Heber charity founder Lon Kennard Sr. charged with years of sexual abuse

Deseret News ^ | March 23, 2010 | Geoff Liesik

[Colofornian]

HEBER CITY — The nonprofit organization he founded is aimed at helping kids in the world's poorest countries. But six women now say a Heber City man subjected them to years of sexual abuse in their youth.

Lon Harvey Kennard Sr. was charged Tuesday in 4th District Court with 24 counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a child, a first-degree felony; 21 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, a second-degree felony...

SNIP

On March 6, a female relative of Kennard's contacted a deputy to ask if Kennard was a suspect in a child sex abuse investigation. The woman told the deputy that Kennard's son had shown her videos of Kennard engaging in sexual contact with an underage girl.

The son told detectives he had found the videos on an external computer hard drive that his father kept in his locked home office. The son said he had gone looking for evidence of sexual abuse after someone told him that Kennard was molesting a female relative, court records state.

Deputies seized Kennard's home computer...A preliminary review of digital files on those drives, however, revealed 31 videos showing Kennard having sexual contact with two teenage girls, court records state.

Detectives said they interviewed six women related to Kennard and each "related individual, personalized accounts of being sexually abused" by Kennard, according to court records. Investigators also believe Kennard sexually abused a seventh victim, who is not related to him, and made videos of the abuse. Court records say the girl is from Ethiopia and is 17 or 18 years old.

The sexual abuse outlined in court records allegedly began in 1995, around the time Kennard was serving as bishop of his LDS Church ward and one year after he and his wife founded Village of Hope.

[Colofornian]

From the article: The sexual abuse outlined in court records allegedly began in 1995, around the time Kennard was serving as bishop of his LDS Church ward and one year after he and his wife founded Village of Hope.

As a reader just posted to the Salt Lake Trib: "Time to take a second look at all the [Lds] Bishops!"

(The reason why was this article this week, where it was revealed that a Utah state legislator was arrested in 2006 for a DUI at the time he was also an Lds bishop: Garn pleaded guilty in 2006 to alcohol-related charge [Lds bishop DUI] ... not exactly sure why the Lds would have made Garn a bishop after he confessed to newspaper editors years earlier that he was in a hot tub naked with a 15 yo years earlier!!!)

According to an Lds magazine, Meridian Magazine, which did a two-part series on Lon Kennard's charity in Ethiopia With Joy Ye Shall Draw Water: LDS Couple Brings Well to Ethiopian Village : At that time, there was no official LDS church presence in Ethiopia. To be allowed to adopt, the Kennards had been encouraged to list their religion as “Christian” on their adoption application. While the Kennards were waiting for permission to bring the children to the US., their adoption worker, Cheryl, phoned. She asked if the Kennard family was “Mormon.” The Kennards’ older daughter, Jill, answered the phone. As she heard the question she hesitated, knowing her answer could mean government cancellation of their adoption. At last she said, “Yes, we're LDS.” To her surprise, Cheryl told them of an LDS sacrament meeting being held near the children’s foster home. Yosef, the children's foster father, was one of the first to attend the LDS meetings held by a missionary couple the Church had sent to the area. The adoption worker asked if the Kennards minded Yosef taking Alimetu, Merga, Helen and Kidist to LDS meetings. Their children’s miraculous introduction to the Church was an answer to Sister Kennard’s prayers.

(I'd say their their children's introduction to the Church was the beginning of their real nightmare based upon what the Deseret article said above: Detectives said they interviewed six women related to Kennard and each "related individual, personalized accounts of being sexually abused" by Kennard, according to court records.)

[colorcountry]

So much for the god-inspired callings to be a Mormon Bishop.

“Bishops in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are not paid, nor are they required to be educated or “special” in any way except that they are called of God.”

“Bishops have worthiness interviews with members of their wards for the purpose of issuing temple recommends, giving callings, assisting with repentance, and making sure ward members are spiritually and temporally okay. Bishops can help members with spiritual problems by counseling them or by other means.”

“A bishop in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints must also hold the office of High Priest in the Priesthood. Bishops are called by revelation from God, just like any Mormon is called to a calling. A stake president will call a potential bishop, and when the appointment is approved by the president of the Church, the potential bishop is brought in for an interview to determine worthiness and willingness. “

http://mormon.wikia.com/wiki/Bishop

[svcw]

There are sexual cheeps, perverts and abusers in every group.
What is irritating is when you have a group that says “could never happen here, we are so superior and holy”, rather than own up to this perversion.

Perfect example of not owning up and continuing the practice. If you don't move to stop it, you are condoning the behavior. Garn pleaded guilty in 2006 to alcohol-related charge [Lds bishop DUI] ... not exactly sure why the Lds would have made Garn a bishop after he confessed to newspaper editors years earlier that he was in a hot tub naked with a 15 yo years earlier

[wintertime]

ping

[Utah Binger]

Is this guy related to Spence Kennard? He was the reader for the tab choir. He got booted ten years ago for something similar.

[Guyin4Os]

Perfect example of not owning up and continuing the practice

Exactly. True, there are creeps in every group. However when groups know they have creeps and don't deal with them, they enable their creepiness.

[Colofornian]

Is this guy related to Spence Kennard? He was the reader for the tab choir. He got booted ten years ago for something similar.

