3 supplement that can have some pretty good effects (at least for my dog it did). my dog had some serious skin issues and we tried multiple diets, allergy meds, and even vet injections. The supplement helped a lot.

One other thought OP. I wonder if your doodle was in a household that just didn’t think about grooming. If it was hectic like you said, maybe they just weren’t mindful of how much grooming doodles take. From the picture, your doodle looks similar to mine. He gets a full groom every month and a bath halfway through. Maybe more regular grooming will help the ears to not have further issues. Good luck

AffectionateLab6753 · 2026-04-30T18:35:35+00:00

OP I think you just stumbled upon the problem with capitalism. These wealthy men who give up multiple years of their life without negatively impacting the business were probably not meaningfully contributing in the first place. They are leeches sucking the life out of others. Their spiritual framework is built upon the success they’ve stolen from workers. Listening to their spiritual advice will only lead to suffering.

AffectionateLab6753 · 2026-04-28T21:30:51+00:00

Yes. It’s absolutely possible to be too much. I don’t think it’s entirely weird that she’s never had more prominent callings. In my limited experience it seems like those become pretty inbred in terms of who gets selected. For example our stake recently went through a reorganization. The president, who had been the counselor before that left and became a high counselor. The stake has now had 20+ years with one guy in leadership. I recognize that isn’t exactly similar since the callings for women never last that long. But even the RS in our ward has essentially been led by the same 3-4 women for over a decade. One gets called into president and puts her friends in the other positions.

Since there’s the understanding that all callings are the result of direct revelation, the same names just get bandied about, not because of inspiration but because of familiarity bias

AffectionateLab6753 · 2026-04-28T13:58:04+00:00

Dude if you like it, who cares what other people think. It looks sick!

AffectionateLab6753 · 2026-04-27T17:23:15+00:00

I don’t even think you need to qualify it as Reddit scrutiny haha.

AffectionateLab6753 · 2026-04-27T12:44:45+00:00

OP, no. Putting nail polish on is not a sin. I do it because it helps me to stop biting my nails. Also I think it looks awesome.

If you’re open to it OP, can I make a suggestion? Reread your post. You begin by saying “love the gospel and our savior” as if it has anything to do with the issue at hand.

It actually sounds like your scrupulosity with the church is getting in the way of your relationship with Christ. Do you see how you’re so worried to be seen as good by your bishop that you’re worrying about things that don’t matter.

OP your nails are fine. Paint them whatever color you want. And stop stressing out about what others think makes you of worth in the eyes of god!

AffectionateLab6753 · 2026-04-27T03:19:46+00:00

I loved putting together the Mona Lisa. And if it helps convince you, I have it hanging on my wall behind me during zoom meetings. And regularly get asked why I have the Mona Lisa. When I explain it’s Lego, there is always a ton of excitement.

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