Appendix B: Example Annotated Bibliography

Note: this Annotated Bibliography was originally formatted for APA Style 7th edition. Some formatting changes have been made for this publication.

How does LDS doctrine and culture influence the prevalence of sexual assault within the church community and impact sexual assault survivors after the fact?

An Annotated Bibliography

By Taylor Sundberg

Barker, A., & Galliher, R. V. (2017). A mediation model of sexual assault among Latter-Day Saints. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma, 26(3), 316–333. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10926771.2016.1272657

Barker and Galliher surveyed 208 LDS-affiliated college students (77 men, 131 women) to test whether religious fundamentalism predicts rape myth acceptance and victimization/perpetration via traditional gender roles and benevolent sexism. Using validated scales and structural equation modeling, they found that adherence to traditional gender roles mediated the link between fundamentalist beliefs and both rape-myth endorsement and sexual coercion behaviors. As a peer-reviewed study in a specialist journal, it employs rigorous SEM techniques and reliable measures, but its homogenous, cross-sectional college sample limits generalizability and causal inference. Researchers can use its mediation framework to analyze how LDS cultural variables influence assault risk and survivor outcomes. Additionally, researchers can adapt their SEM approach to explore similar pathways in different faith communities.

Brady, R. H. (2024). “Guard your virtue with your life”: Purity expectations and dynamics of purity and gender-based violence for Latter-day Saint (LDS) girls and women [Senior honors thesis, Washington University]. Washington University Open Scholarship. https://doi.org/10.7936/rhb6-vx80

This senior honors thesis examines how Latter-day Saint purity expectations foster gender-based violence, employing feminist discourse analysis of church manuals, an IRB-approved online survey of 83 women, and 19 semi-structured interviews to develop original thematic insights into purity culture dynamics. Institutionally reviewed by Washington University’s honors committee and openly published, it offers current, firsthand data; however, its undergraduate scope, limited sampling, and regional focus limit generalizability. Researchers can use its mixed-method design as a blueprint for combining textual analysis with survey and interview data, and its themes on purity norms to contextualize doctrinal influences on survivor experiences. Additionally, researchers can adapt its feminist, trauma-informed framework for comparative studies in faith communities.

Choruby-Whiteley, A., & Morrow, S. L. (2021). “I was praying for my very salvation from my sexual abuse”: Experiences of sexual abuse survivors in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Women & Therapy, 44(3–4), 292–318. https://doi.org/10.1080/02703149.2021.1961436

A qualitative grounded-theory study interpreting semi-structured interviews with 14 LDS survivors to uncover themes that show how gendered messages shape healing. This peer-reviewed study was published in 2021 and remains current for the social-science discipline. Authors Morrow and Choruby-Whiteley both hold a Ph.D. in counseling psychology, which gives the study authority and expertise. The reputation of the journal ensures reliability and objectivity. The methodological process is transparent, although the small sample size limits the generalizability. This source provides methodological guidance for emergent grounded theory and thematic analysis. Researchers can draw on its findings to support arguments about doctrinal impact on survivors and use its thematic framework to compare across faith contexts.

Guiora, A. N. (2010). Protecting the unprotected: Religious extremism and child endangerment. Journal of Law & Family Studies, 12, 391–407. https://ssrn.com/abstract=1659783

Guiora’s article analyzes how Fundamentalist LDS doctrines constitute deliberate child endangerment, tracing legal history from 19th-century polygamy prosecutions through modern FLDS abuses. He surveys cases of expelled “lost boys,” coerced child brides, and legal gaps that allow religious actors to harm minors, arguing that the state must assert its duty to protect children against faith-based violations. Drawing on legal statutes, judicial opinions, media reports, and FLDS internal documents, Guiora does not present original empirical data but synthesizes diverse sources to support his thesis. It is authoritative and reliable but lacks blind peer review. Researchers can use this comprehensive framework to analyze state responsibility and to exhibit how doctrinal extremism meets criminal neglect standards.

