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Ex-LDS bishop starts hunger strike to protest ‘worthiness’ interviews

Sam Young is a former bishop with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He is also the founder of a group that calls itself “Protect LDS Children.”

FOX 13 News reported that Young and members of the group started a hunger strike in hopes of influencing the LDS Church to stop allowing bishops to do one-on-one interviews with minors to determine their “worthiness.”

Church leaders counsel youth and often conduct a series of interviews, which Young and many other former and current LDS Church members say are inappropriate. Young claims bishops often ask very detailed sexual questions to young church members, which he and his supporters feel can leave minors susceptible to psychological trauma and predatory behavior.