The Mormon Art of Child Stealing

The Mormon Art of Child Stealing

Ed Decker

April 13, 2010

A number of years ago. I was asked by a local pastor to met with him and a troubled family. The daughter was in high school and dating a good looking Mormon boy. Her baptism in the church was the following Saturday.

I met with him, the girl and her parents for over two hours. The girl was a bit over-weight and not very attractive. It was easy to see why she was drawn to both the boy and the Church he was bringing her into.

She had been raised in the family’s church and had been an active part of the youth program until the Mormon Conversion by dating plan had struck her down.

In the end, no matter her parents’ and pastor’s pleading and my logical reasons for why a young Christian girl should not become a Mormon, she said that she was going to be baptized no matter what any of us said.

Her next words have stayed with me for almost 25 years. She said, “Look at me. No one has ever paid me attention in school. No one else has ever dated me, shown me love and caring like he has. He is beautiful in every way. I don’t care if I follow him to hell when I die, I am going with him.”

I recently received an email from a family that brought this all back to mind. Attached was a series of emails dealing with the blatant theft of their daughter by a young man about to eave for his mission.

Not only did their daughter join the church and be baptized without their knowledge, she hid away the truth about his Mormonism and when he left for his mission, he and his parents convinced her to move out of her parents’ home and live with them, basically holding her spiritually hostage awaiting the son’s return and a supposed temple wedding.


I grieve over this. It’s a story I have heard a thousand times over. I told her dad this:

Regarding your note and the attachment, I have read through the many emails and the battle you have fought over Amanda and have to say, my heart is broken with yours. I have been dealing with this child stealing for over 30 years and the stories are almost the same in every case. Sometimes it is also a young man, infatuated with some LDS girl and the attention and love bombing..


The Mormons call it conversion by dating and actually encourage their young people to seek out non-members to date. Even young kids in Primary are used by eager parents to invite neighborhood and school friends to events and parties, to lure their families into a mood for missionary visits.


In many cases, within months of conversion, especially in high school, the Mormon moves on to the next ‘dating’ conversion and the new LDS teenager is on her own.


The vilest part of this child stealing is when they secretly baptize the child, and if the parents complain, offer their home as sanctuary away from such ‘unloving’ parents.


The arrogance of their position is the clearest evidence of their ungodliness. ….


Again, I grieve with you.


I have noted that in many cases like this, the stolen child usually leaves the LDS church within a year’s time and the parents need to be alert to that possibility. The odds are much less if she is tied to “missionary’ love and lives with his family..

The average Mormon kid, trained up to be confident and outgoing is usually any parent’s dream. Those who have followed the church teachings and are true believers are like wolves in sheep’s clothing. They are usually well-mannered, clean cut, charming and very respectful to the date’s family.

The canine teeth are tucked way back and before you can shout, “Wait!” Your kid is stolen right out from under your watchful eyes.

Christian parents and youth pastors need to build a wall of protection from these ravening wolves that prey upon your children. Most good Christian kids are not street smart and easy prey. They have to be immunized against attack. To fail to do so is asking for trouble, especially in high school.

Communicate and prepare them for these kinds of dangers. We do it regarding pedophiles who lurk around the vulnerable. Your children are equally vulnerable when it comes to the cults who prey on them with as much aggression as the pedophiles in the bushes.

Blog Responses

Ed, I was in one of those "Missionary Relationships" for 18 years. I was raised in the Christian faith and had a close relationship with the lord. But, my parents never warned me about Mormons. And I didn't find out that he was mormon until after the honeymoon. He took out his 'Book of Mormon,' 'Doc and Covenants,' and his version of the 'King James Version' of the bible. He tried to convince me that his church was the only church and that my church was apostate. But, my gut instinct helped me argue the points he wanted to make. First, I took him to the end of the Bible where it says not to add or take away parts from the bible. Then, I told him, he couldn't take verses out of context and make the mean what he said they meant. I stuck to my faith the whole time I was in the relationship. And on Mother's Day in 1992, the lord blessed me with the 'Holy Spirit.' I have been able to stay strong ever since. I was able to argue that my sons had the right to choose since he lied to me. And both of them are Christians and attend my church. God is good when you have faith in him, no matter what happens!" Becky


Ed,I have seen it with my own eyes, witnessed the heartache, seen the confusion. Families are forever? Families are for pillaging and wrecking more like it. Mike


Ed, I was one of those, "stolen" from my family. I was converted to mormonism via a young man I was dating. I wish, oh I wish my parents would have done to warn me... but 19 yrs later I did come out, but without a few battle scars. This is very well written, and very true. Gloria