Harper, C. A., & Perkins, C. (2018). Reporting child sexual abuse within religious settings: Challenges and future directions. Child Abuse Review, 27, 30–41. https://doi.org/10.1002/car.2484

Harper and Perkins review psychological research on why witnesses in religious communities often fail to recognize or report child sexual abuse, outlining system justification and moral foundations theories as explanatory frameworks. They synthesize studies rather than presenting new empirical data. As a peer-reviewed article in a leading journal, it is reliable, current, and authored by a psychologist. Researchers can draw on its conceptual models to analyze under-reporting trends and to support arguments about faith-based barriers to disclosure.

Money, K. (2018, April 10). Commentary: LDS history of polygamy still used to victimize women. The Salt Lake Tribune. https://www.sltrib.com/opinion/commentary/2018/04/10/commentary-lds-history-of-polygamy-still-used-to-victimize-women/

An opinion piece linking historical LDS polygamy practices to contemporary re-victimization of women, illustrated by interviews with dozens of women who describe coercion by authority figures using polygamy rhetoric. Authored by psychologist Kristy Money—founder of the Healthy Mormon Journeys Foundation—it combines archival research with firsthand testimonies. Though published in a reputable regional paper, it reflects the author’s perspective and lacks peer review. Researchers can use it to contextualize the historical roots of gendered norms in the Church and cite it as illustrative background.

Pritt, A. F. (1998). Spiritual correlates of reported sexual abuse among Mormon women. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 37(2), 273–285. https://doi-org.ezproxy.fhsu.edu/10.2307/1387527

A correlational study of 185 LDS counseling clients in Northern Utah examining relationships between spiritual variables (e.g., church attendance, prayer) and self-reported sexual-abuse experiences among LDS women, identifying both protective and risk factors. Peer-reviewed and using valid scales, the study is reliable, though its focus solely on women limits insight into broader demographics. Researchers can reference the statistical correlations to show how religion can play a role in both masking and mitigating abuse and adapt their survey instruments for further work.

Radke-Moss, A. G., Petrey, T. G., & Hoyt, A. (2020). Mormonism and sexual violence. In The Routledge Handbook of Mormonism and Gender (1st ed., Vol. 1, pp. 284–302). Routledge. https://ebookcentral-proquest-com.ezproxy.fhsu.edu/lib/fhsu/reader.action?docID=6192192&ppg=434&c=RVBVQg

This chapter surveys theological foundations, historical case studies, and modern church policy to show how Mormon gender norms and institutional policies have shaped responses to sexual violence, arguing that doctrinal interpretations often silenced survivors and hindered policy reform. Published by a leading academic press, it combines historiographical analysis with policy critique and survivor accounts, rendering it authoritative; however, its broad scope means less depth on individual experiences and reliance on secondary sources limits original empirical data. Researchers can use its doctrinal critique to provide essential background and support regarding the role of institutional theology in silencing survivors. Additionally, researchers can cite its comprehensive analysis when tracing the impact of doctrine.

Raine, S., & Kent, S. A. (2019). The grooming of children for sexual abuse in religious settings: Unique characteristics and select case studies. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 48, 180–189. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.avb.2019.08.017

A thematic review with case-study analysis describing grooming tactics within faith communities, highlighting how religious authority and trust are exploited to facilitate abuse. Published in a reputable and relevant journal, it combines qualitative case studies with thematic reviews, though its reliance on published cases may overlook unreported incidents. Researchers can use the analysis of grooming behaviors to frame institutional vulnerability and apply this methodology and template to study grooming in specific faith contexts.

Riggins, A. (2025, May 8). LDS Church agrees to settlement in principle of more than 100 sex abuse lawsuits in California. The San Diego Union-Tribune. https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/05/08/lds-church-agrees-to-settlement-in-principle-of-more-than-100-sex-abuse-lawsuits-in-california/

This news article details a 2025 settlement covering over 100 lawsuits, citing court documents and Church comments. Author Alex Riggins is a credentialed reporter who specializes in federal court reporting, which provides authority to the article. The San Diego Union-Tribune is a reputable regional paper with strong editorial oversight that guarantees reliability and minimal bias. Although the article draws on primary court documents, it lacks in-depth analysis and peer review. Researchers can use this to help establish a timeline of institutional accountability and reference it to exhibit concrete legal outcomes.