[I don't know re: relationship...maybe somebody else knows...As for the "boot," it wasn't abuse other than possible abuse of positional authority, per wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._Spencer_Kinard), which mostly quoted the Deseret News:]

On November 1, 1990, the Deseret News reported that Kinard had resigned as vice president of news and public affairs for KSL: “Kinard has been the subject of rumors about his relationship with KSL anchorwoman Jennifer Howe. Allegations within the Channel 5 newsroom that Kinard advanced Howe's career at the expense of other KSL employees led to widespread dissatisfaction among the staff for the past few months. Both Kinard and Howe deny those allegations. Howe is still on the KSL payroll, but she has not been on the air since Oct. 18. She is visiting her parents in Dallas. After a weeklong series of meetings, Kinard was placed on a medical leave from the station on Oct. 19. He reportedly was suffering from overwork and stress.” (Original source: Pierce, Scott D. "Kinard Resigns as Vice President of News and Public Affairs for KSL". Deseret News. November 1, 1990).

Per Wikipedia, The next day, the Deseret News followed up with an article entitled "Kinard - At His Request - Is Released From Choir Post."

[J. Spencer Kennard had such a distinctive voice as he would introduce & close out the Mormon Tabernacle Choir]

[Colofornian]

An article also appeared in the SL Trib on this today. Another article from today prompted a Utah reader to post: Five freaking child molester stories in the Trib today. 5!!!

(The article he was commenting on was a 72 yo grandfather videocamming his 14 granddaughter taking a shower Man, 72, charged with filming granddaughter in shower )

St. George, UT officials made arrests involving the sexual abuse of a baby.

[reaganaut]

placemarker

[Elsie]

We, and each of us, covenant and promise that we will not reveal any of the secrets of this, the First Token of the Aaronic Priesthood, with its accompanying name, sign, or penalty. Should we do so, we agree that our throats be cut from ear to ear and our tongues torn out by our roots.

We, and each of us, covenant and promise that we will not reveal any of the secrets of this, the Seond Token of the Aaronic Priesthood, with its accompanying name, sign, or penalty. Should we do so, we agree to have our breasts cut open and our hearts and vitals torn out from our bodies and given to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field.

We, and each of us, covenant and promise that we will not reveal any of the secrets of this, the First Token of the Melchizedek Priesthood, with its accompanying name, sign, or penalty. Should we do so, we agree that our bodies be cut assunder in the mdst and all our bowels gush out.

[GladesGuru]

Taking any faith too literally can leaad to some debatable, even erroneous conclusions.

remembering that the founder of the LDS church had been through the Masonic rituals, that there would be some ritualistic aspects to the LDS church should be no surprise.

What seems important to me is that most LDS are very hard workers, save diligently, and tithe.

Interestingly, many of the LDS social benefits, like their food program, are open to non LDS. Not being particularly convinced that there even is a God, much less that the LDS have a direct line to Him, I can value a group which makes a central belief in their faith that the American Founding Documents are inspired by God and shall be respected accordingly.

A pity that the Democrapic party voters are not LDS.

But, then they could not be Democraps if they were.

[reaganaut]

Interestingly, many of the LDS social benefits, like their food program, are open to non LDS. Not being particularly convinced that there even is a God, much less that the LDS have a direct line to Him, I can value a group which makes a central belief in their faith that the American Founding Documents are inspired by God and shall be respected accordingly.

- - - - - —
Sounds like you have been drinking their kool aid. You have obviously bought what they put out as PR and the ‘face’ they show the world.

Their welfare program is NOT open to non LDS. There is a huge difference between what they put out and what they are REALLY like. And there are many more LDS demonrats and libs than most people think. Again, they hire one of the best PR firms (non LDS btw) in the country.

Been there, done that, read the book, saw the movie, wore the garments.

[Elsie]

 

Not being particularly convinced that there even is a God, much less that the LDS have a direct line to Him, I can value a group which makes a central belief in their faith that the American Founding Documents are inspired by God and shall be respected accordingly.

 

CENTRAL??  Here are the BASIC ones...

---

---

 

 

 

Articles of Faith

The Articles of Faith outline 13 basic points of belief of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The Prophet Joseph Smith first wrote them in a letter to John Wentworth, a newspaper editor,
in response to Mr. Wentworth's request to know what members of the Church believed.
They were subsequently published in Church periodicals.
They are now regarded as scripture and included in the Pearl of Great Price.

 

THE ARTICLES OF FAITH
OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS
History of the Church, Vol. 4, pp. 535—541

 

 

1. We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.
   
2. We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam's transgression.
   
3. We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.
   
4. We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.
   
5. We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.
   
6. We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.
   
7. We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth.
   
8. We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.
   
9. We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.
   
10. We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.
    
11. We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.
    
12. We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.
    
13. We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.

Joseph Smith

[GladesGuru]

I am only saying that if I want to buy food staples at the ‘bishop warehouse (I think that is the name), some sell to any, some only to LDS members.

My post should have contrasted the historicity (and change) in Judeo-Christianity as compared to the rigidity of Islam. Just as LDS had a revelation on polygamy and blacks, so is Islam forbidden from any change.

Little wonder that Islam is still a barbaric desert thieves code.

[reaganaut]

When I was LDS the storehouse was offlimits to everyone except the ‘worthy’ LDS. But that has been over 15 years ago.