S6E89 | Justin Riggs - How Litigation Economics Turns Children of God into Adversaries of the Church

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Today I’m honored to have back on the show, LDS abuse whistleblower, survivor, investigative researcher, journalist and reporter, creator of LDS Abuse, excommunicated lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, loving father, nature lover, and a man on a mission to help members of the spiritual body known as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints know what to expect from their church if they become victims of abuse: Justin Riggs aka LDS Abuse

In our last two episodes, Justin took us on a deep dive into the heart of institutional failure and the hidden structures that protect it. We first examined the case of Gordon Bowen - a world-famous advertising executive whose alleged patterns of abuse, financial misconduct, and decades-long ties to top LDS church leaders revealed a system prioritizing brand protection over victims. Through court documents, journals, and public records, we traced how an abuser remained connected to apostles and prophets even after excommunication, while survivors were left without recourse.

We then expanded that conversation into the deeper roots: the quasi-religious secret societies, fraternities like Sigma Chi and Pi Kappa Alpha, Skull and Bones chapters, and patronage networks that have infiltrated Utah’s elite and church leadership for over a century. From humiliation rituals and death oaths to the Black Supper and the pipeline of power, influence, and gain, we explored how these systems condition compromise, enable cover-ups, and make justice for survivors so elusive. These themes - ritual abuse allegations, historical infiltration, and the prioritization of secrecy over the vulnerable - have been the foundation of Justin’s recent work. Today, we build on that conversation even more, continuing to connect the dots with the same relentless, evidence-based courage that has defined this journey.

At the center of it all stands Justin, also known online as ‘LDS Abuse’  - a singular voice for truth whose life story is both a profound personal odyssey and a beacon of hope for every survivor still searching for light in the darkness. Justin’s path began in the quiet corridors of personal curiosity. A lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he once sought simply to understand how good people could fail victims of abuse. That curiosity quickly evolved into a rigorous, evidence-based mission and his research extends far beyond individual cases. Justin built a public archive of evidence that empowers others to see the patterns for themselves. This relentless pursuit came at great personal cost: his work led to his excommunication from the church he had known his entire life. Yet he continues, driven by the unshakable conviction that sunlight is the best disinfectant and that secrets only allow abuse to metastasize.

Justin’s work has connected the dots between ritual abuse allegations, historical infiltration efforts, and the LDS corporation’s prioritization of brand protection. He has revealed a system where victims are funneled into therapy modalities that undermine legal recourse, and where even prophets and apostles have been implicated in shielding perpetrators. Through painstaking documentation, he has transformed private pain into public knowledge, given voice to the voiceless, and offered a roadmap for accountability.

What makes Justin truly awe-inspiring is not only the depth of his research or the courage to expose even his own family’s pain - it is the profound humanity that burns beneath the fire. He speaks of chain-breakers and he believes in a God of both justice and mercy. He weeps with survivors, fights alongside them, and extends grace even when it costs him personally.

Justin stands as a model of intellectual courage and moral clarity. A survivor who refused to stay silent. A researcher who turned personal cost into collective light. A warrior whose unwavering stand continues to remind us that one dedicated soul, armed with evidence and fierce love for the vulnerable, can help break the chains for generations yet to come. His courage continues to shift what is possible. His humanity continues to heal. And his story continues to inspire every one of us to stand a little taller, speak a little louder, and refuse to look away.

🔗JUSTIN'S PLAYLIST:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoojlrL9wVROlw0jmqs1oIVjpP8uJx9JW

🔗GORDON BOWEN COURT DOCUMENTS WEBSITE:
https://gordonbowencourtdocuments.com/

🔗CONNECT WITH JUSTIN:
X: https://x.com/ldsabuse
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ldsabuse_on_x

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